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Vladar led the Flames onto the ice for warmups.
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NHL Hockey Player News
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Samsonov will start Friday in St Louis.
Kaprizov (upper-body) will not play Saturday vs. the Capitals.
Kaprizov suffered an upper-body injury in Boston on Thursday and will miss at least one game. The Wild told reporters that Kaprizov is still being evaluated, so expect a more detailed timetable in the coming days. Luckily for the Wild, after Saturday's game, they are off until next Friday (Jan.14), so Kaprizov may not miss many games if it's relatively short-term.
The Capitals have placed Nicklas Backstrom (illness) on IR.
Both Backstrom and TJ Oshie have been sidelined by a non-COVID illness and did not accompany the team on their two-game road trip. Moving them to IR simply creates roster spots to bring up reinforcements--they'll be eligible to be activated and play when the Capitals return home to face the Bruins on Monday.
The Capitals have placed TJ Oshie (illness) on IR.
Both Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom have been sidelined by a non-COVID illness and did not accompany the team on their two-game road trip. Moving them to IR simply creates roster spots to bring up reinforcements--they'll be eligible to be activated and play when the Capitals return home to face the Bruins on Monday.
The Maple Leafs have added Pierre Engvall to the COVID-19 protocol list.
With both Mitch Marner and Engvall landing on the COVID-19 protocol list, Brett Seney and Kyle Clifford are expected to re-enter the lineup on Saturday. Jason Spezza moved up to the third line to replace Engvall in Friday's practice session.
The Maple Leafs have added Mitch Marner to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Marner will miss Saturday's game in Colorado and could miss Tuesday's game in Vegas, depending on if he clears protocol or not. With Marner out, Alexander Kerfoot shifted to the Auston Matthews' line and Ilya Mikheyev moved into the top-6 at Friday's practice.
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Markstrom is expected to start Friday in Carolina.
Walman was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Thursday and will not play Friday vs. the Capitals.
Walman has been a healthy scratch recently and probably wasn't going to play anyways but he won't be available for the next two games.
Perunovich was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Thursday and will not play Friday vs. the Capitals.
Perunovich, who was absolutely torching the AHL when he was called up hasn't had the same level of success at the NHL level. He has just one assist in his last nine games and has yet to score in 18 games. He'll be replaced by Robert Bortuzzo on Friday and will likely miss two games.
Tarasenko was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Thursday and will not play Friday vs. the Capitals.
The timing couldn't be worse for Tarasenko, who has scored seven goals with eight assists (15 points) in his last 10 games. His line with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou has been among the hottest in the NHL but he'll likely miss at least two games.
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Andersen is in the starter's crease at the Hurricanes morning skate.
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Quick led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
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Saros led the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Roy (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Thursday.
Stone (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play Thursday.
Shesterkin has placed on the COVID-19 protocol list.
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Lehner led the Golden Knights onto the ice for warmups.
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Georgiev led the Rangers onto the ice for warmups.
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Vladar will start Thursday in Tampa.
NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News
At Daily Faceoff you can stay in the know regarding all 32 teams and their top players this season. From trades, to injuries, and everything in between, you can find all the latest NHL player news today here. Staying up to date with player news NHL can also give you a competitive edge in your fantasy hockey leagues, as well as your NHL bets.
Check out all the latest NHL updates below and learn more about the hottest updates in the hockey world today.
Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?
There’s never been more talent scattered across the NHL than there is this season. With living legends like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin still setting records left-and-right, alongside today’s current superstars such as Connor McDavid and Nathan Mackinnon, the level of talent in the NHL is at an all-time high. Along with these established stars, there’s plenty of budding stars emerging every season such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Matvei Michkov.
What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?
Already this season we’ve seen the hammer brought down by the NHL Department of Player Safety. Notable suspensions and fines include Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs who was given a five-game suspension for an illegal check to the head against the Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot who was dealt a three-game suspension, also for an illegal hit to the head.
In the 2023-24 season, there were a total of 14 suspensions and 17 fines issued throughout the NHL. The longest suspension served was dealt to former-Detroit Red Wing David Perron at six-games after a cross-checking penalty dealt ironically against his current team in the 2024-25 season, the Ottawa Senators. Additionally, Perron was fined $148,437.48 for his actions.
How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?
NHL player performances make a direct impact on the outcome of any fantasy hockey matchup. Staying up to date with the latest news and performances of your team’s players can be the difference between winning and losing.
Some notable fantasy hockey performers that flew under the radar in most drafts this year include Martin Necas (123 ADP) of the Carolina Hurricanes and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. While sleeper picks are always a great get, nothing is worse than a bust taken early on. Some of the most disappointing players of the fantasy hockey season includes Zach Hyman (28 ADP) of the Edmonton Oilers and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars (33 ADP).
Whether you’re checking out how your current rostered players are performing or scouting for hidden gems on the waiver wire, the latest player news can help you make your next winning move this season.
Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?
Every season there are several players who have breakout years, establishing themselves as some of the best up-and-coming stars in the league. In the 2024-25 season early breakout candidates have emerged such as Dylan Strome of the Washington Capitals (on-pace for his first 100-point season) and Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights (on-pace for career-high in points).
Additionally, nothing beats a comeback story, and that can be said about surging veterans such as Anze Koipitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars.
How often is NHL player news updated?
Our player news is updated regularly throughout the season, bringing you fresh player updates every day throughout the calendar year. Providing our users with a one-stop destination for everything you need to know from across the NHL, our player news is the go-to spot for all the biggest stories in the hockey universe.
What types of information does NHL player news cover?
Our NHL news covers every aspect of the hockey season. From injuries to trades to rumours and even suspensions, we’ve got you covered through it all with credible and fast-updates all-season long.
Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?
All of our sources come from credible and reputable areas. When you’re at Daily Faceoff, you can trust that we are never going to spoon-feed you fake news. You can trust you’re only reading legitimate news that matters.
How does NHL player news impact betting lines?
Player news has a massive impact on the latest hockey betting lines. From daily game lines and prop bets, to Stanley Cup futures bets, every trade, roster change, and injury can shake up the odds set by oddsmakers.
By staying informed on the latest NHL updates, you can become a better NHL bettor as you’ll have a winning edge thanks to our in-depth news coverage.
DFO’s Specialized News Categories
Get the most out of your hockey news with our in-depth coverage of the NHL with our comprehensive player news updates. Below we’ve compiled go-to destinations for player injuries, trades, signings, line combinations, and more!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.