Goalie Start
Blackwood is in the starter's crease at the Devils morning skate.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
Ferraro was activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to play Thursday.
This is perfect timing for the Sharks, who may be without Erik Karlsson and Jacob Middleton, both due to upper-body injuries. Ferraro, who missed three games with the injury, has two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 31 games this season.
Middleton (upper-body) is questionable to play Thursday in Buffalo.
Middleton was hurt in the first period of Tuesday's loss in Detroit after being hit from behind by Givani Smith. Smith was given a game misconduct for the hit but it looks like it could cost Middleton more time. Mario Ferraro will be back in the lineup on Thursday and would be Middleton's replacement if he's unavailable.
Karlsson (upper-body) is questionable to play Thursday in Buffalo.
Karlsson appeared to get hurt in the third period of Tuesday's loss in Detroit and is questionable for Thursday's game. If Karlsson can't play, look for Marc-Edouard Vlasic to draw back into the lineup and for Brent Burns to take over on PP1.
Bjugstad (undisclosed) did not travel to Boston for Thursday's game.
Bjugstad was reportedly in a lot of discomfort after getting hurt in Tuesday's practice and will not play in Thursday's game in Boston. Connor Dewar is expected to replace Bjusgstad on the Wild's fourth line.
Goalie Start
Swayman will start Thursday vs. the Wild.
The Canucks added Elias Pettersson to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Canucks don't play until Saturday against the Senators but that game could end up getting postponed given the breakout in Ottawa's dressing room. If it doesn't, Pettersson will likely only miss one game.
The Flyers have added Travis Sanheim to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Flyers' COVID-19 protocol list continues to grow, as both Sanheim and Travis Konecny were added on Wednesday. They going Claude Giroux, Ivan Provorov, Nick Seeler and Jackson Cates--all will likely miss Thursday's game.
The Flyers have added Travis Konecny to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Flyers' COVID-19 protocol list continues to grow, as both Konecny and Travis Sanheim were added on Wednesday. They going Claude Giroux, Ivan Provorov, Nick Seeler and Jackson Cates--all will likely miss Thursday's game.
Knight has been placed on the COVID-19 protocol list; will not be available on Thursday.
Knight likely was not going to start Thursday's game anyways but he will now be out for at least five days. Expect Sergei Bobrovsky to start both Thursday and Saturday's games.
The Canadiens added Michael Pezzetta to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Canadiens now have a total of 23 players on the COVID-19 protocol list. They are not scheduled to play again until next Wednesday, so they should get most, if not all of them back by then.
The Canadiens added Cameron Hillis to the COVID-19 protocol list.
The Canadiens now have a total of 23 players on the COVID-19 protocol list. They are not scheduled to play again until next Wednesday, so they should get most, if not all of them back by then.
The Kings added Carl Grundstrom to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Grundstrom had played in 14 straight games but will not be in the lineup on Thursday. Lias Andersson will draw back into the Kings lineup to replace Grundstrom in the bottom-6.
The Kings added Christian Wolanin to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Wolanin had played in seven straight games but will not be in the lineup on Thursday. Olli Maatta, who was activated from the COVID-19 protocol list on Monday, will replace Wolanin.
Maatta cleared COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Thursday.
Maatta cleared COVID-19 protocol on Monday and skated on the second pair with Matt Roy on Wednesday. Maatta heads into Thursday with three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.
Brown cleared COVID-19 protocol and is expected to play Thursday.
Brown cleared COVID-19 protocol on Monday and skated on the third line with Rasmus Kupari and Lias Andersson on Wednesday. Brown heads into Thursday with 12 points (4G / 8A) in 30 games this season.
Turcotte was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Monday.
Turcotte and Alex Iafallo entered COVID-19 protocol on Monday, leading to Rasmus Kupari replacing him as the Kings' No.3 centre in Wednesday's practice. Expect Turcotte to miss one or two games and could return to the AHL upon being activated.
Iafallo was added to the COVID-19 protocol list on Monday.
On the same day that the Kings got Dustin Brown out of COVID-19 protocol, they lost Iafallo. In Wednesday's practice, Martin Frk skated on the Kings' top line in Iafallo's absence. Iaffalo will likely miss one or two games.
Nugent-Hopkins (undisclosed) has been placed on IR; expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks.
Nugent-Hopkins is expected to be sidelined through the month of January, which is a terrible blow for an Oilers team that is also without Connor McDavid (COVID-19 protocol) right now.
The Sabres have placed Anders Bjork on the COVID-19 protocol list on Tuesday.
The Sabres placed three more players in COVID-19 protocol, bringing their total to five players ahead of their game Thursday vs. the Sharks. Mark Jankowski is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday, replacing Bjork upfront.
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.