NHL Hockey Player News

Bobby Ryan(Right Wing)(RW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Ryan is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Ryan left Sunday's win over the Blue Jackets with an upper-body injury after logging just 4:11 TOI. Head coach Jeff Blashill called him day-to-day and does not expect the veteran winger to miss more than a week. With Ryan out, Givani Smith was promoted to the active roster.

Source:

@DetroitRedWings 2021-03-30T02:37:50.835Z

Christian Wolanin(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Trade

The Kings acquired Christian Wolanin from the Senators for Mike Amadio.

Wolanin was a fourth-round pick of the Senators in 2015 and has scored five goals with 13 assists (18 points) in 58 career games since. Wolanin should be able to fight for playing time in Los Angeles, likely taking over Kurtis MacDermid's role as the seventh defenseman.

Source:

@Senators 2021-03-30T02:26:22.398Z

Michael Amadio(Right Wing)(RW)|Ottawa Senators OTT

Trade

The Senators acquired Mike Amadio from the Kings for Christian Wolanin.

Amadio had a career-high 16 points (6G / 10A) in 58 games a season ago but was held without a goal and just two assists in his first 20 games of 2021. In Ottawa, he will likely fill Artem Anisimov's fourth-line/reserve role after Anisimov was placed on waivers.

Source:

@Senators 2021-03-30T02:23:50.150Z

Aaron Ekblad(Defenseman)(D)|Florida Panthers FLA

Injury

Ekblad underwent surgery to repair a "fracture in his lower extremities" and will miss the rest of the season.

Ekblad went down awkwardly on Sunday and is expected to be out at least 12 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture. This is obviously a huge blow for the Panthers but also an unfortunate injury for Ekblad, who was enjoying a career year.

Source:

Steve Goldstein 2021-03-30T02:21:22.376Z

Jonathan Quick(Goalie)(G)|New York Rangers NYR

Goalie Start

Quick led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

@RyanHockeyGuy 2021-03-30T01:31:36.910Z

Robin Lehner(Goalie)(G)|Vegas Golden Knights VGK

Goalie Start

Lehner led the Golden Knights onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Justin Emerson 2021-03-30T01:29:55.766Z

Rickard Rakell(Right Wing)(RW)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Injury

Rakell is day-to-day with an upper-body injury; will not play Monday.

Source:

@AnaheimDucks 2021-03-30T00:41:08.834Z

Jamie Drysdale(Defenseman)(D)|Philadelphia Flyers PHI

Injury

Drysdale will return to the Ducks lineup on Monday.

Source:

Alyson Lozoff 2021-03-30T00:31:19.020Z

Ryan Miller(Goalie)(G)|

Goalie Start

Miller will start Monday in Colorado.

Source:

Alyson Lozoff 2021-03-30T00:23:49.819Z

Mark Jankowski(Center)(C)|Carolina Hurricanes CAR

Injury

Jankowski will return to the Penguins lineup on Monday.

Source:

Mike DeFabo 2021-03-29T22:45:25.517Z

Jason Zucker(Left Wing)(LW)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Injury

Zucker was activated from IR and is on the ice for warmups; expected to play vs. the Islanders.

Source:

Mike DeFabo 2021-03-29T22:34:19.850Z

Semyon Varlamov(Goalie)(G)|New York Islanders NYI

Goalie Start

Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Josh Getzoff 2021-03-29T22:33:36.270Z

Cam Talbot(Goalie)(G)|Detroit Red Wings DET

Goalie Start

Talbot will start Monday in San Jose.

Source:

Sarah McLellan 2021-03-29T18:48:03.616Z

Connor Hellebuyck(Goalie)(G)|Winnipeg Jets WPG

Goalie Start

Hellebuyck will start Monday in Calgary.

Source:

Brian Munz 2021-03-29T18:36:36.120Z

Bowen Byram(Defenseman)(D)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Injury

Byram (upper-body) will not play on Monday.

Byram remains day-to-day and will not be available for Monday's game vs. the Ducks. With Byram still sidelined, Daniel Renouf will remain on the third pairing with Ryan Graves.

Source:

Rick Sadowski 2021-03-29T18:21:29.268Z

Matthew Nieto(Left Wing)(LW)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Injury

Nieto (lower-body) is expected to miss another week.

Nieto will miss his sixth consecutive game on Monday and head coach Bob Boughner expects him to be out until next week. With Nieto still out, Jeffrey Viel will make his NHL debut on Monday.

Source:

Kevin Kurz 2021-03-29T18:19:59.986Z

Jeffrey Viel(Left Wing)(LW)|Boston Bruins BOS

Line Change

Viel will make his NHL debut on Monday.

Viel opened the 2021 season in the AHL, scoring two goals with two assists in 17 games. He will play on the fourth line with Patrick Marleau and Marcus Sorensen in his debut.

Source:

Kevin Kurz 2021-03-29T18:18:06.229Z

Martin Jones(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Jones will start Monday vs. the WIld.

Source:

Sheng Peng 2021-03-29T18:15:06.225Z

Robin Lehner(Goalie)(G)|Vegas Golden Knights VGK

Goalie Start

Lehner was the first goalie off of the ice at the Golden Knights morning skate.

Source:

David Schoen 2021-03-29T19:03:15.652Z

Philipp Grubauer(Goalie)(G)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Goalie Start

Grubauer will start Monday vs. the Ducks.

Source:

Peter Baugh 2021-03-29T16:55:32.144Z

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 Trade News and Analysis – Get all the latest NHL trade rumours and team transaction analysis.
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.