NHL Hockey Player News

Lars Eller(Center)(C)|Washington Capitals WAS

Injury

Eller (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Sunday.

Eller has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but practiced on Saturday and could be back in the lineup on Saturday. Eller would slot in on the second line and has one goal and one assist in seven games on the year.

Source:

JJ Regan 2021-02-06T18:15:36.288Z

Zach Werenski(Defenseman)(D)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Injury

Werenski (undisclosed) will not play on Sunday.

According to John Tortorella, Werenksi is "banged up" and will not play on Sunday. In Saturday's practice Dean Kukan took Werenski's spot next to Seth Jones and it looks as if Scott Harrington will draw in as the sixth defenseman.

Source:

Brian Hedger 2021-02-06T17:57:17.071Z

Jake Virtanen(Right Wing)(RW)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Virtanen will come out of the Canucks lineup on Saturday.

It's been a struggle for Virtanen this year, the former first-round pick has just one goal in 11 games. As a result, he'll be scratched for the fourth time in six games, with Justin Bailey replacing him in the Canucks bottom-6.

Source:

Matt Sekeres 2021-02-06T17:55:16.944Z

Justin Bailey(Right Wing)(RW)|Anaheim Ducks ANA

Line Change

Bailey will make his season debut on Saturday.

Bailey was brought up from the taxi squad and will make his season debut Saturday in Toronto. The 25-year-old winger had five goals and four assists in 65 career NHL games and will be replacing Jake Virtanen.

Source:

Matt Sekeres 2021-02-06T17:52:05.550Z

Adam Gaudette(Right Wing)(RW)|Ottawa Senators OTT

Line Change

Gaudette will come out of the Canucks lineup on Saturday.

Gaudette suited up for the last five games but will be replaced by Loui Eriksson in the lineup on Saturday night. Gaudette scored in the Canucks season opener but has just one goal and no assists in 10 games since.

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Matt Sekeres 2021-02-06T17:51:00.805Z

Mikko Koskinen(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Koskinen will start Saturday in Calgary.

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Jason Gregor 2021-02-06T17:48:01.876Z

Loui Eriksson(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Eriksson will make his season debut on Saturday.

Eriksson was scratched for the first 14 games of the season but will replace Zack MacEwen in the lineup in Toronto. The 35-year-old winger, who had 13 points (6G / 7A) in 49 games last season, will start the game in the top-6 with Bo Horvat.

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Matt Sekeres 2021-02-06T17:47:16.372Z

Troy Grosenick(Goalie)(G)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Waiver Move

The Kings have claimed Troy Grosenick off of waivers from the Oilers.

The Kings lost Grosenick on waivers to the Oilers in mid-January but re-claimed the 31-year-old netminder on Saturday. The Oilers waiving him suggests that Mike Smith will be ready to re-join the active roster soon.

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Elliotte Friedman 2021-02-06T17:43:22.573Z

Jacob Markstrom(Goalie)(G)|New Jersey Devils NJD

Goalie Start

Markstrom will start Saturday vs. the Oilers.

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Pat Steinberg 2021-02-06T17:31:14.712Z

Braden Holtby(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Holtby will start Saturday in Toronto.

Source:

@Canucks 2021-02-06T17:16:35.825Z

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

Goalie Start

Varlamov will start Saturday vs. the Penguins.

Source:

Josh Getzoff 2021-02-06T17:00:08.099Z

Braden Holtby(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Holtby is in the starter's crease at the Canucks morning skate.

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Chris Johnston 2021-02-06T16:44:12.209Z

Tristan Jarry(Goalie)(G)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Goalie Start

Jarry will start Saturday against the Islanders.

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Josh Getzoff 2021-02-06T16:42:21.590Z

Jake Allen(Goalie)(G)|New Jersey Devils NJD

Goalie Start

Allen will start Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.

Source:

Stu Cowan 2021-02-06T16:16:41.761Z

Mikko Lehtonen(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Lehtonen will be back in the Maple Leafs lineup on Saturday.

Lehtonen has been in and out of the Maple Leafs lineup to start his NHL career, playing in just four of the first 11 games of the season. On Saturday, he will replace Travis Dermott, who is dealing with a charley horse from Thursday's win. Lehtonen as one assist and one shot while averaging 9:21 TOI in his first four NHL games.

Source:

Josh Clipperton 2021-02-06T15:19:19.953Z

Travis Dermott(Defenseman)(D)|Edmonton Oilers EDM

Injury

Dermott (lower-body) will not play on Saturday.

Dermott was forced to leave Thursday's game vs. the Canucks with a charley horse and will not be in the lineup for Saturday's rematch. The Maple Leafs have a couple of solid young defensemen sitting on the sidelines, so there is no sense playing Dermott if he's not 100 percent. Mikko Lehtonen will draw into the lineup for him.

Source:

Josh Clipperton 2021-02-06T15:03:47.986Z

Anthony Beauvillier(Left Wing)(LW)|Washington Capitals WAS

Injury

Beauviller (lower-body) will not play on Saturday.

Beauvillier has not played since January 24th but was spotted back on the ice early this week, however, he will remain sidelined for Saturday's game vs. the Penguins. The Islanders have gone 0-2-2 without Beauviller.

Source:

Andrew Gross 2021-02-06T15:01:46.452Z

Matt Murray(Goalie)(G)|Toronto Maple Leafs TOR

Goalie Start

Murray will start Saturday afternoon vs. the Canadiens.

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Ian Mendes 2021-02-06T14:46:50.491Z

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

Goalie Start

Quick starts Friday in Vegas.

Source:

Zach Dooley 2021-02-06T02:43:26.708Z

Ryan Getzlaf(Center)(C)|Inactive INA

Injury

Getzlaf (lower-body) will not be in the lineup Friday vs. the Sharks.

Source:

@AnaheimDucks 2021-02-06T02:33:36.927Z

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.