NHL Hockey Player News

Jared Spurgeon(Defenseman)(D)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Injury

Spurgeon (upper-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.

Spurgeon has been out since February 2nd but will be back in the lineup tonight in Anaheim. Spurgeon is expected to be paired with Ian Cole, who also makes his return to the lineup. Spurgeon has two assists in 11 games this season.

Source:

Sarah McLellan 2021-02-18T20:37:34.295Z

Carter Hart(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Hart will start Thursday vs. the Rangers.

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Sam Carchidi 2021-02-18T20:32:11.478Z

Darcy Kuemper(Goalie)(G)|Los Angeles Kings LAK

Goalie Start

Kuemper will start Thursday vs. the Kings.

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Alexander Kinkopf 2021-02-18T18:30:19.940Z

Sammy Blais(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Blais (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Blais has been out since February 6th but will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Blais, who has one goal and two assists in seven games this season, will likely replace Austin Poganski in the Blues' bottom-6.

Source:

Jim Thomas 2021-02-18T17:33:10.490Z

Marco Scandella(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Scandella (upper-body) will return to the Blues lineup on Thursday.

Scandella has been sidelined since February 2nd but will replace Colton Parayko in the lineup on Thursday. Scandella has no points, seven shots and a plus-4 rating n nine games this season.

Source:

Jeremy Rutherford 2021-02-18T17:30:58.542Z

Colton Parayko(Defenseman)(D)|St Louis Blues STL

Injury

Parayko (undisclosed) will not play Thursday vs. the Sharks.

Parayko was missing from Wednesday's practice and will not be in the lineup for Thursday's game vs. San Jose. With Parayko out, Marco Scandella will draw back into the Blues lineup.

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Jim Thomas 2021-02-18T17:29:03.754Z

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

Goalie Start

Varlamov will start Thursday in Pittsburgh.

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Arthur Staple 2021-02-18T17:18:57.749Z

Pekka Rinne(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Rinne is projected to start Thursday in Columbus.

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Nashville Predators 2021-02-18T16:59:48.854Z

Jakub Zboril(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Zboril (upper-body) will miss at least the next two games.

Zboril will miss his second straight game on Thursday and will not travel with the team to Lake Tahoe, ruling him out of Sunday's game vs. the Flyers.

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Joe McDonald 2021-02-18T16:58:37.922Z

Matt Grzelcyk(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Grzelcyk (lower-body) will miss at least the next two games.

Grzelcyk will miss his fourth straight game on Thursday and will not travel with the team to Lake Tahoe, ruling him out of Sunday's game vs. the Flyers.

Source:

Joe McDonald 2021-02-18T16:57:46.313Z

Dean Kukan(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Line Change

Kukan will come out of the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.

Kukan played 13:49 TOI and was a minus-3 in the Blue Jackets' loss in Carolina on Monday. Kukan will be a healthy scratch for the third time in four games and Scott Harrington will replace him on the blueline.

Source:

Jeff Svoboda 2021-02-18T16:56:10.265Z

Scott Harrington(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Harrington will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.

Harrington has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace Dean Kukan in the lineup on Thursday. Harrington has one goal and one assist in three games this season.

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Jeff Svoboda 2021-02-18T16:54:56.325Z

Stefan Matteau(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Matteau will come out of the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.

Matteau played 12:00 TOI in his season debut on Monday but will be replaced by Mikhail Grigorenko in the lineup on Thursday.

Source:

Jeff Svoboda 2021-02-18T16:54:01.826Z

Mikhail Grigorenko(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Grigorenko will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.

Grigorenko sat as a healthy scratch on Monday but will replace Steffan Matteau in the lineup on Thursday. Grigorenko has five points (2G / 3A) in his first 15 games with Columbus.

Source:

Jeff Svoboda 2021-02-18T16:53:02.256Z

Artemi Panarin(Left Wing)(LW)|New York Rangers NYR

Injury

Panarin (lower-body) is expected to return to the Rangers lineup on Thursday.

Panarin has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but is expected to play Thursday in Philadelphia. Panarin, who is expected to skate with Ryan Strome and Kaapo Kakko, leads the Rangers with 15 points (5G / 10A) in 12 games this season.

Source:

@NYRangers 2021-02-18T16:50:54.558Z

Jordan Binnington(Goalie)(G)|St Louis Blues STL

Goalie Start

Binnington will start Thursday vs. the Sharks.

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Jim Thomas 2021-02-18T16:47:08.517Z

Mackenzie Blackwood(Goalie)(G)|Colorado Avalanche COL

Goalie Start

Blackwood is expected to start Thursday in Boston.

Source:

Amanda Stein 2021-02-18T16:43:06.430Z

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

Goalie Start

Jarry will start Thursday vs. the Islanders.

Source:

Mike DeFabo 2021-02-18T16:42:28.254Z

Erik Karlsson(Defenseman)(D)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Injury

Karlsson (lower-body) will miss at least the next two games.

Karlsson, who has missed the last two games, did not travel with the team to St. Louis, so he'll miss at least two more games with a lower-body injury. Tomas Hertl may have slipped up on Wednesday, saying that Karlsson is dealing with a groin injury that could keep him out for a bit.

Source:

Kevin Kurz 2021-02-18T16:41:49.770Z

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

Goalie Start

Jones will start Thursday in St. Louis.

Source:

Sheng Peng 2021-02-18T16:38:01.695Z

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.