Line Change
Barabanov will draw back into the Maple Leafs lineup on Friday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Hart will start Saturday in Boston.
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Lankinen will start his second straight game for the Blackhawks.
Goalie Start
Ullmark (personal) will return to the Sabres crease on Friday.
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Dubnyk will start Friday against the Wild.
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Talbot is expected to start Friday vs. the Sharks.
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Khudobin will start the Stars season opener on Friday.
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Lankinen is in the starter's net at the Blackhawks morning skate.
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Jarry will start Friday vs. the Rangers.
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Vanecek will start Friday vs. the Sabres.
Thornton will miss at least four weeks with a rib fracture.
Thornton left Wednesday's game following a collision in the third period and appeared to be in obvious discomfort. He underwent further evaluation on Thursday and the Maple Leafs announced he's dealing with a fractured rib on Friday morning. In addition to Thornton, Auston Matthews is also dealing with an upper-body injury, so both Adam Brooks and Pierre Engvall will enter the Maple Leafs lineup vs. Edmonton.
Matthews is day-to-day with an upper-body injury; will not play on Friday.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe is "not too concerned" with Matthews' upper-body injury. He told reporters Matthews was a possibility to play tonight but just wasn't feeling completely right, so they'll be cautious early in the season. With Matthews and Joe Thornton both out, the Maple Leafs will be without ⅔ of their top-line vs. the Oilers. Adam Brooks is expected to draw in to replace Matthews in some capacity.
Comeau (undisclosed) is not expected to play on Friday.
The entire first week of the Stars' season was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak and it doesn't look like they will have Comeau for their season opener on Friday. Comeau is not an offensive force but he is a key part of the Stars' shutdown line with Andrew Cogliano and Radek Faksa. Ty Dellandrea is expected to make his NHL debut in his place.
Klingberg (undisclosed) is questionable to play in the Stars season opener on Friday.
The Stars are finally ready to make their season debuts on Friday but they may do so without Klingberg. The All-Star defenseman was missing from practice on Thursday for what head coach Rick Bowness simply called "medical reasons." If Klingberg isn't available, Thomas Harley should suit up in his place and Miro Heiskanen would be on the top power-play unit.
Goalie Start
Quick led the Kings onto the ice for warmups.
Edler (undisclosed) is not on the ice for warmups will not play vs. Montreal.
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Allen led the Canadiens onto the ice for warmups.
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Demko led the Canucks onto the ice for warmups.
The Canucks have placed Travis Hamonic (upper-body) on IR.
Hamonic was hurt in the third period of Wednesday's game and was placed on IR prior to Thursday's game vs. the Canadiens. With Hamonic out, Brogan Rafferty was added to the 23-man roster and either he or Jordie Benn will draw into the lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy confirmed to start Thursday in Columbus.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Lightning's win over the Blackhawks last Friday. Vasilevskiy won his first two games of the season while stopping 57 of the 60 shots (.950 SV%). Those two games came against a terrible Blackhawks team, so tonight's matchup with the Blue Jackets should be a much stiffer test.
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.
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