The Capitals have signed Hendrix Lapierre to a three-year, entry-level contract.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Avalanche have signed Devon Toews to a four-year deal worth $16.4 million ($4.1M AAV).
The Islanders have signed Josh Ho-Sang to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K/$225K.
The Senators have signed Chris Tierney to a two-year extension worth $7.0 million ($3.5M AAV).
Tierney is a solid two-way veteran that has averaged 13 goals and 31 assists (41 points) over the last three seasons. He's a valuable player for the Senators because he can play centre or the wing and can play up and down their lineup. The two-year deal will also allow the Senators to expose him in the Seattle expansion draft.
The Sabres have signed Linus Ullmark to a one-year deal worth $2.6 million.
Given Carter Hutton's struggles since signing with the Sabress, Ullmark has become their No.1 netminder over the last two seasons. He's coming off of a solid campaign in 2020 but ranks tied for 26th in SV% (.910) and tied for 35th in GAA (2.91) since the start of 2019. The Sabres have improved this offseason but Ullmark remains nothing more than a low-end No.2 fantasy netminder.
The Flames signed Josh Leivo to a one-year contract worth $875K.
Leivo appeared in just 36 games with the Canucks last season, picking up seven goals and 12 assists (19 points). The Leivo signing continues the Flames' trend of bringing in former Canucks this offseason. With Dominik Simon and Joakim Nordstrom also signing with the Flames, they have plenty of internal competition for bottom-6 roles this season.
The Sabres signed Sam Reinhart to a one-year deal worth $5.2 million.
In 2020, Reinhart was on-pace to set a new career-high in goals but when the season was paused he had 22 goals and 28 assists (50 points) in 69 games. Reinhart has not missed a game in three seasons, averaging 24 goals and 34 assists (58 points) per 82 games. With the addition of Taylor Hall, Reinhart could be pushed from the top-line in 2021 but should still finish with 20-plus goals and 30-plus assists.
The Hurricanes signed Gustav Forsling to a one-year, two-way contract ($700K/$200K).
Forsling had 26 points (8G / 16A) in 57 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) during his first season in the Hurricanes' organization. He was acquired from the Blackhawks in the summer of 2019 in a deal that sent Calvin de Haan and Aleksi Saarela to Chicago. Given the fact that Carolina has such a deep blueline and Jake Bean is ahead of him on the AHL depth chart, Forsling likely won't be in the NHL in 2021.
The Stars signed Landon Bow to a one-year, two-way contract.
Bow was 12-11-3 with a 3.31 GAA and .895 SV% in 30 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) in 2020. Bow is fourth on the Stars goaltending depth chart, sitting behind Ben Bishop, Anton Khudobin and Jake Oettinger. Bow has two career NHL appearances.
The Wild have signed Marco Rossi to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Rossi was the No.9 overall pick in the latest NHL Draft after leading the OHL with 120 points (39G / 81A) in 56 games with the Ottawa 67's. With the OHL season in limbo, Rossi will probably get a chance to make the Wild out of training camp but he will likely go to the OHL once their season gets underway.
The Wild have signed Louis Belpedio to a one-year, two-way extension ($700K/$135K).
Belpedio spent the entire 2020 season with the Iowa Wild (AHL), collecting 20 points (5G / 15A) and 102 PIMS in 62 games. Since being drafted in the third round in 2014, the 24-year-old defenseman has appeared in three NHL games, picking up two assists.
The Flames signed Nikita Nesterov to a one-year deal worth $700K.
Nesterov was originally a fifth-round pick of the Lightning back in 2011. He spent four seasons in North America, including parts of three seasons in the NHL before returning to Russia and playing in the KHL from 2018-to-2020. Nesterov had 23 points (7G / 16A) in 53 games with CSKA Moscow in the most recent season and has 33 points (9G / 24A) in 132 career NHL games with Tampa Bay and Montreal.
The Maple Leafs have signed Travis Dermott to a one-year deal worth $874K.
Dermott was an RFA and gets a one-year, "show-me" deal as we head into the 2021 campaign. In 2020, Dermott matched his career-best of four goals but compiled just 11 points in 56 games. Dermott doesn't have a lot of offensive upside and will likely be a third-pairing defenseman in 2021.
The Devils have signed Dmitry Kulikov to a one-year deal worth $1.15 million.
Kulikov had two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 51 game with the Jets last season. Kulikov topped 100 huts for the sixth time in his 11-year career and will bring a physical element to the Devils blueline. His one-year deal buys Ty Smith an extra year of development before he likely becomes a full-time NHLer in 2022.
Signing
The Sabres have signed Casey Nelson to a one-year deal worth $700K.
Nelson spent all of 2020 in the AHL, picking up four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 48 games with the Rochester Americans. The 28-year-old has 18 points (4G / 14A) in 93 career NHL games (all with Buffalo) but will almost certainly start 2021 in the AHL again.
The Hurricanes have signed Antoine Bibeau to a one-year, two-way contract.
Bibeau has primarily served as a AHL netminder since being drafted in the sixth-round in 2013. He has played just four NHL games, allowing nine goals on 97 shots (.907 SV%). He will likely serve as Alex Nedeljkovic's backup in the AHL to start 2021.
The Stars have signed Denis Gurianov to a two-year contract worth $5.1 million ($2.55 M AAV).
Gurianov made the jump to the NHL in 2020 and used his great shot to score 20 goals with nine assists (29 points) in 64 regular seasons games. Once the NHL returned to play he flourished in the postseason, picking up 17 points (9G / 8A) in 27 games. He has a chance to become a 25-25 player in the Stars' top-6 in 2021.
The Flames have signed Dominik Simon to a one-year deal worth $700K.
The Canucks have re-signed Jake Virtanen to a two-year extension worth $5.1 million ($2.55M AAV).
Signing
The Hurricanes signed Drew Shore to a one-year, two-way contract.
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!