NHL Hockey Player News

Blackwood will start in Edmonton on Friday.

Blackwood will start his second game in as many nights when the Avalanche travel to Edmonton on Friday. Blackwood turned in a stellar performance last night, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced in a 4-2 victory in Calgary. The 28-year-old netminder has been spectacular between the pipes for the Avs since being acquired from the Sharks earlier this season, registering a 13-6-2 record and a .926 SV%. He will need to be at his best again on Friday as the Avalanche enter action at +150 on the money line against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Bemstrom will make his season debut in New York on Friday.

Bemstrom has 228 games of NHL experience, including scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season, but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward has an impressive 41 points (19G / 22A) in 37 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). He replaces the injured Sidney Crosby (upper-body) in the Penguins lineup.

Emil Bemstrom
Saros will start in Chicago on Friday.

Saros will be looking to secure his first win since January 18th when the Predators travel to Chicago on Friday. Saros was tagged with his fourth-consecutive defeat in his last start, allowing four goals on 38 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Senators on Monday. The 29-year-old netminder owns a disappointing 11-22-6 record on the season to go along with a .901 SV%. Thankfully, Saros has a great chance of finally getting back in the win column on Friday as the Predators enter action at -190 on the money line.

Juuse Saros
Nashville has acquired Mark Friedman from Vancouver for Cash Considerations.

Friedman has 93 games of NHL experience but has primarily been an AHL player the past several seasons. The 29-year-old defenseman played five games with Vancouver this season, regularly being an option on the blueline whenever an injury arises. He has six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.

Mark Friedman
Kostin (lower-body) is an option to return on Saturday.

Kostin has not played since January 10th due to a lower-body injury but could draw back into the lineup on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. The 25-year-old Kostin is averaging 10:32 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 26 games this season.

Klim Kostin
Bourque (upper-body) will draw back into Dallas' lineup on Friday in Los Angeles.

Bourque has not played since taking a puck to the face on Sunday but willreturn to action on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 23-year-old Bourque has started to find his game at the NHL level, with seven points (4G / 3A) in his last 14 games after only scoring seven (2G / 5A) in his first 33. Colin Blackwell will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Bourque's return to the lineup.

Mavrik Bourque

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!