NHL Hockey Player News

Nikita Kucherov(Right Wing)(RW)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Injury

Kucherov will have hip surgery and will not play during the 2021 regular season.

The Lightning are hopeful that Kucherov will be available for the playoffs. Kucherov going on LTIR provides the Lightning with $9.5 million in cap space, which is a positive to come out of this. Tampa Bay is pressed up tight against the cap but losing their best player should allow them to get RFA Anthony Cirelli under contract before the start of the season.

Source:

Joe Smith 2020-12-23T20:53:07.222Z

Michael Frolik(Right Wing)(RW)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Canadiens have signed Michael Frolik to a one-year contract worth $750K.

Source:

Chris Johnston 2020-12-23T19:13:18.011Z

Erik Haula(Left Wing)(LW)|Nashville Predators NSH

Signing

The Predators have signed Erik Haula to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million.

Source:

@PredsPR 2020-12-23T19:12:10.277Z

Mikael Granlund(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Predators have signed Mikael Granlund to a one-year contract worth $3.75 million.

Source:

@PredsPR 2020-12-23T19:11:54.227Z

Alexander Volkov(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Lightning signed Alexander Volkov to a one-year deal worth $700K.

Source:

@TBLightning 2020-12-23T19:10:06.778Z

Mathieu Joseph(Right Wing)(RW)|St Louis Blues STL

Signing

The Lightning signed Mathieu Joseph to a two-year contract worth $1.475 million ($737.5K AAV).

Source:

@TBLightning 2020-12-23T19:09:53.506Z

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

Signing

The Devils signed Mackenzie Blackwood to a three-year extension worth $8.4 million ($2.8M AAV).

Source:

Pierre LeBrun 2020-12-23T19:08:25.754Z

Conor Sheary(Left Wing)(LW)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Signing

The Capitals have signed Conor Sheary to a one-year contract worth $735K.

Source:

Samantha Pell 2020-12-22T22:21:41.091Z

Jan Rutta(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Lightning has signed Jan Rutta to a two-year contract worth $2.6 million ($1.3M AAV).

Source:

@TBLightning 2020-12-22T21:01:23.213Z

Erik Cernak(Defenseman)(D)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Signing

The Lightning have signed Erik Cernak to a three-year contract extension worth $8.85 million ($2.95M AAV).

Source:

@TBLightning 2020-12-22T20:59:57.727Z

Gaetan Haas(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Haas will miss the start of training camp after being in close contact of COVID-19 in Switzerland, delaying his travel time.

Haas was in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Hass's travel will be delayed, so he is expected to miss the opening of the already abbreviated training camp.

Source:

@EdmontonOilers 2020-12-21T19:43:40.216Z

Oscar Klefbom(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Klefbom will miss the 2020-21 season and is hoping to be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season.

Klefbom is dealing with a shoulder injury and GM Ken Holland said he's still deciding on surgery but will take off the entire 2021 season regardless. Klefbom is hoping to be ready for the fall, when training camp for 2021-22 beings. The Oilers prepared for this possibility, by signing Tyson Barrie to a one-year deal this fall. He'll fill in for Klefbom on the top power-play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Source:

@EdmontonOilers 2020-12-21T19:41:17.319Z

Anthony Duclair(Left Wing)(LW)|New York Islanders NYI

Signing

The Panthers have signed Anthony Duclair to a one-year contract worth $1.7 million.

Source:

Pierre LeBrun 2020-12-17T23:30:25.652Z

Henrik Lundqvist(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Lundqvist will not play in the 2021 season due to a heart condition.

Lundqvist took to Twitter on Thursday to announce that he will not be joining the Capitals for the upcoming season. "After many weeks of tests and conversations with specialists around the country, it's been determined that a heart condition will prevent me from taking the ice," Lundqvist said in the statement. Lundqvist was set to share the net with Ilya Samsonov this season but now Samsonov will receive the lion's share of the starts with either Pheonix Copley or Vitek Vanecek serving as his backup.

Source:

Henrik Lundqvist 2020-12-17T18:18:53.662Z

Alex Steen(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Retirement

Alexander Steen has announced his retirement from the NHL due to a back injury.

Steen was heading into the final year of a four-year contract that carried a $5.45M AAV. Steen played 15 years in the NHL, 12 with St. Louis and four with Toronto, totalling 245 goals and 377 assists (622 points) in 1,018 games. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

Source:

@StLouisBlues 2020-12-17T15:07:49.632Z

Philippe Myers(Defenseman)(D)|Toronto Maple Leafs TOR

Signing

The Flyers have re-signed Philippe Myers to a three-year contract extension worth $7.65 million ($2.55M AAV).

Myers was elevated to the NHL full-time in 2020, tallying four goals with 12 assists (16 points) in 50 games. Myers has tremendous size (6-foot-5, 212 lbs.) and could be asked to step into a much larger role on the Flyers blueline in 2021 following Matt Niskanen's sudden retirement.

Source:

Philadelphia Flyers 2020-12-09T02:16:21.638Z

Mats Zuccarello(Right Wing)(RW)|Minnesota Wild MIN

Injury

Zuccarello underwent surgery on his right arm and is out indefinitely.

Last Friday, the Minnesota Wild announced that Zuccarello underwent right arm surgery in Norway and no timetable for his return has been established. Zuccarello broke his right arm in his first game with the Dallas Stars back in 2019 and he missed five weeks. With Zuccarello expected to miss some time to start the season, expect Jordan Greenway to be elevated into a top-6 role.

Source:

Sarah McLellan 2020-12-09T02:07:47.521Z

Mikhail Sergachev(Defenseman)(D)|Utah Mammoth UTA

Signing

The Lightning signed Mikhail Sergachev to a three-year contract extension worth $14.4 million ($4.8M AAV).

Source:

@TBLightning 2020-11-26T02:01:38.565Z

Jake DeBrusk(Left Wing)(LW)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Signing

The Bruins have signed Jake DeBrush to a two-year deal worth $7.35 million ($3.675M AAV).

Source:

PuckPedia 2020-11-23T22:38:37.578Z

Luke Evangelista(Right Wing)(RW)|Nashville Predators NSH

Signing

The Predators signed Luke Evangelista to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Source:

Nashville Predators 2020-11-10T13:33:46.878Z

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.