$125 Waivers
The Rangers have placed Sean Day on unconditional waivers for purpose of termination of final year of entry-level contract.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Flyers have signed Linus Hogberg to a two-year, entry-level contract.
The Blackhawks have signed Matej Chalupa to a two-year, entry-level contract.
The Islanders have signed Blade Jenkins to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Islanders selected Jenkins in the fifth-round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old, Michigan native spent 2020 with the Saginaw Spirit, where he scored 16 goals with 24 assists (40 points) in 47 games. He will likely return to the OHL for his fourth season in 2021.
The Maple Leafs have signed Adam Brooks to a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $1.45 million ($725K AAV).
Brooks provides the Maple Leafs with fourth-line centre depth for the next two seasons. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut this season, chipping in three assists in seven games. During his time with the Marlies, he tallied nine goals and 11 assists (20 points) in 29 games.
The Canadiens have signed Caneron Hillis to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Montreal selected Hillis in the third-round of the 2018 draft. The 19-year-old centre finished his third-year with the Guelph Storm first on the team in assists (59), second in points (83) and third in goals (24) in 62 games.
The Golden Knights have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with Jack Dugan.
Dugan was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft and has agreed to turn pro after just two seasons at Providence College. Dugan was a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2020 after leading the nation with 52 points (10G / 42A) in just 34 games. The 22-year-old paced the league in assists, points-per-game (1.53), power-play points (22) and even-strength points (30). He'll likely start the 2021 season in the AHL but the Golden Knights have to be very pleased with Dugan's rapid progression since being drafted three years ago.
The Sharks have signed Timur Ibragimov to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Ibragimov was drafted in the sixth-round of the 2019 draft and spent 2020 in Russia's second and third tier. Ibragimov had a lot of success on the "junior" circuit, posting seven points (5G / 2A) in seven games but had just 13 points (5G / 8A) in 35 games after moving up to the VHL (Russia's second division).
The Ducks have signed Brendan Guhle to a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension ($800k AAV).
Guhle, who was acquired from Buffalo last February as a part of the Brandon Montour trade, split his time evenly between the AHL and NHL in 2019-20. During his time with Anaheim, he had four goals and four assists (eight points) in 30 games. With the San Diego Gulls, he was second among team defensemen with 14 points (4G / 10A) despite only appearing in 27 games. He should be a full-time NHLer in 2021 as the Ducks continue to rebuild their once promising blueline.
The Ducks have signed Sam Carrick to a one-year contract extension worth $700K.
After spending the first seven years of his career in the Maple Leafs organization, Carrick has been with the Ducks since 2016-17. In that time, he has appeared in just 15 NHL games, amassing one goal and two assists. However, he has been prolific at the AHL-level, leading the team in points (61) last year and was leading San Diego in goals (23) and points (43) in 46 games before this year was paused.
The Rangers have signed Tyler Wall to an entry-level contract.
Wall was selected in the sixth-round of the 2016 draft. The 22-year-old netminder finished his senior season at UMass-Lowell at 18-8-6 with a 2.10 GAA and .931 SV%. After a terrific collegiate career, Wall joins the Rangers, where he is likely headed to the AHL for the foreseeable future.
$125 Waivers
The Capitals have placed Brendan Leipsic on unconditional waivers for purpose of terminating his contract.
Leipsic had an Instagram conversation made public earlier in the week that revealed some inappropriate comments made by Leipsic about women and his teammates. The NHL called Leipsic's comments "misogynistic and reprehensible" and on Friday the Capitals took the first step in terminating the 25-year-old's contract. During his 61 games in Washington, Leipsic scored three goals and eight assists (11 points).
The Canadiens have agrred to terms with Alexander Romanov on a three-year, entry-level contract.
Romanov was selected in the second-round (No.38 overall) in 2018 and is expected to make the leap into the NHL in 2020-21. The 20-year-old Russian blueliner has spent the last two seasons in the KHL, where he's played a limited role and tallied just 11 points (1G / 10A) in a combined 86 games for CSKA Moscow. However, while playing against players his own age in the 2019 and 2020 World Juniors, Romanov had two goals and 12 assists (14 points) in 14 games. Due to the current pause of the NHL season, the start date of the contract has yet to be determined.
The Lightning have signed Dmitri Semykin to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Tampa Bay selected Semykin with the No.90 pick (third round) in 2018. The 6-foot-2, 214 lbs. Russian defenseman played in Russia's second league in 2019-20, tallying nine goals and 15 assists (24 points) in 44 games with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL). He wass a member of the Russian U-18 team but was not selected for the World Juniors.
The Ducks have signed Christian Djoos to a one-year contract extension worth $1 million.
Djoos opened the 2020 campaign with the Hershey Bears (AHL) where he had 32 points (5G / 27A) in 42 games. In late-February he was dealt to the Ducks for Daniel Sprong and he registered one goal and two assists while playing 21:22 ATOI in nine games with the Ducks before the season was paused.
The Ducks have signed Jani Hakanpaa to a one-year contract extension worth $750k.
Hakanpaa signed a one-year deal at the start of 2019-20 following four years in the Finnish Elite League. The former Blues fourth-round pick spent most of the season in the AHL, where he had one goal and 12 assists (14 points) in 47 games. During a brief audition with the Ducks, Hakanpaa had one goal while playing 18:07 ATOI in five games.
The Panthers have signed Grigori Denisenko to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Florida selected Denisenko with the No.15 overall pick in 2018. The 19-year-old winger has spent the last two seasons playing a minimal role in the KHL, posting just 12 points (6G / 6A) in 38 games this past season. However, while playing against players of his age, Denisenko has flourished. He has represented Russia at the World Juniors in each of the last two years and has combined for 18 points (7G / 11A) in 14 games. He should be in a Panthers' uniform in 2020-21 and will be among the pre-season favourites to win the Calder Trophy.
The Sharks signed Fredrik Handemark to a one-year, entry-level contract ($725K AAV).
Handemark was an undrafted free-agent out of Sweden. The 26-year-old centre has played primarily in the Swedish Elite League since 2014 and is coming off of a career-year. He set new career-bests in goals (14), assists (24) to lead Malmo in points (38) in 52 games this season.
The Sharks signed Alexei Melnichuk to a two-year deal worth $1.85 million ($925K AAV).
Melnichuk was high in demand after a strong 2019-20 season in the KHL. The 21-year-old netminder only appeared in 16 games, but went 8-5-1 and finished fourth in the league in GAA (1.68) and tied for 12th in SV% (.930). He signs with San Jose where he could play right away. Aaron Dell is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season and Martin Jones struggled with a 3.00 GAA and .896 SV% before the season was paused. Their team GAA (3.21) was fifth-worst in the league, so Melnichuk addresses an immediate need for San Jose.
The Maple Leafs have signed Mikko Lehtonen to a one-year, entry-level contract.
Lehtonen was a 26-year-old, undrafted free agent defenseman out of Finland. Lehtonen has bounced all over Europe in recent years, most recently playing for Jokerit in the KHL. In 2019-20, the 5-foot-11, 196 lbs. blueliner led the team with 49 points (17G / 32A) in 60 games.
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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