NHL Hockey Player News

The Rangers signed Patrick Khodorenko to an entry-level contract.

Khodorenko was an undrafted free agent and finished his senior season at Michigan State University, where he led the team in goals (16) and points (33) in 36 games. Khodorenko's contract begins in 2020-21, and he will join the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) immediately on an Amateur Try-Out.

Patrick Khodorenko
The Rangers signed Justin Richards to an entry-level contract.

Richards is an undrafted free agent centre, who had 14 goals and 11 assists (25 points) in 34 games in his junior year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Richards will likely return to University for his senior season and join Hartford (AHL) when he turns pro.

Justin Richards
The Sharks signed John Leonard to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Leonard was a sixth-round pick in 2018 and finished his junior season at UMass-Amherst as a Hobby Baker finalist after tallying a team-high 27 goals and 37 points. In his three-year stint with the MinuteMen, Leonard scored 105 points (56 goals, 49 assists) in 106 career games.

John Leonard
The Kings signed Aidan Dudas to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Dudas was picked in the fourth-round of the 2018 NHL draft and finished his fourth year in the OHL with 15 goals and 38 assists (53 points) in 48 games with the Owen Sound Attack. The 19-year-old centre also represented Canada at the World Juniors, where he tallied two assists in seven games. He is expected to join Ontario (AHL) for the 2020-21 season.

Aidan Dudas
The Predators signed Egor Afanasyev to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Afanasyev was viewed as a potential first-round pick in last year's draft but fell to the Predators at the No.45 pick (second-round). The 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. Russian winger joined the Windsor Spitfires (OHL) for the 2020 campaign and led the team in goals (31) and was tied for first in points (67).

Egor Afanasyev
The Predators signed Thomas Novak to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Nashville selected Novak all the way back in 2015 as a third-round pick. After finished his four years at the University of Minnesota, Novak joined the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee where he eared an NHL contract by finishing second on the team in assists (31) and third in points (42) in 60 games.

Tommy Novak
The Maple Leafs signed Alexander Barabanov to a one-year, entry-level contract.

Barabanov has been a member of St. Petersburg SKA of the KHL since 2014 and finished the 2020 season with 11 goals and nine assists (20 points) in 43 games. Barabanov was a member of the Olympic Athletes of Russia that won gold in the 2018 Olympics, scoring one goal with one assist in six games.

Alexander Barabanov
The Maple Leafs signed Martin Marincin to a one-year contract extension worth $700K.

Marincin has only suited up in 13 games so far this season, failing to record a point while playing just 14:19 ATOI. The Maple Leafs have some promising young prospects waiting in the wings, likely making Marincin their No.7 defenseman for 2021 with this signing.

Martin Marincin
The Blackhawks signed Matt Tomkins to a two-year, two-way contract.

The Blackhawks drafted Tomkins in the seventh-round in 2012. Following a four-year stint at Ohio State University, Tomkins turned pro and joined the Blackhawks affiliates in the ECHL and AHL. He spent all of 2019 in the ECHL before starting 13 games with Rockford (AHL) in 2020, going 5-7-1 with a 3.12 GAA and .896 SV%.

Matt Tomkins
The Blackhawks signed Andrei Altybarmakyan to a two-year, entry-level contract.

Altybarmakyan was selected by the Blackhawks in the third-round (No.70 overall) in 2017 and he spent the 2019-20 season in the KHL. The 5-foot-11, 191 lbs. winger scored six goals with 11 assists (17 points) in 49 games with Sochi HC. He was a member of the 2018 Russian World Juniors team, scoring one goal with two assists in five games.

Andrei Altybarmakyan
The Blackhawks signed Evan Barratt to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Barratt was a third-round pick in the 2017 draft and wrapped up his junior year at Penn State University tied for the team-lead in goals (12) and second in points (34) in 34 games. the 21-year-old centre had one goal in seven games while representing the USA in the 2019 World Juniors.

Evan Barratt
The Blackhawks signed Matthew Highmore to a two-year contract extension worth $1.45 million ($725K AAV ).

In his third professional season, Highmore split his time between the AHL and NHL. He scored two goals with four assists (six points) in 36 games with the Blackhawks, serving exclusively as a bottom-6 option. He added 12 points (4G / 8A) in 21 AHL contests.

Matthew Highmore

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!