NHL Hockey Player News

Werenski (lower-body) will be a game-time decision vs. Utah on Thursday.

Werenski is battling a lower-body injury and could miss a second consecutive game on Thursday against the Utah Hockey Club. Already without Sean Monahan (wrist) and Kirill Marchenko (jaw), the Blue Jackets can ill-afford to be without the elite offensive services of Werenski, who is having a Norris trophy caliber season, with 57 points (17G / 40A) in 53 games.

Zach Werenski
Daws is in the starter's crease at New Jersey's morning skate.

Daws was excellent in his season debut on Tuesday, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will likely return to the crease for a second consecutive start on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. In 21 AHL games this season, Daws is 5-14-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .888 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -100 home underdogs against a Golden Knights squad amid a four-game losing skid (0-2-2).

Nico Daws
Pelletier (visa) will remain out on Thursday vs. Washington.

Pelletier will have to wait at least one more game before making his debut with the Flyers. Their next game will be on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 23-year-old Pelletier averaged 12:38 time-on-ice and had 11 points (4G / 7A) in 24 games with the Flames this season.

Jakob Pelletier
Kuzmenko (visa) will remain unavailable on Thursday vs. Washington.

Kuzmenko will have to wait at least one more game before making his debut with the Flyers. Their next game will be on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kuzmenko broke onto the NHL scene in the 2022-23 season with a tremendous 74 points (39G / 35A) in 81 games with the Vancouver Canucks. The now 28-year-old has struggled to recapture that scoring prowess, with only 61 points (26G / 35A) in 109 games since.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Fedotov will start vs. Washington on Thursday.

The Flyers have been outscored 13-2 in their last four games (0-3-1) and will hope for a better fate on Thursday with Fedotov between the pipes against the Washington Capitals. The 28-year-old Fedotov allowed three goals on 28 shots (.893 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders, and has a 3.21 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 appearances this season (4-7-3). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as +130 home underdogs against a Capitals team with points in four straight (2-0-2).

Ivan Fedotov
Merzlikins is in the starter's crease at Columbus' morning skate.

The Blue Jackets have lost two straight (0-2-0) and will hope for a better result on Thursday, with Merzlikins tending the twine against the Utah Hockey Club. Merzlikins has played well lately, posting a .919 SV% in his last eight games (5-3-0). The 30-year-old netminder has a 2.96 GAA and .894 SV% in 35 games this season (19-13-3). Columbus enters Thursday's contest as +140 home underdogs against a Utah team with points in three of their last four (1-1-2).

Elvis Merzlikins
Dobes will start in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes when they travel to Los Angeles on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday. Dobes was tagged with the first regulation loss of his young career in his last start, allowing three goals on 26 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Wild on Thursday. The rookie netminder owns a 5-1-1 record and a .927 SV% on the season. He could have a hard time getting back in the win column on Wednesday as the Habs enter action at +200 on the money line.

Jakub Dobes
Pickard will start in Chicago on Wednesday.

Pickard will get the starting nod for the tail-end of Edmonton's back-to-back in Chicago on Wednesday. Pickard was excellent in his last outing, stopping 26 of the 28 shots he faced in a 4-2 victory over the Kraken on January 27th. Pickard boasts an impressive 13-4-0 record and a .901 SV% on the season. He's a good bet to stay in the win column on Tuesday as the Oilers enter action at -260 on the money line.

Calvin Pickard
Hartman has elected to appeal his ten-game suspension.

Hartman was recently suspended ten games for roughing Ottawa's Tim Stutzle. The appeal will be heard by commissioner Gary Bettman. If the decision is upheld or is altered to a suspension of six games or more, Hartman will also have the option to appeal to an independent arbitrator.

Ryan Hartman

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!