Goalie Start
Quick will start Thursday vs. the Canucks.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Flames have recalled Dustin Wolf from Stockton (AHL).
Wolf, who is 14-0-2 with a 1.84 GAA and .940 SV% in 16 AHL games this season, will backup Jacob Markstrom on Thursday.
The Flames have added Brett Ritchie to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Ritchie was one of the few Flames not to test positive for COVID-19 during their massive outbreak but he tested positive now and did not travel to Seattle for Thursday's game.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start Thursday in Seattle.
Eriksson Ek (upper-body) is expected to miss a couple of weeks.
Both Eriksson Ek and Jared Spurgeon were already ruled out for the Winter Classic and head coach Dean Evason announced Thursday that both are expected to miss multiple weeks. With Eriksson Ek out, Frederick Gaudreau will move up in between Marcus Foligno and Kevin Fiala.
Spurgeon (lower-body) is expected to miss a couple of weeks.
Both Spurgeon and Joel Eriksson Ek were already ruled out for the Winter Classic and head coach Dean Evason announced Thursday that both are expected to miss multiple weeks. With Jonas Brodin also on the COVID-19 protocol list, Calen Addison could get a look in the Winter Classic.
Goalie Start
Reimer will start Thursday vs. the Flyers.
D. Raddysh will make his NHL debut on Thursday.
Cal Foote was added to the COVID-19 protocol list this morning, so Raddysh will suit up next to Sean Day. Raddysh had two assists in 13 games with Syracuse (AHL) earlier in the season.
T. Raddysh has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Raddysh will be replaced by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, who was activated from the protocol list this morning. Ross Colton should move up to replace him on the line with Steven Stamkos.
Foote has been added to the COVID-19 protocol list.
Foote will come out of the Lightning lineup on Thursday and will be replaced by Darren Raddysh, who will make his NHL debut.
Bellemare has been activated from the COVID-19 protocol list and is expected to play Thursday.
Bellemare will return from the COVID-19 protocol list just in time to replace Taylor Raddysh, who was added this morning. Ross Colton should move into the top-6 to replace Raddysh and Bellemare should slide back in between Pat Maroon and Corey Perry.
Boqvist (upper-body) will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Boqvist has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury but is set to play Thursday vs. the Predators. Boqvist has been pretty solid for the Blue Jackets so far, scoring six goals with three assists (nine points) in 18 games.
Bemstrom will make his season debut on Thursday.
Bemstrom suffered an injury during the preseason and has been working his way back ever since. He scored one goal in three games during his time with Cleveland (AHL) and is finally set to make his season debut on Thursday. The 22-year-old forward had three goals and two assists (five points) in 20 games with Columbus last year.
Laine (oblique) will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Laine has been out since November 3rd with an oblique injury but is set to play Thursday vs. the Predators. After a disappointing 2020-21 season, Laine had a hot start this year, scoring three goals and seven assists (10 points) in his first nine games before getting hurt.
The Blue Jackets added Gavin Bayreuther to the COVID-19 protocol list on Wednesday (Dec.29).
The Blue Jackets gained a forward on Wednesday (Boone Jenner) but lost a defenseman. Luckily, it looks like Adam Boqvist will return to help replace Bayreuther.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Thursday vs. the Predators.
The Stars placed Ryan Suter into COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday (Dec.29).
Adding Suter, Jamie Benn and Luke Glendening to the COVID-19 reserve list brings the total to 11 Stars currently in protocol. It seems highly unlikely that Sunday's game in Arizona will be played.
The Stars placed Luke Glendening into COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday (Dec.29).
Adding Glendening, Jamie Benn and Ryan Suter to the COVID-19 reserve list brings the total to 11 Stars currently in protocol. It seems highly unlikely that Sunday's game in Arizona will be played.
The Stars placed Jamie Benn into COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday (Dec.29).
Adding Benn, Luke Glendening and Ryan Suter to the COVID-19 reserve list brings the total to 11 Stars currently in protocol. It seems highly unlikely that Sunday's game in Arizona will be played.
The Coyotes activated Alex Galchenyuk from the COVID-19 protocol list on Wednesday.
Galchenyuk missed the last two games while in COVID-19 protocol but appears set to re-join the Coyotes and should be in the lineup for Sunday's game vs. the Stars.
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 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.