NHL Hockey Player News

Williams is expected to make his season debut on Sunday.

Williams has sat out the first few games while he gets back up to speed but skated with Lucas Wallmark and Brock McGinn in Saturday's practice and is expected to make his debut tomorrow vs. the Islanders. Williams had a terrific 2019 campaign, scoring 23 goals with 30 assists (53 points) in 82 games.

Justin Williams
Grubauer is expected to start Saturday afternoon vs. the Blues.

Grubauer stopped all 27 shots that he faced in Colorado's shutout win over the Sharks on Thursday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Gruabuer, who is 3-1-1 with a 2.40 GAA, .915 SV% and one shutout in his first five starts in January. In his first three starts against the Blues, Grubauer has gone 1-2-0 with a 3.35 GAA and .884 SV%.

Philipp Grubauer
Binnington will start Saturday afternoon in Colorado.

Binnington allowed four goals on 21 shots in the Blues overtime loss to the Flyers on Wednesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Binnington, who will make his 35th start of the season this afternoon. He has gone 2-1-0 with a 3.45 GAA and .885 SV% in his first three starts against the Avalanche.

Jordan Binnington
Hogberg will start Saturday vs. the Flames.

Hogberg allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Senators loss to the Blackhawks on Tuesday. He was given Thursday night off but will make his fourth start in five games today vs. the visiting Flames. Hogberg has gone 1-0-3 with a 3.11 GAA and .900 SV% on home-ice and Calgary comes in having won six of their last seven while scoring 2.71 goals per game.

Marcus Hogberg
Raanta will start Saturday afternoon in Edmonton.

Raanta has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but will return to the crease today in Edmonton. In his last outing, Raanta stopped 25 of 30 shots before leaving their 3-0 loss in Carolina last Friday. He comes in at 4-5-2 with a 3.06 GAA and .915 SV% on the road while the Oilers have won four of their last five with 4.20 goals for per game.

Antti Raanta
Johns (head) will make his season debut on Saturday.

Johns missed the first 47 games of the season with post-traumatic headaches but has been activated from IR and will replace Miro Heiskanen, who is in concussion protocol. Johns had 15 points (8G / 7A) while averaging 2.7 hits and 2.1 blocked shots per game in 75 games last year.

Stephen Johns
Khudobin will start Saturday in Minnesota.

Khudobin stopped 24 of 26 in the Stars loss in San Jose last Saturday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Khudobin, who has gone 7-5-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .930 SV% on the road this year. Tonight he'll face the team that originally drafted him, who have lost four of their last six home games while scoring just 2.17 goals per game.

Anton Khudobin
Smith will start Saturday afternoon vs. the Coyotes.

Smith stopped 30 of 32 shots in the Oilers win over the Predators on Tuesday. Smith has won four straight games while posting a rock-solid 2.26 GAA and .936 SV%. He will look to stay hot against a Coyotes team that has lost five of their last six road games while scoring just 1.50 goals per game.

Mike Smith
Saad (ankle) will return to the Blackhawks lineup on Saturday.

Saad has missed the last 12 games with an ankle injury but will play tonight in Toronto. Saad, who will replace Dylan Sikura in the lineup, could be back on the top line with Jonathan Toews. He has just 11 goals and eight assists (19 points) in 36 games this season.

Brandon Saad
Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Islanders' loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Varlamov has lost three straight (0-2-1) while posting a 4.20 GAA and .875 SV%. This afternoon he faces the Capitals for the third time this season--he is 1-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .925 SV% in the first two meetings.

Semyon Varlamov

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!