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NHL Hockey Player News

Justin Danforth(Right Wing)(RW)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Call Up

Danforth was recalled from Cleveland (AHL) and will make his NHL debut on Monday.

Danforth was an undrafted free agent out of Sacred Heart University. The 28-year-old forward will skate on the fourth line with Jack Roslovic in his debut and comes up with five goals (2G / 3A) in eight AHL games.

Source:

Dave Maetzold 2021-11-15T16:09:50.277Z

Elvis Merzlikins(Goalie)(G)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Goalie Start

Merzlikins will start Monday vs. the Red Wings.

Merzlikins allowed five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in the Blue Jackets loss to the Rangers on Saturday. It was a rare rough outing for Merzlikins, who is 5-2-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .929 SV% in seven starts this season. In five career starts vs. the Red Wings, Merzlikins is 2-2-1 with a 1.60 GAA and .945 SV%.

Source:

Dave Maetzold 2021-11-15T16:07:55.875Z

Andrei Vasilevskiy(Goalie)(G)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Goalie Start

Vasilevskiy will start Monday vs. the Islanders.

Vasilevskiy stopped 26 of 28 shots in the Lightning's win over the Panthers on Saturday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Vasilevskiy, who is now 4-0-2 with a 1.63 GAA and .944 SV% in his last six starts. Tonight he faces an Islanders team that is 5-4-2 and ranks 27th in goal-scoring (2.45 GF/gm).

Source:

Bryan Burns 2021-11-15T16:04:46.352Z

Garrett Pilon(Center)(C)|Ottawa Senators OTT

Call Up

The Capitals have recalled Garrett Pilon from Hershey (AHL).

Pilon was a third-round pick in 2016 and appeared in one NHL game with Washington a season ago. Through 13 AHL games this season, the 23-year-old has leads Hershey with 11 points (5G / 6A).

Source:

Tarik El-Bashir 2021-11-15T15:54:20.554Z

Elvis Merzlikins(Goalie)(G)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Goalie Start

Merzlikins is expected to start Monday vs. the Red Wings.

Source:

Aaron Portzline 2021-11-15T15:51:25.954Z

Greg McKegg(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Send Down

The Rangers have reassigned Greg McKegg to Hartford (AHL).

Returning McKegg to the AHL is a good sign that Filip Chytil could be ready for Tuesday's game vs. the Canadiens.

Source:

@NYRangers 2021-11-15T15:21:09.922Z

Mitchell Stephens(Center)(C)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Injury

The Red Wings have placed Mitchell Stephens on IR.

The Red Wings announced that Stephens will "miss some time" with a lower-body injury that he suffered on Saturday. The move opened up a roster spot to call Joe Veleno up from Grand Rapids (AHL).

Source:

@DetroitRedWings 2021-11-15T15:20:07.238Z

Joe Veleno(Center)(C)|Montreal Canadiens MTL

Call Up

The Red Wings have recalled Joe Veleno from Grand Rapids (AHL).

With Mitchell Stephens landing on IR with a lower-body injury, Veleno has been recalled for the Red Wings' four-game road trip. Veleno has one goal and one assist in four games with the Red Wings this season and three goals in seven AHL games.

Source:

@DetroitRedWings 2021-11-15T15:18:52.725Z

Mitchell Stephens(Center)(C)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Injury

Stephens will "miss some time" with a lower-body injury.

Stephens suffered a lower-body injury on Saturday after sliding feet-first into the boards. With Stephens out, the Red Wings are expected to call up a forward for their four-game road trip.

Source:

@DetroitRedWings 2021-11-15T14:44:19.471Z

Scott Perunovich(Defenseman)(D)|Utah Mammoth UTA

Call Up

The Blues have recalled Scott Perunovich from Springfield (AHL).

Perunovich was the 2020 Hobey Baker Award Winner, posting 40 points (6G / 34A) in 34 games with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He has absolutely dominated the AHL so far this season as well. As a defenseman, he's currently tied for the league-lead with 20 points (2G / 18A) in 12 games.

Source:

Jim Thomas 2021-11-15T14:18:16.876Z

Zachary Leslie(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Senators have signed Zac Leslie to a one-year, two-way contract.

Source:

Ottawa Senators 2021-11-15T01:37:16.495Z

Jakob Silfverberg(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Silfverberg (COVID-19) will return to the Ducks lineup on Sunday.

Source:

Alyson Lozoff 2021-11-15T00:32:42.698Z

John Gibson(Goalie)(G)|Detroit Red Wings DET

Goalie Start

Gibson led the Ducks onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Elliott Teaford 2021-11-15T00:31:18.621Z

Ryan Graves(Defenseman)(D)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Injury

Graves (undisclosed) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play in New York.

Source:

Amanda Stein 2021-11-14T23:36:49.634Z

Mason Geertsen(Left Wing)(LW)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Line Change

Geertsen is expected to draw into the Devils lineup on Sunday.

Source:

Mike Morreale 2021-11-14T23:33:06.825Z

Tristan Jarry(Goalie)(G)|Edmonton Oilers EDM

Goalie Start

Jarry led the Penguins onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Josh Getzoff 2021-11-14T23:32:09.643Z

Alexander Holtz(Right Wing)(RW)|Vegas Golden Knights VGK

Line Change

Holtz is not on the ice for warmups; will not play Sunday in New York.

Source:

Amanda Stein 2021-11-14T23:31:07.390Z

Mackenzie Blackwood(Goalie)(G)|Colorado Avalanche COL

Goalie Start

Blackwood led the Devils onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Amanda Stein 2021-11-14T23:30:23.246Z

J.T. Miller(Center)(C)|New York Rangers NYR

Injury

Miller (undisclosed) will play Sunday in Anaheim.

Source:

Thomas Drance 2021-11-14T22:44:14.431Z

Tyler Motte(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Motte (neck) will make his season debut on Sunday.

Source:

Thomas Drance 2021-11-14T22:39:44.266Z

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.