NHL Hockey Player News

Rantanen (ankle) will play Wednesday in Toronto.

Rantanen returned to the lineup on Saturday but missed the third period. Rantanen had one goal and three assists before leaving and holding him out of the third period was likely more precautionary since the Avalanche were up massive. Rantanen was also held out of Monday's practice but was on the ice for the morning skate and will play in Toronto.

Mikko Rantanen
Binnington will start Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

Binnington allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Blues win over the Penguins last Saturday. Jake Allen started on Monday but Binnington will be back in the crease Wednesday in Pittsburgh. He just beat them and has won four of his last five starts while posting a 1.81 GAA, .946 SV% and one shutout, so don't hesitate to start him against a banged-up Penguins team.

Jordan Binnington
Grubauer will start Wednesday in Toronto.

Grubauer allowed three goals on 29 shots in Colorado's win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. Grubauer has won two in a row while stopping 45 of the 49 shots (.918 SV%) that he has faced. The 28-year-old has gone 4-3-1 with a 2.86 GAA and .912 SV% on the road this season and catches the Maple Leafs on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday.

Philipp Grubauer
Grubauer is expected to start Wednesday in Toronto.

Grubauer allowed three goals on 29 shots in Colorado's win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. Grubauer has won two in a row while stopping 45 of the 49 shots (.918 SV%) that he has faced. The 28-year-old has gone 4-3-1 with a 2.86 GAA and .912 SV% on the road this season and catches the Maple Leafs on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday.

Philipp Grubauer
Calvert is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday in Toronto.

Calvert is two and a half weeks removed from a scary incident in Vancouver, where he took a puck off the side of the head. He left the ice bloodied but was a full participant in Monday's practice and is expected to play Wednesday against the Maple Leafs. Calvert is expected to start on the second line with Nazem Kadri and enters the contest with 12 points (4G / 8A) in 20 games this season.

Matt Calvert
Andersen took Wednesday morning off, suggesting he will start on back-to-back nights.

Andersen allowed five goals on 28 shots in the Maple Leafs' 6-1 loss in Philadelphia last night. Despite head coach Sheldon Keefe saying Michael Hutchinson would start Wednesday earlier in the week, it looks as if Andersen will be between the pipes again. Normally he's a top-end option but starting two nights in a row and facing a Colorado team that is getting healthy and has won three straight while scoring 16 goals (5.33 goals per game) makes him a low-end option tonight.

Frederik Andersen
The Blackhawks have recalled Dennis Gilbert from Rockford (AHL).

Gilbert could dress as a seventh defenseman if Dylan Strome (concussion) can't play on Thursday but could be the extra defenseman during their two-game road-trip if Strome is good-to-go in Boston. The 23-year-old has no points in three NHL games this season and just two assists in 11 AHL games this season.

Dennis Gilbert
Vasilevskiy led the Lightning onto the ice for warmups.

Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 35 shots in the Lightning's loss in Washington last Friday. Vasilevskiy was 4-4-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .902 SV% in nine starts in November, not exactly what you paid for when you drafted him as the first goalie this fall. A road matchup vs. Nashville is far from an ideal setup but it's hard to bench your horses, so start him and hope things start to turn.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

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.

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