de Haan (wrist) is doubtful to play on Saturday.
de Haan is a little banged up, so he will likely sit out of Saturday's game in Edmonton. With de Haan out, expect Caleb Jones to skate on the top pair with Seth Jones.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Dowd (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Dowd has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury but is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday. Dowd is officially a game-time decision but expect him to slot back in on the fourth line.
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Saturday in Vegas.
Oshie (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Oshie has been out since October 27th but participated in Friday's practice and Saturday's morning skate. Both are great signs that he'll be available in San Jose, however, he remains listed as a game-time decision.
Goalie Start
Samsonov was the first goalie off of the ice at the Capitals morning skate.
Line Change
Hofmann will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Hofmann will sit out Saturday's game in Vegas with Max Domi returning from the COVID-19 protocol list.
Domi will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
Domi has not played since October 31st but will replace Gregory Hofmann in the lineup on Saturday. Domi, who has four points (1G / 3A) in four games, will skate on the fourth line with Jack Roslovic and Justin Danforth.
Pacioretty (lower-body) took part in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Pacioretty skated in a regular jersey and took part in line rushes this morning. The Golden Knights did not say whether or not he would play, so consider him a game-time decision and monitor his status as they hit the ice for warmups at 9:30 PM ET.
Gregor was recalled from San Jose (AHL) and will play on Saturday.
With Kevin Labanc suspended for one game, Gregor will skate on a line with Tomas Hertl. Gregor has had a nice start to his season in the AHL, leading the Barracuda with 12 points (4G / 8A) in eight games.
Janmark (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Janmark missed the morning skate but the Golden Knights are optimistic that he will play vs. the Blue Jackets. Janmark has been quiet so far this season, picking up just two assists in 12 games.
Jones will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Jones was a seventh-round draft pick in 2017 and set to make his NHL debut after 86 AHL games and eight ECHL games. He has four goals and two assists (six points) in 12 AHL games this season.
Goalie Start
Andersen will start Saturday in Los Angeles.
Comtois underwent surgery on his right hand and is expected to miss six weeks.
Comtois had a small bone removed from his right hand and is expected to be sidelined until early-January. With Comtois out, expect Sonny Milano to continue to skate in the Ducks' top-6.
The Ducks have sent Mason McTavish to Peterborough (OHL).
McTavish played nine games with the Ducks, so sending him back to the OHL preserves the first year of his entry-level contract. The 18-year-old had two goals and one assist with the Ducks after going No.3 overall in this summer's draft.
Goalie Start
Hill was the first goalie off of the ice at the Sharks morning skate.
Suspension
Labanc will serve his one-game suspension on Saturday.
Labanc was suspended for one game for slew-footing Tyler Bozak on Saturday. Noah Gregor will draw into the lineup to replace him vs. the Capitals.
Line Change
Broberg will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Broberg was the No.8 overall pick in the 2019 draft and came over to North America this season after two years in the SHL. The 20-year-old blueliner had 13 points (3G / 10A) in 44 games with Skelleftea AIK last year and has picked up 10 assists in his first 13 AHL games with Bakersfield.
The Blue Jackets have activated Max Domi from the COVID-19 protocol list.
Domi missed the past six games after being placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list on November 1. He has collected one goal and three assists in four games this season.
Sekera (illness) is not expected to play Saturday.
Sekera missed Saturday's morning skate and the Stars called him "very doubtful" vs. the Blues. If Sekera can't play, Joel Hanley will draw back into the lineup.
Goalie Start
Skinner will start Saturday vs. the Blackhawks.
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.