Vrana will have shoulder surgery and will miss at least four months.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Senators have signed Zack Ostapchuk to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Stars have signed Logan Stankoven to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Stars have signed Wyatt Johnson to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Vrana (shoulder) could miss the start of the 2021-22 season.
Aston-Reese has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out indefinitely.
Caufield (upper-body) is expected to miss one week.
The Golden Knights have signed Daniil Chayka to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Maple Leafs have signed William Villeneuve to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Hoffman (lower-body) is expected to be sidelined for four weeks.
Sundqvist (knee/hips) is on the ice in training camp but is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
The Blues have acquired Logan Brown and a conditional draft pick from the Senators for Zach Sanford.
Brown was selected No.11 overall in 2016 but had a hard time gaining footing at the NHL-level. Since turning pro in 2019, Brown has scored just one goal and eight assists (nine points) in 30 games with the Senators. Brown will fight for a roster spot at the bottom of the Blues roster but will likely find himself on the outside looking in and start in the AHL.
The Senators have acquired Zach Sanford from the Blues for Logan Brown and a conditional draft pick.
After a breakout season with 16 goals, 14 assists (30 points) in 2020, Sanford struggled to find the same level of production in 2021. Sanford was thrust into a top-6 role with the Blues but is probably better as a third-liner, where he should find himself with the Senators.
Domi (shoulder) is ahead of schedule but is expected to miss the start of the 2021-22 season.
Domi's original timetable had him returning sometime in November or December. However, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen reported that he's ahead of schedule in his recovery but still has a lot of tests to pass until he's ready to play.
The Panthers have signed Justin Sourdif to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Sourdif was a third-round pick (No.87 overall) of the Panthers in 2020. The 18-year-old centre had 34 points (11G / 24A) in 22 games with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) in 2021. The Giants' point leader will return to start the 2022 season.
The Flames have signed Jeremie Poirier to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Poirier was a third-round pick of the Flames in 2020. The 6-foot-1, 190 lbs. defenseman had nine goals and 28 assists (37 points) in 33 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) in 2021.
The Hurricanes have signed Ronan Seeley to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Seeley was a seventh-round pick of the Hurricanes in 2020. The 6-foot-1, 192 lbs. defenseman had five goals and 12 assists (17 points) in 23 games with the Everett Silvertips (WHL).
The Canadiens have signed Sami Niku to a one-year, two-way contract.
Niku quickly rose up the prospect ranks in Winnipeg but was never able to land a full-time role at the NHL level. In Montreal, he'll find himself in a similar situation and will likely open the year in the AHL. In 54 career NHL games, the 24-year-old defenseman has two goals and eight assists (10 points).
Toews (shoulder) is expected to miss some games to start the season.
Toews had shoulder surgery in the offseason and has resumed skating but is expected to miss at least a few games to open the 2021-22 season. With Toews out, Jack Johnson was brought into training camp on a PTO and could earn a contract with the Avalanche.
Backstrom (hip) is week-to-week and will miss the start of training camp.
Backstrom will miss the start of training camp as he continues to rehab a lingering hip injury that he battled in 2021. The fact that he will miss the start of training camp is not a great sign but he has not been ruled out for the start of the regular season yet.
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.