NHL Hockey Player News

Sam Montembeault(G)|MON
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Montembeault will start in Utah on Tuesday.

The Canadiens have points in four straight (3-0-1) and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the Utah Hockey Club. Montembeault was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.88 GAA and .901 SV% in 33 games this season (15-15-3). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +131 road underdogs against Utah HC, losers of eight of their last 10 (2-6-2).

Source:
Montreal Canadiens 2025-01-14T19:06:58.822Z
Sam Montembeault
Jason Polin(C)|COL
Line Change
Line Change
Polin is expected to make his season debut on Tuesday vs. New York.

Polin is an undrafted product of Western Michigan University. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season, scoring one goal in seven games. He has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring nine points (7G / 2A) in 21 games with the Colorado Eagles.

Source:
Aarif Deen 2025-01-14T19:03:50.783Z
Jason Polin
Chris Kreider(LW)|NYR
Injury
Injury
Kreider (upper-body) will be a game-time decision in Colorado on Tuesday.

Kreider has not played since January 4th but could draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 33-year-old Kreider has struggled this season with only 15 points (13G / 2A) in 34 games but was playing better lately, scoring three points (2G / 1A) in three games before his injury.

Source:
Mollie Walker 2025-01-14T19:02:45.453Z
Chris Kreider
Igor Shesterkin(G)|NYR
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Shesterkin will start in Colorado on Tuesday.

The Rangers have won three of their last four (3-0-1) and will roll with Shesterkin between the pipes on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. Shesterkin was tremendous in his previous outing, saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.98 GAA and .908 SV% in 29 games (13-15-1). The Rangers enter Tuesday's contest as +141 road underdogs against an Avalanche squad coming off a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Source:
Mollie Walker 2025-01-14T19:01:58.873Z
Igor Shesterkin
Mackenzie Blackwood(G)|COL
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start vs. New York on Tuesday.

Colorado will turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) despite a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since joining Colorado last month, posting a superb 1.66 GAA and .939 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -157 home favorites against a New York team with points in four straight (3-0-1).

Source:
Aarif Deen 2025-01-14T18:21:17.533Z
Mackenzie Blackwood
Michael Carcone(LW)|UTA
Line Change
Line Change
Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday vs. Montreal.

Liam O'Brien will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, allowing Carcone to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Carcone has not played since January 2nd. He is averaging 11:07 time-on-ice and has nine points (3G / 6A) in 28 games this season.

Source:
Belle Fraser 2025-01-14T18:20:38.283Z
Michael Carcone
Liam O'Brien(C)|UTA
Line Change
Line Change
O'Brien will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Montreal.

Michael Carcone will draw back into Utah's lineup on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, sending O'Brien to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old O'Brien is averaging 9:17 time-on-ice, recording zero points, 19 penalty minutes, and 36 hits in nine games this season.

Source:
Belle Fraser 2025-01-14T18:19:40.344Z
Liam O'Brien
Mackenzie Blackwood(G)|COL
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Blackwood is expected to start vs. New York on Tuesday.

Colorado will likely turn to Blackwood between the pipes on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) despite a 3-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent since joining Colorado last month, posting a superb 1.66 GAA and .939 SV% in 11 games (8-2-1). Colorado enters Tuesday's contest as -157 home favorites against a New York team with points in four straight (3-0-1).

Source:
Evan Rawal 2025-01-14T18:16:24.071Z
Mackenzie Blackwood
Zach Aston-Reese(C)|CBJ
Injury
Injury
Aston-Reese (upper-body) is expected to play on Tuesday vs. Philadelphia.

Aston-Reese has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jackets, recording 11 points (4G / 7A), 32 blocks, and 94 hits in 42 games. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL but has solidified himself a spot with the Blue Jackets. He signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension with the club on Monday.

Source:
Columbus Blue Jackets 2025-01-14T18:08:25.320Z
Zach Aston-Reese
Drew Helleson(D)|ANA
Line Change
Line Change
Helleson is expected to draw back into Anaheim's lineup in Washington on Tuesday.

Olen Zellweger will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, allowing Helleson to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Helleson is averaging 15:49 time-on-ice, recording five points (2G / 3A0 in 20 games this season.

Source:
Derek Lee 2025-01-14T18:05:04.071Z
Drew Helleson
Olen Zellweger(D)|ANA
Line Change
Line Change
Zellweger is expected to be a healthy scratch on Tuesday in Washington.

Drew Helleson will draw back into Anaheim's lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, sending Zellweger to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Zellweger is averaging 19:22 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 8A) in 35 games this season.

Source:
Derek Lee 2025-01-14T18:04:01.391Z
Olen Zellweger
Nikita Nesterenko(C)|ANA
Line Change
Line Change
Nesterenko is expected to be a healthy scratch in Washington on Tuesday.

With Troy Terry (personal) set to return to the Ducks' lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, Nesterenko will be a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Nesterenko is averaging 10:03 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in four games this season.

Source:
Derek Lee 2025-01-14T18:03:05.447Z
Nikita Nesterenko
Kevin Lankinen(G)|VAN
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Lankinen will start in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

The Canucks are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, courtesy of a 20-save shutout by Lankinen, his fourth of the season. Lankinen returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, looking to build on his 2.51 GAA and .906 SV% through 29 games this season (16-7-6). The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +140 road underdogs against a Jets squad coming off a 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Source:
Dan Murphy 2025-01-14T18:00:31.786Z
Kevin Lankinen
Connor Hellebuyck(G)|WPG
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start vs. Vancouver on Tuesday.

As he has been all season, Hellebuyck was tremendous in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche, saving all 22 shots he faced for his league-leading sixth shutout. The 31-year-old netminder is the leading candidate to win the Vezina trophy this season, boasting an extraordinary 2.02 GAA and .928 SV% in 34 games (26-6-6). The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as -152 home favorites against a Vancouver Canucks squad coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Source:
Ken Wiebe 2025-01-14T17:40:38.212Z
Connor Hellebuyck
Filip Hronek(D)|VAN
Injury
Injury
Hronek (upper-body) will return to Vancouver's lineup on Tuesday in Winnipeg.

Hronek has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on November 27th and was assigned to the AHL last week for a conditioning stint with the Abbottsford Canucks. Before his injury, the 27-year-old Hronek was averaging 23:36 time-on-ice, recording nine points (1G / 8A) in 21 games this season.

Source:
Ken Wiebe 2025-01-14T17:53:49.773Z
Filip Hronek
Jake Oettinger(G)|DAL
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Oettinger will start in Toronto on Tuesday.

The Stars season-best seven-game winning streak snapped in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, but Oettinger remains unbeaten in his last five games. Oettinger has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (5-0-0), posting a stellar .923 SV%. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.35 GAA and .910 SV% in 31 games this season (21-9-1). He will hope for a better result against a Toronto Maple Leafs squad that beat him four times on 12 shots (.667 SV%) in a 5-3 loss on December 18th. The Stars enter the contest as -125 road favorites.

Source:
Mike Heika 2025-01-14T17:52:21.359Z
Jake Oettinger

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!