NHL Hockey Player News

The Blues have re-signed Ivan Barbashev to a two-year contract.

Barbashev had 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points) in 80 games in 2019. The 23-year-old also chipped in during the postseason, picking up six points (3G / 3A) in 25 games en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Barbashev is back but is buried on the depth chart behind Brayden Schenn, Ryan O’Reilly, and Tyler Bozak.

Ivan Barbashev
Ben Lovejoy has announced his retirement from the NHL.

Lovejoy played 11 NHL seasons with the Penguins (184 games), Ducks (150), Devils (190) and Stars (20) and finished with 101 points (20G / 81A) in 544 career games. Lovejoy won a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh in 2016.

Ben Lovejoy
Cam Ward announced his retirement from the NHL.

Ward signed a one-day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes to retire with the team that he played 13 of his 14 years with. Ward won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe in 2006 and finished his career at 334-256-88, 2.74 GAA and .908 SV%.

Cam Ward
The Islanders signed Anthony Beauvillier to a two-year, $4.2M extension.

Beauvillier set a career-high with 21 goals in 2018 but scored just 18 goals with 10 assists (28 points) in 81 games in 2019. The Islanders didn’t add much up front in the offseason, which will likely lead to Beauvillier playing a top-6 role for the duration of 2020.

Anthony Beauvillier
The Panthers have signed Denis Malgin to a one-year extension worth $750K.

Malgin spent the last two seasons splitting time between the AHL and NHL. This past season, Malgin had seven goals and nine assists (16 points) in 50 games with Florida and 14 points (4G / 10A) in 13 games with Springfield. With the Panthers adding Brett Connolly and Owen Tippett set to make the roster this fall, Malgin will be limited to a bottom-6 role in 2020.

Denis Malgin
The Jets have signed Gabriel Bourque to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K AAV.

Bourque spent the last three games with the Avalanche, appearing in 55 games a season ago. Bourque has totalled just 19 points (7G / 12A) in 113 games over the last two seasons. Bourque has a chance to crack the Jets fourth-line this fall.

Gabriel Bourque
The Lightning have signed Patrick Maroon to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

Maroon returned to his hometown in 2019, scoring 10 goals with 18 assists (28 points) in 74 games with the Blues. He went on to have a decent postseason but won a Stanley Cup and now signs on with the 2020 preseason favorites to win the Cup. Maroon will have a really hard time cracking the Lighting’s top-6, but he will solidify their bottom-6 and second power-play unit. 

Pat Maroon
The Panthers acquired Gustav Bouramman from the Wild for future considerations.

Bouramman was a seventh-round pick of the Wild in 2015. Since being drafted, Bouramman has just one goal and three assists (four points) in 28 AHL games with the Iowa Wild. He will report to Springfield (AHL) to start 2020.

Gustav Bouramman
The Wild have re-signed Joel Eriksson Ek to a two-year contract extension worth $2.975M ($1.45M AAV).

Since being picked No.20 in 2015, Eriksson Ek has not topped 16 points in his first two NHL seasons. However, once Mikko Koivu went down last year, Eriksson Ek had five goals and two assists in 22 games while averaging 15:23 TOI/gm—averaged 12:22 prior. Koivu will likely be eased back into action early in the season, giving Eriksson Ek an opportunity to get off to a hot start in 2020.

Joel Eriksson Ek
The Senators have signed Colin White to a six-year deal worth $28.75 million ($4.792M AAV).

During his first full NHL season, White had 14 goals and 27 assists (41 points) in 71 games. White averaged 16:12 TOI/gm while carrying a +3.4 CF% rel on the league’s worst team. White is set to start 2020 as the Senators No.1 centre and should build off of 2019 as he should play 17-18 minutes per night.

Colin White
The Islanders have re-signed Josh Ho-Sang to a one-year contract.

Despite having 24 points (7G /17A) in 53 NHL games—37 points per 82-game pace—Ho-Sang has had a difficult time cracking the Islanders roster permanently. The 23-year-old was a first-round pick in 2014 and is coming off of 43 points (8G / 35A) in 56 games at the AHL-level last season.

Josh Ho-Sang
The Islanders have re-signed Michael Dal Colle to a two-year contract.

Dal Colle has struggled to produce at the NHL-level since being picked No.5 overall in 2014. However, the 23-year-old winger was a point-per-game player in the AHL a season ago, scoring 18 goals with 16 assists (34 points) in 34 games. Dal Colle has just seven points (3G / 4A) in 32 career NHL games to this point, but has a chance to be a full-time NHLer if he impresses in training camp this fall.

Michael Dal Colle
The Avalanche have signed Valeri Nichushkin to a one-year contract.

The former No.10 overall pick (2013) struggled mightily in 2019 after returning from a two-year stint in the KHL. Nichushkin failed to record a goal while compiling just 10 assists in 57 games with the Stars and has just 74 points (23G / 51A) in 223 career NHL games with Dallas. This is a low-risk signing for the Avalanche and Nichushkin has a chance to produce in a quality bottom-6 that improved this summer.

Valeri Nichushkin
The Red Wings have acquired Adam Erne from the Lightning for a 2020 4th Round Pick.

Erne was a second-round pick of the Lightning in 2013 and finished his first full NHL season with 20 points (7G / 13A) in 65 games. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is familiar with Erne from his time with Tampa Bay and added the 24-year-old to a team that has a ton of bottom-6 players. Erne will likely open 2020 on their third line.

Adam Erne
The Blackhawks have signed Philip Holm to a one-year contract.

After playing in Sweden from 2012 to 2017, Holm came to North America in 2018. He started the year with Vancouver, where he had 29 points (11G / 18A) in 42 games in Utica (AHL). He ended up being traded to the Golden Knights, posting nine points (1G / 8A) in 21 games with Chicago (AHL). The 27-year-old went to the KHL for the 2019 season and had 26 points (7G / 19A) in 61 games. The 27-year-old provides the Blackhawks with some D-depth but will likely start 2020 in the AHL.

Phillip Holm

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!