NHL Hockey Player News

Pavelski (upper-body) skated on Monday but will not play in Game 6.

Pavelski, who has been out since Game 7 vs. the Golden Knights, joined his teammates for Monday’s gameday skate but will not be in the lineup for Game 6. Pavelski appears close to returning to the Sharks lineup and will almost certainly be back for Round 3 if the Sharks are able to advance tonight.

Joe Pavelski
Andrighetto is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 6.

Andrighetto dressed in Matt Calvert’s place in Game 5 but is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday. Patrik Nemeth is expected to replace Andrighetto and dress as a seventh defenseman for Colorado.

Sven Andrighetto
Grubauer will start Game 6 vs. the Sharks.

Grubauer stopped 37 of 39 shots in Colorado’s 2-1 loss in San Jose in Game 5. The Avalanche and Sharks have alternated wins and losses in this series and the Avalanche will need that trend to continue if they’re going to stay alive and force a Game 7. Grubauer has stopped 59 of 62 shots (.952 SV%) in the two games at the Pepsi Center in this series.

Philipp Grubauer
Texier is expected to be back in the Blue Jackets lineup for Game 6.

Texier was a healthy scratch in Game 5 but is expected to replace Adam Clendening in Game 6. The Blue Jackets will go back to 12 forwards and six defensemen with Texier skating on the fourth line with Brandon Dubinsky and Markus Hannikainen. The 19-year-old has two goals on eight shots with one assist in seven games this postseason.

Alexandre Texier
Bobrovsky will start Game 6 vs. the Bruins.

Bobrovsky allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Blue Jackets 4-3 loss in Boston in Game 5. Bobrovsky has now given up four goals in back-to-back games and the Blue Jackets are on the ropes. Bobrovsky has gone 3-1 while allowing just nine goals on 147 shots (.939 SV%) in his four starts at Nationwide Arena in the postseason.

Sergei Bobrovsky
Rask wil start Game 6 in Columbus.

Rask allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Bruins 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets in Game 5. The Bruins have won two in a row with Rask stopping 72 of the last 76 shots (.947 SV%) that he has faced. Rask will look to punch the Bruins ticket into the Eastern Conference Finals with a strong outing in Columbus—he has stopped 71 of 74 shots (.960 SV%) in the two games at Nationwide Arena in this series.

Tuukka Rask
van Riemsdyk underwent shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the playoffs.

van Riemsdyk suffered a shoulder injury in Game 2 vs. the Islanders and will miss the rest of the year after undergoing surgery. Haydn Fleury has replaced van Riemsdyk on the back-end and Jake Bean has been recalled as a reserve defenseman heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Trevor van Riemsdyk
The Lightning have signed Jan Rutta to a one-year contract worth $1.3 million.

Rutta split his campaign between the Blackhawks and Lightning and spent half the year in the AHL. Rutta had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 26 AHL games and eight points (2G / 6A) in 37 NHL games. With the Lightning’s blueline banged up at the end of the season, Rutta appeared in all four playoff games, where he had two helpers. He will likely serve as a sixth/seventh defenseman with Tampa Bay next year.

Jan Rutta

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!