Bayreuther will draw back into the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
Adam Boqvist was placed on IR with an upper-body injury on Friday, so Bayreuther will draw in to replace him on Saturday. Bayreuther has just four assists in 14 games this season.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Merzlikins will start Saturday in Seattle.
The Kraken have recalled Alexander True from Charlotte (AHL).
True has scored seven goals with 11 assists (18 points) in 22 games with the Checkers this season. He could be set to make his Kraken and season debut on Saturday with Yanni Gourde going on the COVID-19 protocol list.
Gourde has been placed in COVID-19 protocol.
Gourde will miss Saturday's game vs. the Blue Jackets after being placed in COVID-19 protocol. Alexander True was recalled from the AHL to take Gourde's spot on the roster.
Goalie Start
Grubauer was the first goalie off of the ice at the Kraken morning skate.
Peca was recalled under emergency conditions and is expected to make his Blues debut.
Peca has 78 career NHL games under his belt, playing previously for the Lightning, Canadiens and Senators. The 28-year-old has 10 goals and seven assists in 19 AHL games this season.
Bogosian (undisclosed) listed as a late scratch on Saturday.
Cirelli (upper-body) will not play on Saturday.
Cirelli is not on the ice for warmups in Ottawa, so he will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Ross Colton will remain on the second line with Cirelli out.
Goalie Start
Elliott will start Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.
Armia (undisclosed) is expected to be back in the Canadiens lineup on Saturday.
Armia missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury but is expected to replace Jake Evans (undisclosed) in the lineup on Saturday. Armia has one goal and four assists in 26 games this season.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will likely start Saturday vs. the Bruins.
Goalie Start
Koskinen is expected to start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.
Evans (undisclosed) will not play on Saturday.
Evans is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, so he'll come out of the lineup in St. Louis. Joel Armia is expected to return to the lineup to replace Evans.
Line Change
Strome will draw back into the Blackhawks lineup on Saturday.
Strome was a healthy scratch on Thursday but will replace Henrik Borgstrom (illness) in the lineup on Saturday. Strome, who has two goals and three assists in 16 games this season, will centre a line with Dominik Kubalik and Philipp Kurashev.
Goalie Start
Allen will start Saturday in St. Louis.
Toffoli had surgery on his hand on Wednesday and is expected to miss eight weeks.
Toffoli will be out until at least early February, which means we likely won't see him until after the Olympic break. Look for Artturi Lehkonen to continue to play up the lineup while Toffoli is out. It may also mean an extended look at 2018 second-round pick, Jesse Ylonen.
Send Down
The Islanders have sent Otto Koivula to Bridgeport (AHL).
Koivula had one assist in three NHL games but returns to the AHL with Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas set to play Saturday. Koivula has three goals and 12 assists (15 points) in 17 AHL games this season.
Send Down
The Islanders have sent Austin Czarnik to Bridgeport (AHL).
Czarnik performed well during his call-up, scoring one goal with two assists in four games. However, Czarnik was sent back to the AHL with Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas set to return to the lineup.
Goalie Start
Allen was the first goalie off of the ice at the Canadiens morning skate.
Beauvillier will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
With Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas returning to the lineup, someone has to sit. Head coach Barry Trotz said Beauviller will serve as the healthy scratch and added that "others can take it as a message." Beauvillier has zero points in his last 13 games.
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.