NHL Hockey Player News

Stafford will draw into the Devils lineup on Thursday.

Stafford was a healthy scratch in St. Louis on Tuesday but will replace Kurtis Gabriel on the Devils fourth line on Thursday. Stafford has two goals and six assists (eight points) in 31 games this season.

Drew Stafford
Quick was the first goalie off of the ice at the morning skate.

Quick surrendered six goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in Washington on Monday. Quick has lost back-to-back games while allowing a combine 11 goals on 64 shots (.828 SV%). Quick has not faced the Canucks yet this season but has gone 7-7-1 with a 2.72 GAA, .910 SV% and two shutouts in 15 games on home-ice.

Jonathan Quick
Frk cleared waivers and will be assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Frk has been a healthy scratch for the last four games and was placed on waivers to open up a roster spot for the pending return of Tyler Bertuzzi. Frk has just one goal and four assists (five points) in 25 games this season.

Martin Frk
Greiss will likely start Thursday in Columbus.

Greiss allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Islanders win over the Wild on Sunday. Greiss has been the best goalie in the NHL over the last month, going 4-0-1 with a 0.58 GAA, .981 SV% and two shutouts in his last five starts. In his first start against the Blue Jackets, Greiss stopped 28 of 30 shots in a 3-2 win (Dec.1).

Thomas Greiss
Nilsson will start Thursday in Detroit.

Nilsson gave up four goals on 37 shots in the Senators 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The loss snapped a brief two-game winning streak for Nilsson, who is 6-3-0 with a 2.12 GAA, .943 SV% and one shutout in his last nine outings. Tonight he draws a good road matchup in Detroit—the Red Wings are 11-13-4 at Little Caesars Arena this season.

Anders Nilsson
Smith will start Thursday in Florida.

Smith gave up three goals on 24 shots after replacing David Rittich in the Flames 5-2 loss to the Sharks last Thursday. It has been a rough season for Smith, who has gone 3-3-0 with a 3.48 GAA and .889 SV% in his last six outings. Tonight’s matchup pins him up against a Panthers team averaging 3.02 GF/pg but with James Reimer in the other net, he has a chance to record a ‘W’.

Mike Smith
Rinne was the first goalie off of the ice at the morning skate.

Rinne allowed three goals on 27 shots in the Predators loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday. Detroit seems to have the Predators number as of late and it led to Rinne’s third loss in four games—he allowed 11 goals on 112 shots (.902 SV%) over that stretch. Tonight he faces the Habs on home-ice, where he is 12-8-3 with a 2.27 GAA, .914 SV% and two shutouts this season.

Pekka Rinne
Hellebuyck will start Thursday vs. the Avalanche.

Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Jets win over the Rangers on Tuesday. Hellebuyck has gone 5-1-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .920 SV% in his last seven starts. Tonight he will face the Jets for the third time this season—he is 2-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .915 SV% in the first two meetings.

Connor Hellebuyck
Ward will start Thursday vs. the Devils.

Ward allowed two goals on 45 shots in the Blackhawks win over the Red Wings on Sunday. Ward has had a mostly difficult season but has been excellent in his last four starts—going 4-0-0 while stopping 142 of the 151 shots (.940 SV%) that he has faced. In his first start against the Devils, Ward was pulled after allowing six goals on 25 shots in an 8-5 loss.

Cam Ward
Hellebuyck is expected to start Thursday vs. the Avalanche.

Hellebuyck allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Jets win over the Rangers on Tuesday. Hellebuyck has gone 5-1-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .920 SV% in his last seven starts. Tonight he is expected to face the Jets for the third time this season—he is 2-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .915 SV% in the first two meetings.

Connor Hellebuyck
Smith is in the starter's crease at the Flames morning skate.

Smith gave up three goals on 24 shots after replacing David Rittich in the Flames 5-2 loss to the Sharks last Thursday. It has been a rough season for Smith, who has gone 3-3-0 with a 3.48 GAA and .889 SV% in his last six outings. Tonight’s matchup pins him up against a Panthers team averaging 3.02 GF/pg but with James Reimer in the other net, he has a chance to record a ‘W’.

Mike Smith

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.

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