Goalie Start
Rittich will start Thursday in Ottawa.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Chytil (upper-body) returned to practice on Thursday.
Chytil has been out since January 24th due to an upper-body injury, but was back on the ice for Thursday’s practice, suggesting that he could be back soon. Don’t expect to see him Friday vs. the Bruins but maybe Sunday.
Line Change
Niku will draw into the Jets lineup on Thursday.
Tonight will be the first time Niku suited up in 16 games. Niku will appear in his fourth game of the season, replacing Tucker Poolman, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Niku has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 51 career NHL games.
Poolman (upper-body) is expected to miss Thursday’s game vs. the Canadiens.
Poolman is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, so look for Sami Niku to draw into the lineup for him on Thursday.
Zboril (upper-body) will return to the Bruins lineup on Thursday.
Zboril will replace Jeremy Lauzon, who is expected to miss at least one month with a fractured hand. Zboril missed the last three games with an upper-body injury and re-enters the lineup with two assists in 14 games.
Goalie Start
Rask will start Friday in New York.
Goalie Start
Halak will start Thursday against the Islanders.
Goalie Start
Oettinger will start Thursday in Florida.
Goalie Start
Jarry will start Thursday in Washington.
Zucker will be out “longer-term” with a lower-body injury.
Zucker took an awkward spill on Tuesday and had to be helped off of the ice. Head coach Mike Sullivan announced that he’ll be out “longer-term” so look for Zach Aston-Reese to move onto Evgeni Malkin’s wing on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Subban will start Thursday in Columbus.
Goalie Start
Vanecek will start Thursday vs. the Penguins,
Line Change
Skinner will be a healthy scratch for a third straight game.
Skinner didn't even take part in the Sabres morning skate, instead, he skated with the taxi squad and will be scratched for a third straight game. It looks like there may be no coming back for Skinner, who is in the second year of an eight-year deal that pays him $9.0M per season.
Goalie Start
Rinne will start Thursday in Detroit.
Stepan (upper-body) is not expected to play Thursday.
Stepan was hurt early in Tuesday’s game vs. Montreal and the early prognosis “doesn’t look good” according to head coach DJ Smith. Expect Stepan to miss some time and look for Artem Anisimov to replace him on a line with Drake Batherson and Tim Stützle.
Line Change
Grigorenko will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Grigorenko will be a healthy scratch for the third time in nine games. Emil Bemstrom will replace him in the Blue Jackets’ bottom-6.
Line Change
Peeke will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Peeke played in six straight games but will be replaced by Michael Del Zotto on Thursday vs. the Blackhawks. Peeke has registered two assists in six games this season.
Line Change
Harrington will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Harrington appeared in three straight games but will come out with Zach Werenski returning to the lineup. Harrington has registered one goal and two assists in six games this season.
Bemstrom will draw into the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Bemstrom will play for the first time since January 21st, replacing Mikhail Grigorenko in the lineup vs. the Blackhawks. Bemstrom has no points in five games this season but has 20 points (10G / 10A) in 61 career games to this point.
Del Zotto (lower-body) will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Del Zotto missed Tuesday’s game vs. Chicago but will replace Andrew Peeke in the lineup on Thursday. Del Zotto has had a resurgent season, posting one goal, five assists, 37 shots and a plus-9 rating in his first 19 games with Columbus.
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.