NHL Hockey Player News

Mike Smith(G)|EDM
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Smith will start against the Blues on Saturday.

Smith was pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in the Flames loss to the Flyers on December 12th. It was an ugly end to a six-game winning streak for Smith, who will face the Blues for the second time this afternoon. Smith was yanked in the first meeting after he allowed five goals on 24 shots in a 5-3 loss in St. Louis (Oct.11).

Source:
Derek Wills 2018-12-22T14:20:41.615Z
Mike Smith
Carter Hart(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hart will start against the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Hart stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Flyers win over the Predators on Thursday. Hart was called-up to be the Flyers saviour and so far so good for the 20-year-old netminder. Hart has stopped 51 of the first 54 shots (.944 SV%) that he has faced. He will look to stay hot his afternoon vs. a Blue Jackets team that is 9-5-1 on the road.

Source:
Dave Isaac 2018-12-22T14:15:10.364Z
Carter Hart
Braden Holtby(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Holtby will start Friday vs. the Sabres.

Holtby allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Capitals loss to the Penguins on Wednesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Holtby, who has gone 8-3-0 with a 2.43 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout in 11 games since returning from a minor injury. Tonight he faces a Sabres team that is 9-6-3 on the road this season.

Source:
Isabelle Khurshudyan 2018-12-21T20:12:18.651Z
Braden Holtby
Connor Hellebuyck(G)|WPG
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck starts Thursday in San Jose.

Hellebuyck surrendered three goals on 30 shots in the Jets loss in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Hellebuyck, who has gone 5-2-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% in seven starts in December. Tonight he will face a Sharks team that has won five in a row and seven of their last eight while averaging 4.25 goals for per game.

Source:
Brian Munz 2018-12-21T03:01:58.516Z
Connor Hellebuyck
Pekka Rinne(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Rinne leads the Predators onto the ice for warmups.

Rinne allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Predators loss in Chicago on Tuesday. Rinne has dropped two straight starts but is 4-2-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .902 SV% in December. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that is under .500 and with a rookie netminder making his second career start. Rinne is 3-3-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .925 SV% on the road.

Source:
Brooks Bratten 2018-12-20T23:29:54.420Z
Pekka Rinne
Roberto Luongo(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Luongo will start Thursday in Toronto.

Luongo allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Panthers win in Buffalo on Tuesday. Luongo has won two straight while allowing just five goals on 64 shots (.922 SV%). Tonight he faces a high-powered Maple Leafs squad for the second time in a week. Luongo allowed three goals on 32 shots in a 4-3 overtime win vs. Toronto last Saturday.

Source:
@FlaPanthers 2018-12-20T22:15:54.721Z
Roberto Luongo

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!