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NHL Hockey Player News

Andersen will start Friday in New York.

Andersen allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Sabres on Tuesday. Andersen has won four of his last five starts (4-1-0) while posting a 2.23 GAA and .930 SV%. Tonight he faces a Rangers team that has lost three of their last four (1-2-1) while scoring 3.00 goals per game.

Frederik Andersen
Khudobin will start Thursday in Tampa Bay.

Khudobin stopped 37 of 38 shots in the Stars win in Nashville last Saturday. Ben Bishop has started five of the last six games but Khudobin will start the front-end of the back-to-back tonight in Tampa Bay. The 33-year-old has gone 4-4-1 with a 2.56 GAA and .924 SV% in nine road appearances this season but will be in tough vs. a Tampa Bay team that has won three of their last four.

Anton Khudobin
The Sharks have claimed Stefan Noesen off of waivers from the Penguins.

Noesen started the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) where he had 22 points (14G / 8A) in 22 games and then signed an NHL deal with the Penguins. He appeared in just six games with Pittsburgh before being waived on Wednesday. He was claimed by the Sharks, in an attempt to boost their fourth line. He has 46 points (25G / 21A) in 165 career NHL games with the Ducks, Devils and Penguins.

Stefan Noesen
The Jets have claimed Eric Comrie off of waivers from the Red Wings.

The 2019-20 season has been a roller coaster for Comrie. He was in training camp with the Jets but was claimed off of waivers by the Coyotes on October 1st, then traded to Detroit on November 30th. Comrie appeared in three games with Detroit (2 starts), going 0-2-0 with a 4.28 GAA and .864 SV% and was waived on Wednesday. Now he returns to the Jets where it all started.

Eric Comrie
Zaitsev is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a lower-body injury.

Zaitsev was moved to IR earlier in the week and will be out until late-December/mid-January due to a lower-body injury he suffered vs. the Blue Jackets last Saturday. With Zaitsev and Dylan DeMelo out, Erik Brannstrom has played a larger role and Thomas Chabot is playing absolutely monstrous minutes.

Nikita Zaitsev
Hutton will start Thursday in Philadelphia.

Hutton gave up six goals on 30 shots in the Sabres' loss in Vancouver on December 7th. Linus Ullmark started the last five games but head coach Ralph Krueger said that "it just feels like the right time to bring him back in." Hutton still hasn't won a game since October 22nd, losing nine in a row (0-5-4) while posting a 3.99 GAA and .875 SV%. Tonight he'll face a Flyers team that has won five of their last six home games while scoring 3.83 goals per game.

Carter Hutton
Saros will start Thursday in Ottawa.

Saros allowed two goals on 41 shots in the Predators win in New York on Monday. Pekka Rinne won Tuesday but they'll come back to Saros, who was excellent vs. the Rangers. Saros has gone 4-2-1 with a 2.54 GAA and .913 SV% in his last seven starts and should be a decent option in Ottawa but the Senators have won seven of their last eight home games while scoring 3.50 goals per game.

Juuse Saros
The Jets have recalled Jansen Harkins from Manitoba (AHL).

Harkins was a second-round pick (No.47 overall) in 2015 and has played in 156 AHL games since. This year the 22-year-old winger leads the Manitoba Moose with 31 points (7G / 24A) in 30 games. He could make his NHL debut before the Christmas break with Mathieu Perreault and Andrew Copp both going on IR on Wednesday.

Jansen Harkins
The Jets have recalled Mason Appleton from Manitoba (AHL).

Appleton was recently assigned to Manitoba after returning to full health but was called up on Wednesday with Andrew Copp going on IR. Appleton has one assist in four AHL games and no points in nine NHL games this season. He is expected to skate on the third line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Bourque on Thursday.

Mason Appleton
Samsonov will start Friday in New Jersey.

Samsonov allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Capitals win in Tampa Bay last Saturday. The 22-year-old doesn't play often but has been great when he's in the crease, going 8-2-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .918 SV% in 10 starts and one relief appearances. Of those 10 starts, six of them have come on the road where he is 6-0-0.

Ilya Samsonov
Varlamov will start Thursday in Boston.

Varlamov allowed three goals on nine shots after replacing Thomas Greiss in the Islanders 8-3 loss to the Predators on Tuesday. The Islanders goalie rotation will remain intact and Varlamov enters play at 4-0-0 with 2.02 GAA and .936 SV% in December. He has gone 5-1-1 with a 1.70 GAA, .943 SV% and one shutout on the road this season but has a tough assignment in Boston, where the Bruins are 12-1-6.

Semyon Varlamov
Campbell was the first goalie off of the ice at the morning skate.

Campbell allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Kings win in Detroit on Sunday. Both of these goalies are coming off of wins over the Red Wings in their last start and Campbell comes in at 2-4-1 with a 3.28 GAA and .878 SV% on the road this year. He'll see a Blue Jackets team battling injuries but are on a five-game point streak, going 3-0-2 while scoring 3.20 goals per game.

Jack Campbell
Hellebuyck will start Thursday vs. the Blackhawks.

Hellebuyck surrendered five goals on 23 shots before being received by Laurent Brossoit in the Jets loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. Hellebuyck has stumbled lately, going 2-2-1 with a 3.85 GAA and .889 SV% in his last six appearances (five starts). He stopped 27 of 29 shots in a win his first start vs. the Blackhawks and they come in on the tail-end of a back-to-back, making Hellebuyck a solid option on a busy Thursday.

Connor Hellebuyck

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!