NHL Hockey Player News

Klingberg will be "at least a week" before he plays games for the Oilers.

Klingberg hasn't played since undergoing hip surgery over a year ago after a brief 14-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he scored five points (0G / 5A). The 32-year-old Klingberg isn't far removed from being one of the league's elite powerplay quarterbacks. He scored a career-high 67 points (8G / 59A) in 82 games with the Dallas Stars in the 2017-18 season. However, his production has dipped significantly in recent years, tallying only 85 points (16G / 69A) and a -60 plus/minus in his 155 most recent games. Given Evan Bouchard's dominance on Edmonton's top powerplay unit, it's unlikely that Klingberg will find himself in that position. Yet, he could still see an uptick in production considering the star power of his surrounding cast.

John Klingberg
Makar (undisclosed) is taking warm-ups and is expected to play on Monday vs. Minnesota.

Makar is battling an undisclosed injury but will not miss any time, remaining in the lineup on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. The talented offensive defenseman scored two goals in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars, rebounding from a stretch where he only had one point (0G / 1A) in his previous six games.

Cale Makar
Blackwood will start vs. San Jose on Monday.

Blackwood had a rest day in Colorado's 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, but the club will return to him between the pipes on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. The 28-year-old netminder allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%), his worst performance in an Avalanche uniform, in his most recent outing, a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 1.87 GAA and .932 SV% in 13 games with Colorado (9-3-1). Colorado enters Monday's contest as sizeable -233 home favorites against a Minnesota squad coming off a 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Hellebuyck was the first goalie off the ice at Winnipeg's morning skate.

The Jets' three-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, and they will attempt to return to the win column on Monday, reverting to Hellebuyck between the pipes. Hellebuyck was excellent in his previous outing, saving 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. He is a near-unanimous favorite for the Vezina trophy, boasting an immaculate 1.97 GAA and .929 SV% in 36 games (28-6-2). The Jets enter Monday's contest as -170 road favorites against the Utah Hockey Club, coming off a 4-2 win against the St. Louis Blues.

Connor Hellebuyck
Friedman has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL).

Friedman has 91 games of NHL experience, including three games with Vancouver this season, but has primarily played at the AHL level the past several seasons. The 29-year-old defenseman has six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) this season.

Mark Friedman
Bolduc is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday in Vegas.

Brandon Saad will draw back into the Blues' lineup on Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Bolduc to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Bolduc is averaging 12:12 time-on-ice and has 15 points (5G / 10A) in 39 games this season.

Zack Bolduc
Fleury will start in Colorado on Monday.

Filip Gustavsson was projected to start for Minnesota on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, but he has been battling an illness that has prevented him from skating for a few days, resulting in Fleury being between the pipes for a second consecutive game. Fleury allowed five goals on 37 shots (.865 SV%) in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Nashville Predators. The veteran netminder has a 2.72 GAA and .906 SV% in 16 appearances this season (9-4-1). Minnesota enters Monday's contest as +199 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche squad coming off a 6-3 win over the Dallas Stars.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Sergachev (upper-body) is out vs. Winnipeg on Monday.

Sergachev did not play on Saturday due to an upper-body injury and will miss a second straight contest on Monday when Utah HC plays the Winnipeg Jets. The 26-year-old defenseman is averaging a monstrous 25:45 time-on-ice, a career-high, recording 30 points (8G / 22A), 81 blocks, and 23 hits in 44 games this season.

Mikhail Sergachev
Zegras (meniscus surgery) participated in practice on Monday.

Zegras has not played since December 4th, missing 22 straight games due to a lower-body injury and rehabilitation from meniscus surgery. The 23-year-old Zegras was a full participant in drills with the second powerplay unit on Monday, indicating that he is inching closer to a return. Before his injury, he averaged 16:57 time-on-ice and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 24 games.

Trevor Zegras
Ingram will start vs. Winnipeg on Monday.

Utah HC will turn to Ingram between the pipes on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. Ingram has been solid since returning from injury, allowing only four combined goals on 56 shots (.929 SV%) in two games (1-1-0). He has a 3.38 GAA and .879 SV% in 15 games this season (7-5-3). Utah HC enters Monday's contest as +149 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets squad with points in five of their last six (4-1-1).

Connor Ingram
Ingram is in the starter's crease at Utah's morning skate.

Utah HC will likely turn to Ingram between the pipes on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets. Ingram has been solid since returning from injury, allowing only four combined goals on 56 shots (.929 SV%) in two games (1-1-0). He has a 3.38 GAA and .879 SV% in 15 games this season (7-5-3). Utah HC enters Monday's contest as +149 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets squad with points in five of their last six (4-1-1).

Connor Ingram
Johansson will start vs. Toronto on Monday.

In the front end of their third back-to-back set this month, Johansson will start between the pipes for the third time. Johansson was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been serviceable in limited action, posting a 3.18 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 appearances (5-3-1). Tampa Bay enters Monday's contest as +110 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs club riding a two-game winning streak.

Jonas Johansson
Doughty (ankle) is expected to be a limited participant in practice as early as this week.

Doughty underwent ankle surgery after being injured in the preseason and has yet to play this season. He has been a staple on the Kings' blueline for over a decade. His impact has been missed despite the Kings allowing only 105 goals this season, the fewest in the NHL thus far. Over the last two seasons, Doughty averaged nearly 26:00 TOI/GP. In 82 games in 2023-24, he had 15 goals, 50 points, 44 PIMs, and a +15 plus/minus.

Drew Doughty
Nichushkin (lower-body) is doubtful to play vs. Minnesota on Monday.

Nichushkin was not able to complete a full practice on Monday and will likely remain sidelined on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Originally given a day-to-day timeline, Nichushkin, and the Avalanche have been patient with his recovery and have not rushed his return to the lineup. The 29-year-old winger has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.

Valeri Nichushkin
Woll will start vs. Tampa Bay on Monday.

The Maples Leafs wil roll with Woll between the pipes for a fourth straight game on Monday when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning. Woll was solid in his most recent outing, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 7-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.68 GAA and .907 SV% in 24 games this season (16-8-0). The Maple Leafs enter Monday's contest with even -105 odds against a Lightning squad they defeated 5-3 on November 30th.

Joseph Woll

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

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