The Coyotes have acquired Vinnie Hinostroza, Marian Hossa, Jordan Oesterle and a 2019 3rd Round Pick from the Blackhawks for Marcus Kruger, Andrew Campbell, MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta and a 2019 5th Round Pick.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Coyotes have acquired Marian Hossa, Vinnie Hinostroza, Jordan Oesterle and a 2019 3rd Round Pick from the Blackhawks for Marcus Kruger, Andrew Campbell, MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta and a 2019 5th Round Pick.
The Maple Leafs signed Frederik Gauthier to a two-year, $1.35M ($675K AAV) contract extension.
Gauthier was the No.21 overall pick in 2013 but doesn’t project to be much more than an AHLer or fourth line centre. The 23-year-old had just 18 points (7G / 11A) in 57 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2018 and has been passed on the depth chart by Par Lindholm, who is expected to centre the Leafs’ fourth line to start next season.
The Red Wings re-signed Anthony Mantha to a two-year, $6.6M ($3.3M AAV) contract.
Mantha is coming off of his best season as a pro, scoring 24 goals with 24 assists (48 points) in 80 games. The 23-year-old, former first-round pick has 30-30 potential and is a key part of the Red Wings’ future and rebuild. Mantha is locked into a top-6 spot in Detroit and graded out as the No.31 RW in the NHL—meaning he is a low-end first-liner/high-end second-liner as he enters his third NHL season.
The Blues signed Dominik Bokk to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Blues traded up to No.25 in this summer’s draft to select Bokk. The German left winger tore up Sweden’s U20 league, picking up 41 points (14G / 27A) in 35 games before moving to the top league. Playing against men, Bokk had just one goal and one assist in 15 games, but will likely have a full season in that league in 2019.
The Lightning re-signed Adam Erne to a one-year deal worth $800K.
Erne played with both Tampa Bay (NHL) and Syracuse (AHL) for the second straight season. The 23-year-old had three goals and one assist in 23 games with the Lightning and 26 points (12G / 14A) in 41 games with the Crunch. Erne heads into the 2019 season as the 12th or 13th forward in Tampa Bay, unless there is an Erik Karlsson trade that frees up some room on the depth chart.
The Blues have signed Patrick Maroon to a one-year deal worth $1.75M.
The Lightning signed Nikita Kucherov to an eight-year extension worth $76M ($9.5M AAV).
Signing
The Islanders have signed Jan Kovar to a one-year deal worth $2M.
Kovar has spent the last five seasons in the KHL, where he collected 286 points (97G / 189A) in 285 games. Kovar is coming off of his worst season with Magnitogorsk Metallurg but had a lot of interested NHL teams before picking the Islanders. The 5-foot-11, 216 lbs. 28-year-old forward has a good shot to play in the Islanders top-6 after John Tavares left for Toronto.
The Sharks signed Vladislav Kotkov to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Kotkov went undrafted at this year’s NHL draft after scoring 21 goals and 28 assists (49 points) in 61 games with Chicoutimi (QMJHL). After an invite to development camp, the Sharks signed the 6-foot-4, 202 lbs. Russian left winger.
The Sharks signed Dylan DeMelo to a two-year extension worth $1.8M ($900K AAV).
During his first full NHL season, DeMelo failed to record a goal but added 20 assists in 63 games. Over 291 career pro games (AHL + NHL), DeMelo has scored just 10 goals, so don’t expect him to start scoring any time soon.
The Sabres signed Rasmus Dahlin to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Dahlin was the first overall pick at this year’s draft and will be on the Sabres’ blueline this year. Dahlin is one of the biggest defensive prospects the NHL has seen in recent years and he immediately improves Buffalo’s back-end. The 18-year-old had seven goals and 13 assists (20 points) in 41 games with Frolunda HC last season and has the ability to be a double-digit goal-scorer with 20-plus assists in his rookie season.
The Blues have re-signed Dmitrij Jaskin to a one-year deal worth $1.1M.
Jaskin absolutely torched the QMJHL and posted solid numbers in the AHL, but has yet to find success in his first 266 career NHL games. The former second-round pick had just six goals and 11 assists (17 points) in 76 games last season and he is quickly falling down the depth chart in St. Louis as they continue to sign forwards and top prospects come through the system.
The Golden Knights signed Colin Miller to a four-year extension worth $15.5M ($3.875M AAV).
Miller had an outstanding 2018 season finishing tied for 23rd among defensemen in goals (10), tied for 25th in assists (31) and tied for 27th in points (41). Miller, who gets sheltered offensive-zone starts, finished the season with a 56.3 CF% and +7.3 relative Corsi. This contract looks like an absolute steal for the Golden Knights.
The Flyers have signed Alex Lyon to a two-year deal worth $1.5M ($750K AAV).
Lyon split the 2018 season between Philadelphia (NHL) and Lehigh Valley (AHL). During his 11 games in the AHL, he went 6-5-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .944 SV% while going 4-2-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV% in 11 games for the Flyers. Injuries to Brian Elliott and/or Michal Neuvirth are the only way that Lyon will find himself back in the NHL in 2019.
The Red Wings signed Filip Zadina to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Zadina, who surprisingly fell to the Red Wings at No.6 in this year’s draft, has a great chance to make the team this fall. Zadina dazzled during the Red Wings’ development camp and is coming off of a 44 goal, 38 assist (82 points) season with the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL). The Czech sniper is one of the players from this year’s draft class that has a real shot at making the NHL right away.
The Coyotes have signed Barrett Hayton to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Hayton, 18, who was a bit of a surprise pick at No.5 overall this June, will likely head back to Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) for the 2019 season. Hayton had 21 goals and 39 assists (60 points) in 63 games last season will be given a shot to make the team, but the Coyotes have shown to be patient with their prospects in recent years.
The Avalanche signed Matt Nieto to a two-year extension worth $3.95M ($1.975M AAV).
Nieto set a career-high with 15 goals while adding 11 assists (26 points) in 75 games with the Avalanche last season. The former second-round pick, who was a huge offensive producer at Boston University, has not been able to find the same success in the NHL. Regardless of his lack of offence, Nieto is a great skater with a strong two-way game and has found a home on a bottom-6 line with Carl Soderberg.
The Stars re-signed Jason Dickinson to a one-year extension worth $875K.
The Panthers signed Alex Petrovic to a one-year extension worth $1.95M.
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.