NHL Hockey Player News

Zacha (upper-body) will not play Thursday vs. the Jets.

Zacha was hurt Tuesday vs. the Canadiens and will not play against Winnipeg on Thursday. Zacha has been held pointless in his last eight games, so his fantasy value has plummeted anyways. Brian Gibbons (thumb) may be ready to replace Zacha in the lineup tonight.

Pavel Zacha
Darling will start Thursday in Chicago.

Darling stopped 16 of 18 shots after replacing Cam Ward in the Hurricanes loss in Minnesota on Tuesday. Darling will be given the opportunity to end a terrible stretch for the Hurricanes, but he’s come in having allowed 14 goals on the last 108 shots (.870 SV%) that he has faced. Darling gave up four goals on 30 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in his first start vs. the Blackhawks.

Scott Darling
Kuemper will start Wednesday in Vancouver.

Kuemper was a late swap with Antti Raanta (lower-body) in Edmonton on Monday and ended up giving up four goals on 36 shots in the Coyotes overtime loss. Since joining the Coyotes, Kuemper has allowed seven goals on 63 shots (.889 SV%). One of those losses came against the Canucks, who he’ll face again tonight—he allowed three goals on 27 shots in a 3-1 loss two weeks ago.

Darcy Kuemper
Markstorm will start Wednesday vs. the Coyotes.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Canucks win over the Islanders on Monday. Markstrom snapped a personal three-game losing streak and moved to 18-21-6 on the season. He has a quality matchup with the Coyotes in town—the 28-year-old stopped 41 of 42 shots in a 3-1 win over Arizona on February 25th.

Jacob Markstrom
Berube will start Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.

Berube made 33 saves on 34 shots in the Blackhawks win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Since being recalled, Berube has posted a 3.20 GAA and .913 SV% in four appearances. His two wins have come on home-ice, where he boasts a 1.00 GAA and .974 SV%. Tonight he faces a Hurricanes team on a slide—they’ve lost eight of their last 10 (2-6-2).

Jean-Francois Berube
Anderson will start Thursday vs. the Sabres.

Anderson allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Senators win in Dallas on Monday. Anderson has won two straight, stopping 56 of the last 62 shots (.903 SV%) that he has faced. Tonight he will face the Sabres on the tail-end of a back-to-back—Anderson stopped 23 of 25 shots in a 3-2 OT win in his first start vs. Buffalo.

Craig Anderson
Rittich will start Wednesday in Buffalo.

Rittich allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Flames loss in Colorado last Wednesday. Jon Gillies has started five of the last six games, but Rittich will get the nod in Buffalo tonight. He has struggled a bit recently, but has gone 6-3-2 with a 2.88 GAA and .910 SV% on the road this season and this matchup provides him with a chance to get back on track.

David Rittich
Rittich is in the starter's crease at the Flames morning skate.

Rittich allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Flames loss in Colorado last Wednesday. Jon Gillies has started five of the last six games, but Rittich will get the nod in Buffalo tonight. He has struggled a bit recently, but has gone 6-3-2 with a 2.88 GAA and .910 SV% on the road this season and this matchup provides him with a chance to get back on track.

David Rittich
Jarry will start Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Jarry allowed three goals on 38 shots in the Penguins win over the Flames on Monday. After two rough starts, Jarry has won his last two starts while stopping 60 of 65 shots (.923 SV%). Tonight the 22-year-old will make his third appearance against the Flyers this season—he is 2-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .889 SV% in the first two meetings.

Tristan Jarry
Mrazek will start Wednesday vs. the Penguins.

Mrazek allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Flyers loss in Florida on Sunday. Mrazek won his first three starts with the Flyers while allowing just four goals on 76 shots (.947 SV%). Since then, he has lost three straight while allowing a combined 14 goals on 96 shots (.854 SV%). He’ll have a tough time tonight vs. the Penguins, who are 8-3-0 in their last 11.

Petr Mrazek
Mrazek was the first goalie off of the ice at the Flyers morning skate.

Mrazek allowed four goals on 26 shots in the Flyers loss in Florida on Sunday. Mrazek won his first three starts with the Flyers while allowing just four goals on 76 shots (.947 SV%). Since then, he has lost three straight while allowing a combined 14 goals on 96 shots (.854 SV%). He’ll have a tough time tonight vs. the Penguins, who are 8-3-0 in their last 11.

Petr Mrazek
Zacha left Tuesday’s game with an undisclosed injury and did not return.

Zacha played just 8:53 TOI and did not return for the third period of yesterday’s win over the Canadiens. The Devils didn’t have an update on Zacha’s status postgame, so consider him questionable heading into Thursday’s game vs. the Jets.

Pavel Zacha
Nielsen left Tuesday’s game following an “unnecessary hit to the head.”

Nielsen was caught by a hit from David Backes during the first period of last night’s game. The hit to the head earned Backes a hearing with the Department of Player Safety and is likely going to keep Nielsen out “for a little bit,” according to head coach Jeff Blashill.

Frans Nielsen
Smith left Tuesday’s game with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Smith left yesterday’s game after being hit late in the second period and left the ice holding his left side. Head coach Gerard Gallant did not have an update on Smith post-game, so expect the Golden Knights to provide an update prior to Thursday’s game in Detroit.

Reilly Smith

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.

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