Line Change
Goulbourne will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Leier will draw into the Flyers lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Lundqvist will start Thursday vs. the Maple Leafs.
Lundqvist was pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots in the Rangers loss in Anaheim last Tuesday. Lundqvist has dropped his last three stats while allowing a combined eight goals on 72 shots (.889 SV%). In two starts against Toronto this season, King Henrik has allowed eight goals on 54 shots (.852 SV%).
Goalie Start
Lyon will make his first NHL start in New Jersey.
Lyon turned aside all five shots that he faced in relief of Michal Neuvirth in his NHL debut last night. Neuvirth reportedly did not feel well during the game, so look for Lyon to get his first career start tonight in New Jersey. The 25-year-old is a bit of an unknown and is the fourth goalie on the Flyers depth chart but with injuries he’ll get his shot—he was 13-8-2 with a 2.90 GAA and .910 SV% in Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Maple Leafs are hopeful that Rielly (upper-body) will be ready for Saturday.
Polak (illness) won’t play on Thursday; could be back Saturday in Boston.
Hainsey (illness) won’t play on Thursday; could be back Saturday in Boston.
Quick (undisclosed) has been activated from IR; expected to start Thursday.
The Predators have activated Filip Forsberg (upper-body) from IR; expected to play tonight.
Goalie Start
McElhinney will start Thursday in New York.
McElhinney allowed one goal on 40 shots in the Maple Leafs win in Dallas last Thursday. It was a great outing for the Toronto backup, who hadn’t played in 36 days. With Frederik Andersen starting last night he probably won’t have to wait another month to play as he’s expected to start tonight against the Rangers. McElhinney has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.88 GAA and .919 SV% on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start Thursday in Calgary.
Vasilevskiy allowed one goal on 37 shots in the Lightning’s win in Philadelphia last Thursday. After a three-game losing streak, Vasilevskiy has won his last two games while turning away 76 of 77 shots (.987 SV%). The Flames went into Tampa Bay and beat up on the Bolts a few weeks ago so the Lighting will be looking to get some revenge in Calgary tonight.
Gudbranson (back) will return to the Canucks lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Forsberg will start Thursday in Vancouver.
Forsberg made 42 saves on 43 shots in the Blackhawks win in Nashville on Tuesday. Forsberg has won two in a row while stopping 65 of 67 shots (.970 SV%). Tonight he will look to get revenge against the Canucks—he allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 5-2 loss in Vancouver in late-December.
Kerfoot will take Nathan MacKinnon's spot on the top line on Thursday.
MacKinnon (upper-body) will miss 2-4 weeks.
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start Thursday vs. the Blackhawks.
Markstrom allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Canucks win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. Markstrom has won four of his last six starts while posting a 2.65 GAA and .908 SV%. Tonight he faces the Blackhawks for the second time this season—he stopped 30 of 32 shots in a 5-2 win in their first meeting in late-December.
Goalie Start
Raanta will start Thursday vs. the Stars.
Raanta made 25 saves on 27 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Blue Jackets last Thursday. Raanta has allowed two goals in each of his last five starts, going 2-1-2 with a .933 SV%. Raanta has played very well recently but has mustered just three wins in 16 starts on home-ice. Tonight they host the Stars, who have won six of their last 10.
Byron (upper-body) is expected to play Thursday in Carolina.
Call up / Send down
The Avalanche have sent Andrew Hammond to Belleville (AHL).
The Avalanche have activated Semyon Varlamov (groin) from IR; will backup Jonathan Bernier on Thursday.
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.