NHL Hockey Player News

Gibson will start Thursday in Edmonton.

Gibson allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Ducks win over the Coyotes on Sunday. Ryan Miller started in Vancouver on Tuesday, so Gibson will be back in tonight in Edmonton. Gibson has chalked up a win in three of his last four starts while posting a 1.52 GAA, .942 SV% and one shutout.

John Gibson
Quick was the first goalie off of the ice at the Kings morning skate.

Quick stopped all 32 shots that he faced in the Kings shutout win in Edmonton on Tuesday. Quick has won four of his last six starts (4-1-1) while posting a 1.66 GAA, .949 SV% and one shutout. Quick has played very well as of late, but struggled in his first start vs. the Flames—allowing four goals on 37 shots in a 4-3 loss in an OT loss in early-October.

Jonathan Quick
Smith will start Thursday vs. the Kings.

Smith allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Flames win over the Blackhawks on Sunday. Smith wrapped up December at 3-5-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV%—his worst month of the season so far. Tonight he goes up against a Kings team that comes in at 24-11-5—Smith is 9-10-0 with a 2.95 GAA and .903 SV% on home ice this season.

Mike Smith
Raanta will start Thursday vs. the Predators.

Raanta allowed four goals on 25 shots in the Coyotes loss in Anaheim on Sunday. Raanta has played fairly well this season but doesn’t have a lot of support. Raanta has gone 1-6-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .912 SV% in 10 home starts and is in tough against the visiting Predators.

Antti Raanta
Slepyshev will be back in the Oilers lineup on Thursday.

Slepyshev was a healthy scratch in seven of the last eight games but will play tonight, replacing the suspended Patrick Maroon vs. the Ducks. Slepyshev has just one goal and two assists in 16 games with the Oilers.

Anton Slepyshev
Fleury will start Thursday in St. Louis.

Fleury stopped all 29 shots that he faced in the Golden Knights’ shutout win over the Predators on Tuesday. Fleury extended his winning streak to five and has been very impressive, stopping 140 of 146 shots (.959 SV%) with two shutouts over that stretch. The Golden Knights continue to shock the hockey world, so don’t hesitate to start Fleury tonight in St. Louis.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Talbot start Thursday vs. the Ducks.

Talbot allowed five goals on 33 shots in the Oilers loss to the Kings. The rollercoaster year for Talbot continues. After winning four in a row, Talbot has lost four straight while allowing a combined 18 goals on 146 shots (.876 SV%). Until Talbot rights the ship, he remains a risky play, especially against an improving Ducks team.

Cam Talbot
Lehner will start Thursday in Minnesota.

Lehner allowed three goals on 42 shots in the Sabres overtime loss to the Rangers in the Winter Classic. Lehner has lost two of three while allowing three goals in each start, posting a .921 SV%. Tonight he makes his fourth consecutive start and it comes against a Wild team that has won three of four.

Robin Lehner
Ward will start Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Ward allowed five goals on 26 shots in the Hurricanes’ overtime loss to the Capitals on Tuesday. The loss snapped a six-game losing streak for Ward, who will start for the sixth time in seven games tonight in Pittsburgh. He stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 2-1 win over the Penguins last Friday.

Cam Ward
Hanzal (undisclosed) will return to the Stars lineup on Thursday.

Hanzal has missed the last three games but will play tonight vs. the Devils. Hanzal has struggled in his first season with the Stars, collecting just six points (3G / 3A) with a minus-11 rating in 26 games during and injury ravaged first three months.

Martin Hanzal
Ward is projected to start Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Ward allowed five goals on 26 shots in the Hurricanes’ overtime loss to the Capitals on Tuesday. The loss snapped a six-game losing streak for Ward, who will start for the sixth time in seven games tonight in Pittsburgh. He stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 2-1 win over the Penguins last Friday.

Cam Ward
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Flames have recalled Marek Hrivik from Stockton (AHL).

Hrivik, 26, has recorded 10 goals and 19 assists (29 points) in 28 games with Stockton this season. The former Ranger has just three assists in 21 career NHL games. He will take Freddie Hamilton’s spot on the Flames roster.

Marek Hrivik
The Coyotes have claimed Freddie Hamilton off of waivers from the Flames.

Hamilton has sat as a healthy scratch for the majority of the season, only appearing in eight games with the Flames, collecting just one assist. He will likely fill a similar role with the Coyotes.

Freddie Hamilton
Callahan (shoulder) will return to the Lightning lineup on Thursday.

Callahan has missed the last eight games with a shoulder injury but will return tonight in Montreal. Callahan has recorded just one goal and five assists (six points) in 29 games this season. Callahan will replace J.T. Brown on the fourth line.

Ryan Callahan

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!