Injury
Budaj suffered an apparent leg injury on Friday; no update from the Lightning on Saturday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Call up / Send down
The Penguins have re-assigned Dominik Simon to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Penguins have recalled Daniel Sprong from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Line Change
Bjork will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
After a hot start to the season, picking up seven points (3G / 4A) in his first nine games, Bjork has recorded just one goal and four assists (five points) in his last 19 games. He will sit tonight with David Krejci (lower-body) back in the lineup.
Krejci (lower-body) will return to the Bruins lineup on Saturday.
Krejci has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury but will return to the lineup tonight in Ottawa. Krejci has had trouble with injuries this season but has been efficient when he’s in the lineup, picking up 14 points (5G / 9A) in 18 games.
Line Change
Bowey will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Bowey has played the majority of the games this season but has yet to score a goal with eight assists and a minus-2 rating in 32 games. Tonight he will take a seat in the press box with Taylor Chorney returning to the blueline.
Burakovsky will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Burakovsky has struggled since returning from a thumb injury and has picked up just eight points (3G / 5A) in 19 games this season. Burakovsky has game-breaking talent and a great shot but has struggled to find his way early in his NHL career. Tonight he will sit for Chandler Stephenson.
Goalie Start
Holtby will start Saturday vs. the Devils.
Holtby allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Capitals win over the Bruins on Thursday. Holtby has now won five of his last six starts despite allowing a three goals in four of six games. Tonight he will face the Devils team for the second time this season—he turned away 21 of 23 shots in a 5-2 win in the first meeting.
Goalie Start
Reimer will make his 11th consecutive start on Saturday.
Reimer allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Panthers win over the Flyers on Thursday. Reimer has won four straight starts, allowing jut six combined goals on 141 shots (.958 SV%). Reimer struggled in his first start vs. the Canadiens, giving up five goals on 37 shots in a 5-1 loss, but he is playing much better hockey no than he was in October.
Goalie Start
Darling will start Saturday in St. Louis.
Darling surrendered eight goals on 36 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Toronto on December 19th. Darling has struggled recently and Cam Ward has played very well as of late, but Ward will get a night off on the tail-end of a back-to-back. Darling is an ugly 3-7-3 with a 2.98 GAA and .890 SV% in 13 road games this season.
Goalie Start
PIckard will start Friday in Colorado.
Pickard has gone 10-5-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies this season. With Curtis McElhinney hurt, it looks like Pickard will start against his former team tonight in Colorado. Pickard has gone 28-44-6 with a 2.77 GAA and .914 SV% in 86 career NHL games (all with Colorado).
Goalie Start
Kadri (upper-body) will not be in the lineup on Friday.
Werenski (lower-body) will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Friday.
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Budaj will start Friday vs. the Flyers.
Budaj allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Lightning’s win in Colorado on December 16th. He hasn’t seen a lot of playing time because Andrei Vasilevskiy has been fantastic all season. Budaj comes in at 3-1-0 with a 3.50 GAA and .888 SV% in his last four starts.
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
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.