NHL Hockey Player News

Dell in goal for the Sharks on Thursday.

Dell allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Sharks win in Calgary last Thursday. Martin Jones has struggled recently so Dell is getting more playing time as a result. Dell is riding a four-game winning streak, posting a 1.00 GAA, .967 SV% and one shutout in the process.

Aaron Dell
Rask will start Thursday vs. the Jets.

Rask allowed two goals on 18 shots in the Bruins win over the Blue Jackets on Monday. Despite the easy evening, Anton Khudobin started the following night so they’ll come back to Rask tonight vs. the Jets. The veteran netminder has been excellent in December, going 5-0-1 with a 1.52 GAA, .941 SV% and one shutout.

Tuukka Rask
Rinne is expected to start Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.

Rinne allowed five goals on 35 shots in the Predators loss to the Jets on Tuesday. Despite the rough outing, Rinne is expected to go again tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Rinne has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.28 GAA, .932 SV% and one shutout in six starts in December. Tonight he faces a Hurricanes team coming off of an 8-1 loss and who have lost seven of their last 11 games (4-4-3).

Pekka Rinne
Smith (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision.

The Senators said that Smith is a little banged up and is a game-time decision for Thursday’s game. The Senators recalled Filip Chlapik from Belleville (AHL) and he is expected to replace Smith if he is unable to play.

Zack Smith
Lundqvist will start Thursday in New Jersey.

Lundqvist allowed one goal on 40 shots in the Rangers win over the Ducks on Tuesday. Lundqvist has been excellent in his last three starts, going 3-0-0 while allowing just five goals on 110 shots (.955 SV%). In his first start against the Devils, Lundqvist allowed two goals on 28 shots in a 5-2 win earlier this month.

Henrik Lundqvist
Hellebuyck will start Thursday in Boston.

Hellebuyck yielded four goals on 34 shots in the Jets win in Nashville on Tuesday. Hellebuyck’s numbers haven’t been as good in December, but he is still 5-2-1 in eight starts despite a 2.87 GAA and .898 SV%. He has a tough matchup tonight against a Bruins team that has won seven of their last 10 games (7-2-1).

Connor Hellebuyck
Rask is expected to start Thursday vs. the Jets.

Rask allowed two goals on 18 shots in the Bruins win over the Blue Jackets on Monday. Despite the easy evening, Anton Khudobin started the following night so they’ll come back to Rask tonight vs. the Jets. The veteran netminder has been excellent in December, going 5-0-1 with a 1.52 GAA, .941 SV% and one shutout.

Tuukka Rask
Dotchin (illness) is expected to be back in the Lightning lineup on Thursday.

Dotchin missed Tuesday’s game in Vegas with an illness but was back on the ice this morning for the gameday skate and is expected to play vs. Ottawa. Dotchin has two assists, a plus-4 rating and seven shots in his last four games.

Jake Dotchin
Johnson (illness) is expected to be back in the Lightning lineup on Thursday.

Johnson missed Tuesday’s game in Vegas with an illness but was back on the ice this morning for the gameday skate and is expected to play vs. Ottawa. Johnson has been great as of late, picking up four goals and eight assists (12 points) in his last seven games.

Tyler Johnson
Miller was the first goalie off of the ice at the Ducks morning skate.

Miller allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Ducks loss in New Jersey on Monday. John Gibson started five of the last six games but it looks like Gibson will start tonight against the Islanders. Miller comes into Thursday at 1-1-3 with a 2.39 GAA and .929 SV% on the road this season.

Ryan Miller
Vasilevskiy will start Thursday vs. the Senators.

Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 36 shots in the Lightning’s loss in Vegas on Tuesday. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Vasilevskiy, who will make his 28th start tonight vs. the Senators. The 23-year-old is an impressive 12-1-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% at Amalie Arena this season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Krejci will miss Thursday’s game with an upper body injury.

Krejci will miss third straight game with an upper-body injury and may not be back before the Christmas break. After tonight the Bruins last game before the break is Saturday vs. the Red Wings. Monitor Krejci’s status over the next couple of days.

David Krejci
Nash is questionable for Thursday’s game with an illness.

The Bruins will host the Jets tonight but they could be without some key forwards including Nash, who is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s contest. Monitor his status when the Bruins hit the ice for pre-game warmups at 6:30 pm ET.

Riley Nash
Spooner is questionable for Thursday’s game with an illness.

The Bruins will host the Jets tonight but they could be without some key forwards including Spooner, who is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s contest. Monitor his status when the Bruins hit the ice for pre-game warmups at 6:30 pm ET.

Ryan Spooner
Marchand is questionable for Thursday’s game with an illness.

The Bruins will host the Jets tonight but they could be without some key forwards including Marchand, who is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s contest. Monitor his status when the Bruins hit the ice for pre-game warmups at 6:30 pm ET.

Brad Marchand
Murray will start Thursday vs. the Blue Jackets.

Murray allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Penguins loss in Colorado on Monday. Since returning to the Penguins crease, Murray has gone 1-2-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .911 SV%. Tonight he will make his 11th start at PPG Paints Arena—he has gone 6-2-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .928 SV% on home ice his season.

Matt Murray
Bratt (lower-body) will not play Thursday vs. the Rangers.

Bratt was hurt while blocking a shot on Monday and will not play tonight. Bratt was given a “maintenance day” on Wednesday but it looks like it was a little more than maintenance. Luckily for the Devils, Marcus Johansson (ankle) will return tonight to replace Bratt in the lineup.

Jesper Bratt

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!