NHL Hockey Player News

Juuse Saros(G)|NSH
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Saros will be between the pipes Saturday in Pittsburgh.

Saros will start in Pittsburgh because Pekka Rinne has never won a game (regular season or playoffs) in Pittsburgh, so they will roll the dice with the 22-year-old. Saros had a really good season as Rinne’s backup last year, going 10-8-3 with a 2.35 GAA, .923 SV% and one shutout. The Penguins haven’t had a good start to the season, but that might be a reason to stay away from Saros—they will be a motivated team after getting embarrassed on Thursday.

Source:
Dan Rosen 2017-10-07T14:08:55.000Z
Juuse Saros
Henrik Lundqvist(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Lundqvist will start Saturday in Toronto.

Lundqvist allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Rangers’ opening night loss to the Avalanche. The Rangers were the better of the two teams but Semyon Varlamov out-duelled Lundqvist to earn the win. Things won’t get easier for Lundqvist tonight as he goes up against one of the best young teams in the NHL in Toronto.

Source:
Steve Zipay 2017-10-07T14:10:09.000Z
Henrik Lundqvist
Tommy Wingels(C)|
Line Change
Line Change
Wingels will draw into the Blackhawks lineup on Saturday.

Wingels was a healthy scratch in the season opener but he will replace Tanner Kero (undisclosed) in the lineup tonight. The 29-year-old had just 12 points (7G / 5A) in 73 games between the Sharks and Senators last season.

Source:
Chris Hine 2017-10-07T16:56:07.000Z
Tommy Wingels
Henrik Lundqvist(G)|FA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Lundqvist is expected to start Saturday in Toronto.

Lundqvist allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Rangers’ opening night loss to the Avalanche. The Rangers were the better of the two teams but Semyon Varlamov out-duelled Lundqvist to earn the win. Things won’t get easier for Lundqvist tonight as he goes up against one of the best young teams in the NHL in Toronto.

Source:
Dave McCarthy 2017-10-07T14:10:15.000Z
Henrik Lundqvist
Mike Smith(G)|EDM
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Smith will start the Flames home opener vs. Winnipeg.

Smith allowed just two goals on 44 shots in the Flames 3-0 opening night loss in Edmonton. Smith was exceptional in his Calgary debut but the Flames had no answers for Connor McDavid, who recorded a hat trick on the night. Smith will look to record his first ‘W’ in a Flames uniform when they host the Jets tonight.

Source:
Derek Wills 2017-10-07T14:37:54.000Z
Mike Smith
Pontus Aberg(LW)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Aberg is expected to draw into the Predators lineup on Saturday.

Aberg spent the majority of last season with Milwaukee (AHL) where he picked up 31 goals and 21 assists (52 points) in 56 games. He also appeared in 15 regular season games (1G / 1A) with the Predators. He will draw in on the second-line with Kevin Fiala sidelined.

Source:
Adam Vingan 2017-10-07T16:51:31.000Z
Pontus Aberg
Anthony Bitetto(LD)|FLA
Line Change
Line Change
Bitetto is expected to draw onto the Predators’ blueline on Saturday.

Bitetto has split time between the AHL and NHL over the last two seasons, but it looks like he will be a full-time NHLer this season—even if it’s as a seventh defenseman. Bitetto had seven assists in 29 games with the Predators last season and tonight he will replace Alexei Emelin in the lineup.

Source:
Adam Vingan 2017-10-07T16:44:42.000Z
Anthony Bitetto
Jordan Nolan(C)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Nolan is expected to be a healthy scratch on Saturday.

Nolan played 12:00 TOI in his Sabres debut but did not get on the scoresheet—he didn’t even record a hit. The Sabres fell to the Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout, so in an effort to get more offence in the lineup they will replace Nolan with Matt Moulson.

Source:
Paul Hamilton 2017-10-07T13:22:29.000Z
Jordan Nolan
Gustav Olofsson(D)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Olofsson is expected to dress as a seventh defenseman on Saturday.

Olofsson sat as a healthy scratch in the season opener in Detroit, but with Mikael Granlund battling an undisclosed injury he will draw in as a seventh defenseman tonight in Carolina. The 22-year-old blueliner had three assists in 13 games with Minnesota last season, but spent most of the year in Iowa (AHL) where he amassed 24 points (6G / 18A) across 59 contests.

Source:
Dane Mizutani 2017-10-07T13:22:18.000Z
Gustav Olofsson
Mikael Granlund(C)|ANA
Injury
Injury
Granlund (undisclosed) "probably" isn't going to play Saturday in Carolina.

Granlund was apparently playing through an injury in the season opener in Detroit, where he was held off of the scoresheet. The Finnish playmaker will likely be held out of the lineup Saturday in Carolina, so look for Gustav Olofsson to draw into the lineup as a seventh defenseman.

Source:
Dane Mizutani 2017-10-07T13:22:11.000Z
Mikael Granlund
Noel Acciari(C)|PIT
Injury
Injury
Acciari underwent surgery to repair a left index finger fracture; expected to miss six weeks.

Acciari fractured his finger during the second period of the Bruins’ opening night win over the Predators. The 25-year-old will be sidelined until approximately mid-November and his injury opens the door for Austin Czarnik to get into the lineup on Saturday.

Source:
@NHLBruins 2017-10-07T13:16:48.000Z
Noel Acciari
Matt Murray(G)|SEA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Murray is in the starter's crease this morning; expected to start vs. Nashville.

Murray gave up give goals on 34 shots in the Penguins’ opening night loss to St. Louis. The following night he replaced Antti Niemi in Chicago and proceeded to allow six goals on 31 shots in a 10-1 loss. It has been dreadful start to the season for the young netminder, who has now allowed 11 goals on the first 65 shots (.831 SV%) that he has faced.

Source:
Sam Werner 2017-10-07T18:33:55.000Z
Matt Murray

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!