NHL Hockey Player News

The Kings have signed Cal Petersen to a two-year entry level contract.

Petersen, 22, was a fifth round pick in 2013 and signed with the Kings as a college free agent after three years at Notre Dame. Last season, Petersen was 23-12-5 with a 2.22 GAA and .926 SV% in 40 starts with the Fighting Irish and should report to Ontario (AHL) to start 2017-18.

Cal Petersen
The Predators have signed Scott Hartnell to a one-year deal worth $1M.

Hartnell was bought out after three seasons in Columbus and now lands in Nashville on what might be the best value deal of the summer. Hartnell isn’t graceful, but he puts the puck in the net with regularity. He had a tougher time than normal on that front last year, but he should be expected to score 20 goals with 20-plus assists this season, with a good chunk of those numbers coming on the power play.

Scott Hartnell
The Stars have re-signed Patrik Nemeth to a one-year deal worth $945K.

Nemeth, 25, has split his first few professional seasons between the NHL and AHL. In 2016-17 he appeared in the most NHL games to this point, suiting up for 40 contests, but only managed to record three assists. Nemeth has not posed strong offensive numbers at any level, so don’t expect him to start now.

Patrik Nemeth
The Red Wings have acquired Tom McCollum from the Flames for a conditional 7th round pick in 2018.

McCollum was a first round pick of the Red Wings in 2008 and spent six years in the organization before being dealt to the Flames. A year ago he found himself in the AHL and ECHL, posting a 2.10 GAA and .926 SV% in 17 starts with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). McCollum will likely share a crease with Jared Coreau after Eddie Pasquale walked in free agency.

Thomas McCollum
The Kings have signed Christian Folin to a one-year deal worth $850K.

After being a highly sought after college free agent, Folin struggled to find his way with the Wild, posting just 23 points (4G / 19A) in 118 games. Folin has good size (6-foot-3 / 214 lbs) and a strong two-way game, but won’t do a lot of damage offensively, which keeps him off of the fantasy radar.

Christian Folin
The Ducks have signed Ryan Miller to a two-year deal worth $4.0M ($2.0M AAV).

Miller, 36, is getting up there in years, but should serve as a quality backup and mentor to the seemingly oft-injured John Gibson. Miller started 150 games in his three years with the Canucks, posting a 2.69 GAA and .914 SV%. Miller will play behind a much better defensive team, which makes him one of the better backup options/handcuffs available on draft day.

Ryan Miller
The Stars have signed Brian Flynn to a one-year, two-way contract.

Flynn, 28, had six goals and four assists (10 points) in 51 games with Montreal last season. Flynn is a quality fourth line forward that excels on the penalty kill—averaged 1:37 SH/TOI per game last year. Flynn will attempt to help a Stars PK that ranked dead last in the NHL last season at 73.9%.

Brian Flynn
The Panthers have signed Evgeny Dadonov to a three-year contract.

Dadonov, 28, was a third round pick of the Panthers in 2007 but has been in Russia since 2012-13. Dadonov had 20 points (10G / 10A) in 55 NHL games in his first go-around in North America. In his last three seasons in the KHL, Dadonov averaged 24 goals and 29 assists and comes back to the NHL where he is expected to play a top-6 role. Panthers’ GM Dale Tallon has said he expects Dadonov to play with Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, which makes him a huge fantasy sleeper heading into 2017-18.

Evgenii Dadonov
The Wild have signed Landon Ferraro to a two-year deal worth $1.4M ($700K AAV).

Ferraro, 25, had some strong years in Grand Rapids (AHL) as a part of the Red Wings organization, but has been less successful in the NHL since. In 2016-17, the winger had 15 points (7G / 8A) in 22 games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and should start this season in Iowa.

Landon Ferraro
The Wild have signed Ryan Murphy to a one-year deal worth $700K.

Murphy has had an interesting week. He was traded from Carolina to Calgary and then bought out before signing with the Wild on Saturday. The former No.12 overall pick is mobile and has a lot of offensive upside, but needs to polish his defensive game. Injuries have been a concern for the 24-year-old as well, but sticking in the NHL should be his main concern.

Ryan Murphy
The Wild have signed Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal worth $1.4M ($700K AAV).

O’Reilly, 30, has been a strong producer at the AHL level, but hasn’t been able to do the same during his NHL stints. Cal isn’t as talented as his brother Ryan, but he can be a serviceable bottom-6 forward for the Wild, but he will likely spend more time in Iowa (AHL) than Minnesota.

Cal O'Reilly
The Lightning have signed Michael Leighton to a one-year, two-way contract.

Leighton, 36, has been a strong AHL netminder throughout his lengthy career, but has posted a 2.98 GAA and .900 SV% in 111 career NHL appearances. Leighton has posted a SV% above .918 in each of his last three AHL seasons and will help replace Kristers Gudlevskis, who was traded to the New York Islanders.

Michael Leighton

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!