NHL Hockey Player News

The Blackhawks have inked Tommy Wingels to a one-year contract.

With a lot of high priced forwards at the top of their lineup the Blackhawks needed to fill out their roster with some value contracts and that’s what Wingels provides. Wingels hasn’t posted good numbers in the last few seasons, but has posted great numbers at lower levels and earlier in his NHL career, making him a low-risk/high-reward signing for Chicago.

Tommy Wingels
The Stars have signed Tyler Pitlick to a three-year deal worth $3.0M ($1.0M AAV).

Pitlick has split his time between the AHL and NHL in his first three professional seasons. Last year he had 21 points (7G / 14A) in 37 games with Bakersfield and 11 points (8G / 3A) in 31 games with Edmonton. He is a capable scorer with good size (6-foot, 202 lbs) who brings some offence and some upside to the Stars bottom-6.

Tyler Pitlick
The Penguins have signed Antti Niemi to a one-year deal worth $700K.

Niemi’s numbers have been slipping for the last few years, finally resulting in an .892 SV% and a buyout in 2016-17. Niemi is a value option to serve as Matt Murray’s backup with Marc-Andre Fleury being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights. A limited role is probably best for the 33-year-old and he will be playing behind a more defensively responsible team than he was in Dallas.

Antti Niemi
The Stars have signed Martin Hanzal to a three-year deal worth $14.25M ($4.75M AAV).

Hanzal, 30, had 20 goals and 29 assists (49 points) in 71 games with the Coyotes and Wild last year. Hanzal has always had a lot of offensive potential to go along with great size (6’6” / 226 lbs.) but has had a tough time with durability. Hanzal heads to Dallas where he will replace Cody Eakin, who was picked up by the Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars have arguably the best offence he has ever been a part of and that could unlock the offensive potential Hanzal has been teasing us with for years.

Martin Hanzal
The Hurricanes have signed Josh Jooris to a one-year deal worth $775K.

After two years in Calgary, Jooris split his 2016-17 season between the Rangers and Coyotes, where he had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 54 games. Jooris is a hard-working forward that plays all three forward positions, but has posted limited offensive numbers in his brief three-year NHL career.

Josh Jooris
The Blackhawks have signed J-F Berube to a two-year deal worth $3.0M ($1.5M AAV).

Berube was a part of a goaltending trio in Brooklyn for the last two seasons and will likely have to battle with Anton Forsberg for the backup job to Corey Crawford. The 25-year-old has posted a career 3.10 GAA and .900 SV% in 21 career NHL starts, but has amassed impressive numbers at the AHL level.

Jean-Francois Berube
The Blues have signed Chris Thorburn to a two-year deal worth $1.8M ($900K AAV).

The Blues traded Ryan Reaves to the Penguins at the NHL Draft so bring in Chris Thorburn to replace the lost toughness. The 34-year-old had three goals, one assist and 95 PIMS in 64 games with the Jets a year ago.

Chris Thorburn
The Penguins have signed Matt Hunwick to a three-year deal worth $6.75M ($2.25M AAV).

After struggling offensively for years, Hunwick managed to post 19 points (1G / 18A) in in 72 games with the Maple Leafs a season ago. Hunwick will help replace Trevor Daley, who left for Detroit in free agency and should be third pairing defenseman.

Matt Hunwick
The Red Wings have signed Luke Witkowski to a one-year deal worth $750K.

Witkowski, 27, is a Michigan native that is headed home after spending the first five years of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Witkowski is capable of playing on the blueline or on the wing and adds some size and toughness to the Red Wings’ depth chart. Witkowski has just four assists and 58 PIMS in 54 career NHL games.

Luke Witkowski
The Hurricanes have signed Justin Williams to a two-year deal worth $9.0M ($4.5M AAV).

Williams was in Carolina from 2004 until his was traded to Los Angeles midway through the 2009 season. Since then, he has posted 20-plus goals in four of seven full 82-game seasons, while posting 40-plus points in six of seven. Williams helps add depth and playoff experience to the wing of a young Carolina team that has playoff aspirations in 2017-18.

Justin Williams
The Avalanche have acquired Colin Wilson from the Predators for a 2019 4th round pick.

Wilson was the No.7 overall pick in 2008, but never really lived up to expectations, posting a career-high of just 20 goals and 42 points (2014-15). Wilson was slipping down the Predators depth chart, but should play an increased role in Colorado, where mid-30’s points should be his floor.

Colin Wilson
The Sabres have signed Benoit Pouliot for one-year at $1.15M.

Pouliot had 33 goals and 37 assists (70 points) in 113 games in his first two seasons in Edmonton, but struggled a year ago leading to a buyout. The 30-year-old winger goes from being overpaid to potentially one of the best value contracts in 2017-18 free agency. Pouliot will likely play on the second or third line behind Evander Kane and is capable of posting a 20-20 season if he can stay healthy.

Benoit Pouliot
The Predators have signed Nick Bonino to a four-year deal worth $16.4M ($4.1M AAV).

Bonino had one of the best seasons of his career 2016-17, posting 18 goals and 19 assists (37 points) in 80 games and added an additional seven points (4G / 3A) in 21 playoff games to help the Penguins to their second Stanley Cup in a row. Bonino will fill the hole left by Mike Fisher’s expected departure and should serve as the Predators No.2/No.3 centre.

Nick Bonino
The Canadiens have signed Karl Alzner to a five-year contract worth $23.125M ($4.625M AAV).

Alzner spent the first nine years of his NHL career in Washington after the Capitals made him the No.5 overall pick in 2007. Alzner is a solid two-way defenseman that is capable of playing heavy minutes against the other team’s best and posting modest offensive numbers. Alzner has not missed a game in seven seasons and has averaged three goals and 14 assists (17 points) per 82 games over that stretch. Alzner could see regular time next to Shea Weber as the Habs’ No.1 pairing.

Karl Alzner
The Jets have signed Steve Mason to a two-year deal worth $8.2M ($4.1M AAV).

After four and a half years in Philadelphia, Mason is on his way to Winnipeg. Like most goalies, he can be volatile from year to year and was 26-21-8 with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 58 games with the Flyers a season ago. With Ondrej Pavelec now in New York, Mason will likely share the crease with Connor Hellebuyck to start the 2017-18 season and they’ll go from there.

Steve Mason
The Jets have signed Dmitry Kulikov to a three-year deal worth $12.99M ($4.33M AAV).

Kulikov broke into the NHL with a bang, but has struggled in recent years, culminating in him being traded to Buffalo last summer and him only posting five points (2G / 3A) in 47 games with the Sabres. Still only 26-years-old, the Jets obviously see something they like in the former No.14 overall pick (2009). Kulikov will be leaned on as a No.4/No.5 defenseman in Winnipeg, which should help him in the defensive aspect of the game.

Dmitry Kulikov
The Devils have signed Brian Boyle to a two-year deal worth $5.1M ($2.55M AAV).

Boyle was with the Lightning since the 2015 season before being dealt to the Maple Leafs at last year’s deadline. Boyle finished the campaign with 13 goals and 12 assists (25 points) in a combined 75 games, but just three assists in 21 games in Toronto. Boyle is a solid bottom-6 forward that is solid on the face-off dot, winning over 50 percent for his career.

Brian Boyle
The Rangers have signed Ondrej Pavelec to a one-year deal worth $1.3M.

Pavelec has been with the Jets’ organization since he was drafted No.41 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005. His game started to slip the last few years, leading to him starting the 2016-17 season in the AHL. He ended up making it to Winnipeg and appeared in eight games, going 4-4-0 with a 3.55 GAA and .888 SV%. Despite a few rough seasons in a row, the Rangers have had a lot of success with backups over the years, making it possible the Pavelec could be a serviceable handcuff to Henrik Lundqvist in 2017-18.

Ondrej Pavelec
The Canucks have signed Anders Nilsson to a two-year deal worth $5.0M ($2.5M AAV).

The Canucks let Ryan Miller walk in free agency, so Anders Nilsson has been brought in to serve as Jacob Markstrom’s backup. The 27-year-old netminder appeared in 26 games with the Sabres a season ago, going 10-10-4 with a 2.67 GAA and .923 SV%.

Anders Nilsson
The Sabres have signed Chad Johnson to a one-year deal worth $2.5M.

Johnson was brought into Calgary last season to be Brian Elliott’s backup, but ended playing a more important role than originally thought. Johnson went 18-15-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% in 36 games and will return to Buffalo to serve as the primary backup to Robin Lehner. The Sabres No.1 has had a tough time staying in the crease, so Johnson could be in line for 30-plus starts again in 2017-18.

Chad Johnson

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!