NHL Hockey Player News

Lyon is in the starter's crease at the Red Wings morning skate.

After losing four straight, being outscored 18-6, the Red Wings responded with an impressive 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals in their most recent outing. Lyon was excellent in the win over the Capitals, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%). The 32-year-old netminder has a 2.91 GAA and .897 SV% in 13 appearances this season (6-5-0). The Red Wings enter Tuesday's contest as -123 home favorites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club they defeated 3-2 on November 13th.

Alex Lyon
Thompson will start Tuesday vs. the Bruins.

Thompson has won four of his last five, allowing three or fewer goals in each and posting a stellar .924 SV%, continuing his excellent 2024-25 campaign. The 27-year-old netminder has a 2.38 GAA and .916 SV% in 18 games (14-2-2). The Capitals are coming off a disappointing 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings and enter Tuesday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Boston Bruins club coming off a 4-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Logan Thompson
Hellebucyk will start against the Predators on Monday.

Hellebuyck has won five straight and will return to the crease on Monday against the Nashville Predators. The 31-year-old Hellebuyck has been sensational all season, a leading candidate for the Vezina trophy. He has posted an incredible 2.06 GAA and .928 SV% in 29 games (23-5-1) and has only allowed nine goals in his last five games (5-0-0), posting a tremendous .937 SV%. The Jets enter Monday's contest as -117 home favorites against a Predators club that defeated them 4-1 on November 23rd.

Connor Hellebuyck
Saros will start in Winnipeg on Monday.

The Predators will roll with Saros between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday when they visit the Winnipeg Jets. Saros struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 15 shots (.667 SV%) in a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues. The 29-year-old netminder has a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% in 29 games this season (8-15-6). The Predators enter Monday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Jets club leading the NHL with 26 wins.

Juuse Saros
Grubauer will start against Utah on Monday.

With Joey Daccord still sidelined with an upper-body injury, the Kraken will hand Grubauer the start for a second straight game on Monday. Grubauer got the win his last time out, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 overtime victory in Vancouver on Saturday. It was a much needed win for the 33-year-old netminder, who has lost ten of his 14 starts on the season. He's got a good chance of staying in the win column on Monday as the Kraken enter action against Utah as slight underdogs at +125 on the money line.

Philipp Grubauer
Smith will return to the Blackhawks lineup for the Winter Classic on Tuesday.

Smith has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury in the third period of Chicago's December 12th game against the New york Islanders. The 35-year-old Smith has 10 points (6G / 4A) in 26 games while averaging 11:47 time-on-ice.

Craig Smith
Martinez (neck) is still considered day-to-day and will not play in the Winter Classic on Tuesday.

Martinez has been out of the lineup since December 7th but appears to be nearing a return to the Blackhawks lineup. The 37-year-old Martinez is averaging 20:05 time-on-ice, recording four points (1G / 3A), 38 blocks, and four hits in 15 games.

Alec Martinez
Mrazek will start for the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic on Tuesday.

The Blackhawks have struggled lately, being outscored 21-10 during a four-game losing skid, and will hope to change their fortunes with Mrazek between the pipes in the Winter Classic on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. After starting the season with a solid .912 SV% in his first 16 games (7-8-1), Mrazek has fallen off significantly, posting a lousy .844 SV% in his last six appearances (0-5-0). The Blackhawks enter Tuesday's contest as +125 home underdogs against a Blues club coming off a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Petr Mrazek
Smith (back) is a possibility to return to Chicago's lineup on Tuesday for the Winter Classic.

Smith has been out of the lineup since suffering an injury in the third period of Chicago's December 12th game against the New york Islanders. The 35-year-old Smith has 10 points (6G / 4A) in 26 games while averaging 11:47 time-on-ice.

Craig Smith
Shesterkin will start in Florida on Monday.

The struggling Rangers have been outscored 14-3 in their last three games (0-3-0) and will turn to Shesterking between the pipes on Monday against the Florida Panthers. He allowed five goals on 13 shots in his previous outing (.615 SV%). The Rangers enter the contest as +175 road underdogs against the Panthers, who have been shut out in two straight.

Igor Shesterkin

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!