NHL Hockey Player News

Darling will start Friday in Carolina.

Darling allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Blackhawks’ loss to the Senators on December 20th. Corey Crawford started the last three games, including last night, so look for Darling to go tonight in Carolina. The 28-year-old has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .906 SV% on the road so far this season.

Scott Darling
Darling will likely start Friday in Carolina.

Darling allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Blackhawks’ loss to the Senators on December 20th. Corey Crawford started the last three games, including last night, so look for Darling to go tonight in Carolina. The 28-year-old has gone 4-1-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .906 SV% on the road so far this season.

Scott Darling
Raffl (undisclosed) will return to the Flyers' lineup on Friday.

Raffl missed Wednesday's game with an undisclosed injury, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Sharks. Raffl will likely take his spot on the top line back from Taylor Leier. He comes in with seven goals and two assists (nine points) in 27 games this season.

Michael Raffl
Mason will start Friday in San Jose.

Mason allowed five goals on 24 shots in the Flyers’ loss in St. Louis on Wednesday. It was a rough outing for Mason, who has lost four of his last five games while posting a 2.70 GAA and .906 SV%. Tonight he will face a Flyers team that has won seven of their last eight contests.

Steve Mason
The Panthers have sent Kyle Rau to Springfield (AHL).

Rau, 24, has played in 24 games with the Panthers this season, registering just two goals and one assist. He will swap places with Greg McKegg and heads back to Springfield, where he has no points in two games.

Kyle Rau
Maatta (illness) will return to the lineup on Saturday.

Maatta missed the last two games with an illness, but is set to return to the lineup tomorrow vs. the Canadiens. Once heralded as one of the next great young defenseman, Maatta has struggled to produce offensively, picking up just two assists in 35 games this season.

Olli Maatta
Sharp (concussion) will return to the Stars lineup on Saturday.

Sharp has missed the last 12 games with a concussion, but has been cleared to play on Saturday. Sharp has had a difficult season with injuries and has picked up just two points (1G / 1A) in 11 games.

Patrick Sharp
Schlemko will be back in the Sharks' lineup on Friday.

Schlemko has been a healthy scratch for the last three games, but will be back in the lineup for Dylan DeMelo tonight vs. the Flyers. Schlemko has registered eight points (1G / 7A) in 28 games this season and will return to his usual spot on the third pairing and second power play unit.

David Schlemko
Miller will start Friday vs. the Ducks.

Miller stopped 36 of 37 shots in the Canucks’ win over the Kings on Wednesday. It was a great outing for Miller, who had previously allowed 16 goals in his four previous games combined (4.00 GA/PG). Tonight will be his third start of the season vs. Anaheim—he has gone 0-2-0 with a 3.58 GAA and .885 SV% in the first two meetings.

Ryan Miller
Dell will start Friday vs. the Flyers.

Dell allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Sharks’ win over the Hurricanes on December 10th. Martin Jones has started the last seven games, but Dell will start the first game of the back-to-back tonight vs. the Flyers. The Sharks’ backup has gone 3-1-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .926 SV% in four starts and one relief appearance this season.

Aaron Dell

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.

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