NHL Hockey Player News

Budaj leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Budaj allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Kings loss to the Canadiens last Sunday. Budaj has lost three straight games while allowing a combined nine goals on 59 shots (.848 SV%). Tonight he will face an Ottawa team that has lost three of their last five games.

Peter Budaj
Johnson will start Saturday vs. the Jets.

Johnson allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Flames win in Arizona on Thursday. Johnson has won five games in a row while allowing just seven goals on 155 shots (.955 SV%) and one shutout. Johnson has been one of the biggest surprises of the season and you should continue to trot him out there until he slows down.

Chad Johnson
Malgin will be a healthy scratch on a Saturday vs. the Canucks.

Malgin has picked up eight points (4G / 4A) in 28 games this season. He has played fairly well, but will get the night off tonight vs. the Canucks. Seth Griffith will play with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr with Malgin out.

Denis Malgin
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Hurricanes have recalled Michael Leighton from Charlotte (AHL).

Leighton went down to start with Charlotte on Friday, but was scheduled return, presumably to backup Cam Ward vs. the Sharks. Leighton has gone 1-1-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .893 SV% in two starts with Carolina and 6-2-2 with a 1.78 GAA and .932 SV% with Charlotte.

Michael Leighton
Hutchinson will start Saturday in Calgary.

Hutchinson allowed two goals on 24 shots in the Jets’ loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Despite the loss, it was a strong effort for Hutchinson, who will make a second straight start tonight in Calgary. The Flames come into play having won five consecutive starts.

Michael Hutchinson
Murray will start Saturday in Tampa Bay.

Murray surrendered one goal on 29 shots in the Penguins’ win in Florida on Thursday. Murray has won back-to-back starts while stopping 45 of 47 shots (.958 SV%). Murray is playing very well, the Penguins are scoring at will and the Lightning come into play having lost six of their last seven games.

Matt Murray
Smith will start Saturday vs. the Predators.

Smith gave up two goals on 35 shots in the Coyotes’ overtime loss to the Flames on Thursday. Despite posting a .929 SV% over his last five starts, Smith is winless (0-2-3) over that stretch. Tonight he will take on the Predators on home-ice, where he is 3-2-2 with a 2.85 GAA and .925 SV% this season.

Mike Smith
Johnson is in the starter's crease at the Flames morning skate.

Johnson allowed one goal on 28 shots in the Flames win in Arizona on Thursday. Johnson has won five games in a row while allowing just seven goals on 155 shots (.955 SV%) and one shutout. Johnson has been one of the biggest surprises of the season and you should continue to trot him out there until he slows down.

Chad Johnson
Domi is week-to-week with an upper-body injury; has been placed on IR.

Domi was hurt in Thursday’s game vs. the Flames and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with an upper-body injury. With Domi on IR, the Coyotes will have an even more difficult time finding offence. They have recalled Laurent Dauphin to take his spot on the roster.

Max Domi
Methot (lower-body) is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday.

Methot has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, but skated with Erik Karlsson on Friday and should play this afternoon in Los Angeles. Methot has just three assists in 23 games despite playing with Karlsson the majority of the time.

Marc Methot
Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

Lehtonen allowed two goals on 36 shots in the Stars win over the Predators on Thursday. Lehtonen has won two of his last three starts with a 1.34 GAA, .949 SV% and one shutout, earning himself a fourth consecutive start today in Philadelphia. The Flyers enter play riding a seven-game winning streak.

Kari Lehtonen

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!