Burakovsky (illness) will not play Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
Call up / Send down
The Avalanche have recalled Andrew Hammond from Belleville (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Avalanche have recalled David Warsofsky from San Antonio (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Avalanche have recalled A.J. Greer from San Antonio (AHL).
Wennberg (back) will return to the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Wennberg has missed the last eight games with a back injury but will be back in the lineup tonight in Buffalo. Wennberg will assume a familiar role tonight as he starts at centre with Boone Jenner and Nick Foligno on his wings. After a breakout 2016-17 season, Wennberg has struggled this season and comes into tonight with just four goals and 12 assists (16 points) in 30 games. He will look to have a better second half, starting tonight.
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have recalled Sebastian Aho from Bridgeport (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have recalled Michael Dal Colle from Bridgeport (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Call up / Send down
The Islanders have recalled Anthony Beauvillier from Bridgeport (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Lowry (upper-body) will not play Friday in Chicago.
Lowry will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury, meaning that Jack Roslovic will remain in the lineup and on the top power-play unit. This is a tough time for Lowry to get hurt because he was seeing his largest usage of the season with Mark Scheifele sidelined, however it doesn’t look like Lowry will miss too much time.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start Friday in Chicago.
Hellebuyck stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Jets win over the Sharks on Sunday. Steve Mason started on Tuesday so they will come back to Hellebuyck tonight in Chicago. Hellebuyck has won five of his last six starts with a 1.98 GAA, .937 SV% and one shutout. In his first start against the Blackhawks, Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 30 shots in a 5-1 loss.
Line Change
Connolly will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Alex Chiasson will replace Connolly in the Capitals lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes but it is not a knock on Connolly’s game according to head coach Barry Trotz. “[He] has been playing fine” but Trotz is just trying to keep everyone involved—Chiasson sat on Tuesday.
Goalie Start
Darling will start Thursday in Washington.
Darling surrendered five goals on 28 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Boston last Saturday. It has been a struggle for Darling this season and he has watched Cam Ward a lot recently. Darling comes into tonight’s game having lost three straight while giving up an incredible 16 goals on 93 shots (.828 SV%).
Goalie Start
Smith will start Thursday in Tampa Bay.
Smith allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flames win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Smith has won four in a row while allowing just 10 goals on 132 shots (.924 SV%). Tonight he will look for his fifth straight win against the top team in Tampa Bay—he is 7-3-3 with a 1.96 GAA and .944 SV% on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Smith is in the starter's crease at the Flames morning skate.
Smith allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Flames win in Minnesota on Tuesday. Smith has won four in a row while allowing just 10 goals on 132 shots (.924 SV%). Tonight he will look for his fifth straight win against the top team in Tampa Bay—he is 7-3-3 with a 1.96 GAA and .944 SV% on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Darling is projected to start Thursday in Washington.
Darling surrendered five goals on 28 shots in the Hurricanes loss in Boston last Saturday. It has been a struggle for Darling this season and he has watched Cam Ward a lot recently. Darling comes into tonight’s game having lost three straight while giving up an incredible 16 goals on 93 shots (.828 SV%).
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start Thursday vs. the Flames.
Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Lightning’s win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. The win snapped a brief two-game losing skid for Vasilevskiy, who will make his 36th start of the season tonight. Vasilevskiy comes in tied for second in the NHL in GAA (2.10) and SV% (.933) but is the runaway leader in wins (27) so far.
Goalie Start
Ullmark will make his season debut for the Sabres on Thursday.
Ullmark has appeared in 21 career NHL games but it looks like he will make his season debut tonight vs. Columbus. The Sabres believe Ullmark has a bright future ahead of him, so they’ll give him a shot tonight after he has gone 17-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA, .928 SV% and two shutouts in 26 games with Rochester (AHL). While he might be the Sabres goalie of the future, he will be in tough against Sergei Bobrovsky tonight.
Goalie Start
Ullmark will likely start Thursday vs. the Blue Jackets.
Ullmark has appeared in 21 career NHL games but it looks like he will make his season debut tonight vs. Columbus. The Sabres believe Ullmark has a bright future ahead of him, so they’ll give him a shot tonight after he has gone 17-5-1 with a 2.27 GAA, .928 SV% and two shutouts in 26 games with Rochester (AHL). While he might be the Sabres goalie of the future, he will be in tough against Sergei Bobrovsky tonight.
Goalie Start
Grubauer will start Friday in Carolina.
Grubauer allowed one goal on 38 shots in the Capitals win over the Canucks on Tuesday. With Braden Holtby starting last night, Grubauer will start the tail-end of the home-and-home with the Hurricanes. Dating back to the start of December, Grubauer has gone 2-0-2 with a 1.05 GAA, .965 SV% and one shutout in his last five games.
Goalie Start
Holtby will start Thursday vs. the Hurricanes.
Holtby allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Capitals win over the Blues on Sunday. Philipp Grubauer gave him the night off on Tuesday, but Holtby will be back in tonight vs. the Hurricanes—he has won four straight while posting a 2.87 GAA and .910 SV%. One of those wins came against the Hurricanes, who he’ll face again tonight—he allowed four goals on 38 shots in the 5-4 OT victory.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.