NHL Hockey Player News

The Rangers signed Nathan Gerbe to a one-year contract worth $600K.

Grebe, 28, had a terrible 2015-16 season that was hampered by injuries. He appeared in just 47 games and scored just three times with four assists. Despite the off-year, the Rangers still came calling and he will look to crack their bottom-6 in training camp.

Nathan Gerbe
The Canadiens signed Zach Redmond to a two-year, $2.45 million deal ($1.225M AAV).

Redmond, 27, split his time between the NHL and AHL in 2015-16, finishing the year with six points (2G / 4A) in 37 games with Colorado and seven points (3G / 4A) in 11 games with San Antonio (AHL). Redmond has offensive ability, but has yet to really produce at the NHL level—33 points (9G / 24A) in 114 career NHL games.

Zach Redmond
The Hurricanes have signed Lee Stempniak to a two-year deal worth $5 million ($2.5M AAV).

Stempniak’s tour around the NHL continues as he has now signed with his 10th NHL team and seventh in the last four seasons. Despite moving around frequently, his offensive ability has remained consistent. He is coming off of a great season, where he recorded 19 goals and 32 assists (51 points) in 82 games with the Devils (63) and the Bruins (19). Stempniak figures to play a top-6 role in Carolina.

Lee Stempniak
The Red Wings have signed Alexey Marchenko to a two-year contract extension.

Marchenko appeared in his first full NHL season in 2015-16, playing 66 games with the Red Wings and only four with Grand Rapids (AHL). He collected 11 points (2G / 9A) along the way, to give him a total of three goals and 10 assists (13 points) in 80 career NHL games. He is expected to be a part of the Red Wings’ blueline again in 2016-17.

Alexey Marchenko
The Oilers have signed Jonas Gustavsson to a one-year deal worth $800K.

Gustavsson, 31, appeared in 24 games with the Bruins last season, posting an 11-9-1 record, 2.72 GAA and .908 SV%. When he came to the NHL it was believed he had starter potential, but he has turned into a career backup and this season he will play behind Cam Talbot in Edmonton.

Jonas Gustavsson
The Flames signed goaltender Chad Johnson to a one-year deal worth $1.7 million.

Johnson, 30, has moved around a tonne since being draft in 2006. After spending last year with the Sabres, Johnson has signed with the Flames, marking his sixth team in the last seven years. He was 22-16-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .920 SV% with Buffalo last season and joins Brian Elliott to form a brand new goaltending tandem in Calgary.

Chad Johnson
The Lightning have signed Victor Hedman to an eight-year contract extension worth $63 million ($7.875M AAV).

Hedman is heading into his final year of a five-year, $20 million dollar deal, but was extended through the 2024-25 season. The former second overall pick is coming off of another great season, where he scored double-digit goals (10) for the third straight season and posted 40-plus points (47) for the second time in his career. He has developed into one of the top defensemen in the NHL and now he is getting paid like one.

Victor Hedman
The Predators have signed Matt Irwin to a two-year, two-way contract.

Irwin, 28, was a player with 153 games of NHL experience heading into last season, but he was never able to maintain a roster spot with the Bruins, spending 64 games with Providence (AHL). During his season with Providence, Irwin collected 30 points (5G / 25A) but will likely start 2016-17 with Milwaukee (AHL).

Matt Irwin
The Devils have inked Beau Bennett to a one-year contract worth $725K.

Bennett’s rights were acquired from the Penguins at the NHL draft and the Devils were successful in signing him to a one-year, “show me” contract. Bennett is a former first round pick, who has had a terrible time trying to stay healthy during his NHL career. He missed 49 games last year and 33 the year prior, but has shown flashes of a potential top-6 forward when he has managed to be on the ice.

Beau Bennett
The Rangers have signed Michael Grabner to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million ($1.6M AAV).

Grabner, 28, is a former 30-goal scorer (34 in 2010-11) but has struggled for the last four seasons, especially in Toronto in 2015-16, where he tallied 18 points (9G / 9A) in 80 games. The Rangers top-6 is pretty much set in stone, so Grabner will bring some speed to their bottom-6 as he hopes to regain his scoring touch.

Michael Grabner
The Panthers signed Jonathan Marchessault to a two-year contract.

Marchessault, 25, split his 2015-16 campaign between the NHL and AHL. The 5-foot-9 forward had nine points (6G / 3A) in 11 games with Syracuse and 18 points (7G / 11A) in 45 games with the Lightning. Marchessault will fight for a spot on the Panthers’ opening night roster in training camp this Fall.

Jonathan Marchessault
The Devils re-signed Jon Merrill to a two-year deal worth $2.275 million ($1.137M AAV).

Merrill, 24, has spent the last three years with the Devils and with this signing will be with them for at least two more seasons. He is coming off of a disappointing year, having totalled just five points (1G / 4A) in 47 games, giving him 30 points (5G / 25A) in 165 career NHL games.

Jon Merrill
The Kings have signed Jeff Zatkoff to a two-year contract worth $1.8 million.

Zatkoff, 29, was originally drafted by the Kings back in 2006, but never made it to the NHL despite appearing in 114 games with the Kings AHL affiliate. He spent the last four years with the Penguins organization, where he appeared in 35 NHL games and 86 AHL contests. He is 16-14-3 with a 2.66 GAA and .915 SV% in his NHL career and now returns to the team that drafted him ready to serve as Jonathan Quick’s backup.

Jeff Zatkoff
The Stars have signed Dan Hamhuis for a two-year deal worth $7.5 million ($3.75M AAV).

Hamhuis, 33, was heavily rumoured to the Stars at last season’s trade deadline, but he really wanted to stay in Vancouver and finish out the season. He had 13 points (3G / 10A) in 58 games with the Canucks and now lands in Dallas after all. The big loser in this signing is the Canucks, who lose him for nothing. The Stars lost both Kris Russell and Jason Demers in free agency, so Hamhuis comes in and fills that second-pairing defenseman void.

Dan Hamhuis
The Canadiens have signed Alexander Radulov to a one-year deal worth $5.75 million.

Radulov, 29, is mercurial character to say the least. He has not appeared in the NHL since 2011-12, when he abruptly left the Predators for the KHL. He spent the last five years in Russia, including the last four with CSKA Moscow. He had 23 goals and 42 assists (65 points) in 53 games last year and totalled 238 points (78G / 160A) in 181 games over that four-year span. He is a firecracker, but if he acts like a team player in Montreal, they may have just struck gold. There’s no denying the high-risk of this move though.

Alexander Radulov
The Jets have signed Shawn Matthias to a two-year contract worth $4.25 million ($2.125M AAV).

Matthias, 28, split his time between the Maple Leafs and the Avalanche last year. He had 17 points (6G / 11A) in 51 games with Toronto before being traded to Colorado, where he added an additional 11 points (6G / 5A) in 20 games. The Jets are relatively thin upfront, so Matthias could land himself a top-6 gig.

Shawn Matthias
The Devils have signed Vernon Fiddler to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million.

Fiddler, 36, is in the twilight of his NHL career, but is coming off of a decent offensive season for a 4th line centre—he had 12 goals and 10 assists (22 points) in 82 games with the Stars and should be expected to be between 20-30 points again in 2016-17 with the Devils.

Vernon Fiddler
The Blues have signed Carter Hutton worth a two-year deal worth $2.25 million ($1.125M AAV).

Hutton, 30, has been a solid backup in Nashville for the last three years and now moves to St. Louis where he will serve as Jake Allen’s No. 2. He was 7-5-3 with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Predators last season and carries a career 2.56 GAA and .910 SV%.

Carter Hutton
The Rangers have signed Adam Clendening to a one-year deal worth $600K.

Clendening, 23, split his time between the Penguins and Oilers organizations last year. He had one goal and six assists in 29 NHL games and three assists in six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). He was signed to add some organizational depth to the Rangers blueline. He’ll be given a chance to crack the opening night roster in training camp, but will likely start in the AHL.

Adam Clendening

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!