NHL Hockey Player News

Niemi starts in goal for the Stars.

Niemi was pulled after he allowed four goals on 18 shots in the Stars loss in Nashville on March 1st. Kari Lehtonen started the last four games, but the Stars will go with Niemi tonight vs. the Blues. Niemi is 0-1-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .921 SV% in his first two starts vs. St. Louis.

Antti Niemi
Varalamov starts Saturday in Winnipeg.

Varlamov stopped all 37 shots that he faced in Colorado’s shutout win over the Ducks on Wednesday. Varlamov has responded very well after sitting for two games last week. He has won two in a row while stopping 74 of 75 shots (.987 SV%) to earn back-to-back wins. Varlamov has gone 10-7-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .928 SV% on the road this season.

Semyon Varlamov
Rinne is expected to start in Vancouver.

Rinne stopped 21 of 23 shots in the Predators win in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Carter Hutton started on Wednesday, so the Predators will come back to Rinne tonight in Vancouver. Rinne is heating up. He has won six of his last seven (6-0-1) while posting a 1.97 GAA, .938 SV% and one shutout. Rinne stopped 28 of 29 shots in a 2-1 win in the first meeting between these two teams.

Pekka Rinne
Varlamov is expected to start on Saturday.

Varlamov stopped all 37 shots that he faced in Colorado’s shutout win over the Ducks on Wednesday. Varlamov has responded very well after sitting for two games last week. He has won two in a row while stopping 74 of 75 shots (.987 SV%) to earn back-to-back wins. Varlamov has gone 10-7-0 with a 2.40 GAA and .928 SV% on the road this season.

Semyon Varlamov
Grubauer starts Saturday in San Jose.

Grubauer stopped 33 of 34 shots in the Capitals win in Boston last Saturday. He has won his last two starts while stopping 60 of 63 shots (.952 SV%). Tonight he will make his seventh start on the road—he has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .930 SV% away from home this season.

Philipp Grubauer
Jones will start Saturday vs. the Capitals.

Jones allowed two goals on 15 shots in the Sharks loss to the Devils on Thursday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for jones, who will start his 57th game of the season tonight. He posted a 31-save shutout in a 5-0 win over the Capitals back in October. Washington comes in having won two of three on their road-trip.

Martin Jones
Miller will be in goal Saturday vs. the Predators.

Miller allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Canucks loss in Los Angeles on Monday. Miller has lost his last three starts while posting an ugly 3.47 GAA and .882 SV%. Miller lost his first start vs. the Predators and he comes in with a 7-10-4 record, 2.44 GAA And .919 SV% on home ice this season.

Ryan Miller
Mason will start Saturday in Florida.

Mason stopped 18 of 19 shots in the Flyers win in Tampa Bay last night. With Michal Neuvirth out with a stomach virus, Mason will start on back-to-back nights. Mason has won his last three starts while posting a 1.00 GAA and .946 SV%. and tonight he will make his second start vs. the Panthers this season. In the first meeting, Mason was yanked after allowing four goals on eight shots.

Steve Mason
Smith (lower-body) will return to the Coyotes crease on Saturday.

Smith has been sidelined since December 8th, missing the last 40 games with a lower-body injury. Smith will get back between the pipes and make his 23rd start of the season. He has gone 10-9-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .901 SV% this season and one of those wins came in a 27-save performance vs. the Oilers back in Edmonton.

Mike Smith
Talbot will start Saturday vs. Arizona.

Talbot allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Oilers win in Minnesota on Thursday. Talbot has won five of his last six starts while posting a 1.15 GAA, .964 SV% and one shutout. Tonight he’ll make his second starts vs. the Coyotes—he stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 4-3 shootout win in the first meeting.

Cam Talbot

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!