Line Change
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Hunwick is not on the ice for warmups; will not play Thursday.
Palat (illness) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play.
Palat was listed as a game-time decision due to an illness, but he is on the ice in warmups and skating on his regular line which suggests that he will play.
Staal (personal) will return to the Rangers lineup on Thursday.
Staal missed Wednesday’s game for the birth of his child, but he will replace Dylan McIlrath in the lineup tonight. He has just 13 points (2G / 11A) in 56 games this season.
Goalie Start
Raanta will start Thursday in Toronto.
Raanta allowed five goal s on 34 shots in the Rangers win over the Kings on last Friday. This will be Raanta’s third start in 2016 and he comes in at 4-4-2 with a 2.57 GAA and .902 SV% on the season. In his first start against the Maple Leafs, Raanta allowed three goals on 26 shots in a 4-3 win, but that Maple Leafs team looked nothing like the one he’ll face tonight.
Spezza (upper-body) is expected to return to the Stars lineup on Thursday.
Spezza has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, but he was a full participant in Thursday’s morning skate and is expected to play tonight in Arizona. Spezza has 40 points (18G / 22A) in 52 games this season.
Goalie Start
Gibson will return to the Ducks crease on Thursday.
Gibson stopped 16 of 17 shots before getting hurt in the Ducks win in Chicago last Saturday. Gibson is 1-1-0 with a 3.68 GAA and .877 SV% in three games since the All-Star break. Tonight he will make his second start vs. the Canucks—in the first meeting he stopped all 25 shots that he faced to record his first shutout of the season.
Gibson (upper-body) is ready to return; no word if he will start Thursday.
Gibson missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that he suffered last Saturday in Chicago. Gibson’s return was foreshadowed by Anton Khudobin’s return to San Diego (AHL) on Wednesday. He shut the Canucks out earlier in the year, so don't be surprised if he gets the nod tonight.
Goalie Start
Quick will start Thursday in St. Louis.
Quick allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Kings loss in Washington on Tuesday. It was a strong outing for Quick, who missed the three previous games. In his first start vs. the Blues, Quick allowed one goal on 16 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss. He comes in with a 14-5-1 with a 2.06 GAA and .932 SV% in 20 starts on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will start Sunday in Vancouver.
Varlamov allowed two goals on 34 shots in the Avs’ win over the Canadiens on Wednesday. Varlamov has won three of his last four starts while posting a 2.85 GAA and .918 SV%. Tonight he faces the Canucks for the second time this month. Varly allowed three goals on 28 shots in a 3-1 loss to Vancouver back on February 9th.
Goalie Start
Pickard will start Saturday in Edmonton.
Pickard allowed one goal on 18 shots after replacing Semyon Varlamov in the Avs’ 4-1 loss in Buffalo. Picked has gone 3-3-1 with a 2.75 GAA and .917 SV% this season, including 2-2-0 with a 3.35 GAA and .891 SV% on the road. He’ll take on an Oilers team that has lost six of their last seven games.
Goalie Start
Talbot starts Thursday vs. the Wild.
Talbot allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Oilers loss to the Ducks on Tuesday. Talbot has dropped four of his last five starts while posting a 3.62 GAA and .881 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start against the Wild—he allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss back in October, but the Wild have struggled as of late.
Smith (lower-body) will travel on the Coyotes' upcoming five-game road trip.
Smith has been out with an upper-body injury since December 8th, but will travel on their upcoming road trip. Smith’s return couldn’t come at a better time after Anders Lindback went down with an upper-body injury earlier in the week.
Goalie Start
Talbot will likely start Thursday vs. the Wild.
Talbot allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Oilers loss to the Ducks on Tuesday. Talbot has dropped four of his last five starts while posting a 3.62 GAA and .881 SV%. Tonight he will make his second start against the Wild—he allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss back in October, but the Wild have struggled as of late.
Goalie Start
Rask skipped the Bruins optional skate; expected to start in Nashville.
Rask stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Bruins win in Columbus on Tuesday. It was a nice bounce-back performance from Rask, who allowed five goals in his previous outing. Rask is 4-1-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .910 SV% in seven starts since the All-Star break. Tonight he faces a Predators team that has lost three of his last four.
Goalie Start
Miller is expected to start Thursday vs. the Ducks.
Miller allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canucks loss to the Maple Leafs last Saturday. Jacob Markstrom started on Monday and lost, so Miller will go tonight vs. the Ducks. Miller is 1-2-1 with a 1.74 GAA and .944 SV% in February and 1-1-0 with a 2.64 GAA and .914 SV% in two starts against Anaheim this season.
Goalie Start
Niemi was the first goalie off of the ice for the Stars.
Niemi allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Stars win in Nashville on Monday. Kari Lehtonen started on Tuesday, but it looks like Niemi will go tonight in Arizona. Niemi is 3-1-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .871 SV% in February and comes in at 8-5-5 with a 2.81 GAA and .903 SV% on the road this season. The Coyotes come in having lost six of their last eight.
Goalie Start
Holtby starts Thursday in Brooklyn.
Holtby allowed four goals on 25 shots in the Capitals loss in Dallas on Saturday. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Holtby, who was given Tuesday night off. Holtby will make his 46th start of the season and he comes in at 35-6-3 on the season. The 26-year-old has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .951 SV% in his first two start against the Islanders this season.
Kassian (illness) will not play on Thursday.
Kassian will miss a second straight game with an illness, which means Anton Lander will remain in the lineup. Kassian is day-to-day and is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday.
Call up / Send down
The Sabres have reassigned Justin Bailey to Rochester (AHL).
Bailey, 20, did not have a point in four games with the Sabres. He heads back to Rochester where he has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 47 games this season.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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