NHL Hockey Player News

Crawford starts Friday vs. the Sabres.

Crawford turned aside 34 of 36 shots in the Blackhawks OT win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Crawford has won three straight games while posting a 2.29 GAA and .929 SV%. Crawford has played very well all season and tonight he meets the Sabres for the second time—he made 25 saves in a 3-2 shootout win in their first game.

Corey Crawford
Gustavsson is in the starter's crease this morning.

Gustavsson allowed four goals on 27 shots in the Bruins loss to the Sabres on December 26th. Tuukka Rask started the last four games, but it looks like Gustavsson will start the first game of the Bruins’ back-to-back. In his first start vs. the Devils, Gustavsson stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 shootout win.

Jonas Gustavsson
Rask (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Friday.

Rask suffered an upper-body injury in Wednesday’s game, but he was on the ice for the Friday’s morning skate. He is listed as a game-time decision, but his presence on the ice this morning is an encouraging sign that he will play.

Victor Rask
The Wild have recalled Mike Reilly from Iowa (AHL).

Reilly, 22, has five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in 32 games with Iowa this season. The highly-touted offensive defenseman didn’t make his NHL debut during his last call-up, but with Nate Prosser dealing with an injury, he could get into the lineup this time around.

Mike Reilly
Petry missed Friday's practice; day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Petry is dealing with a lower-body injury, which forced him to miss Friday’s practice and will force him to miss Saturday's game. He is listed as day-to-day, so monitor his status heading into next week. Look for Greg Pateryn to play vs. the Penguins.

Jeff Petry
Ward starts Friday vs. the Blue Jackets.

Ward stopped 26 of 27 shots in the Hurricanes 1-0 loss in Edmonton on Monday. Eddie Lack started on Wednesday, but the Hurricanes will go back to Ward. He has played very well as of late, posting a 1.51 GAA and .939 SV% in his last six games, but that has resulted in just two wins.

Cam Ward
Schneider gets the nod vs. the Bruins on Friday.

Schneider allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Devils 2-1 loss to the Canadiens on Wednesday. He has dropped his last two starts despite allowing just three goals on 46 shots (.935 SV%). He draws a strong matchup against a Bruins team that has lost five of their last six games.

Cory Schneider
The Devils have recalled Paul Thompson from Albany (AHL).

Thompson has registered 16 points (7G / 9A) in 22 games with Albany. The 27-year-old had 55 points in 73 games last year, so he has offensive ability and with Tuomo Ruutu out, Thompson is expected to make his NHL debut on Friday.

Paul Thompson
The Devils have recalled Jim O’Brien from Albany (AHL).

O’Brien is in his first year with the Devils organization. The former first round pick (29th overall in 2007) has 12 points (7G / 5A) in 17 games with Albany. O’Brien has 12 points (8G / 4A) in 63 career NHL games with the Senators.

Jim O'Brien
The Devils have recalled Marc-Andre Gragnani from Albany (AHL).

Gragnani is in his first season with the Devils organization. He has 15 assists in 24 games with Albany and tonight he is expected to make his Devils debut. Gragnani has 18 career points (3G / 15A) in 74 NHL games.

Marc-Andre Gragnani
Varlamov will start Friday vs. the Predators.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 38 shots in the Kings win over the Blues on Wednesday. Varlamov is back to his winning ways, having won his last two starts while stopping 65 of 69 shots (.942 SV%). Tonight he will face a Predators team that has lost three of their last four games while being outscored 14-7.

Semyon Varlamov
Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Quick stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Kings win over the Flyers on Saturday. Jhonas Enroth started on Monday to give Quick a breather after starting four games in six nights, but he will get back in net tonight vs. the visiting Maple Leafs. Quick is a must-start having won his last five games and facing a Toronto team that played last night.

Jonathan Quick
Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

Lehtonen allowed six goals on 44 shots in the Stars loss in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Lehtonen has had his rough outings this season, but still sits at 12-3-0 with a 2.85 GAA and .907 SV% on the year. Lehtonen will start against a Jets team that has struggled on the road this season—Lehtonen has gone 5-2-0 with a 2.71 GAA and .908 SV% at American Airlines Center this season.

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.

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