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NHL Hockey Player News

Schmid will start vs. the Islanders on Thursday.

Schmid has been solid when called upon, filling in for an injured Adin Hill, and will return to the crease on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Schmid has only lost once in regulation through eight games (6-1-1), boasting a serviceable 2.51 GAA and .901 SV%. That said, the Golden Knights have lost six of their last eight (2-4-2) and hope to turn things around on Thursday, entering as -177 home favorites against an Islanders team riding a two-game winning streak.

Akira Schmid
Liljegren will rejoin San Jose's lineup in Calgary on Thursday.

Shakir Mukhamadullin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Liljegren to draw back into the lineup. The 26-year-old Liljegren is averaging a career-high 20:32 time-on-ice, recording 28 blocks, 15 hits, and four points (0G / 4A) in 13 games this season.

Timothy Liljegren
Mukhamadullin will be a healthy scratch in Calgary on Thursday.

Timothy Liljegren will draw back into San Jose's lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Mukhamadullin to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:12 time-on-ice and has four points (0G / 4A) in seven games this season.

Shakir Mukhamadullin
Luukkonen is expected to start in Colorado on Thursday.

The night after losing 5-2 to the Utah Mammoth, the Sabres will revert to Luukkonen between the pipes against the Colorado Avalanche. The 26-year-old Luukkonen has only played three games (1-1-1) since making his season debut in late October, returning from an injury, and has been inconsistent in those outings, posting a 2.91 GAA and .877 SV%. The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as enormous +307 road underdogs against a league-leading Avalanche team (11-1-5) that is riding a four-game winning streak.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Gaudreau (upper-body) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is getting close to returning.

Gaudreau has not played since mid October due to an upper-body injury, and is about four weeks into his original 4-6 week timeline. The 32-year-old Gaudreau was averaging 12:52 time-on-ice and has one assist through four games before his injury.

Frederick Gaudreau
Fleury is in concussion protocol and will be placed on IR.

Fleury has been a regular for the Jets this season, but exited Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks after only 6:38 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. He has since surfaced on Injured Reserve and will be sidelined for at least a week as he recovers from a concussion. The 29-year-old Fleuery has played 15 games this season. He has not played more than 47 games since his rookie season in 2017-18.

Haydn Fleury
Tomasek is expected to draw back into Edmonton's lineup in Columbus on Thursday.

Isaac Howard will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Tomasek to return from a two-game absence. The 29-year-old Tomasek is in his first NHL season and has scored three points (1G / 2A) in 13 games.

David Tomasek
Regula is expected to draw back into Edmonton's lineup in Columbus on Thursday.

Ty Emberson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, allowing Regula re-enter the lineup for only the fifth time this season. The 25-year-old Regular is averaging 14:42 time-on-ice and has zero points.

Alec Regula
Howard is expected to be a healthy scratch in Columbus on Thursday.

David Tomasek will return to the Oilers' lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, sending Howard to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Howard has played 17 of 18 games for the Oilers in his rookie season and has scored three points (2G / 1A) while averaging 9:30 time-on-ice.

Isaac Howard
Emberson will be a healthy scratch in Columbus on Thursday.

Alec Regula will draw back into Edmonton's lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, sending Emberson to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Emberson is averaging 15:44 time-on-ice, recording 27 blocks, 23 hits, and three points (1G / 2A) in 16 games this season.

Ty Emberson
Samberg (wrist) is expected to make his season debut in Seattle on Thursday.

Samberg has yet to play this season, recovering from a wrist injury during training camp, but will make his season debut on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 26-year-old is entering his fifth NHL season in Winnipeg after posting career highs in nearly all statistical categories in 2024-25, including goals (6), points (20), SOG (95) and average TOI (21:08). Luke Schenn will exit the lineup to accommodate Samberg's debut.

Dylan Samberg
Nyquist (undisclosed) is expected to return to Winnipeg's lineup in Seattle on Thursday.

Nyquist has not played since October 30th, but should draw back into the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 36-year-old has yet to find his rhythm in his first season with the Jets, scoring only five points (0G / 5A) in 11 games. That said, he was riding a two-game point streak, with two points (0G / 2A), in two games before his injury.

Gustav Nyquist
Hellebuyck will start in Seattle on Thursday.

The 10-6-0 Jets will turn to Hellebuyck on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck was solid in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, and has been at his usual Vezina-caliber self throughout the season. He has a solid 2.35 GAA and .920 SV% in 12 games this season (7-5-0). The Jets enter Thursday's contest as -141 road favorites against a Kraken team that has scored fewer than two goals in three of their last four games (1-2-1).

Connor Hellebuyck
Schmid was the first goalie off the ice at Vegas' morning skate.

Schmid has been solid when called upon, filling in for an injured Adin Hill, and will return to the crease on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Schmid has only lost once in regulation through eight games (6-1-1), boasting a serviceable 2.51 GAA and .901 SV%. That said, the Golden Knights have lost six of their last eight (2-4-2) and hope to turn things around on Thursday, entering as -177 home favorites against an Islanders team riding a two-game winning streak.

Akira Schmid

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!