NHL Hockey Player News

McElhinney will start Friday vs. the Ducks.

McElhinney stopped all 16 shots that he faced in a relief of Sergei Bobrovsky last Saturday. McElhinney has made two starts this season, both losses, while allowing a combined six goals on 57 shots (.895 SV%). When you look at the numbers, this looks like a great matchup with Anaheim ranking at the bottom of the league in scoring, but they get Ryan Getzlaf back tonight and come in winners of two straight.

Curtis McElhinney
Zatkoff will start Friday in Edmonton.

Zatkoff made 50 saves on 53 shots in the Penguins win over the Sabres on October 29th. It was Zatkoff’s only start of the season but he made two games worth of saves in one. He is a solid backup on a good team, making him a reasonable spot-start option versus an Oilers team without Connor McDavid.

Jeff Zatkoff
Allen starts on Saturday vs. the Predators.

Allen made 27 saves on 28 shots after replacing Brian Elliott in St. Louis’ 6-5 overtime win in Chicago on Wednesday. Allen has staked his claim of the Blues’ No. 1 job, having gone 4-1-0 with a 1.25 GAA and .957 SV% in his last five outings. Tonight he draws a tough matchup in Nashville—Allen comes in 2-2-0 on the road this season.

Jake Allen
Andersen was the first goalie off of the ice for the Ducks.

Andersen allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Ducks win over the Panthers on Wednesday. After losing his first eight games of the season Andersen has now won two in a row while stopping 63 of 67 shots (.940 SV%). Andersen comes into play with a 2.03 GAA and .934 SV% in 10 starts this season and he makes for a great start tonight vs. the Blue Jackets.

Frederik Andersen
Nilsson gets the nod vs. the Penguins.

Nilsson allowed two goals on 22 shots in the Oilers win over the Flyers on Tuesday. He will make his second straight start tonight vs. the other Pennsylvania team. Nilsson comes in with a 3.38 GAA and .903 SV% in his four starts this season. His numbers are flawed because of one terrible outing, but he is still risky against a dangerous Penguins team.

Anders Nilsson
Crawford will start Friday vs. the Devils.

Crawford surrendered six goals on 29 shots in the Blackhawks 6-5 overtime loss to the Blues on Wednesday. Despite the Blackhawks scoring five goals in the first period, Crawford could hold up his end of the deal. It was his worst outing of the season but still holds a 2.20 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 starts this season.

Corey Crawford
Hammond will start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.

Hammond allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Senators win in Detroit last Friday. It was gammoned first win of the season and tonight he will go for No. 2 in Carolina. He has allowed a combined five goals on 62 shots (.919 SV%) in two outings. He is a strong spot-start option tonight vs. a Hurricanes team who has scored just 2.08 goals per game.

Andrew Hammond
Lehtonen was the first goalie off of the ice for the Stars.

Lehtonen made 36 saves on 39 shots in the Stars win over the Bruins on Tuesday. Lehtonen has won four of his first five games this season while posting a 3.00 GAA and .905 SV%. Coming off of his best performance of the season, Lehtonen makes for a strong start tonight in Carolina.

Kari Lehtonen
Crawford is the Blackhawks likely starter for Friday.

Crawford surrendered six goals on 29 shots in the Blackhawks 6-5 overtime loss to the Blues on Wednesday. Despite the Blackhawks scoring five goals in the first period, Crawford could hold up his end of the deal. It was his worst outing of the season but still holds a 2.20 GAA and .924 SV% in 10 starts this season.

Corey Crawford

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!