NHL Hockey Player News

Connauton has been recalled from Tucson (AHL).

Connauton was called up to potentially fill in for Robert Bortuzzo, who is likely to miss time with a lower-body injury. Connauton hasn't appeared in the NHL since playing 26 games with the Flyers in the 2021-22 season. The 34-year-old blueliner has 28 goals and 52 assists in 360 career games.

Kevin Connauton
Friedman has been reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL).

Friedman made his Canucks' season debut on Tuesday vs. St. Louis and played 14:49 TOI but has been reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) as the team anticipates the return of Derek Forbert. Friedman returns to Abbotsford, where he has four points (1G/3A) and five PIMs in eight games played this season.

Mark Friedman
Mintyukov will draw back into Anaheim's lineup in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Mintyukov has been a healthy scratch for the Ducks' previous three games but will draw back into the lineup in Ottawa on Wednesday. The 21-year-old has significantly increased his ice time in his sophomore season (20:44) but has struggled to produce, with just three goals and six points in 22 games played.

Pavel Mintyukov
Vancouver will decide either tonight or in the morning on JT Miller (personal) returning to Vancouver's lineup tomorrow vs. FLA.

Miller returned to practice on Tuesday after missing the last 10 games and could return to action as soon as Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Before his absence, the 31-year-old Miller had been centering the top line and top powerplay unit in Vancouver and scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 17 games, leading all forwards on the team.

J.T. Miller
Gourde (undisclosed) is day-to-day and doubtful for Thursday vs. Boston.

Gourde was limited to only 11:32 time on ice in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, exiting after suffering a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Gourde has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 29 games this season and has been playing well lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 12 contests.

Yanni Gourde
McCann (undisclosed) missed practice on Wednesday and will be a game-time decision vs. Boston on Thursday.

McCann recorded an assist in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, snapping a season-worst four-game pointless skid, but suffered an undisclosed injury that kept him from practicing on Wednesday. The 28-year-old McCann is averaging a career-high 17:50 time-on-ice and has 24 points (10G / 14A) in 30 games this season.

Jared McCann
Danforth (lower-body) missed practice on Wednesday and is hopeful to play vs. Washington on Thursday.

Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason was optimistic that Danforth will be able to play on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old Danforth is averaging a career-high 15:20 time-on-ice and has eight points (3G / 5A) in 25 games this season.

Justin Danforth
Olivier (lower-body) missed practice on Wednesday and is hopeful to return vs. Washington.

Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason was optimistic that Olivier will be able to play on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. He suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 27-year-old Olivier has 11 points (8G / 3A) in 28 games this season.

Mathieu Olivier
Gourde (lower-body) missed practice on Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game vs. Florida due to injury.

Gourde was limited to only 11:32 time on ice in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, exiting after suffering a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old Gourde has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 29 games this season and has been playing well lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 12 contests.

Yanni Gourde
Cossa has been reassigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

Cossa's reassignment to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) likely indicates that Cam Talbot (lower body) is ready to return to the Red Wings' crease. The 22-year-old Cossa was the 15th overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and is sporting a 2.21 GAA and .925 SV% in 14 games (9-4-1) with the Griffins (AHL) this season. He got his first taste of NHL action earlier this week, entering a contest in relief of Ville Husso, saving 12 of 14 shots (.857 SV%) in a shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Sebastian Cossa
Carlsson (upper-body) is expected to return to Anaheim's lineup on Wednesday.

Carlsson has not played since November 25th, missing six games with an upper-body injury, but will likely return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. Carlsson, in his second NHL season, has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 20 games.

Leo Carlsson
San Jose has placed Valtteri Pulli on unconditional waivers for the process of contract termination.

Pulli requested to play in Europe so both parties have mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The 23-year-old Pulli is an undrafted defenseman that made his North American debut last season, scoring 10 points (3G / 7A) in 59 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).

Valtteri Pulli
Toronto has placed Alex Nylander on waivers.

With several injured players returning to the Maple Leafs lineup, Alex Nylander has fallen out of the lineup rotation and has been placed on waivers. Nylander was signed by the Maple Leafs three weeks ago and averaged 9:53 time-on-ice while recording zero points in five games.

Alex Nylander
Dumba missed practice on Wednesday due to an upper-body injury and is being further evaluated.

Dumba has already missed eight games this season due to injuries and being a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Dumba has not acclimated to Dallas' system as anticipated, spending lots of time on the third defensive pair after beginning the campaign playing alongside Miro Heiskanen. Dumba has one point (0G / 1A) and is averaging 15:33 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season.

Matt Dumba
Gustafsson (undisclosed) missed practice on Wednesday after leaving Tuesday's game due to injury after a fight.

Gustafsson exited Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Boston Bruins in the third period after a fight with Trent Frederic. The 24-year-old Gustafsson has only played three games this season, averaging 7:55 time-on-ice.

David Gustafsson
Pelletier has been reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).

Pelletier was the 26th overall pick of the Flames in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has played 41 career NHL games, including scoring two points (1G / 1A) in four games this season. He has spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring 19 points (3G / 16A) in 20 games with the Calgary Wranglers.

Jakob Pelletier
Greaves will start vs. Washington on Thursday.

Between Daniil Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins, the Blue Jackets have allowed five or more goals in three of their last four games (1-3-0). As such, the Blue Jackets will turn to Greaves between the pipes for his first NHL game of the season. The 23-year-old Greaves has played 10 career NHL games (7-3-0), posting a 3.44 GAA and .912 SV%. He has a 3.21 GAA and .902 SV% in 15 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.

Jet Greaves

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!