NHL Hockey Player News

Dubnyk will start Minnesota's season debut in Colorado.

Dubnyk comes into 2015-16 with a lot of questions around whether or not he can repeat last year’s insane performance. Dubnyk was 27-9-2 wit a 1.78 GAA and .936 SV% after being traded to Minnesota last season. He has started this year strong as well, posting a 1.33 GAA and .926 SV% in three preseason games, but some regression has to be expected in 2015-16. He gets things started tonight in Colorado.

Devan Dubnyk
Halak (upper-body) questionable for Friday’s game vs. Chicago.

Halak practiced on Thursday, but said “hopefully, I’ll be back soon,” after practice which doesn’t sound like he will be available for Friday or Saturday’s games (both vs. Chicago). If he doesn’t play over the weekend, Thomas Greiss could start back-to-back and then Halak’s next chance to return would be Monday against the Jets.

Jaroslav Halak
The Blackhawks have recalled Viktor Svedberg and he will make his NHL debut on Friday vs. the Islanders.

Svedberg, 24, is a monster. At 6-foot-9, 235 lbs. he rivals Zdeno Chara for the tallest player in the NHL. Svedberg had a strong training camp and is expected to replace David Rundblad on Friday. He had three goals and 11 assists (14 points) in 49 games with Rockford (AHL) last season.

Viktor Svedberg
Hiller in the starter's net on Thursday; probable to start on Saturday.

Hiller sat on the bench and watched Karri Ramo give up five goals in the Flames’ season opener, so it is no surprise to to see them turn to Hiller in the second game of the season. The Flames couldn’t matchup with the Canucks in the first meeting, but should bring their A-game in the second game. Hiller went 0-1-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .922 SV% vs. Vancouver last year.

Jonas Hiller
Bernier will start on Friday vs. the Red Wings.

Bernier had a rough start to 2015-16, allowing the first shot that he faced to trickle across the goal line. After that he settled in, stopping a total of 27 shots on the night in a 3-1 loss to the Canadiens. The Maple Leafs didn’t actually look too bad, but they will be in tough again on Friday as they face a young, talented Red Wings squad.

Jonathan Bernier
Schneider will start the Devils’ season opener on Friday.

Schneider started a career high 69 games last season and will probably start close to that this season. Despite being one of the very few goalies who will start 65-plus games, the Devils are really bad, which will limit the number of wins. However, paired with a goalie who will win a lot, Schneider is a great No. 2 option because he posts elite splits. He will start the season off at home, where he was 14-13-6 with a 1.87 GAA and .934 SV% last season.

Cory Schneider
Grigorenko will be a healthy scratch in the Avs’ season opener.

Grigorenko was acquired from the Sabres in the Ryan O’Reilly trade this summer, but he will be a healthy scratch in his first game with his new team. The 21-year-old has a tonne of potential but has had a difficult time getting his NHL career off of the ground.

Mikhail Grigorenko
Pavelec will start the Jets' season opener vs. Boston.

Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson are expected to split playing time like they did last season, but it will be Pavelec who will man the crease in the season opener. He outplayed Hutchinson in the preseason, posting a 2-0-1 record, 2.41 GAA and .921 SV% in four games. The 28-year-old did not face the Bruins last year, but went 10-8-5 with a 2.00 GAA and .932 SV% in 23 starts on the road last year.

Ondrej Pavelec
Gorges (lower-body) will play on Thursday vs. the Senators.

Gorges had been battling a lower-body injury and at one point there was a chance that he would miss the start of the season. He appears to have made a quick recovery and practiced the last few days and will play tonight. Dan Bylsma said Gorges is “100 percent.”

Josh Gorges
MacArthur (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

MacArthur’s practicing has been sporadic this week, but he was on the ice for the morning skate and he is listed as a game-time decision. MacArthur said there is a 50/50 chance that he plays tonight. Monitor his status when the teams hit the ice for warmups at 6:30 pm ET.

Clarke MacArthur
Gionta (lower-body) will not play on Thursday; listed as day-to-day.

Gionta suffered an injury in practice on Tuesday and has missed the last two practice sessions, so he will be held out of the lineup tonight. Head coach Dan Bylsma said Gionta could play if he had to, but they don’t want to risk making the injury worse. He is day-to-day.

Brian Gionta
Rinne will start the Predators season opener vs. Carolina.

After a difficult 2013-14 season due to injury, Rinne bounced back in a big way in 2014-15, winning 41 games with a 2.18 GAA and .923 SV%. He reasserted himself as an elite fantasy hockey netminder and should be in for a big season. He struggled big time in the preseason (3.98 GAA / .868 SV%) but don’t read into that too much. He was 1-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and .920 SV% vs. the Hurricanes last year.

Pekka Rinne
Niemi was the first goalie off of the ice at the Stars' morning skate.

Niemi spent the last five years in San Jose but will start a new chapter tonight as he makes his Dallas Stars’ debut at home vs. the Penguins. He had a 2.59 GAA and .914 SV% in 61 starts last season, but the Stars weren’t very good defensively last season and if that is the case again in 2015-16, those numbers could rise a little bit. Either way, it looks like he has the upper hand as the team’s No. 1…for now.

Antti Niemi
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Penguins have sent Kevin Porter to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Porter was only a placeholder on the roster until they could recall Olli Maatta prior to their season opener tonight in Dallas. Porter will report to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton—he had 39 points (16G / 23A) in 76 games with the Grand Rapid Griffins last season.

Kevin Porter
Schneider (maintenance) returned to practice on Thursday.

Schneider returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session for “maintenance” reasons. It appears as if Schneider is on track to start the Devils’ season opener on Friday—in what should be the first of many starts for Schneider this season.

Cory Schneider
Chara (upper-body) will not play in the Bruins’ season opener.

Chara has been battling an upper-body injury and despite practicing yesterday and taking part in this morning’s gameday skate, he will sit out tonight’s game vs. the Jets. He reportedly started taking slapshots yesterday and continued today—but the strength on his shots are not where it usually is. That report suggests Chara may still be a few days or games away from returning.

Zdeno Chara

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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