NHL Hockey Player News

The Hurricanes have acquired Kris Versteeg, Joakim Nordstrom and a 2017 third-round pick for Dennis Robertson, Jake Massie and a 2017 fifth-round pick.

Versteeg had 14 goals and 20 assists (34 points) in 61 games with the Blackhawks last season. He has amassed 275 career points (116G / 159A) in 473 career NHL games between the Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Flyers and Panthers. This trade should help Versteeg's fantasy value as he will likely land a top six role in Carolina.

Kris Versteeg
Ryane Clowe (concussion) will be unable to play hockey now or in the future.

Clowe has suffered four concussions in the last two seasons and doctors have recommended that he does not play again. The last time Clowe has played was November 6th, 2014 and has likely been forced into retirement. He is expected to sit on longterm injured reserve throughout the remainder of his three-year, $14.55 million contract.

Ryane Clowe
The Flames have signed Micheal Ferland to a two-year deal worth $1.65 million ($825K AAV).

Ferland, 23, had just five points (2G / 3A) in 26 games with the Flames last regular season, but played very well in the postseason racking up three goals and two assists in just nine games. His one-way deal paves the way for Ferland to make the 2015-16 opening day roster.

Micheal Ferland
The Sabres have signed Cody Franson to a two-year deal worth $6.65M (3.325 AAV).

In 2014-15, Franson split time between the Maple Leafs and Predators—he amassed a total of seven goals and 29 assists (36 points) in 78 games between the two squads. His addition makes an already improved Sabres team that much better. Expect him to play a key role on Buffalo’s power play.

Cody Franson
The Coyotes have acquired Stefan Elliott from the Avalanche for Brandon Gormley.

Elliott, 24, was the 49th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft. The right handed defensemen had no points in five games with Colorado last year, but registered 19 goals and 21 assists in 64 games with the Avs’ AHL affiliate in Lake Erie.

Stefan Elliott
The Avalanche have acquired Brandon Gormley from Arizona in exchange for Stefan Elliott.

Gormley, 23, was the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft. Last season he had two goals and two assists (four points) in 27 games with the Coyotes. In his time in the AHL he amassed 10 points (3G / 7A) in 23 contests.

Brandon Gormley
On Tuesday, Pacioretty skated for the first time after suffering fractures to his tibial plateau in July.

Pacioretty avoided serious injury and surgery when he suffered fractures to his left tibial plateau in a training session in July. Pacioretty won’t be ready to join his teammates for the start of training camp and doesn’t have a timetable for his return. His status for the Habs’ season opener on October 10th remains up in the air.

Max Pacioretty
Brett Ritchie will miss 3-4 months after undergoing wrist surgery.

Ritchie underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ligament in his wrist. Ritchie was expected to battle for a spot on the Stars opening day roster, but his injury creates an opening for another young winger to crack the roster.

Brett Ritchie
The Blue Jackets have signed David Savard to a five-year contract extension worth $21.25 million ($4.25M AAV).

Savard, 24, is coming off of an 11-goal, 25-assist (36 points) season with the Blue Jackets. Savard also led Columbus in hits (195) and was third in blocked shots (105). Savard is expected to be a top-pair defensemen alongside Jack Johnson in 2015-16 and is capable of posting double-digit goals and 30 assists.

David Savard
Vasilevskiy will miss 2-3 months after having surgery last Thursday to remove a blood clot from near his left collarbone.

Vasilevskiy appeared poised to push Ben Bishop for starts right out of the gate, but he will now miss at least the first month of the season. For fantasy owners drafting Bishop, it would be wise to invest in the 21-year-old Vasilevskiy--especially now considering his draft-day value will be much lower.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
The Flames have signed Mark Giordano to a six-year, $40.5M contract extension.

Giordano was already inked through the 2016-17 season, so his new deal will keep him with the Flames until 2022-23. He has missed a total of 39 games over the last two years, but has developped into one of the games best defensemen. With the addition of Dougie Hamilton and this signing, the Flames are going to have a stout blueline for years to come.

Mark Giordano
On Sunday, the Kings signed Christian Ehrhoff to a one-year deal worth $1.5M.

Ehrhoff registered three goals and 11 assists (14 points) in 49 games with the Penguins last season. Ehrhoff missed a lot of time in 2014-15 because of concussion issues, but is reportedly healthy heading into this season. If he is healthy in 2015-16 he should be able to get back to 30 points—he will likely find himself on the Kings’ second PP unit.

Christian Ehrhoff
The Penguins have signed defenseman Sergei Gonchar to a professional tryout contract.

Gonchar, who turned 41 in April, is coming off of a season where he had 14 points (1G / 13A) in 48 games with the Stars and the Canadiens. He probably doesn’t have much left in the tank, but he could still contribute on the power-play. Gonchar will head into training camp with the Penguins in an effort to make the opening day roster.

Sergei Gonchar
The Ducks signed Carl Hagelin to a four-year, $16M contract on Friday.

Hagelin, 26, was traded to the Ducks this summer because the Rangers were up against the salary cap. Hagelin was a restricted free agent who had arbitration rights but opted not to file in a move seen as a sign that the winger and the Ducks were set on getting their new association off on the right foot. He had 17 goals and 18 assists (35 points) in 82 games with the Rangers last season.

Carl Hagelin
Sami Salo announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday.

Salo, 40, played 878 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning. He finished his career with 99 goals and 240 assists (339 points) but has not played since the 2013-14 season because of a wrist injury.

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!