NHL Hockey Player News

Irwin suffered an upper-body injury in Friday’s practice; questionable for Saturday.

Irwin reportedly tweaked something while taking a shot at today’s practice. He was taken off of the ice as a precaution and will receive some treatment this afternoon. His status is uncertain for Saturday, so monitor his status tomorrow morning.

Matt Irwin
Lindback is likely to start Friday vs. Ottawa.

Chad Johnson was supposed to start tonight, but he reportedly suffered a lower-body injury in the morning skate and is doubtful to play. That leaves Lindback to inherit the crease in Ottawa. He allowed three goals on 35 shots in the Sabres line in Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Anders Lindback
Johnson is doubtful to play Friday due to a lower-body injury.

Johnson was slated to make his Sabres debut on Friday night, but he reportedly suffered a lower-body injury during the morning skate and is doubtful for tonight. With Johnson unlikely to dress, expect Anders Lindback to make his second start as a Sabre.

Chad Johnson
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Sabres have recalled Andrey Makarov from Rochester (AHL).

Makarov, 21, has gone 14-14-3 with a 3.04 GAA and .899 SV% in 33 games with Rochester. He has been recalled before, but has never appeared in an NHL game. He has been recalled because Chad Johnson is doubtful for tonight’s game after suffering a lower-body injury in practice.

Andrey Makarov
Greiss was the first goalie off of the ice for the Penguins.

Greiss allowed two goals on 23 shots in the Penguins win in St. Louis on February 21st. He has won three of his last four starts despite posting a 3.44 GAA and .867 SV%. Tonight he draws a rough matchup in Anaheim—the Ducks have won seven of their last eight while averaging 3.25 goals per game.

Thomas Greiss
Vatanen (leg) will travel on the Ducks upcoming three-game road trip.

Vatanen returned to the ice yesterday and he appears to still be on track for a return in late March. He will travel, but is not expected to play on the trip. He will likely practice with the team for the duration of the trip, before returning later in the month.

Sami Vatanen
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Jets have recalled Eric O'Dell from St. John's (AHL).

O’Dell, 24, did not record a point in his only game with the Jets this season. He has 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points) in 37 games with St. John’s this season. He has been recalled because the Jets will be without Bryan Little for the next two games.

Eric O'Dell
Scrivens starts Friday in Chicago.

Scrivens allowed five goals on 29 shots in the Oilers 5-2 loss to the Kings on Tuesday. He has lost four of his last five while posting a 2.83 GAA and .900 SV%. Tonight he will face a Blackhawks team, who he has gone 1-1-0 with a 5.08 GAA and .794 SV% against this season.

Ben Scrivens
Little (undisclosed) will miss at least the next two games.

Little was injured in Wednesday’s game against the Senators. He will travel with the team on their upcoming four game road-trip, but will miss at least the first two games of that trip. Eric O’Dell will be recalled while Little is sidelined.

Bryan Little
Byfuglien (upper-body) will be out 2-4 weeks.

The Jets are in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference, but were dealt a major blow today. Byfuglien, who has 15 goals and 27 assists (42 points) in 65 games this season, will miss at least two weeks. If it is two weeks, he will likely miss 6 or 7 games at least.

Dustin Byfuglien
Hiller starts Friday against the Red Wings.

Hiller allowed five goals on 37 shots in the Flames loss to the Ducks back on February 20th. Karri Ramo has started the last five games, but Hiller will get back between the pipes tonight in Detroit. He went 4-3-1 with a 2.89 GAA and .908 SV% in February. Tonight he will go up against a Red Wings team who have won five of their last seven while averaging 3.14 goals per game.

Jonas Hiller

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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