Line Change
Smith-Pelly will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday.
Smith-Pelly has not recorded a point in the last six games and has just 15 points (4G / 11A) in 41 games this season. He will be replaced by former Flame Rene Bourque.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Andersen will start Wednesday vs. the Flames.
Andersen made 26 saves on 28 shots in the Ducks shootout win over Los Angeles on Saturday. Andersen has won five consecutive starts with a 2.29 GAA and .925 SV%. Tonight he will make his third start of the year against the Flames—he is 1-0-1 with a 2.41 GAA and .906 SV% in the first two meetings.
Call up / Send down
The Coyotes have assigned Mike Lee to Portland (AHL).
Lee did not see any playing time during his recall. He likely won’t be recalled now that Mike McKenna is with the Coyotes.
Call up / Send down
The Coyotes have assigned Lucas Lessio to Portland (AHL).
Lessio, 21, has one goal and one assist in nine games with the Coyotes. In Portland he has registered 16 points (9G / 7A) in 26 games.
Call up / Send down
The Coyotes have assigned Philip Samuelsson to Portland (AHL).
Samuelsson, 23, had not recorded a point in four games with the Coyotes. He heads back to the Pirates where he has one goal and two assists in 16 games.
Call up / Send down
The Coyotes have assigned Brandon Gormley to Portland (AHL).
Gormley has recorded two goals, one assist and four penalty minutes (PIM) in 15 games with the Coyotes this season. He will likely be recalled after the All Star break. He will likely play a few games with Portland over the break.
Call up / Send down
The Coyotes have recalled Mike McKenna from Portland (AHL).
McKenna has posted a 16-13-2 record with a 2.09 GAA and a .934 SV% in 32 games with the Pirates. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound native net minder owns a 3.40 GAA and a .891 SV% in 21 career NHL games.
Call up / Send down
The Predators have sent Marek Mazanec back to Milwaukee (AHL).
The Predators are done until after the All Star break, so he heads to Milwaukee where he will likely start a couple of games this week, before returning to the Predators next week.
Waiver Move
The Wild have placed Justin Falk on waivers.
Falk is currently out with a lower-body injury. He has been placed on waivers for the purpose of being assigned to Iowa (AHL).
Call up / Send down
The Stars have sent Jamie Oleksiak back to Texas (AHL).
Oleksiak has registered one goal and seven assists in 31 games with the Stars this season. He will likely be the first defenseman recalled after the All Star break.
Call up / Send down
The Stars sent Jyrki Jokipakka back to Texas (AHL).
Jokipakka had two assists in three games during his recall. He has been sent down because the Stars are done until after the All Star break. If Trevor Daley is not ready after the break, Jokipakka could be recalled.
The Jets have placed Mathieu Perreault (arm) on injured reserve.
Perreault will miss his second straight game with an arm injury that he suffered last Friday. There is still no word on exactly how long he will be out, but expect an update over the All Star break.
Stuart (undisclosed) will not play on Wednesday.
Stuart missed yesterday’s practice and today’s game day skate with an undisclosed injury. Coach Paul Maurice said that Stuart could probably play tonight, but will benefit from having a week off during the All Star break. He will be replaced by Jacob Trouba, who will return from IR.
The Jets have activated Jacob Trouba (upper-body) from IR; will play tonight.
Trouba has missed the last 16 games with an upper-body injury, but will return tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Trouba has registered 12 points (4G / 8A) with a plus-3 rating in 31 games before getting hurt. He will replace Mark Stuart in tonight’s lineup.
Goalie Start
Hutchinson will start in goal vs. Columbus.
Hutchinson allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Jets win in Chicago last Friday. He has won his last three starts while posting a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV%. He will start the Jets last game before the All Star break tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. He made 32 saves in a 4-2 win in his first start against Columbus.
Goalie Start
Hutchinson is expected to start for the Jets.
Hutchinson allowed two goals on 33 shots in the Jets win in Chicago last Friday. He has won his last three starts while posting a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV%. He will start the Jets last game before the All Star break tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. He made 32 saves in a 4-2 win in his first start against Columbus.
Goalie Start
Ortio will start his fifth straight game.
Ortio allowed one goal on 34 shots in the Flames win in Los Angeles on Monday. Since being recalled, Ortio has been unbelievable. He has won all four of his starts while posting a 1.23 GAA and .958 SV%. On Wednesday he will get his fifth straight start in Anaheim.
Despres (illness) will not play on Wednesday.
Despres was held out of last night’s game and will not play again tonight vs. Chicago. Kris Letang could potentially be out as well, so expect Derick Pouliot to play if neither one are available.
Letang (head) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
After suffering an apparent head injury on Tuesday, Letang took part in the Penguins morning skate. However, he needs to undergo further testing this afternoon, so he will be a game-time decision.
Trouba (upper-body) looks like he will be back in on Wednesday.
Trouba is taking part in the Jets’ morning skate and he is paired with Jay Harisson, which is a good sign that he will be activated from IR and will play tonight. Expect an update after the game day skate.
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!