The Penguins have activated Christian Ehrhoff (lower-body) from IR.
Ehrhoff is expected to return tonight and activating him from IR all but guarantees that he will be back in the Penguins lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes.
NHL Hockey Player News
Call up / Send down
The Ducks have sent Max Friberg back to Norfolk (AHL).
Friberg failed to record a point while playing 8:47 in his NHL debut on Sunday. His return to the AHL opens up a roster spot for Corey Perry to be activated from IR.
Perry (knee) is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
The Ducks have sent Max Friberg back to the AHL which is a sign that Perry will be activated from IR and be in the lineup tonight vs. the Sharks. He has been out since December 5th, but this would be a perfect way for the Ducks to end 2014. Perry has 14 goals and eight assists (22 points) in 23 games.
Goalie Start
The Islanders did not have a morning skate on Wednesday. Head coach Jack Capuano will address the media at 3:00 PM ET, he is expected to announce his starting goalie then.
Goalie Start
Pavelec will be back in goal on Wednesday.
Pavelec gave up four goals on 23 shots in the Jets loss to the Flyers on December 21st. Michael Hutchinson has started the last three games, but Pavelec will get back between the pipes tonight vs. the Islanders. In Pav’s first start vs. the Isles, he allowed three goals on 21 shots in a 4-3 win back in October.
Goalie Start
Montoya will start vs. the Rangers.
Montoya allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Panthers loss to the Sabres on December 13th. Roberto Luongo started the last six games, but it will be Montoya tonight in New York. He is 2-2-2 with a 2.26 GAA and .915 SV% on the year.
Del Zotto in; Schenn out.
Del Zotto has been a healthy scratch in the last nine games, but he will get back into the lineup tonight vs. the Avalanche. He has eight points (2G / 6A) in 24 games this season. He will be paired with Andrew MacDonald.
Injury
Jooris (wrist) will be back in the Flames’ lineup on Wednesday.
Jooris has missed the last three games with a wrist injury, but he will be back tonight vs. Edmonton. Jooris has eight goals and five assists (13 points) in 28 games this season. He will skate on a line with Joe Colborne and Paul Byron.
Goalie Start
Bernier is expected to be back in goal for the Maple Leafs.
Bernier stopped all 43 shots that he faced in the Leafs 4-0 shutout win over the Stars last Tuesday. He missed the last two games with an illness, but it looks like he will be back in goal tonight vs. the Bruins. He is 14-8-3 on the season and comes into play tonight at 1-1-0 with a 2.88 GAA and .902 SV% vs. the B’s this year.
Komarov (concussion) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
Komarov took part in the morning skate and it looks like he will return to the lineup tonight vs. the Bruins. Komarov has been sidelined with a concussion since November 29th. Look for him to play on the third line with Peter Holland and Mike Santorelli.
Goalie Start
Dubnyk will be in goal for his fourth straight start.
Dubnyk allowed two goals on 32 shots in the Coyotes win over the Flyers on Monday. He has won the last three games with a 1.30 GAA and .958 SV%. Tonight he will face a Stars team who have won six of their last seven games.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will be in goal for the Avalanche.
Varlamov gave up three goals on 25 shots in the Avs’ 3-0 loss to the Blues on Monday. He is 1-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .941 SV% in two games since returning from injury. Until further notice, the net belongs to Varlamov. He enters the final day of 2014 at 5-7-5 with a 3.01 GAA and .912 SV%.
Call up / Send down
The Avalanche recalled Borna Rendulic from Lake Erie (AHL).
Rendulic will be in Denver on Wednesday to play against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Avs had a shortened 20-man roster Monday at St. Louis with no healthy scratches. They used defenseman Nick Holden as a forward on the fourth line. With Lake Erie, Rendulic has four goals and four assists in 26 games this season. Rendulic will likely play on a line with left wing Cody McLeod and center Marc-Andre Cliche.
Strachan (upper-body) will be back in the Sabres lineup on Wednesday.
Strachan has not played in the last five games, but will be back in for Andre Benoit tonight. Strachan has four assists and a minus-4 rating in 18 games this season.
Borowiecki (leg) will be out at least a few weeks.
Borowiecki suffered a lacerated leg during a pre-game soccer game in the hallway. His cut required 48 stitches in three layers. He will be in a boot for the next week and then they will decide where to go from there. The Senators will likely recall a D-man from the AHL.
Bishop (undisclosed) will not dress on Wednesday.
Bishop is a little banged up, so the Lightning will scratch him tonight and let Andrei Vasilevskiy start vs. the Sabres. Expect Bishop to be back in goal on Friday in Pittsburgh.
Garrison (undisclosed) will not play on Wednesday.
Garrison will miss his fourth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. He skated again today so there is a chance that he could be back on Friday in Pittsburgh.
Goalie Start
Lehtonen was the first goalie off of the ice for the Stars.
Lehtonen made 28 saves on 30 shots in the Stars win over the Rangers on Monday. His 2.81 GAA and .904 SV% in December is nothing to write home about, but it has translated into a 6-3-0 record. Tonight he will make his third start vs. the Coyotes, he has gone 2-0-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .938 SV% in the first two meetings.
Downie (mumps) will not play on Wednesday.
Downie will miss his sixth consecutive game with the mumps. Look for him to be back on Friday.
Goalie Start
Howard will start for the Red Wings.
Howard stopped 40 of 44 shots in the Red Wings lost to the Bruins on Monday. Howard has just one win in his last six starts despite posting a 2.15 GAA and .938 SV%. He should make for a great start tonight with the low-scoring Devils in town.
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!