NHL Hockey Player News

Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

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.

Kari Lehtonen
Niemi leads the Sharks onto the ice for warmups.

Niemi gave up three goals on 29 shots in the Sharks loss to the Kings on Saturday. Alex Stalock got the call last night so it will be Niemi tonight in Anaheim. Niemi is 6-1-1 in December and 2-0-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .920 SV% against the Ducks this year.

Antti Niemi
Bernier leads the Maple Leafs onto the ice for warmups.

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 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.

Jonathan Bernier
Rask leads the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.

Rask allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Bruins win over the Red Wings on Monday. He has won three of his last four and enters play tonight at 4-4-2 with 3.00 GAA and .898 SV% in December. He has gone 1-1-0 in his fist two starts against the Leafs.

Tuukka Rask
The Lightning have recalled Nikita Nesterov from Syracuse (AHL).

Nesterov, 5-foot-11, 199 pounds, has played in 32 games with the Crunch this season, recording three goals and 14 points with at plus-4 rating and 26 penalty minutes. He leads all Syracuse blue-liners for goals and points while ranking tied for second for plus/minus.

Nikita Nesterov
Murphy in; Gleason out.

Murphy, who was recalled this morning will be in the lineup tonight vs. the Penguins. The 21-year-old bluelliner has 17 assists in 23 games with Charlotte this season. Murphy also has 13 points (2G / 11A) in 58 career NHL games.

Ryan Murphy
Girardi (ankle) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.

Coach Alain Vigneault will speak to the media at 4 PM ET and likely announce if Girardi will be in the lineup tonight. Girardi has a swollen ankle after being hit by a shot on Monday.

Dan Girardi
Niemi is the Sharks likely starter.

Niemi gave up three goals on 29 shots in the Sharks loss to the Kings on Saturday. Alex Stalock got the call last night so it looks like it will be Niemi tonight in Anaheim. Niemi is 6-1-1 in December and 2-0-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .920 SV% against the Ducks this year.

Antti Niemi
Halak will be back in goal for the Islanders.

Halak allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Islanders win over the Capitals on Monday. He has won his last five starts while allowing just nine goals on 109 shots (.927 SV%). He will take on the Jets in Winnipeg—Halak has gone 7-3-0 with a 2.29 GAA and .923 SV% on the road this season.

Jaroslav Halak
Mason will be in goal vs. Colorado.

Mason allowed three goals on 24 shots in the Flyers loss to the Coyotes on Monday. It was a rough loss for Mason, who has now dropped his last three starts. He will look to close out 2014 with a W—he is 6-11-5 with a 2.52 GAA and .919 SV% so far this year.

Steve Mason
Scrivens starts again for the Oilers.

Scrivens stopped 37 of 39 shots that he faced in the Oilers win over the Kings last night. It was a massive win for Scrivens, who will start on back-to-back nights for the second time this season. The first time he allowed six goals on 29 shots in a losing effort, so tread with caution.

Ben Scrivens

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!