NHL Hockey Player News

Bernier will start in goal for the Maple Leafs.

Bernier was yanked after he allowed seven goals on 43 shots in the Leafs 7-4 loss the Flyers on Saturday. It was an ugly night, which is why he got Sunday off, but he will look to rebound tonight in Dallas. Bernier has gone 2-1-3 with a 2.34 GAA and .927 SV% in six starts on the road this season.

Jonathan Bernier
Backstrom gets the nod for the Wild.

Backstrom surrendered three goals on 30 shots in relief of Darcy Kuemper in the Wild’s 6-5 loss to the Predators on Saturday. Backstrom has given up at least three goals in his last five outings, posting an .880 SV% in the process. Tonight he will face a Flyers team who are averaging 3.50 goals per game in their last six games.

Niklas Backstrom
Weiss (shoulder) will return to the Red Wings lineup on Tuesday.

Weiss has missed the last four games with a shoulder injury, but he will be back in the lineup tonight vs. Buffalo. Without Weiss in the lineup, the Red Wings went 0-2-2 so he should provide a nice offensive boost tonight. Weiss skated on the Wings’ fourth line with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller as well as on the second power-play unit

Stephen Weiss
Lehtonen was the first goalie off the ice for the Stars.

Lehtonen was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in the Stars win over the Oilers on Sunday. It was an ugly way for Lehtonen to snap a three-game winning streak and despite Anders Lindback leading them in a comeback, it looks like it will be Lehtonen tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. In his first start vs. Toronto he allowed five goals on 40 shots in a 5-3 loss.

Kari Lehtonen
Mrazek will start in goal vs. Buffalo.

Mrazek allowed one goal on 23 shots in the Red Wings 2-1 shootout loss to the Avalanche on Sunday. It was another strong out for the young net minder but Detroit continues to struggle to find ways to score. Despite the slow offensive production in front of him, Mrazek makes for a great spot-start option tonight with the Sabres in town.

Petr Mrazek
Lundqvist will start vs. the Capitals.

Lundqvist stopped 18 of 20 shots that that he faced in the Rangers win over the Hurricanes on Saturday. He was given Sunday night off, but will be back in goal tonight vs. Washington. He enters play with a five-game winning streak and a 1.56 GAA and .939 SV% over that span. Looks like King Henrik’s second half dominance has started early.

Henrik Lundqvist
Rask was the first goalie off of the ice for the Bruins.

Rask allowed three goals on 28 shots in the Sunday’s 4-3 win over the Sabres. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Rask, who is now 2-4-2 with a 2.96 GAA and .902 SV% in December. He draws a tough matchup tonight vs. the Predators, but he is 10-4-2 at TD Garden this season.

Tuukka Rask
Johnson gets the start vs. the Canadiens.

Johnson surrendered five goals on 30 shots in the Islanders loss to the Wild back on December 9th. Jaroslav Halak started the last five games, but it will be Johnson tonight vs. the Habs. Johnson is 5-4-0 with a 3.59 GAA and .868 SV% on the year, so spot-starting him vs. Montreal would be risky.

Chad Johnson
Cammalleri (lower-body) will be a game-time decision.

Cammalleri, who has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, returned to practice on Monday, but is not on the ice for the Devils’ morning skate. Despite not skating this morning, coach Pete DeBoer called Cammalleri “likely” for tonight’s game.

Michael Cammalleri
Backstrom is the Wild's probable starter.

Backstrom surrendered three goals on 30 shots in relief of Darcy Kuemper in the Wild’s 6-5 loss to the Predators on Saturday. Backstrom has given up at least three goals in his last five outings, posting an .880 SV% in the process. Tonight he would face a Flyers team who are averaging 3.50 goals per game in their last six games.

Niklas Backstrom
Granlund (illness) is on the ice for the Wild's morning skate.

Granlund, who missed Saturday’s game with an illness, is skating this morning, but coach Mike Yeo said he needed to see significant improvement in Granlund’s health if he was going to play tonight vs. the Flyers. Monitor his status after the skate.

Mikael Granlund
Schneider will start vs. Carolina.

Schneider gave up three goals on 20 shots in the Devils loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday. It was Schneider’s fourth consecutive loss while posting a 4.14 GAA and .893 SV%. It has been an ugly stretch for the 28-year-old, but he draws a great matchup tonight and has a good chance to head into the Christmas break on a high note.

Cory Schneider

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!