NHL Hockey Player News

Neal (illness) took part in the Predators morning skate; could play Monday.

Neal missed Saturday’s game with an illness, but he is skating this morning which suggests that he will return to the lineup tonight vs. the Blue Jackets. Neal has two goals and three assists in his last six games and 19 points (11G / 8A) in 30 games this season.

James Neal
Connolly skating on the Lightning’s top-line on Monday.

In Monday’s practice Connolly swapped places with Ryan Callahan and is skating on the top-line with Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin. Connolly has six goals in 23 games this season and playing with Stammer and Drouin should give Connolly a ton of room on the ice.

Brett Connolly
Bishop (lower-body) practiced again on Monday.

Bishop has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury that he suffered last Monday. He was hoping to be back in the crease this weekend, but only practiced on Saturday. His availability again this morning suggests that Bishop could be back tomorrow vs. the Penguins.

Ben Bishop
The Canadiens recalled Dustin Tokarski from Hamilton (AHL) on Sunday.

Tokarski, who has not started for the Habs since November 29th, was sent down to Hamilton to get some game action. In two games he went 1-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .919 SV%. Now back with the big club, expect Tokarski to back-up Carey Price tomorrow vs. the Islanders.

Dustin Tokarski
Holtby start vs. the Senators.

Holtby stopped all 21 shots that he faced in the Capitals 4-0 shutout win over the Devils on Saturday. The shutout was Holtby’s second of the season and his sixth win in his last eight games. Over that eight game span he has posted a 1.84 GAA and .934 SV%.

Braden Holtby
Gionta left Sunday’s game with a head injury and did not return.

Gionta was levelled by Matt Bartkowski in Sunday’s game and retired to the dressing room immediately after. Bartkowski was ejected from the game, but will not face any supplementary discipline. Gionta will be re-evaluated on Monday and likely sit out until after the Christmas break.

Brian Gionta
Varlamov (groin) could start Tuesday against the Blues.

Varlamov skated and took shots on Sunday in Detroit and Patrick Roy said he is “95 percent and will likely start on Tuesday” but the team will decide for sure on Monday. Calvin Pickard continues to play extremely well, so there is no need to rush Varlamov back if he is not 100 percent.

Semyon Varlamov
Garrison is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Garrison, who missed the third period of Saturday’s game, is dealing with a minor undisclosed injury and shouldn’t miss an extended period of time. The Lightning are in action tomorrow vs. Pittsburgh, so monitor his status today and tomorrow.

Jason Garrison
The Capitals have recalled Aaron Volpatti from Hershey (AHL).

Volpatti, 29, has not played yet this season after starting the year on the non-roster injury list following offseason neck surgery. He was with Hershey for a three-game conditioning stint—he didn’t record a point and had six PIMS.

Aaron Volpatti
The Capitals have recalled Andre Burakovsky from Hershey (AHL).

Burakovsky, 19, did not record a point and was a minus-1 in two games with Hershey over the weekend. He was not playing with the Capitals, so they sent him back to get a few games in. Now that he is back, he could be in the lineup tonight vs. the Senators. He recorded 12 points (3G / 9A) in his first 15 games, but has just one goal in his last 11 games.

Andre Burakovsky
Reimer leads the Leafs onto the ice for warmups.

Reimer stopped the only shot that he faced after replacing Jonathan Bernier in the Maple Leafs blowout loss to the Flyers on Saturday night. Heading into tonight, Reimer has won each of his last two starts in shootouts, while posting a 1.85 GAA and .949 SV%. There are better spot-start option than him tonight, with the Leafs in Chicago to take on the Hawks.

James Reimer
Enroth leads the Sabres onto the ice for warmups.

Enroth allowed four goals on 22 shots in the Sabres loss to the Avalanche last night. Despite the loss, the light work-load will allow Enroth to go again tonight vs. the Bruins. He comes into play at 5-2-0 with a 2.82 GAA and .911 SV% in December. He draws a rough matchup on the road vs. the B’s.

Jhonas Enroth
Rask leads the Bruins onto the ice for warmups.

Rask allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Bruins 2-1 loss to the Jets on Friday. It was Rask’s fourth straight loss and sixth in his last seven games. Over that seven games stretch (1-4-2), Rask has posted a 2.96 GAA and .903 SV%. However, he should have no trouble getting back on track and back in the win column tonight with the Sabres in town. He is a must-start.

Tuukka Rask
Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

Lehtonen stopped 21 of 22 shots in the Stars’ 2-1 victory over the Flames on Friday. This had to be coming sooner or later—Lehtonen has finally gotten hot for the Stars, winning four of his last five with a 1.80 GAA and .930 SV%. He started the year 9-6-5 and now sits at a nice 13-7-5 as we near the Christmas break. Look for things to continue tonight in Edmonton vs. a disastrous Oilers team.

Kari Lehtonen
Scrivens leads the Oilers onto the ice for warmups.

Scrivens allowed four goals on 30 shots in the Oilers loss to the Sharks on Thursday. Despite losing his last four starts, Scrivens will get a fourth consecutive start tonight vs. Dallas. His 5-12-4 record, 3.08 GAA and .893 SV% should tell you all that you need to know if you are considering starting Scrivens tonight. There are a ton of spot-start options out there, so look elsewhere.

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.

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