NHL Hockey Player News

The Sharks recalled Chris Tierney from Worcester (AHL).

Tierney, 20, has two assists in 11 games with the Sharks this season. While in the AHL he has collected 10 points (1G / 9A) in 12 games. He will centre the fourth line tonight with Mike Brown out with an injury.

Chris Tierney
Stalock is the Sharks confirmed starter.

Stalock stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Sharks win over the Oilers on Tuesday. He was not the scheduled starter, but Antti Niemi is dealing with an undisclosed injury. He will make his third straight start, having won one of two with a 2.02 GAA and .922 SV%.

Alex Stalock
Ward starts vs. the Lightning.

Ward stopped 14 of 16 shots in the Hurricanes 2-1 loss to the Devils on Monday. The good news is Ward has returned as the clear number-1 this season, the bad he has just eight wins in 19 outings with a 2.49 GAA and .908 SV%. Those numbers are not terrible, but they also aren’t numbers of a guy you want to start tonight vs. the Lightning.

Cam Ward
The Bruins have activated Zdeno Chara (knee) from IR; expected to play Thursday.

It looks like Chara will return to the lineup tonight after missing exactly seven weeks with a sprained MCL. Chara will play on the top pair with Dougie Hamilton and is expected to be the net-front presence on the top power-play unit. His return is huge for a Bruins team who went 11-7-1 without their captain.

Zdeno Chara
Howard starts vs. Florida on Friday.

Howard turned aside 18 of 19 shots in the Red Wings 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Detroit outshot Toronto 42-19, but James Reimer was equal to the task. Howie starting tonight likely leaves Petr Mrazek to take on the Leafs in T.O tomorrow night.

Jimmy Howard
Pavelec will start vs. the Avalanche.

Pavelec allowed four goals on 25 shots in the Jets 4-3 OT loss to the Ducks on Sunday. Despite Michael Hutchinson getting the win on Tuesday, Pavelec will start tonight in Colorado. Pav stopped 22 of 23 shots in a 2-1 OT win in his first start vs. the Avalanche this season.

Ondrej Pavelec
Stalock was the first goalie off at the Sharks morning skate.

Stalock stopped 25 of 27 shots in the Sharks win over the Oilers on Tuesday. He was not the scheduled starter, but Antti Niemi is dealing with an undisclosed injury. He will make his third straight start, having won one of two with a 2.02 GAA and .922 SV%.

Alex Stalock
Smith was the first goalie off of the ice at the Coyotes morning skate.

Smith allowed one goal on nine shots after relieving Devan Dubnyk on Saturday vs. the Bruins. Smith has just one win in his last 11 games and sits at 5-13-2 with a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV%. He gets a tough matchup tonight with the 18-7-2 Predators in town; look elsewhere.

Mike Smith
The Hurricanes have activated Brett Bellemore from IR.

Bellemore has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury, but is available for tonight’s game in Tampa Bay. Despite his activation, it does not look like Bellemore will be in the lineup tonight vs. the Lightning. In order to make room for Bellemore, the Hurricanes have placed Alex Semin on IR.

Brett Bellemore
Bouwmeester (groin) is officially back in the Blues lineup.

Bouwmeester has missed the last eight games with a groin injury, but will return tonight vs.the Islanders. He will return to his usual spot on a pairing with Alex Pietrangelo and will likely return to the second power-play unit as well. Bouwmeester has just two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games this season.

Jay Bouwmeester
Backes (face) will play on Thursday.

Backes missed practice on Wednesday, but was on the ice for the Blues morning skate and will play tonight vs. the Islanders. Backes is not 100 percent, but he will wear a protective face shield and do what he can. Backes has 12 points (7G / 5A) in 27 games this season.

David Backes

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!