NHL Hockey Player News

Krejci (lower-body) is likely out tonight.

Krejci, who has been practicing with the team, took part in the Bruins morning skate but stayed on after the majority of the team left the ice, which is a sign that he will be a scratch tonight vs. the Blackhawks. However, he is very close and has not been officially ruled out.

David Krejci
Nabokov will be between the pipes for the Lightning.

Nabokov stopped 21 of 22 shots in the Lightning’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Sabres on December 2nd. It was a tough loss for owners who spot-started Nabby, but you get another juicy matchup tonight with the Hurricanes in-town. However, look at your other options first because Nabokov’s 3.14 GAA and ..814 SV% leaves little to be desired right now.

Evgeni Nabokov
Rask was the first goalie off at the Bruins morning skate.

Rask allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Bruins win over Arizona on Saturday. Rask had lost four of five entering play on Saturday, but the win hopefully has him back on track heading into a big matchup vs. the Blackhawks. Rask has gone 9-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .931 SV% t home this season.

Tuukka Rask
Emery gets the nod for the Flyers.

Emery gave up four goals on 34 shots in the Flyers loss to the Rangers on November 29th. Emery is 4-4-1 with a 3.27 GAA and .896 SV% in eight starts and two relief appearances this season. It has not been pretty for the 32-year-old, but he draws a matchup that makes him a spot-start option tonight.

Ray Emery
Holtby starts in goal for the Capitals.

Holtby allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Capitals win over the Lightning on Tuesday. The Capitals have made it clear that they are going to ride Holtby unless they have a back-to-back. He comes in having won three in a row with a 1.67 GAA and .950 SV%. He makes for a nice start vs. the visiting Blue Jackets.

Braden Holtby
James Reimer to start for the Maple Leafs

Reimer allowed six goals on 25 shots in relief in the Maple Leafs 9-2 loss to the Predators on November 18th. Jonathan Bernier has started the last nine games, but Reimer will snap that streak tonight in Detroit. He allowed four goals on 35 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Red Wings the last time he faced them.

James Reimer
Hiller starts Friday vs. Pittsburgh.

Hiller allowed two goals on 27 shots in the Flames 4-1 loss to the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Hiller has lost his last three starts and has not recorded a win since November 18th. He will look to snap that streak tonight, but it will not be an easy thing to do in Pittsburgh.

Jonas Hiller
Ramo starts Thursday vs. Buffalo.

Ramo allowed three goals on 30 shots in Saturday’s loss to the Sharks. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for Ramo, who gets the call in the first game of the back-to-back and draws the easier matchup as he goes up against the Sabres. Buffalo is playing much better hockey as of late, but Ramo should still make for a great start.

Karri Ramo
Heatley underwent a surgical procedure on his groin in November, doing well now, will go on Thursday’s trip to Edmonton.

The Ducks were apparently trying to keep this quiet but Head coach Bruce Boudreau let it slip today. He also praised Heatley for how good he has looked in practice recently. He will travel to Edmonton and Winnipeg, but there is no word on if he will play.

Dany Heatley
Gagne will have an extended leave of absence due to personal reasons.

"We received a sad news in the last few days my dad met with specialist in Boston and he has an incurable cancer. We hope a miracle will happen right now they're more important things than hockey and I want to be with my family in Québec city,” Gagne said in a statement. There is no word on how long he will be away from the team, but our thoughts and prayers are with the Gagne family.

Simon Gagne
Colborne took part in his first contact practice since injuring his wrist.

Colborne, who has been out since October 28th with a wrist injury, got rid of his no contact jersey and took part in full practice this morning. This is great news for the Flames, who could potentially have their 6-foot-5 centre back in the lineup on Thursday in Buffalo.

Joe Colborne
Backes (face) is doubtful for Thursday’s game.

Backes was at the rink on Wednesday, but did not practice. Head coach Ken Hitchcock said Backes is still in pain and is doubtful for Thursday’s contest vs. the Islanders. With Backes out, Chris Porter would draw into the lineup and Patrik Berglund would centre a line with T.J Oshie and Alex Steen.

David Backes
Andersen will start in goal vs. Edmonton.

Andersen allowed three goals on 30 shots in the Ducks win over Winnipeg on Sunday. He has won his last four start despite allowing 13 goals. His numbers are not great but he continues to rack up wins thanks to a high powered Ducks offence. He is a must-start tonight against the Oilers on the tail-end of a back-to-back.

Frederik Andersen

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

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