NHL Hockey Player News

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
Steen (lower-body) doesn't think he will play on Thursday.

Steen was at practice on Wednesday, but said that he will not play on Thursday vs. the Islanders. It will be the third straight game that he has missed, but his availability at practice on Wednesday suggests that he is close and could be back for Saturday's clash with the Avalanche.

Alex Steen
The Senators have activated Patrick Wiercioch (muscle strain) from IR.

Wiercioch has missed the last four games, but is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday vs. the Kings. He has one goal and three assists in 15 games this season. To make room for Wiercioch, the Sens placed Milan Michalek (upper-body) on IR.

Patrick Wiercioch
Enroth starts Thursday vs. the Flames.

Enroth stopped all 34 shots that the Kings threw at him in the Sabres 1-0 shutout win on Tuesday. Enroth has been great lately and now has his GAA under 3.00 (2.91) and SV% up to .918. Tonight he takes on the Flames at home, where he has gone 4-5-1 with a 2.26 GAA and .932 SV% this season.

Jhonas Enroth
Anderson starts on Thursday vs. Los Angeles.

Anderson allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Sens comeback win over the Canucks on Sunday. The win snapped a lengthy losing streak for Anderson who now has a 6-7-4 record with a 2.50 GAA and .927 SV% on the season. He gets the call vs. the Kings at home, where he is 4-1 2 with a 1.96 GAA and .940 SV%.

Craig Anderson
Staal (leg) will participate in Thursday’s game day skate in a no-contact jersey.

Staal, who has been skating by himself lately, will join the team tomorrow for the first time this season. He remains without a timetable for when he will return to full practice, but this is another step in the right direction for Staal.

Jordan Staal
Staal (foot) missed practice on Wednesday; expect to play Thursday.

Staal, who suffered a foot injury on Sunday vs. Detroit, played through the pain on Monday, but missed today’s practice. Coach Bill Peters expects to have Staal on the ice for tomorrow’s pre game skate and have him in the lineup when they take on the Lightning tomorrow night. Staal has gone cold, failing to record a point in his last four games. He has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 22 games this season.

Eric Staal
Fasth starts vs. his former team on Wednesday.

Fasth allowed five goals on 24 shots in the Oilers loss to the Coyotes on December 1st. Ben Scrivens has started the last three games, but it will be Fasth tonight in Anaheim. It will be the first time he faces his former team this season, but they have won four in a row and the Oilers are…well the Oilers, so avoid this one.

Viktor Fasth
Backes (face) did not practice on Wednesday.

Backes is not out there for practice for the second straight day. He took a puck to the face on Monday vs. the Panthers and could be in danger of missing tomorrow’s game vs. the Islanders. Backes is a tough dude, so I would expect him to play, but monitor his status during Thursday’s morning skate.

David Backes
Howard gets the call vs. the Maple Leafs.

Howard allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Red Wings 3-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday. He was given Sunday off, but will be back between the pipes tonight at home vs. the Maple Leafs. Detroit did not play great the last time they faced Toronto, but Howie has played very well—going 1-1-0 with a 2.01 GAA and. 922 SV% in his two outings vs. the blue and white.

Jimmy Howard

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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