NHL Hockey Player News

The Blue Jackets have activated Cody Goloubef and assigned him to Springfield (AHL) on a conditioning stint.

Goloubef has been sidelined with a knee injury since November 1st. Before getting hurt he had no points and a minus-1 rating while averaging 12:23 TOI in three games. The addition of Kevin Connauton and Jordan Leopold might squeeze Goloubef back to the AHL.

Cody Goloubef
Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

Lehtonen allowed a single goal on 17 shots in the Stars 4-1 win over the Canadiens on Saturday. It was an easy win for Lehtonen, who has not had a lot of nights like that this season. On Tuesday he will face the Jets at home—Lehtonen is 5-3-5 with a 3.05 GAA and .899 SV% at American Airlines Center.

Kari Lehtonen
Johnson will start for the Islanders, Jaroslav Halak is out with an upper-body injury.

Halak was scheduled to start tonight, but he will serve as Johnson’s backup because he is dealing with a “minor” upper-body injury. Johnson allowed four goals on 26 shots in a loss to the Wild in his last start on November 28th.

Chad Johnson
Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Quick allowed two goals on 16 shots in the Kings loss to the Flyers on Saturday afternoon. It was not a busy day for Quick, but the Kings were stymied by Steve Mason at the other end. Quick has dropped three of his last four starts while posting a 2.54 GAA and .894 SV%. However, he is a must-start tonight in Buffalo.

Jonathan Quick
The Devils have recalled Reid Boucher from Albany (AHL).

Boucher, 21, has scored four goals with five assists in 20 games with Albany this season. He failed to record a point in three games during his first stint with the Devils this season. He has seven points (2G / 5A) in 26 career NHL games.

Reid Boucher
The Devils have placed Patrik Elias (groin) on IR.

Elias will miss his second straight game and third of the last four because of a groin injury. His placement on IR is retroactive to December 6th, which means he is eligible to be activated on December 13th. They placed him on IR to make room for Reid Boucher to be recalled.

Patrik Elias
Zubrus (leg lacerations) will not play on Tuesday.

Zubrus was cut in Monday’s game vs. the Hurricanes. With Zubrus out, the Devils have recalled Reid Boucher from Albany and he will make his fourth appearance of the season. Zubrus is day-to-day.

Dainius Zubrus
The Devils have recalled Keith Kinkaid and he will make his first NHL start.

Kinkaid has gone 7-2-3 with a 2.19 GAA and .923 SV% in 13 games with Albany (AHL) this season. He has three career NHL games, all of which were relief appearances—he has a total of 53 minutes played in the NHL and he has allowed two goals on 25 shots (.920 SV%). Stay away from him tonight with the Blackhawks in town.

Keith Kinkaid
Gibson (groin) returned to Ducks’ practice on Tuesday.

Gibson skated for the first time since suffering a groin injury on October 30th. Gibson said “tomorrow is a big day to see how he responds to today’s practice.” Gibson remains without a timeline and is expected to go back to the AHL when he returns to full health.

John Gibson
The Oilers have recalled Brandon Davidson from Oklahoma City (AHL).

Davidson, 23, was the Oilers sixth round pick (162nd overall) in 2010. The former Regina Pats defenseman has one goal and two assists in 14 games with OKC this season. He is a great story, the young defenseman beat testicular cancer in 2012 and has now reached the NHL.

Brandon Davidson
Hendricks (leg) will return to the Oilers lineup on Tuesday.

Hendricks has missed the last four games with a leg injury, but he will be back in tonight. Boyd Gordon is out with a back injury, so Hendricks returns to centre the Oilers’ fourth line with Steve Pinizzott and Luke Gazdic.

Matt Hendricks
Elliott (knee) returned to the ice on Tuesday.

Elliott, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since November 25th, skated for the first time since suffering the injury on Tuesday morning. He did some goalie technique drills this morning, but remains without a timeline for his return. Jake Allen and Martin Brodeur are more than capable than carrying the load while Elliott is out, so they will not rush him back.

Brian Elliott
Allen will start in goal on Thursday.

Allen was yanked after giving up three goals on 12 shots in the first period of Saturday’s comeback win over the Islanders. He has actually been overshadowed by Martin Brodeur since Marty signed, but Allen gets another crack agh the Isles tonight; this time at home where he is 4-1-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .893 SV% this season.

Jake Allen

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!