NHL Hockey Player News

Howard starts vs. the Stars.

Howard gave up four goals on 31 shots in the Red Wings 4-3 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday. Detroit came out flat and did not give Howie much help all night. The loss snapped a three-game losing streak for Howard who takes on a Dallas lineup that looks good on paper, but have lost three straight and sit at 9-11-5.

Jimmy Howard
Hamonic (upper-body) will not play on Thursday.

Hamonic was injured on a hit by Chris Neil in Tuesday’s win over the Senators. Hamonic did not even make the trip to Ottawa for tonight’s rematch. He is listed as day-to-day. Griffin Reinhart, who was recalled on Wednesday should slide into the lineup for Hamonic.

Travis Hamonic
Luongo starts vs. the Blue Jackets.

Luongo stopped 38 of 41 shots in a 4-3 win over Detroit on Tuesday. It was a nice return to the crease for Lu who had missed the previous two games. Tonight he gets the start vs. Columbus, a team who beat them on Monday with Al Montoya in net. Luongo is 4-3-1 with a 2.16 GAA and .931 SV% at the BB&T Center this season.

Roberto Luongo
Greiss will make his first start at home on Thursday.

Greiss gave up two goals on 34 shots in the Penguins 3-2 victory over Carolina on Saturday. He has been a great backup to Marc-Andre Fleury this season, posting a 3-1-1 record with a 2.37 GAA and .927 SV% in five starts. He draws a tough matchup tonight vs. the 17-7-1 Canucks who are tied for fourth in scoring (3.08 G/PG).

Thomas Greiss
Bishop gets the call in goal vs. Buffalo.

Bishop surrendered three goals on 35 shots in Monday’s 6-3 victory over the Rangers. It was the third time in two weeks that Bishop handed New York the loss. He is riding a four-game winning streak and sits 15-3-2 with a 2.30 GAA and .917 SV%. Tonight he takes on a Sabres team who have surprisingly won six of seven, but don’t let that scare you; he is a must start.

Ben Bishop
Barkov (hand) not expected to play on Thursday.

Barkov is not on the ice at the Panthers morning skate, which suggests that he will miss his second straight game with a hand injury that he suffered on Monday vs. the Blue Jackets. Again, there is no break, but Barkov’s hand has some swelling and it looks like it will keep him out of at least one more game.

Aleksander Barkov
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Hurricanes have recalled Drew MacIntyre from Charlotte (AHL) on an emergency basis.

MacIntyre, 31, has posted a 6-8-1 record, a 2.82 GAA and a .909 SV% in 15 games with Charlotte this season. He has been recalled to serve as Anton Khudobin’s backup tonight, because Cam Ward (undisclosed) is not expected to be available.

Drew MacIntyre
Ward (undisclosed) expected to be scratched on Thursday.

Ward missed practice on Tuesday, he is also not on the ice this morning and the Hurricanes have recalled Drew MacIntyre from Charlotte (AHL), so all signs point towards Ward not dressing tonight and Anton Khudobin getting the start. Coach Peters said that Ward was "a little sore," so it doesn't sound like this will be a longterm injury.

Cam Ward
Khudobin is expected to get the nod for the Hurricanes tonight.

Khudobin should be in goal with Cam Ward out with a lower-body injury. Khudobin allowed three goals on 33 shots in the Hurricanes loss to the Penguins on Saturday. Khudobin has made seven starts this season and he is still searching for his first win—he is 0-5-2 with a 2.98 GAA and .900 SV%.

Anton Khudobin
Bernier will start his seventh consecutive game.

Bernier gave up three goals on 38 shots in the Maple Leafs 5-3 win vs. the Stars on Tuesday. He has now won four of his last five games with a 2.38 GAA and .923 SV%. He draws a real nice matchup tonight against a Devils team who have lost five in a row and seven of their last eight while be outscored 20-14.

Jonathan Bernier
The Panthers have acquired Jesse Blacker and a conditional draft pick in exchange for Colby Robak.

Blacker, 23, made his NHL debut on the weekend with the Ducks, but now heads over to Florida where he will likely end up with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL). He has five assists in 15 gams with Norfolk this season.

Jesse Blacker
The Ducks have acquired defenseman Colby Robak from the Panthers for Jesse Blacker and a conditional draft pick.

The Ducks continue to try and shore up their banged-up blue line. They acquired Eric Brewer from the Lightning but he played just two games before breaking a bone in his foot. So now they have brought in 24-year-old Colby Robak, who has three assists in 42 career NHL games and no points in seven games this season.

Colby Robak
Brodeur will make his Blues debut on Thursday vs. Nashville.

St. Louis must have liked what they saw from Brodeur in practice because they will give him the start just two days after signing him to a one-year deal. The 42-year-old net minder was 19-14-6 with a 2.51 GAA and .901 SV% with the Devils last season, but just take a peek at his career line—688-394-49 / 2.51 GAA / 912 SV% / 124 SO.

Martin Brodeur
Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended two games for his hit on Jaromir Jagr on Tuesday.

Bortuzzo’s hit was late and he also made contact with Jagr’s chin. Because Bortuzzo did not leave his feet on the hit, he got off with a relatively short suspension. Bortuzo is eligible to return next Monday in New York. Expect Brian Dumoulin to play in the two games in which Bortuzzo will be unavailable.

Robert Bortuzzo

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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