NHL Hockey Player News

Quincey left Friday's game with an ankle injury and did not return.

Quincey was not on the ice this morning and remains without a timetable for his return. There is no word on the severity of the ankle injury, but expect Brian Lashoff to play on Sunday vs. the Sabres.

Kyle Quincey
Backes (concussion) will play on Saturday.

Backes has been cleared to play after missing just one game with a concussion that he suffered on Tuesday vs. Dallas. With no lingering concussion-like symptoms, Backes will return and centre the Blues top-line tonight. He has two goals and three assists in eight games this season.

David Backes
Pavelec is the first goalie off of the ice this morning.

Pavelec stopped 27 of 28 shots in the Jets 2-1 loss to the Devils on Thursday. He has allowed just five goals in his last three starts, but he remains an inconsistent option and should only be started when he has good matchups.

Ondrej Pavelec
Crawford expected to return to the Blackhawks crease.

Crawford missed the last six games with an upper-body injury but will be back between the pipes tonight in Toronto. He has won four of his three starts with a 1.66 GAA and .926 SV%. A matchup with the Maple Leafs should make for a nice fantasy start.

Corey Crawford
Forsberg was the first goalie off of the ice this morning.

Forsberg, 21, will make his NHL debut tonight vs. the Devils. The 2011 seventh round pick was 1-2-0 with a 2.36 GAA and .921 SV% with Springfield (AHL) this season. He makes for a risky spot-start in his first NHL game behind a banged-up Blue Jackets squad.

Anton Forsberg
Smith expected to get the call in goal for the Arizona.

Smith allowed two goals on 26 shots in the Coyotes 2-1 loss to the Panthers on Thursday. He has lost four of his last five starts with a 3.53 GAA and .885 SV%. His struggles make him a risky fantasy start right now, but against the winless Hurricanes he should be able to pick up a W.

Mike Smith
Kuemper will start for the Wild.

Kuemper allowed three goals on 28 shots in a win over the Sharks on Thursday. It was a quality bounce-back performance for Kuemper after a tough night vs. the Rangers. He is 5-2-0 with a 1.70 GAA and .927 SV% on the year. He has a tough matchup, but he is 4-0-0 at home this season.

Darcy Kuemper
Holtby gets the call in goal for the Capitals.

Holtby allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 4-2 loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday. He has alternated wins an losses in each of his seven starts this season. If his streak continues he is on pace for a win tonight vs. the Lightning.

Braden Holtby
Luongo starts Saturday for the Panthers.

Luongo stopped 32 of 33 shots in the Panthers 2-1 win over the Coyotes on Thursday. Bobby Lu has a 2.32 GAA and .926 SV% in seven starts this season. He looks like the Luongo of old right night now and is working his way into the fantasy starter conversation.

Roberto Luongo
Ward gets the start for the Hurricanes.

Ward gave up three goals on 24 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Canucks on Tuesday. He is 0-3-1 with a 3.95 GAA and .840 SV% to start the season. Carolina is still without a win, so stay away from Ward and Anton Khudobin for now.

Cam Ward
Ward is working in the starter's crease this morning.

Ward gave up three goals on 24 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Canucks on Tuesday. He is 0-3-1 with a 3.95 GAA and .840 SV% to start the season. Carolina is still without a win, so stay away from Ward and Anton Khudobin for now.

Cam Ward
Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Quick allowed three goals on 43 shots in the Kings 3-2 OT loss to the Flyers on Tuesday. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak, but Quick definitely can not be blamed for that defeat. He comes into play on Friday with an 5-1-2 record and he ranks first in SV% (.950) seventh in GAA (1.78). A matchup vs. Detroit is not great, but he is a must-start regardless of his opponent.

Jonathan Quick

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!