NHL Hockey Player News

Lehtonen will get the start in goal for Dallas.

Lehtonen stopped 33 of 35 shots in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jackets. Lehtonen has enjoyed a nice start to the 2014-15 season, going 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .934 SV% in his first two starts. He will make his third straight start against a 2013-14 playoff team when the Stars take on the Penguins and their 5.50 goals per game tonight in Pittsburgh.

Kari Lehtonen
Maroon will miss four weeks with an MCL sprain.

Maroon suffered the injury in the Ducks win over the Sabres on Monday. He was moved to IR yesterday so we knew the injury was going to keep him out a bit and it turns out he will be out until the middle of November with an MCL sprain. This is a tough break for Maroon who had three assists in the first three games playing with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. Matt Beleskey is expected to continue to fill that spot, at least until Dany Heatley (groin) is healthy.

Pat Maroon
Quick will start in goal for the Kings.

Quick stopped 31 of 32 shots in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Oilers. It was Quick's first win of the season and he will look to win win back-to-back games tonight vs. the Blues. Quick stopped 28 of 29 shots in a winning effort in his only start against St. Louis in 2013-14.

Jonathan Quick
Berra might get the start tonight because Semyon Varlamov is dealing with a slight groin strain.

It was originally reported that Varlamov was the first off at the morning skate and that he would be the Avalanche starter tonight. However, following the skate head coach Patrick Roy announced that Varly is dealing with a slight groin strain and is a game-time decision. He said Berra "might" start, so it won't be clear who will be in the crease until warmups.

Reto Berra
Mitchell (concussion-like symptoms) will make his season debut on Thursday.

Mitchell has not played in an NHL game since April 10th due to concussion-like symptoms, but he will centre the Avalanche fourth line tonight in Ottawa. The Avs will ease him back him, but the idea is that he will eventually be back in his usual spot as the third line pivot.

John Mitchell
Datsyuk (shoulder) is expected to miss the home-and-home series vs. the Maple Leafs.

Datsyuk is expected to miss his fourth and fifth straight game with the shoulder injury he suffered early in the preseason. There is some optimism in the Red Wings organization that Datsyuk could be back by next weekend, which means Saturday vs. the Flyers. He remains day-to-day, but getting closer.

Pavel Datsyuk
Bernier was the first goalie off of the ice on Thursday; suggests he will start Friday.

Bernier made 11 saves on 12 shots after relieving James Reimer in Sunday's win over the Rangers. He took a seat on Tuesday vs. Colorado, but it looks like he will be back in goal on Friday vs. Detroit. He carries an ugly .882 SV% to start the season, but he did enjoy moderate success vs. the Red Wings last season---1-1-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .928 SV%.

Jonathan Bernier
Abdelkader (undisclosed) did not skate on Thursday.

According to the Red Wings GM Ken Holland it was just a "maintenance" day for the Red Wings' winger, but his status for Friday's game remains unknown. A decision on Abdelkader will come tomorrow, if he is unable to go, expect Stephen Weiss to make his season debut.

Justin Abdelkader
Gustavsson likely to make his season debut on Saturday.

The Red Wings have a home-and-home series with the Maple Leafs this weekend and Jimmy Howard is starting on Friday so it looks like 'The Monster' will take on his former team on Saturday at The Joe. Gustavsson was 16-5-4 with a 2.63 GAA and .907 SV% last season.

Jonas Gustavsson
Howard will start on Friday in Toronto.

Howard was excellent on Wednesday, stopping 37 of 39 shots in the Red Wings' 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins. He has a great 1.95 GAA and .927 SV% to go with his 1-0-2 record in the early part of the season. Howie was 2-0-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .930 SV% against the Leafs last year.

Jimmy Howard
The Blackhawks have placed Kyle Cuminsky on waivers so they can send him to Rockford (AHL).

Cuminsky, 27, had a strong training camp and stuck with the Blackhawks, but could not crack the lineup in the early going. He will head to the AHL for the first time since 2011-12, he spent the last two years in Sweden.

Kyle Cumiskey
The Islanders have sent Griffin Reinhart to Bridgeport (AHL).

Reinhart had no point and was a minus-1 while averaging 14:23 TOI in his first three NHL games. With Calvin de Haan coming off of injured reserve, the Islanders had to make a move. Reinhart was the youngest of the crop so they have sent him back to the AHL to continue to develop his game.

Griffin Reinhart
Lupul's status for Friday is unclear due to a lower-body injury.

Lupul apparently tweaked something in the Maple Leafs win on Tuesday and it could keep him out of Friday's clash with the Red Wings. Lupul has two goals and one assist in four games, but will be replaced by Brandon Kozun tomorrow if he can't go.

Joffrey Lupul
Sekera (upper-body) will not play on Thursday.

After a brutal collision with the end-boards on Tuesday, it was a great sign that Sekera was able to skate this morning. He took line rushes with Justin Faulk, which suggested he might play tonight, but the Hurricanes ultimately decided to keep him out tonight and let him rest before Tuesday's game.

Andrej Sekera
Khudobin is the Hurricanes confirmed starter.

Khudobin allowed four goals on 31 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Islanders last Saturday. Cam Ward has lost each of his two starts, so the Hurricanes will turn to Khudobin to try and get them in the win column tonight. The Canes are ravaged by injuries, making Ward and Khudobin risky investments right now.

Anton Khudobin
Lehtonen was the first goalie off of the ice at Stars morning skate.

Lehtonen stopped 33 of 35 shots in Tuesday's win over the Blue Jackets. Lehtonen has enjoyed a nice start to the 2014-15 season, going 1-0-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .934 SV% in his first two starts. He will make his third straight start against a 2013-14 playoff team when the Stars take on the Penguins and their 5.50 goals per game tonight in Pittsburgh.

Kari Lehtonen

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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