NHL Hockey Player News

The Islanders signed Mikhail Grabovski to a four-year, $20 million dollar deal.

Grabovski was limited to 58 games by injuries in 2013-14. He had a strong start to the year and finished with 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points). He joins the Islanders, who now have three good centres with Grabo, John Tavares and Frans Nielsen. He is also reunited with Nikolai Kulemin, the two played together in Toronto from 2008-13.

Mikhail Grabovski
The Predators have signed Olli Jokinen to a one-year, $2.5 million dollar contract.

The 35-year-old veteran centre had 18 goals and 25 assists (43 points) with a minus-8 rating in 82 games with the Jets last season. The Predators do not have the most talented pivots, so Jokinen could be the one that starts the season with James Neal.

Olli Jokinen
The Sabres signed Cody McCormick to a three-year, $4.5 million dollar deal.

McCormick returns to Buffalo for his fifth season with the Sabres after finishing the 2013-14 season with 14 games as a member of the Minnesota Wild. McCormick was a part of the trade that sent Matt Moulson to the Wild, but now they are both back with the Sabres for the next few years.

Cody McCormick
The Panthers signed Derek MacKenzie to a three-year $3.9 million dollar contract.

MacKenzie scored nine goals and added nine assists (18 points) in 71 games with the Blue Jackets last season. D-MacK provides the Panthers with some depth at centre; he won 51.5% of his face-offs in 2013-14.

Derek MacKenzie
The Coyotes signed Joe Vitale to a three-year deal worth $3.3 million.

Vitale had one goal and 13 assists in 53 games with the Penguins last year. The Coyotes needed a centre that can win face-offs and that is exactly what Vitale brings to the table. In 2013-14 he won 62.5% of the draws that he took, which will certainly help the Coyotes get out of their own end this season.

Joe Vitale
The Penguins have signed Steve Downie to a one-year, $1 million dollar deal.

Downie scored four goals with 20 assists and 106 penalty minutes in 62 games between the Avalanche and the Flyers. Downie battled a number of injuries including a concussion in 2013-14, so the Penguins take nearly no risk by signing him to a one-year, million dollar contract.

Steve Downie
The Ducks signed Jason LaBarbera to a one-year contract worth $750K.

After being acquired from the Oilers, LaBarbera was 15-15-2 with a 2.94 GAA and .901 SV% with the Blackhawks AHL affiliate in Rockford. He joins a deep group of good goaltenders in Anaheim and will not hold any fantasy value.

Jason LaBarbera
The Hurricanes have signed Drew MacIntyre to a one-year contract worth $600K.

After losing Justin Peters in free agency, the Hurricanes have locked up MacIntyre for next season. MacIntyre was 29-15-3 with a 2.53 GAA and .917 SV% with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) last season. He is expected to start the season with the Hurricanes AHL affiliate Charlotte Checkers.

Drew MacIntyre
The Penguins signed Taylor Chorney to a one-year deal worth $550K.

Chorney had five goals and 20 assists (25 points) in 69 games on the Chicago (AHL) blueline last season. He has seven career points in 61 NHL games. Taylor is the son of former Penguins defenseman Marc Chorney.

Taylor Chorney
The Stars signed Patrick Eaves to a one-year deal worth $650K.

Eaves scored two goals with three assists in 23 games with the Red Wings last season. In eight games with Grand Rapids (AHL), he had six points (4G / 2A). Eaves provides the Stars with a little more depth up-front, but he will not be fantasy relevant.

Patrick Eaves
The Penguins have resigned Nick Drazenovic to a one-year deal worth $550K.

Drazenovic, 27, played the majority of the 2013-14 regular-season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). He also suited up for one regular-season game with Pittsburgh. The 6-foot, 192-pound Drazenovic finished the regular season ranked second on WBS in both assists (29) and points (42). He added four points (1G-3A) in nine AHL playoff games.

The Kings have signed Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract worth $600K.

Cracknell had two assists in 19 games with the Blues last season. He spent half of the season with Chicago (AHL) where he scored 12 goals with 13 assists (25 points) in 28 games. He is physical player who should fit right in with the Kings.

Adam Cracknell
The Red Wings have re-signed Kyle Quincey to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.

After the Red Wings lost out on many free-agent defensemen earlier in the day, the Red Wings elected to bring back Quincey to shore up their blueline. The Red Wings D was ravaged by injuries last season, but Quincey was able to suit up in all 82 games, posting 13 points (4G / 9A) and a minus-5 rating.

Kyle Quincey
The Lightning have signed Evgeni Nabokov to a one-year contract worth $1.55 million.

Nabokov was 15-14-8 with a 2.74 GAA and .905 SV% with the Islanders last season. Towards the end of the season he was splitting time with Anders Nilsson, but he is more likely to be in a back-up role in Tampa Bay.

Evgeni Nabokov
The Penguins have re-signed Marcel Goc to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million.

Goc was limited to just 12 games because of a foot injury, but his two-way game and ability in the face-off circle has the Penguins bringing him back for a full season. Goc finished last season with 25 points (11G / 14A) in 74 games.

Marcel Goc
The Lightning have signed Brian Boyle to a three-year deal worth $6 million.

Boyle gets a nice payday after a strong season and postseason where he had three goals and five assists (eight points) in 25 games. Boyle is a giant at 6-foot-7, 244 lbs. and brings a mix of size and skill to the Lightning.

Brian Boyle

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!