Signing
The Wild signed Stu Bickel to a one-year, $600K deal.
Bickel had one goal, seven assists and 85 penalty minutes in 24 games with Hartford (AHL) last season. He signed a two-way deal and will likely start the year with Iowa (AHL).
NHL Hockey Player News
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.
The Rangers signed Cedrick Desjardins to a two-year contract worth $1.2 million.
Desjardins made just one start for the Lightning last season, but he was 9-18-4 with a 2.81 GAA and .900 SV% with Syracuse (AHL). He will likely find himself with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) to start next season.
Signing
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.
Signing
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.
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.
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.
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 David Van Der Gulik to a one-year contract worth $550K.
Van Der Gulik only played in two games with the Avalanche last season. He played 33 games in Lake Erie, where he tallied 13 goals and nine assists (22 points).
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.
The Rangers have signed Matt Hunwick with a one-year deal worth $600K.
Hunwick, 29, only appeared in one game with the Avalanche last season. In 52 games with Lake Erie (AHL), he posted 10 goals and 21 assists (33 points) with a plus-4 rating.
Signing
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.
Signing
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.
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.
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.
The Panthers have signed Willie Mitchell to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.
Mitchell had a strong year, scoring 12 points (1G / 11A) in 76 regular season games, but it was his postseason that drew a lot of attention. He was sensational en route to winning the Stanley Cup and has been rewarded with $4.25 million per year. He is reunited with Roberto Luongo, who he played with during his time in Vancouver.
Signing
The Capitals have signed Matt Niskanen to a seven-year deal worth $40.25 million.
Niskanen had a great year in Pittsburgh in 2013-14. Niskanen had 10 goals and 36 assists (46 points) with a plus-33 rating in 81 games. A huge season and a lack of defensemen depth in free agency leads to massive money for the 27-year-old. Niskanen will likely anchor the Capitals top power-play unit for the next number of seasons.
The Blackhawks have signed Brad Richards to a one-year contract worth $2 million.
Richards was bought out by the Rangers after he scored 20 goals with 31 assists (51 points) in 82 regular season games. Richards has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 25 postseason games and he heads to a Chicago team with a ton of talent. He will likely centre the second line which will have playing with Patrick Kane. Should that be the case, his fantasy value should rise and another 50-plus point season seems very attainable.
The Coyotes have signed Devan Dubnyk to a one-year deal worth $800K.
Dubnyk spent last season between the Oilers, Predators and Canadiens and finished 11-18-3 with a 3.43 GAA and .891 SV%. The Coyotes lost Thomas Greiss to the Penguins, so Dubnyk should step in as Mike Smith's backup in 2014-15.
Signing
The Flyers have re-signed Ray Emery to a one-year contract worth $1 million.
Emery will return as Steve Mason's backup for the 2014-15 season. He finished last season at 9-12-2 with a 2.96 GAA and .904 SV%.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.