NHL Hockey Player News

Bieksa (ankle) expected to play on Saturday.

After taking part in the pre-game skate, John Tortorella said he is not surprised with Bieksa and added "he knows what is at stake". With Bieksa playing, the leaves Frank Corrado as a healthy scratch.

Kevin Bieksa
Smith (lower-body) will be re-evaluated next week.

Smith has been doing off-ice workouts, but plans to skate next week. The Coyotes are happy with how he has come along, and hope that they will get good news when he is re-evaluated next week. Smith could be back before the regular season is done, but there is no guarantee at this point.

Mike Smith
Lack is the Canucks confirmed starter.

Lack gave up three goals on 28 shots in a OT loss to the Avalanche on Thursday. The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Lack. Tonight, will mark his 16th consecutive start, as the Canucks continue to try and ride the 26-year-old to a playoff berth. He is 0-2-1 with a 3.65 GAA and .893 SV% against Anaheim this year.

Eddie Lack
Fasth (neck) was back on the ice with the Oilers Saturday morning.

Fasth has missed the last two games after suffering a neck injury in practice on Monday. He is listed as day-to-day, and while it seems unlikely that he will be ready to return on Sunday, this is a positive sign for the Oilers.

Viktor Fasth
Bieksa (ankle) is on the ice for the Canucks' morning skate.

Bieksa was unable to put any weight on his leg when he left the ice on Thursday. But he was spotted this morning walking without a limp and his presence at the morning skate suggests that he will be in the lineup tonight. If he is unable to go, Frank Corrado will play.

Kevin Bieksa
Heatley will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.

Heatley will serve as a healthy scratch tonight for what is believed to be the first time in his career. Heatley has not scored a goal in his last 14 games, he has just two assists and a minus-8 rating over that same span. Stephane Veilleux will slide into the lineup for Heater.

Dany Heatley
Bryzgalov is the Wild's confirmed starter.

Bryzgalov allowed two goals on seven shots after replacing Darcy Kuemper on Wednesday vs. Vancouver. The Wild are slowly unraveling and after two rough outings by Kuemper, it is not surprising to see Mike Yeo turn to Bryz tonight vs. Phoenix. Bryzgalov is 2-0-2 with a 2.45 GAA and .900 SV% in four starts and five games.

Ilya Bryzgalov
Greiss will start for the Coyotes.

Greiss stopped 26 of 28 shots in a win over the Penguins on Thursday. Since Mike Smith has went down with an injury, Greiss has won both games while allowing four goals on 53 shots (.925 SV%). Tonight, he takes on a Wild team in a tail-spin. Minny has lost six of their last eight.

Thomas Greiss
McElhinney is the Blue Jackets' confirmed starter tonight in Carolina.

McElhinney gave up two goals on 31 shots in a 2-1 defeat to the Penguins last night. With Sergei Bobrvsky still not 100 per cent because of an illness, McElhinney will start on consecutive nights for the first time since December 9/10. The Jackets will be looking for another strong performance from him tonight as they look to stay in that top Wild Card spot in the East.

Curtis McElhinney
Stalock is the Sharks confirmed starter.

Stalock stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Flames on Monday. Stalock has gone 2-0-2 with a 2.13 GAA and .927 SV% in March. He is usually one of the leagues top spot-start options, but taking on the Avs in Colorado is your typical spot-start matchup.

Alex Stalock
Smid left Friday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return.

Smid left the game after being hit by Rangers forward Derek Dorsett. Smid only play 5:36 before retiring to the dressing room for the remainder of the contest. The Flames recalled Chad Billins from Abbotsford which suggests that Smid will miss some time.

Ladislav Smid
Bishop is the Lighting's confirmed starter.

Bishop stopped 25 of 27 shots in a 3-2, 13-round marathon shootout win over the Islanders. What more can you say about him at this point in the season? He has 35 wins, a 2.17 GAA, .926 SV% and five shutouts. Not to mention he takes on the Sabres tonight… Must-start to say the least.

Ben Bishop
Luongo (upper-body) is doubtful for the Panthers' upcoming two-game road trip.

Luongo was run-over by Hurricanes forward Radek Dvorak on Thursday and it sounds like he will miss at least the next three games. Luongo will get to stay in sunny Florida while his team travels to New York, luck Lu.

Roberto Luongo

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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