NHL Hockey Player News

Nabokov in goal for the Islanders.

Nabokov allowed four goals on 22 shots in a 5-4 OT win over the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Despite not having John Tavares or Frans Nielsen, the Islanders were able to push five past a rusty-looking Jonathan Bernier. This afternoon, Nabby will face the Devils for the third time this season. In the first two contests he has gone 1-1-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .907 SV%.

Evgeni Nabokov
Bobrovsky expected to get the call in goal vs. the Panthers.

Bobrovsky surrendered four goals on 34 shots in 5-2 loss to the Devils on Thursday. Bob put the Jackets in a hole early, allowing three goals 8:54 into the first period. He will look to get back on track this afternoon vs. the Panthers. He stopped 35 of 36 shots in a 4-1 win against Florida on February 2.

Sergei Bobrovsky
Mason starts in goal for the Flyers.

With Ray Emery day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Mason will get the nod in goal after a disappointing start on Thursday. He allowed four goals on 16 shots before being yanked in favor of Emery, who didn't fare any better. This afternoon he will go head-to-head with 'King Henrik' as the Flyers welcome the Rangers to Welss Fargo Center.

Steve Mason
The Sabres have traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016.

Ott will likely play on the Blues third line and see significantly less minutes. He has nine goals and 11 assists in 59 games this season.

Steve Ott
The Sabres have traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016.

Halak, 28, has played 40 games for the Blues, posting a 24-9-4 record with a .917 save percentage and 2.23 goals against average. He has four shutouts this season, tied for second in the NHL, and is best known for leading the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010.

Jaroslav Halak
The Sabres have traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016.

The 6-2, 231-pound Stewart has 15 goals and 11 assists in 58 games for the Blues this season after leading St. Louis last year with 18 goals and 36 points. Stewart, 26, was Colorado's first-round pick (18th overall) in 2006. In six NHL seasons, Stewart has 115 goals and 228 points in 377 games.

Chris Stewart
The Sabres have traded Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the Blues for Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart prospect William Carrier, a first-round draft pick in 2015 and a third-round draft pick in 2016.

Miller and Ott will join the Blues in Phoenix, where they play Sunday. They were scratched by the Sabres just before the warmup for tonight's game against San Jose in First Niagara Center. Miller is 15-22-3 with a 2.72 GAA and .923 SV% with the Sabres, but receives a huge fantasy boost by going to the Blues.

Ryan Miller
Niemi leads the Sharks onto the ice for warmups.

Niemi stopped 19 of 21 shots in a win over the Blue Jackets in his final start before the break. He did not see any crease time in Sochi, but will hop back into the cage tonight vs. the Sabres. Niemi has been challenged for starts by Alex Stalock, and if Stalock continues to see starts, Niemi's value takes a hit.

Antti Niemi
The Rangers have signed defenseman Dan Girardi to a six-year, $33 million US extension.

There were rumours swirling around Girardi and possibly being dealt before the trade deadline. Girardi has tallied four goals and 13 assists (17 points) with a plus-4 rating in 60 games this season. Girardi's extension carries an AAV of $5.5 million US.

Dan Girardi
Koivu (ankle) will not play tonight in Vancouver.

Koivu will miss his 17th straight game tonight. "Wait another day and get a good team practice on Sunda and then look at it again [for Calgary on Monday]," Koivu said. "It's getting better and it's pretty much the same story it's been this whole week. It's slowly getting there and getting more comfortable on skates, but it's still not quite where I want to be, especially battles and things like that.

Mikko Koivu
Butler (lower-body) is doubtful to play against the Oilers.

Butler left Thursday's game after playing just 8:51 and did not return. Butler did not take part in Friday's practice and is likely to be replaced by Derek Smith tomorrow. Butler has two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 59 games.

Derek Smith
Bryzgalov starts the 'Battle of Alberta' on Saturday.

Bryzgalov allowed two goals on 24 shots in a loss to the Devils before the break. Since signing with the Oilers, Bryz has gone 5-8-4 with a 3.07 GAA and .907 SV%. His name has surfaced in trade rumours with the trade deadline inching closer, so Saturday could potentially be his last start as an Oiler. He is 2-3-1 at Rexall Place this season.

Ilya Bryzgalov
Yakupov (ankle) feels good, could play Saturday.

Yakupov left Thursday's game with an ankle injury. X-rays on the ankle came back negative on Friday and he says that he does not know if he will play vs. Calgary tomorrow. Yakupov has two goals and four assists in his last nine games. Ales Hemsky will move to the top-line if Yak is not available.

Nail Yakupov
No update on Semin who left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury.

Semin played just 4:21 before leaving the game and not returning. Semin was the only play who was not on the ice for the Hurricanes' practice this morning. His status for Saturday's afternoon (4:00 pm EST) game is uncertain. Monitor his status as puck-drop draws near tomorrow.

Alexander Semin

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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