NHL Hockey Player News

Crawford starts in goal for the Blackhawks.

Crawford stopped all 29 shots that he faced in a 2-0 win over the Ducks on Wednesday. Crawford has had an excellent road trip. He is 3-0-2 with a 1.74 GAA and .952 SV% vs. some quality West Coast teams. Tonight he will go head-to-head with Mike Smith as they're in Phoneix to take on the Coyotes.

Corey Crawford
Koivu will miss the Olympics with a broken ankle.

The Wild captain, who was expected to captain Finland underwent surgery on a broken ankle Jan. 6 after being hit by a dump-in off the stick of Washington's Nicklas Backstrom two days before. The normal course of recovery for this type of injury is six to eight weeks. Koivu underwent surgery in an attempt to accelerate his return to the Wild lineup. Monday will be five weeks from surgery. Team Finland also lost Valteri Filppula today, so they will announce two replacements shortly.

Mikko Koivu
Holtby gets the nod on Saturday.

Holtby gave up two goals on 36 shots after unexpectedly getting the start for the Michal Neuvirth on Thursday. Holtby has won three of his last four starts while posting a 2.75 GAA, .903 SV% and one shutout. On Saturday he will get a crack at the Devils who have lost four of five.

Braden Holtby
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Jets have recalled Paul Postma from St. John's (AHL).

Postman was with St. John's on a conditioning assignment after missing three months with a blood clot in his leg. While in St. John's he recorded one goal and five assists in four games. He has yet to register a point in eight contests with the Jets.

Paul Postma
Bryzgalov gets the start for the Oilers.

Bryzgalov allowed two goals on 44 shots in a win over the Sabres on Monday. It was his second straight win as he has stopped 67 of the last 71 shots (.944 SV%) that he has faced. With Ben Scrivens getting the W last night, Bryz will look to chalk up the Oilers sixth win in their last seven games.

Ilya Bryzgalov
Letang will miss at least six weeks after having a stroke last week.

The condition is treatable with blood thinners and at this point is not believed to be career threatening. Further testing also revealed that Letang, 26, has had a very small hole in the wall of his heart since birth. This small defect in the wall is present in all individuals before birth but seals shut in most people. It is possible that the hole in the heart led to the stroke. “The most important thing right now, of course, is Kris’ health,” GM Ray Shero said. “We’re not thinking about hockey right now. We want to make sure he gets the best possible care and gets better. After six weeks of treatment, doctors will re-evaluate Kris.”

Kris Letang
Filppula will the Olympics with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.

Filppula was set to play for Team Finland in Sochi, but the fractured hand will have him sidelined for three weeks. He played just 14:48 before retiring to the dressing room for the remainder of Thursday's loss to the Maple Leafs.

Valtteri Filppula
Bishop (upper-body) is not on the ice with the Lightning this morning.

Bishop left Thursday's contest after the second period with an upper-body injury. This is the second time in a week that Bishop has been unable to finish a game due to injury. The last time he had a head injury, but played two days later. With the Olympic break on the horizon, don't be shocked to see Cedrick Desjardins start Saturday vs. the Red Wings.

Ben Bishop
Smith will start in goal for the Coyotes.

Smith allowed two goals on 39 shots but found himself on the wrong side of a 3-1 final vs. Dallas on Tuesday. After sitting for two straight games, Smith has turned in back-to-back strong outings, stopping 60 of 63 shots (.952 SV%). He draws a tough assignment tonight with the Blackhawks in town looking to continue a strong road-trip.

Mike Smith
Fleury was the first goalie off of the ice at the Penguins morning skate; he starts.

Fleury allowed one goal on 25 shots in a win over the Sabres on Wednesday. It was his 31st of the season and sixth in his last nine starts while positing a 2.00 GAA and .925 SV%. Tonight it looks like he will go head-to-head with the red-hot Henrik Lundqvist who has won six of his last seven.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Marcus Johansson has been named to the Swedish Olympic team as an injury replacement and will take the place of Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin.

Sedin has been playing through a rib injury for much of the last month and was visibly in pain on the ice, prompting the Canucks to sit him out of their last two games before the break. It will be Johansson’s first Olympic appearance. is in his fourth NHL season and is steadily adding to his offensive totals again this year. In 58 games for the Capitals, Johansson has seven goals and 29 assists. His addition is the second injury replacement in a week that Sweden, favored to be medal contenders in Sochi, has needed to make for ailing veterans.

Marcus Johansson
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired wing Peter Regin and center Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft on Thursday night.

Bouchard will report to the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), he has four goals and five assists, as well as a minus-9 rating, in 28 games with the Islanders. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Islanders retain 50 percent of the salary/cap hit for both Bouchard and Regin. Bouchard is on a one-year deal worth $2 million for this season.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired wing Peter Regin and center Pierre-Marc Bouchard from the New York Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft on Thursday night.

Regin will report to the Blackhawks, he has played in 44 games with the Islanders this season; he has two goals and five assists and is a minus-10. Regin was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. According to Pierre LeBrun, the Islanders retain 50 percent of the salary/cap hit for both Bouchard and Regin. Regin is on a one-year deal worth $750,000.

Peter Regin
Schneider gets the nod for the Devils on Friday.

Schndeider gave up two tallies on 25 shots in a 2-1 OT loss to the Avalanche on Monday. That marks 13 straight games where Schneider has held his opponent to three goals or less. He comes into play tonight having won five of his last 10 starts while positing a 1.51 GAA and .943 SV%. He is as consistent as you will find in fantasy hockey right now, get him in your lineup vs. the Oilers.

Cory Schneider
Lundqvist gets the start on Friday.

Lundqvist stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 5-1 blowout win over the Avalanche on Tuesday. It was Lundqvist's fourth straight win and 21st of the season. He was given Thursday night off, but will step back between the pipes this evening in Pittsburgh. In three previous starts vs. the Penguins, 'King Henrik' is 1-1-1 with a 2.92 GAA and .899 SV%.

Henrik Lundqvist

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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