NHL Hockey Player News

The Sharks have signed Joe Thornton to a three-year contract extension with an annual cap-hit of $6.75 million US.

Thornton currently leads the NHL with 47 assists to go along with six goals (53 points) in 51 games. Thornton is in his seventh season with the Sharks, he has totalled 1171 points (337G / 834A) in 1175 career NHL games with the Sharks and the Bruins.

Joe Thornton
The Sharks have signed Patrick Marleau to a three-year contract extension with an annual cap-hit of $6.66 million US.

Marleau has 21 goals and 26 assists (47 points) in 51 games this season with the Sharks. Marleau is currently in his 16th season with the Sharks, he has 908 points (425G / 483A) in 1215 career NHL games (all with SJ).

Patrick Marleau
Neuvirth gets the nod in goal for the Capitals.

Neuvirth allowed four goals on 37 shots in a loss to the Penguins on January 15. He will get his eighth start of the season tonight when he takes on the Devils. He enters play with a 0-2-1 record with a 3.13 GAA and .909 SV% on the road this season.

Michal Neuvirth
Thomas starts for the Panthers.

Thomas surrendered three goals on 35 shots in a win over the Sabres on Tuesday. He has allowed nine goals in his last three starts, going 1-2-0 over those three games. Tonight he takes on the Avalanche for the second time this season, in the first meeting he stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 4-1 win.

Steen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Steen went down in the corner and was slow to stand up. He appeared to jam his right foot into the crease of the boards, and getting up slowly, he rested on the bench briefly. Steen attempted to skate it off, putting limited pressure on his right leg. He stayed in the game briefly, but with 2:57 left in the second period, he headed for the locker room and didn’t return. “He’s day-to-day” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “We’ll see where he is in a day or so. He’ll be back.” Monitor Steen's status during Saturday's morning skate.

Alex Steen
Franzen said Thursday was the first day that he hasn’t felt the least bit foggy since suffering a concussion on Dec. 15 on a hit from Tampa Bay’s Radko Gudas.

Franzen is encouraged but he still doesn’t know when he’ll return. “Need to talk to the medical staff and see what they think,” Franzen said. “I’m just happy to not feel like I’m in the fog anymore.”

Johan Franzen
Alfredsson (back) could return to the Red WIngs lineup Friday.

Alfredsson had his third good skating session in a row today with no setbacks. “I’m going to talk with the coaches and medical staff after practice (Friday) and go from there,” Alfredsson said. “A little more intense these last two days, but I feel good and I don’t expect anything will change until tomorrow.” Alfredsson has missed six games with lower back inflammation. Coach Mike Babcock said a decision on Alfredsson’s status will be made after the morning skate.

Barkov (lower-body) is doubtful for Friday's game.

Barkov’s absence means more ice time for Nick Bjugstad, center Drew Shore and Jesse Winchester. Barkov, who is the Panthers leading scorer with 24, was injured on Tuesday, but is not expected to miss an extended period of time. If he can't go tonight, look for him to return on Sunday against Detroit.

Aleksander Barkov
Varlamov will be in goal vs. Florida.

Varlamov was yanked after allowing three goals on 10 shots in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Russian Olympian. He draws a solid matchup tonight vs. the Panthers 28th ranked offence, however they pushed four passed him on 33 shots in a 4-1 defeat in November.

Semyon Varlamov
Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Quick allowed three goals on 23 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Bruins on Monday. He was given the tail-end of the back-to-back off, but will hop back in the crease tonight vs. the Ducks. Quick enters play with a 4-3-1 record, 2.17 GAA and .921 SV% on the road and he will be playing in one of the toughest buildings in the NHL.

Jonathan Quick
Kuemper leads the Wild onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Kuemper allowed four goals on 36 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Stars on Tuesday. The Wild struggled to muster any offence throughout which ultimately spelled disaster for Kuemper. He comes into play on Thursday with a 4-2-0 record, 1.80 GAA and .941 SV% in January, but he draws a scary matchup vs. the Blackhawks.

Darcy Kuemper
It appears as if Silfverberg will be a healthy scratch tonight.

Head coach Bruce Boudreau continues to shuffle wingers in and out of his lineup as the Olympic break approaches. Silfverberg has produced recently, but lacks consistency. He has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 27 games this season and will likely slot back into the lineup on Saturday at Dodgers Stadium.

Jakob Silfverberg
Roberto Luongo will make his third straight start.

Luongo gave up a single goal on 29 shots in a win over the Oilers on Tuesday. He has won back-to-back starts vs. western Canadian opponents while registering a 1.44 GAA and .952 SV%. The first time he met the Predators, he allowed on goal on 31 shots in a 3-1 win.

Roberto Luongo
Hutton gets the call for the Predators.

Hutton turned aside 35 of 36 shots in Monday's victory against the Stars. It was his third consecutive win and he has posted a tremendous 1.95 GA A and .933 SV% in the process. He will need to be at his best tonight because he likely goes head-to-head with Roberto Luongo.

Carter Hutton

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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