Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

NHL Hockey Player News

Halak gets the nod in goal for the Islanders.

Halak allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Islanders loss to the Sharks last Saturday. He has lost four in a row while giving up a total of 14 goals on 121 shots (.884 SV%). He will try to snap his losing skid tonight, but it won’t be easy as he takes on the Ducks in Anaheim.

Jaroslav Halak
Gonchar (muscle strain) is questionable for Thursday.

Gonchar made his season debut on Tuesday after missing the start of the season with a fractured ankle. He was not at practice this morning because he is dealing with a muscle strain. The Stars will wait until tomorrow to see where he is and then make a decision on his status for the game vs. Nashville.

Sergei Gonchar
Eakin (undisclosed) missed Wednesday’s practice, but should play Thursday.

Eakin is “banged up” and missed today’s practice, but is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday vs. the Predators. Eakin has not recorded a point in the last five games and has four points (2G / 2A) in 12 games this season.

Cody Eakin
The Penguins have signed Marc-Andre Fleury to a four-year, $23 million contract extension.

Fleury was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, but is now locked up through the 2018-19 season. Fleury is playing on a $5 million cap-hit this season, that will bump up to $5.75 million for the next four seasons. Fleury is 7-2-0 with a 1.89 GAA and .931 SV% in his first nine starts this season.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Andersen will be a game-time decision tonight.

Andersen missed Sunday’s game with ‘minor leg tightness’ but was on the ice for the game day skate this afternoon. He was the first on off of the ice and told the media after practice that his leg feels good but he “needs to see how I feel before tonight’s game”. So if Andersen’s leg is OK, he is your starter, if not, it will be Jason LaBarbera.

Frederik Andersen
Andersen was the first goalie off of the ice for the Ducks.

Andersen was unavailable on Sunday because of minor leg tightness, but he was back on the ice this morning for the game day skate. While he was the first one off, Jason LaBarbera followed him about a minute later. This suggests that Andersen will get the call if his leg is good to go, but they did not want to keep LaBarbera on for extra work incase Andresen is unable to go. Stay tuned.

Frederik Andersen
Aulie will make his Edmonton Oilers’ debut on Thursday.

Aulie, who was recalled on Monday, will replace Martin Marincin in the lineup on Thursday vs. the Bruins. Aulie had one assist in eight games with Oklahoma City (AHL) before he was recalled. He is not know for his offence, so he is not fantasy relevant.

Keith Aulie
Vanek moves to the Wild’s top line with Zach Parise out.

Vanek was recently demoted to the third line, but will be moved up to the top line with Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville now that Parise is out. Vanek has one goal and seven assists in 11 games and his lack of scoring can be attributed to his lack of shots. He has just 17 shots so far this season— that is 1.55 S/PG, he averaged 3.56 last season.

Thomas Vanek
Raffl will miss six weeks with a lower-body injury.

Raffl suffered the injury blocking a shot on Tuesday night. He will miss a month and a half, which is a big blow for the Flyers because he was off to a hot start on their top line. With Raffl out, Chris VandeVelde will get the first crack at replacing him on that first line.

Michael Raffl
VandeVelde skated on the Flyers top line in practice on Wednesday.

With Michael Raffl unavailable this morning because of an lower-body injury, VandeVelde filled-in on the Flyers first line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. VandeVelde made the jump from the AHL to the first line in two weeks, pretty impressive.

Chris VandeVelde
Schneider will start for the Devils on Thursday.

Schneider stopped 22 of 23 shots in the Devils’ 1-0 loss to the Blues on Tuesday. He has played well lately, winning two of his last three while posting a 1.31 GAA and .951 SV%. Tonight he will get another shot at St. Louis, but this time it will be on the road.

Cory Schneider
Quincey (ankle) will not play on Wednesday.

Quincey will miss his miss his third straight game with an ankle injury that he suffered last Friday vs. the Kings. He was on the ice with his teammates on Tuesday, so he is not expected to miss an extended period of time, but won’t play tonight. Look to Friday or Sunday as a potential return date.

Kyle Quincey

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!