NHL Hockey Player News

Varlamov gets the start in both games of the Avalanche back-to-back.

Varlamov allowed two goals on 24 shots in a loss to the Islanders last night. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak, but he will get a chance to bounce back right away when he takes on the Wild tonight. Varly is 1-0-1 with a 1.38 GAA and .953 SV% against Minnesota this season.

Semyon Varlamov
Hodgson (finger) will be back in the Sabres' lineup tomorrow vs. the Capitals.

Hodgson has missed the last nine games, but will return on Sunday when the Sabres travel to Washington. He will skate on the second line with Matt D'Agostini and Steve Ott as well as centring the first power-play unit. Hodgson has 19 points (8G / 11A) with a minus-10 rating in 33 games this season.

Cody Hodgson
Mazanec was the first goalie off the ice at the Predators morning skate; expected to start.

Mazanec allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Ducks on Thursday. In Mazanec's last eight outings, he has allowed three-plus goals six times. Those are not numbers that you want on your fantasy team. Tonight the Predators welcome the Senators to Nashville, Mazanec is 5-6-1 with a 3.06 GAA and .896 SV% at home.

Marek Mazanec
Thomas is expected to get the start for the Panthers.

Thomas stopped 23 of 24 shots in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Sabres. The win moved Thomas to .500 on the season (11-11-2) to got along with his 2.60 GAA and .914 SV%. He draws a favourable matchup against New Jersey, they rank 26th in the NHL with 2.31 goals per game.

Mason gets the nod for the Flyers this afternoon.

Mason stopped 19 of 20 shots in a win over the Canadiens on Wednesday. The win was Mason's 18th of the season and seventh in his last eight starts. We have not seen this Mason since his Calder Trophy winning season in 2008-09, but it exactly what the Flyers hoped when they acquired him last season. This afternoon he will take on the Lightning at home where he is 11-6-0 with a 2.12 GAA and .927 SV% this season.

Steve Mason
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Hurricanes have reassigned Zach Boychuk to Charlotte (AHL).

Boychuk suited up for eight games during his call-up, he registered one goal and two assists in that span, including a two-point (1G /1A) game on Thursday vs. the Maple Leafs.

Zach Boychuk
he St. Louis Blues have signed Ryan Reaves to a four-year extension worth $1.125 mill. per season.

Reaves, 26, is in his fourth season with the Central-leading Blues and in 26 games, he's tallied two goals, three assists and 65 minutes in penalties. Reaves was drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Ryan Reaves
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Jets have recalled Zach Redmond from St. John's (AHL).

Redmond has appeared in three games with the Jets this season, he has been held off of the score sheet in all three contests. He has recorded 13 points (5G / 8A) in 17 games with the St. John's IceCaps. There is no word on whether or not he will draw in on the blueline on Saturday.

Zach Redmond
Howard gets his fifth straight start on Saturday.

Howard was pulled after he allowed four goals on 23 shots in the first two periods of Thursday's 4-1 loss in San Jose. It has not been a pretty season for Howard, but he has an extremely banged up lineup playing in front of him, so it is not entirely his fault. On Saturday he meets the Kings for the first time this season, he was 2-1-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .950 SV% against last season.

Jimmy Howard
Khudobin leads the Hurricanes onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Khudobin stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 6-1 blowout win over the Maple Leafs last night. He is now 4-0-0 with a 1.74 GAA and .950 SV% since returning from his ankle injury. He has been excellent and is making a case to remain the Hurricanes starter once Cam Ward returns from injury. He has a solid chance at his fifth consecutive win when he takes on the Blue Jackets tonight.

Anton Khudobin
Neuvirth gets the call in goal for the Capitals.

Tonight will mark Neuvirth's first start since November 22. He allowed three goals on 31 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Canadiens that night. It has been a difficult season for Neuvirth who has battled injury and now has become the apparent number-3 in Washington. In five starts and seven appearances this season he is 2-3-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face a Maple Leaf squad who have lost three straight while being outscored 18-5.

Michal Neuvirth

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!