NHL Hockey Player News

Bernier gets the nod in the Winter Classic.

Bernier allowed two goals on 43 shots in a win over the Hurricanes on Sunday. He has won two in a row which has him sitting at 12-11-4 with a 2.42 GAA and .930 SV% in his first three months with the Leafs which has earned him the start in the Winter Classic. He stopped 25 of 26 shots in the second and third period in the 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings on December 21.

Jonathan Bernier
McElhinney starts for the Blue Jackets.

McElhinney gave up five goals on 30 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Penguins on Sunday. It was a rough outing for McElhinney, but he should not have been active in fantasy leagues anyways because of the matchup. Tonight he will start in Colorado, he has posted a 2-3-0 record with a 2.92 GAA and .904 SV% on the road.

Curtis McElhinney
Hiller leads the Ducks onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Hiller stopped 23 of 25 shots in a win over the Coyotes on Saturday. The win was his eighth in a row and 17th of the season. Because of the back-to-back, he was given Sunday off but will face the Sharks tonight. Hiller is 9-0-2 with a 1.81 GAA and .941 SV% at home.

Jonas Hiller
Lehtonen leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Lehtonen allowed three goals on 22 shots in an OT loss to the Blues on Sunday. The loss moved him to 5-3-4 with a 2.89 GAA and .914 SV% in December. Tonight he will go for his 16th win of the season when he faces the Kings in Dallas. He won his only start against Los Angeles this season.

Kari Lehtonen
Scrivens leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Scrivens allowed three goals on 31 shots in a loss to the Predators on Saturday. He will get the nod tonight in the second game of a back-to-back for the Kings. He will face the Stars in Dallas tonight, he is 5-3-2 with a 1.75 GAA and .944 SV% on the road.

Ben Scrivens
Grabner (illness) returns to the Islanders lineup tonight.

Grabner missed Sunday's game because of an illness but will suit up against the Bruins tonight. Eric Boulton will come out of the lineup to make room for Grabner. He has just five goals and seven assists in 36 games this season, but three of those goals have come in his last four games.

Michael Grabner
Emery will start for the Flyers.

Emery allowed five goals on 28 shots in a loss to the Blue Jackets on December 21. He has had a tough season going 3-7-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .885 SV% in 10 starts. He has a solid matchup vs. the Flames tonight, but remains a risky start given his shaky season.

Ray Emery
Hiller is expected to get the start for the Ducks.

Hiller stopped 23 of 25 shots in a win over the Coyotes on Saturday. The win was his eighth in a row and 17th of the season. Because of the back-to-back, he was given Sunday off but is expected to face the Sharks tonight. Hiller is 9-0-2 with a 1.81 GAA and .941 SV% at home.

Jonas Hiller
Bryzgalov is the confirmed Oilers starter.

Bryzgalov allowed three goals on 38 shots in a shootout loss to his former team, the Flyers. He will face the Coyotes tonight, another former team of his. He has started his Oilers career 2-4-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .916 SV%. Bryz appears to have a slight edge on Dubnyk as the team's number-1.

Ilya Bryzgalov
Stars forward Ray Whitney didn’t skate this morning and will be a game-time decision for tonight’s tilt against the Los Angeles Kings.

“Not feeling well, so we’ll see what tonight brings for him,” said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. If Whitney can’t go, the Stars have Dustin Jeffrey available. Jeffrey, who has been a healthy scratch the last eight game, last played December 12 at Nashville.

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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