NHL Hockey Player News

Scuderi (ankle) is on the ice for the Penguins' morning skate.

It is the first time since Scuderi has skated with his teammates since suffering a broken ankle on October 26. He was originally expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks and it has been just over seven weeks, so he should be back in the lineup soon. His return would be huge for a Penguins blueline who are without four regulars right now.

Rob Scuderi
Wisniewski (upper-body) took part in the Blue Jackets' morning skate.

Wisniewski has missed the last four games but could return tonight against the Jets. He has been great to-date recording two goals and 18 points, which is third on the team in scoring. Expect David Savard to come out of the lineup if Wiz can go.

James Wisniewski
Malkin (left leg) did not finish a win Saturday at Detroit. He did not put pressure on the leg while leaving the ice but was limping on it afterward in the locker area. His leg had not been placed in a protective boot. Malkin was to be re-evaluated in Pittsburgh.

Early indications Sunday were that Malkin's injury was minor and to the muscular area, but the Penguins were awaiting results of other tests. Malkin had played in three consecutive games after missing two in a row because of a lower-body injury.

Evgeni Malkin
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled forward Harry Zolnierczyk from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Zolnierczyk, 26, is in his third stint of the season with the Penguins. He was scoreless in three regular-season contests earlier in the year. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Zolnierczyk has scored a team-leading (tied) 10 goals in 21 games with WBS this season. He has added four helpers for a total of 14 points. He has appeared in 47 career NHL games with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, totaling seven points (3G-4A) and 71 penalty minutes.

Harry Zolnierczyk
The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Philip Samuelsson from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Samuelsson was the 61st overall pick in 2009 and this marks the first time that he has been recalled to the NHL in his career. This season he has totaled six assists and a plus-3 in 26 AHL games with WBS. He will fill the void left by the large number of injuries on the Penguins blueline.

Philip Samuelsson
The Penguins have placed Kris Letang on IR with an upper-body injury.

Letang took part in warmups but was a late scratch for Saturday's game vs. the Red Wings. There was no word on how serious Letang's injury is and he will likely be re-evaluated this week. His placement on IR means he will miss at least one week from Saturday. Monitor his status as the week progresses.

Kris Letang
McKenna starts for the Blue Jackets.

McKenna allowed four goals on 31shots in a loss to the Blues on Saturday. He will get his second straight start tonight when the Blue Jackets welcome the Jets to town. It is a solid matchup against a team who has lost three straight and four of their last five, but McKenna remains a risky play.

Mike McKenna
Hiller leads the Ducks onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Hiller stopped 23 of 24 shots in win over the Wild on Wednesday. He followed a three game losing streak with a three game winning streak, which he will look to extend to four games tonight against the Oilers. It is a decent matchup against the 16th ranked offence.

Jonas Hiller
Scrivens leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Scrivens has not started since December 2 following the emergence on Martin Jones. He will get the call tonight in the second game of a back-to-back. It must be tough for Scrivens to sit after he went 6-1-3 with a 1.47 GAA and .947 SV% after Jonathan Quick got injured. He draws a tough matchup against the Blackhawks' top ranked offence and 5th ranked power-play.

Ben Scrivens
Raanta starts for the Blackhawks.

Raanta gave up five goals on 25 shots before being replaced by Kent Simpson last night vs. the Maple Leafs. His early exit allows the Hawks to turn to him tonight against the Kings. In his three appearances in Chicago he is 2-0-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .931 SV%.

Antti Raanta
Budaj starts for the Canadiens.

Budaj allowed two goals on 14 shots after replacing Carey Price on Tuesday. He is 5-1-1 with a 1.92 GAA and .929 SV% this season. He draws a good matchup vs. the Panthers and is definitely worth a Sunday spot-start.

Peter Budaj
Bryzgalov starts for the Oilers.

Bryzgalov allowed one goal on 29 shots before being concussed on December 1 vs. the Stars. After missing the last six games, Bryz returns to the cage tonight, but has a tough matchup on the road against the team who drafted him 44th overall in 2000.

Ilya Bryzgalov
Mason starts vs. the Capitals.

Mason stopped 20 of 21 shots in a win over the Habs on Thursday. Mason's strong season continues, but is not winning as many games as his owners would like. He has won six of his last 10 starts despite posting a 2.45 GAA and .923 SV%. He will face Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals this afternoon.

Steve Mason
Grubauer starts for the Capitals.

Grubauer stopped 39 of 41 shots in a shootout loss to the Panthers on Friday. It was another great outing for Grubauer who is 2-0-1 with a 1.52 GAA and .957 SV% since being recalled from Hershey. He draws a solid matchup today vs. the Flyers. Hopefully for his sake, Steve Mason doesn't decide to pull a Ray Emery on a Capitals goalie.

Philipp Grubauer

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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