NHL Hockey Player News

McKenna will start on Saturday.

McKenna allowed one goal on 18 shots in the final two periods of Thursday's win over the Rangers .With Curtis McElhinney and Sergei Bobrovsky both out with injuries, McKenna is the last man standing. He draws a tough matchup vs. the Blues on Saturday and McElhinney is not expected to be out long, so adding McKenna at this point does not appear to be a great idea.

Mike McKenna
Thomas is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

Thomas will accompany the Panthers on their four-game road trip that starts tomorrow in Montreal. Coach Peter Horachek said they are just being cautious. WIth Thomas out Scott Clemmensen will make the start tonight vs. the Capitals and Jacob Markstrom will serve as his backup.

Clemmensen starts for the Panthers.

Clemmensen allowed six goals on 32 shots in loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday. He was thrown to the wolves in his his first start in 14 contests, but regardless his 3.89 GAA and .857 SV% should scream "STAY AWAY!". He will face Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals tonight, so there is one more reason not to start Clemmensen.

Scott Clemmensen
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Bickell will practice today, expects him to play before Christmas, maybe return against the Canucks on December 20.

Bickell has missed the last 12 games with a lower-body injury that he suffered in the first period of a game vs. Colorado on November 19. He has not been the offensive force that he was in last year's playoffs (5G /1A in 22 games) but his physical presence will be a welcomed addition to the Blackhawks lineup.

Bryan Bickell
Scuderi (ankle) was on the ice prior to the Penguins morning skate.

Scuderi suffered a broken ankle that required surgery in late October. He has begun light workouts and skating, but the next step would be to participate in practice. He was given a six-to-eight week timetable and this would mark the sixth week, so the Penguins will look to have the veteran D-man back in their lineup soon.

Rob Scuderi
Dubnyk leads the Oilers onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Dubnyk allowed four goals on 28 shots but still walked away with the overtime win on Tuesday vs. Carolina. He has alternated wins and losses in his last seven starts, so hopefully for Dubnyk owners that streak does not continue. He does draw a terrible matchup vs. the Bruins, so there is a good chance that streak does hold up.

Devan Dubnyk
McElhinney left Thursday's contest after the first period with a lower-body injury and was replaced by Mike McKenna.

McElhinney made 15 saves on 16 shots and departed with the Blue Jackets up 3-1. He has been solid through three starts as the Blue Jackets' number-1 going 2-1-0 with 2.00 GAA and .929 SV%. Expect an update on McElhinney's status to come tomorrow.

Curtis McElhinney
Tim Thomas took part in the team's practice Thursday, but left with an unspecified injury after 15 minutes. Florida will have an update on Thomas' status following the team's morning skate on Friday.

The Panthers recalled Jacob Markstrom on an emergency basis, suggesting that Thomas will not be available for Friday's game.

The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).

Starting goaltender Tim Thomas took part in the team's practice Thursday, but left with an unspecified injury after 15 minutes. Florida will have an update on Thomas' status following the team's morning skate on Friday. Markstrom appeared in 11 games with Florida earlier this season, posting a 1-5-3 record, 3.36 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage. He was loaned to the Rampage on November 10. After joining San Antonio, the 23-year-old appeared in 10 games, going 4-5-1.

Jacob Markstrom
Johnson starts for the Bruins.

Johnson allowed two goals on 32 shots in a win over the Maple Leafs on Sunday. He has one each of his last four starts and draws a solid matchup against the Oilers. However, Edmonton also represents a risky spot-start as they have shown that they can light the lamp at any time.

Chad Johnson
Reimer leads the Leafs onto the ice for warmups; he starts.

Reimer gave up three goals on 50 shots (.940 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the Senators last Saturday. He has allowed three goals in each of his last three starts, but he's seen 119 shots combined so a .924 SV% points to how well he is playing. He draws a really tough matchup tonight in St. Louis.

James Reimer
The Coyotes expect to have Derek Morris (personal) back tomorrow which means he should play on Saturday against Carolina.

Morris will miss his third consecutive game tonight, but the Coyotes should have all six of their top-6 back intact on Saturday. Phoenix has had D-men shuffled in and out of the lineup all season long.

The Islanders have activated Nabokov (groin) off injured reserve.

Nabokov missed 11 games after he suffered a groin injury on November 16 against the Red Wings. He will serve as Kevin Poulin's backup tonight and could start on Saturday vs. Montreal. He will take over as the team's number-1 goalie and try to stabilize the position that has been in flux since he went down. To make room for him Anders Nilsson was sent back to Bridgeport.

Evgeni Nabokov
The Flames have assigned Sven Baertschi to Abbotsford (AHL).

Baertschi struggled in his 26 games with the Flames. He registered only two goals and nine assists with a minus-4 rating. He was the 13th overall pick in 2011 after he ripped up the Western Hockey league, but he has not developed into the scoring threat the Flames envisioned when they selected him. However this is common with young players and Sven is only 21-years-old and still has a bright future ahead of him. He heads to Abbotsford to develop his game and could find himself back in Calgary soon.

Sven Baertschi
Luongo starts against the Oilers on Friday.

Luongo stopped 28 of 29 shots in a win over the Avalanche on Sunday. The W extended his winning streak to three games, he has allowed a combined four goals in those contests. He allowed two goals on 23 shots in a 6-2 win over the Oilers back on October 5.

Roberto Luongo

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?

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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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