NHL Hockey Player News

Expect Antti Raanta to start for Chicago.

Raanta stopped 28 of 30 shots in a win over the Flyers on Wednesday. He has made six NHL appearances and in every one he has allowed two goals. He is 5-0-1 and behind a great Blackhawks team, he is a good option with Corey Crawford on the shelf.

Antti Raanta
Morris (personal) is back with the Coyotes today.

Morris missed the last three games because of a personal matter but should be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Hurricanes. I would expect Connor Murphy to come out of the lineup if he plays, but we won't know until later. Morris has four goals and nine assists in 21 games. He is owned in 9% of Yahoo! leagues, so he is likely available in your league and is a solid D option in standard leagues.

Niemi is the Sharks likely starter.

Niemi allowed just one goal on 30 shots in win over the WIld on Thursday. The W snapped a three game losing skid and the way his season has been going, he is probably about to go on a long winning streak now. It would start tonight when the Sharks are in Nashville to take on the Predators. Niemi is 6-4-3 with a 2.32 GAA and .914 SV% on the road.

Antti Niemi
Hutton is expected to get the start for the Predators.

Hutton allowed one goal on 34 shots in a win over the Stars on Thursday. It was a second straight fantastic performance for Hutton. He has 0.87 GAA and .972 SV% in December, but draws a difficult matchup on Saturday vs. the Sharks.

Carter Hutton
Mrazek will start on Sunday vs. the Lightning.

In Mrazek's only NHL start this season, he stopped al 14 shots that he faced in a 5-0 shutout win over the Oilers. He has been stellar in the AHL going 10-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA and .927 SV% in 13 starts. The 21-year-old will face a Lightning team who just beat the Red Wings in a shootout on Thursday, but are coming off of a 3-0 defeat last night.

Petr Mrazek
Varlamov in net for the Avalanche.

Varlamov gave up two goals in five minutes on Thursday, but settled in and allowed just one more through regulation and overtime. He face 38 shots total in the Avs 4-3 shootout win over the Jets. He will face the Wild for the second time in two weeks. He stopped 35 of 37 shots in a 3-2 shootout win vs. Minnesota on November 30.

Semyon Varlamov
Gustavsson expected to start tonight.

Gustavsson allowed one goal on 27 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Lightning on Thursday. The Red Wings shootout woes continue as they were unable to beat Ben Bishop on six shots. It was another strong outing for The Monster, who will need to be on top of his game tonight vs.the Penguins.

Jonas Gustavsson
Evgeni Nabokov will make first start since November 16.

Nabokov missed the last 12 games with a groin injury. He served as Kevin Poulin's back-up on Thursday but gets the call tonight. Before he was injured he struggled at times, posting a 5-5-3 record with a 3.30 GAA and .892 SV%. In his first game back he draws a tough matchup against a solid Canadiens team.

Evgeni Nabokov
Lindback was off the ice first; he goes vs. the Devils tonight.

Lindback allowed two goals on 36 shots in a loss to the Jets last Saturday. With the Lightning playing tomorrow as well, he gets the easier of the two games when they face the Devils tonight. Linback is 1-4-0 with a 3.23 GAA and .887 SV% on the road this season.

Anders Lindback
Jonathan Bernier starts tonight against Chicago.

Bernier allowed two goals on 20 shots after replacing James Reimer on Thursday vs. the Blues. The Leafs are on quite the skid right now and Bernier has just one win in his last six starts. He is 1-3-1 with 18 goals against in his last five. He will face the Blackhawks for the second time this season, in the first he allowed three goals on 40 shots in 3-1 loss.

Jonathan Bernier
Colton Sceviour, who was called up from the AHL earlier in the week and has been a healthy scratch the past two games, is expected to play Saturday against the Jets.

Sceviour is the top goal scorer in the AHL with 18 in 26 games and he is tied for fourth in the AHL with 6 power play goals. Sceviour practiced on one of the power play units Friday.

Colton Sceviour
Ryan Strome will make his NHL debut tonight.

Strome was recalled earlier in the week but has not got into the lineup. He was the fifth overall pick in 2011 and has tore up the AHL this season. Strome scored 174 points in 111 games in his final two seasons in the OHL and had nine goals and 33 points in 23 games with Bridgeport this season. The Islanders offence is in need of a jump-start, so they are hoping Strome can bring the spark that they need. It appears he will start tonight's game centring the third line with Brock Nelson and Cal Clutterbuck on his wings.

Ryan Strome
Casey Cizikas (jaw) is out tonight.

Cizikas left Thursday's game in the first period and did not return. He took a high hit that obviously caught him in the jaw. No word on the severity of Cizikas' injury, for now consider him day-to-day. This injury guarantees that Ryan Strome will make his NHL debut tonight. Cizikas

Casey Cizikas
Nabokov looks to be goaltender tonight for Islanders.

Nabokov missed the last 12 games with a groin injury. He served as Kevin Poulin's back-up on Thursday but appears to be getting the call tonight. Before he was injured he struggled at times, posting a 5-5-3 record with a 3.30 GAA and .892 SV%. In his first game back he draws a tough matchup against a solid Canadiens team.

Evgeni Nabokov
Lehtonen is the likely Stars starter.

Lehtonen surrendered three goals on 30 shots in a loss to the Predators on Thursday. It was his third straight loss and his seventh in the last eight games. Three of those losses have come in extra-time, but it is obvious that Lehtonen has gone ice cold. Today he is expected to face a Jets team who is 2-2-1 in their last five.

Kari Lehtonen
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Blue Jackets have sent Jack Skille to Springfield (AHL).

Skille recorded two goals on 10 shots in six games during his most recent call-up. With several Blue Jackets getting ready to come off of IR, they have returned Skille to the AHL.

Jack Skille
Stamkos (leg) started skating this morning.

Pretty incredible that Stamkos is back on the ice one month and three days after breaking his leg. He was in a track suit this morning, but it is still fantastic news. He will continue to skate as he works his way back and will continue to be monitored closely. He is way ahead of schedule on his recovery which is great news for fantasy owners, the Lightning and Team Canada.

Steven Stamkos

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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