NHL Hockey Player News

Poulin in net for the Islanders.

Poulin stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 3-1 win over the Predators on Tuesday. Tonight will be his third straight start with Evgeni Nabokov struggling. He has won two of his last four starts with a 1.76 GAA and .939 SV%. Tonight he faces the Kings and their backup goalie Ben Scrivens. Poulin could be worth an add as he continues to see crease time over Nabby.

Kevin Poulin
Backstrom (upper-body) left Wednesday's game after being run over by Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri.

Backstrom tried to play after the hit, but then pulled himself from the game during a TV timeout. Josh Harding replaced him, who didn't start because he was under the weather. An update on Backstrom's status should be released today.

Niklas Backstrom
Probably Chad Johnson in goal vs. CBJ.

Johnson gave up three goals on 34 shots in a loss to the Islanders on November 2. In two starts he is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 GAA and .900 SV%. Johnson has a great matchup tonight when the Bruins host a Blue Jackets team who have lost six out of their last seven.

Chad Johnson
The Blues have made the Carlo Colaiacovo signing official.

St. Louis signed Colaiacovo pending a physical on Tuesday, he obviously passed that physical and has been signed to a one-year deal. Colaiacovo spent four seasons with the Blues (2008-12), which were the best years of his career (18G / 88A = 106P in 259 games)

Carlo Colaiacovo
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forward Jayson Megna to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Megna played in six NHL games with Pittsburgh, notching two goals and three points. He scored his first NHL goal against Justin Peters and the Carolina Hurricanes on October 28. He returns to the AHL where he has three goals and five points in six games.

Jayson Megna
Stars coach Lindy Ruff indicated Lehtonen, who has started the last ten games, could get the nod in net again Thursday night against the Flames.

Lehtonen stopped all 22 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season on Wednesday. He will get the start for the second straight night when the Stars take on the Flames. It is another great matchup for the Finnish netminder, you know what to do.

Kari Lehtonen
Nazem Kadri will have a phone hearing this afternoon for the collision with Wild goalie Backstrom.

Kadri was also assessed a match penalty last night for a hit on Mikael Granlund, but the NHL viewed it primarily as a full body hit. Head was not primary point of contact. The penalty on ice fit the crime. We will update if a suspension is handed down.

Nazem Kadri
Potter will make his season debut tonight.

Potter missed all of the Oilers training camp with a back injury, travelled to Oklahoma City for a two game conditioning stint with the Barons earlier this month, returned to Edmonton for a few practices then found himself on waivers. After he had cleared, he reported to the Barons again, where he found his footing through the course of five AHL games. He was recalled on Tuesday and will play tonight against the Dallas Stars, alongside Nick Schultz. He figures to be a healthy scratch once Justin Schultz (groin) returns.

Corey Potter
Scrivens starts Thursday with Quick out.

Scrivens was not forced to make a save in overtime but allowed two of three penalty shots in the shootout loss. In his last start he allowed three goals on 33 shots in 3-1 loss to the Coyotes. Scrivens gets the nod vs. an up-and-down Islanders team on Thursday. He receives a small fantasy boost with Quick injured - he is 12-15-3 with a 2.78 GAA and .911 SV% so he is not a great option.

Ben Scrivens
Kings head coach Darryl Sutter says "our trainer thinks it’s either hamstring or groin-related. So it’s a muscle. Quick is obviously not going to play on this trip, so he might as well be home, and make sure we know what it is, and then go from there."

Quick has been sent back to Los Angeles and Martin Jones has been recalled from Manchester. Quick will be evaluated in L.A and then a timetable will be released.

Jonathan Quick
Jeff Carter has a broken foot.

There were unconfirmed reports that it was a broken foot but Darryl Sutter confirmed it today. A timetable for Carter's return was not given, but he has been ruled out for the remaining three games of their road trip. When a timeframe is released we will update Carter's status.

Jeff Carter
The Kings have placed Matt Greene on long-term injured reserve.

Greene was in injured in a contest against the Predators on November 2. The upper-body injury will keep him out of the Kings lineup for an extended period of time, but is unrelated to back surgery he had last season.

Matt Greene
The Los Angeles Kings have recalled Tanner Pearson from Manchester (AHL).

Pearson, 21, made his NHL debut in Game 3 of the second round series between Los Angeles and San Jose and appears to be capable of providing value to the Kings, who selected him with the final pick of the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft. In 15 games with Manchester this season, the 6-foot, 205 pound forward has recorded 11 points (7-4=11) in 15 games while taking 52 shots.

Tanner Pearson
The Los Angeles Kings have recalled Martin Jones from Manchester (AHL).

With Jonathan Quick injured and heading back to Los Angeles, Jones will meet the team in New York for tomorrow's contest vs. the Islanders. Jones is 9-2-2 with a 2.24 GAA and .927 SV% with Manchester.

Martin Jones

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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