NHL Hockey Player News

Nash (concussion) says he is probably four weeks behind.

"Probably about four weeks behind, four weeks and three days behind is what I feel," Nash said. "This year the symptoms just held on, it seemed like I just couldn’t shake them...It was definitely a lot different than last year. Nash skated this morning for the first time so he is progressing, but it sounds like he will be out until mid-December.

Rick Nash
As expected it was maintenance day for Blake Wheeler. Claude Noel said he took a shot the other day and some swelling was still there.

Noel said Wheeler should be OK and he expects him to be a player Sunday against San Jose. This is good news for the Jets, Wheeler broke a 4 game pointless streak with 2 assists on Friday against Nashville.

Blake Wheeler
Lehtonen vs. Crawford.

Lehtonen kept the Stars in Thursday's game turning aside 26 of 29 shots which led to a 4-3 OT win. It was his third straight win while posting a 2.47 GAA and .921 SV% in that span. Lehtonen has a difficult matchup with the Blackhawks coming to 'Big D'.

Kari Lehtonen
Fleury gets the nod for the Pens.

Fleury was not at his best on Wednesday. He allowed five goals on 25 shots in a rare blowout loss for the Penguins. Tonight he will face a gritty Blues team and the NHL's leading scorer Alex Steen (14). Fleury is not the greatest backstop, but he should receive plenty of goal support on a regular basis, making him a consistent strong fantasy play.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Calgary Flames announced today that they have assigned defenceman Chad Billins to the Abbotsford Heat (AHL).

Billins appeared in his first two career NHL games for the Flames during his recall, recording two assists. Billins was signed as a free agent this past summer on July 5th. He is in his first season with the Heat and currently is tied for the team lead in goals with five in 10 games played.

Chad Billins
Tim Thomas has been taken off IR and will start for the Panthers in Ottawa this afternoon.

Thomas missed the last six games with a leg injury but will return to the crease this afternoon. Thomas allowed two goals on 27 shots in his last start on October 22. The 39-year-old has really struggled on the road (1-2-0 / 5.02 GAA / .850 SV%) add that to Florida's 26th ranked offence - and you have a goalie you should probably avoid today.

Dubnyk starts for the Oilers.

Dubnyk gave up three goals on 25 shots in a loss to the Lightning on Thursday. It was a tough matchup for Dubnyk but things should get easier this afternoon, the Oilers take on the Flyers and their 30th ranked scoring offence. Edmonton signed Ilya Bryzgalov on Friday, so Dubnyk's limited fantasy value appears to be diminishing.

Devan Dubnyk
Dumba in for the injured Clayton Stoner (leg).

Dumba was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He has one goal and an assist in nine games this season. Dumba is one of the WIld's top prospects and has a good NHL career ahead of him, but until he lands a permanent spot on Minny's blueline, he has no fantasy value except for in deep keeper leagues.

Matt Dumba
Harding in net.

Harding gave up two goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Capitals on Thursday. He had five straight wins prior to Thursday, but will look to start a new streak tonight vs. the Hurricanes. Harding is already 1-0 vs. Carolina, and you should continue to automatically start him.

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.

DFO’s Specialized News Categories

Get the most out of your hockey news with our in-depth coverage of the NHL with our comprehensive player news updates. Below we’ve compiled go-to destinations for player injuries, trades, signings, line combinations, and more!