NHL Hockey Player News

Tomas Hertl(C)|VGK
General
General
Tomas Hertl is impressing the Sharks in his attempt to make the team. The rookie took two big steps toward a spot on the Sharks roster when the NHL season begins Oct. 3 (2 goals vs. Van last night). Still, Todd McLellan wasn't ready to punch Hertl's ticket to the NHL just yet. Asked about his play, the coach said "he did a very good job again.

At 6-foot-2 and 210 lbs., Hertl is a great skater who is not afraid to go to the dirty areas and put the puck in the net. Skating on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns all preseason Hertl has scored three goals with one assist and is a plus-3 in three games. Should he make the roster and stick in the San Jose top-six, he will become fantasy relevant. Keep his name in mind towards the end of your draft.

Source:
David Pollak 2013-09-25T18:13:12.000Z
Tomas Hertl
Dustin Penner(LW)|INA
Cold Streak
Cold Streak
After signing a one-year, $2 million deal with the Ducks this past summer, Penner was handed a golden opportunity when camp started. Anaheim head coach Bruce Boudreau gave him the chance to be reunited on the top line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, a trio that was key in Anaheim’s 2007 Cup triumph. But Penner needs to show that he belongs there.

"He’ll never have a greater opportunity to play with players of the caliber of Ryan and Corey. It’s all up to him,” Boudreau said. "We want it to work. But in the end, he’s going to have to be the one that produces and shows that he deserves to be on that line." Penner found himself on a line with Matt Beleskey and Rickard Rakell this morning which suggests that his time with Perry and Getzlaf may be over.

Source:
Pierre LeBrun 2018-07-18T17:53:17.763Z
Erik Gudbranson(D)|CBJ
General
General
Erik Gudbranson has yet to translate his offensive production from junior into the NHL. He has missed 26 games in his first two NHL seasons scoring just two goals and 10 assists in 104 games.

For what it is worth, through three preseason games the 2010 third overall pick has three goals and three assists. He is currently tied with PK Subban and Dennis Wideman for the most points by a defenseman. Gudbranson could finally be ready for a breakout season.

Source:
George Richards 2013-09-25T15:32:02.000Z
Erik Gudbranson
Jaromir Jagr(RW)|
Injury
Injury
Right wing Jaromir Jagr said he “probably” won’t play in the team’s preseason finale Thursday against Philadelphia, but believes he will be ready for the team’s regular season opener on Oct. 3 in Pittsburgh.

Jagr had hoped to take part in a full practice today, but Devils coach Pete DeBoer gave the team the day off, so he skated on his own instead. “The team had the day off, so I decided to skate on my own a little bit,” Jagr said before joking, “I couldn’t have more days off. That would be too many.”

Source:
Tom Gulitti 2013-09-25T15:21:13.000Z
Jaromir Jagr
Rick Nash(RW)|FA
General
General
Under Alain Vigneault, Rick Nash could be in for a monster season. Nash, who once scored 40 goals with the defensive-oriented Ken Hitchcock as his coach in Columbus, should thrive in Vigneault's up-tempo system.

"Yeah, it's exciting," Nash said straight-faced. "I played against him quite a bit, playing in the West [for the Columbus Blue Jackets]. He's got an up-tempo style, but his teams are always sound defensively too. So it's been fun so far."

Source:
Dan Rosen 2013-09-25T14:49:31.000Z
Rick Nash
Jonathan Drouin(LW)|COL
Line Change
Line Change
Drouin once again skating on the wing with Stamkos and St. Louis for practice this afternoon.

Drouin is still skating with St. Louis and Stamkos as he was at the start of training camp. If he can land this gig on the top-line, it would do a ton for his fantasy value. St. Louis and Stamkos finished first and second in scoring last season so there would be a lot of opportunity for Drouin to produce.

Source:
Erik Erlendsson 2013-09-25T14:23:23.000Z
Jonathan Drouin
Alexander Semin(RW)|
Injury
Injury
Semin is still dealing with a wrist injury and remains day-to-day.

Carolina head coach Kirk Muller said he won't know if Semin can play until closer to the Hurricanes season opener on October 4th. The injury is not expected to be serious so this should not affect Semin's draft status.

Source:
Mike Maniscalco 2013-09-25T14:19:14.000Z
Alexander Semin
Kris Versteeg(RW)|
Injury
Injury
Panthers Kris Vereteeg (knee) says he has been cleared to play and will play on Thursday. Tomorrow's preseason game with be his first game since March 11th.

Versteeg has had a hard time staying healthy lately. He has missed a total of 49 games in the last two seasons. That being said, when he is in the lineup he is productive. He is a high-risk, high-reward fantasy selection and is probably best served to start the season on the waiver-wire.

Source:
George Richards 2013-09-25T14:15:29.000Z
Kris Versteeg
Daniel Alfredsson(RW)|INA
Injury
Injury
Daniel Alfredsson (groin) still is not ready to play. He didn't skate today, after practicing on Tuesday.

Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock expected Alfredsson to be ready for tonight's preseason game, however that is not the case. Detroit's second line of Johan Franzen, Stephen Weiss and Alfredsson has yet to play a preseason game as a full unit.

Source:
Ansar Khan 2018-07-18T17:53:16.410Z
Jason Spezza(C)|INA
Injury
Injury
Spezza will not play in the Senators preseason game. Spezza says he would "probably" play tonight if it was a regular season game. Absence tonight is due to a "minor training camp thing."

Spezza missed 43 games last season with a back injury so when he is out of the lineup it is worrisome. However it sounds like the injury is not serious and he should be ready for the start of the regular season.

Source:
Don Brennan 2013-09-25T14:08:11.000Z
Jason Spezza
Corey Tropp(RW)|
Injury
Injury
Corey Tropp will miss approximately 5-6 weeks after having surgery to repair a broken jaw. Tropp sustained the injury in a fight with Maple Leafs forward Jamie Devane in the third period of Buffalo’s 5-3 loss to Toronto on Sunday. Sabres head coach Ron Rolston said Tropp also had a concussion, but has been cleared on that front.

Tropp missed 72 games last season with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League after injuring his knee in the first game of the 2012-13 campaign. He is not fantasy relevant.

Source:
Chris Ryndak 2013-09-25T13:28:40.000Z
Corey Tropp

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!