Injury
Kevin Bieksa skated today but isn't expected to play tonight. Still day to day with the groin strain.
Ballard is expected to play tonight for the Canucks with Cam Barker also sitting out.
NHL Hockey Player News
Brandon Prust has a first degree shoulder separation, should be out about ten days.
Prust has been a valuable player for the Canadiens and with 81 PIMs should be given a look when he returns to the lineup, if your league counts PIMs
Goalie Start
Budaj in #Habs net tonight
Budaj has won each of his last three starts while posting a 1.34 GAA and .944 SV%. He has a great matchup vs. the Panthers tonight, he should make for a good spot start.
Line Change
White returns to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the last 6 games
Rookie Brian Lashoff will be a healthy scratch.
Goalie Start
Leighton has been recalled by he Flyers and could start today.
It is only speculation from the Philly media at this point. Check back closer to game time for the confirmed Flyers starter.
Call up / Send down
Flyers have recalled (G) Michael Leighton from Adirondack & loaned Brian Boucher to the Phantoms
Boucher was recalled on Feb. 10 by the Flyers and made four appearances in net, including one start. He went 0-2-0 with a 2.50 GAA during his recall.
Call up / Send down
Flyers have recalled (G) Michael Leighton from Adirondack & loaned Brian Boucher to the Phantoms.
Leighton could see action Sunday against Buffalo.
Goalie Start
Howard will start for the Red Wings.
Howard has been excellent to start March off. He is 2-0-1 with a 0.65 GAA and .978 in his last three starts. He will try to get the Red Wings first win vs. Columbus this season. They were shutout by Sergei Bobrovsky yesterday, who will be back between the pipes tonight.
TRADE: #CBJ acquire RW Spencer Machacek from the @NHLJets in exchange for Tomas Kubalik
Kubalik has 14 goals and six assists in 54 games in the AHL this season.
TRADE: #CBJ acquire RW Spencer Machacek from the @NHLJets in exchange for Tomas Kubalik
Machacek has 11 goals and 14 assists in 57 games in the AHL this season.
Call up / Send down
The Dallas Stars have assigned Francis Wathier to the Texas Stars of the AHL.
Wathier didn't appear in a game for Dallas.
Muller says once Ruutu is cleared for practice, may not be long before he could play. Says in good physical condition.
Ruutu has had a hard time staying healthy in his career but it looks like he could be back shortly and provide the Hurricanes with some depth up front. Doctors will likely make a decision on March 15th on when Ruutu can join his teammates at practice.
Tarasenko (concussion) went through a light skate Saturday in St. Louis but there is obviously no timetable for his return.
Tarasenko has been out since February 20th there is still no timetable for his return. The rookie was off to a strong start with 12 points in 17 games.
Call up / Send down
#Caps send Grubauer back to Hershey.
Grubauer stopped 40 of the 45 shots he faced in a 5-2 loss in his NHL debut. He will return to the AHL where he is 8-4-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .930 SV%.
GM Armstrong said it's possible Steen (shoulder) returns on upcoming home stand.
The Blues have home games Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of this week so it sounds like Steen will be back soon.
GM Armstrong said it's possible that both McDonald (knee) and Steen (shoulder) return on upcoming home stand.
The Blues have home games Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of this week so it sounds like McDonald will be back soon.
Leopold back in lineup tonight.
Leopold has missed the Sabres last nine games but he will be back on the blueline tonight. Buffalo continues to struggle and defence is a big part of their problems, so getting Leopold back should certainly help.
Injury
Hemsky returns to the lineup tonight. Ben Eager is out.
Hemsky missed the Oilers last game with a sore foot after getting hit by a slap shot vs. the Red Wings. The Oilers have lost five straight so they will gladly welcome Hemsky back to the lineup. He has eight goals and five assists in 23 games this season.
Goalie Start
It’s a near certainty that Niemi, so long as he’s healthy, will return to the net against Colorado on Sunday.
Niemi was pulled after giving up three goals on 28 shots in yesterday's game. David Perron flattened Niemi with about five minutes to go in the second period, but it appears as if he is fine and will be able to go today. Niemi has a pretty tough matchup against an Avalanche team that has played well lately including a 6-2 win vs. Chicago.
Waiver Move
Tampa Bay placed Brendan Mikkelson on Waivers.
Mikkelson has one assist in four games this season.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.