NHL Hockey Player News

Ersson will start on Thursday vs. St. Louis.

After losing six straight (0-5-1), the Flyers have won their last two contests with Ersson between the pipes, including a stellar 23-save shutout on Tuesday in a 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Ersson has had an inconsistent start to the 2024-25 season, a byproduct of porous team play, posting a 3.00 GAA and .891 SV% in seven appearances (3-2-1). The Flyers enter the action on Thursday as -136 home favorites against a St. Louis Blues club pummeled 8-1 by the Ottawa Senators in their previous game.

Samuel Ersson
Lehkonen (shoulder) is expected back on Tuesday vs. Seattle.

The Avalanche, amid a myriad of injuries, finally received some good news on the injury front. Lehkonen is expected to return from a shoulder injury and make his season debut on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Lehkonen has been productive since joining Colorado three seasons ago, including a 34-point campaign (16G / 18A) in 45 games last season.

Artturi Lehkonen
Kochetkov is in the starter's crease at Thursday's morning skate.

With Frederik Andersen still sidelined due to a minor injury, the Hurricanes will roll with Kochetkov for a second consecutive game. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has won three of four starts (3-1-0), allowing three or fewer goals three times, posting a 2.77 GAA and .894 SV%. The Hurricanes, riding a four-game winning streak, enter the action on Thursday as -169 home favorites against a Boston Bruins club with a 4-5-1 record.

Pyotr Kochetkov
Ponomarev has been activated from Injured//Non-Roster and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Ponomarev was the 53rd overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old had a two-game stint with the Hurricanes in the 2022-23 season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has predominantly been an AHL player so far in his career.

Vasily Ponomarev
Markstrom will start in Vancouver on Wednesday.

After being outscored 23-16 during a four-game losing streak, Markstrom saved 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday and will return to the crease to play consecutive games for the first time in nearly two weeks. The 34-year-old Markstrom has a 3.01 GAA and .895 SV% in eight games this season (4-3-1). The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as +108 road underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks.

Jacob Markstrom
Kuemper will start against the Golden Knights on Wednesday.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, after a disappointing 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks last night, the Kings will switch to Kuemper between the pipes. Kuemper returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury on Saturday and helped lead the Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). Aside from a disastrous outing where he allowed eight goals on 41 shots (.805 SV%) in an 8-7 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Kuemper has been solid, allowing two or fewer goals in three of four outings (2-1-1). That said, the Kings enter the action on Wednesday as +113 home underdogs against a Vegas Golden Knights club that leads the league offensively with 47 goals.

Darcy Kuemper
Samsonov will start in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Samsonov will be back between the pipes on Wednesday after Adin Hill led the Golden Knights to a shutout victory over the Flames on Monday. Samsonov secured the victory his last time out, stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced as Vegas defeated the Sharks by a score of 7-3. Samsonov is off to an impressive start to his Golden Knights tenure, posting a 3-0-1 record and a .932 SV% across four appearances. He'll look to keep things rolling in a tight matchup on Wednesday as Vegas enters action at -130 on the money line.

Ilya Samsonov
Fiala will draw back into the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Golden Knights.

Fiala was scratched for Tuesday's game against the Sharks after missing a team meeting. Fiala has four goals and two assists in nine games this season. It's unclear who will be scratched on Wednesday to make room for Fiala, but it was mentioned Akil Thomas will remain in the lineup after scoring in his season debut on Tuesday.

Kevin Fiala
Vasilevskiy will start in Colorado on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay, with Vasilevskiy between the pipes the last two games (2-0-0), have been stout defensively, outscoring their opposition 6-2. The 30-year-old Vasilevskiy has had up and down stretches to start the 2024-25 season but is amid his best two-game stretch thus far, posting a 0.95 GAA and a .971 SV% in the two victories. Tampa Bay enters the action on Wednesday as -112 road favorites against an injury-depleted Colorado Avalanche squad that will have Kaapo Kahkonen in their crease for the first time this season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Hellebuyck will start in Detroit on Wednesday.

After suffering their first loss of the season on Monday, 6-4 at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Jets will attempt to return to the win column on Wednesday against the Detroit Red Wings with Hellebucyk back between the pipes. Hellebuyck is coming off his worst outing of the season, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%), his first sub- .900 SV% appearance, but is still boasting an excellent 2.14 GAA and .925 SV% through seven games this season (6-1-0). The Jets enter the action on Wednesday as -143 road favorites against a Red Wings club averaging only 2.7 goals per game.

Connor Hellebuyck
Tarasenko (illness) is listed as a scratch on the NHL.com roster report.

Tarasenko is battling the flu and his status for Wednesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets was up in the air as a result. The 32-year-old Tarasenko is off to a slow start in his inaugural season with the Red Wings, scoring only three points (2G / 1A) in his first nine games.

Vladimir Tarasenko
The Sharks acquired Liljegren from the Maple Leafs on Wednesday in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, a 2026 sixth-round draft pick and defenceman Matt Benning.

The 17th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Liljegren had fallen out of favour under new Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. He appeared in just 1 game this season after playing in 183 regular season games over the last three seasons. He amassed 14 goals and 51 assists in 197 career games with the Maple Leafs and should be afforded plenty more playing time in San Jose.

Timothy Liljegren
The Maple Leafs acquired Benning, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick from the Sharks on Wednesday in exchange for defenceman Timothy Liljegren.

Benning will likely fill a depth role for the Maple Leafs and does not figure to earn a lot of immediate playing time. He was yet to register a point and was a -5 through seven games with the Sharks this season. Benning leaves San Jose after totaling one goal and 25 assists in 98 games over parts of three seasons.

Matt Benning

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

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