NHL Hockey Player News

Maatta will make his Utah debut on Wednesday vs. Calgary.

Maata was acquired yesterday in a trade from the Detroit Red Wings to address their injuries on the blue line, namely John Marino (back) and Sean Durzi (shoulder), who are out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. Maatta, in the final year of a two-year, $3.0M AAV deal, has no points, three SOG, seven blocked shots, and three hits in seven games this season.

Olli Maatta
Del Gaizo has been recalled from Milwaukee (AHL).

Del Gaizo has played three games with the Predators this season, splitting time with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The 25-year-old has predominantly played in the AHL since being drafted in the fourth-round by the Predators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, including a 34 point campaign (8G / 26A) in 60 games with Milwaukee last season.

Marc Del Gaizo
Guhle (upper-body) will travel with Montreal on their upcoming two-game road trip.

Guhle has missed five straight games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return to the Canadiens' lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 20 blocks, seven hits, and a +4 plus/minus rating in five games.

Kaiden Guhle
Hellebuyck is in the starter's crease at Winnipeg's morning skate.

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
McDavid sustained an ankle injury and is expected to return in two to three weeks.

McDavid only played one shift on Monday night, exiting the game after only 37 seconds of ice time after awkwardly colliding into the boards. The superstar forward returned to Edmonton to be evaluated and has announced Wednesday that he is expected to return to action in two to three weeks with an ankle injury. McDavid, averaging an absurd 1.7 points per game over the previous four seasons, had begun the 2024-25 campaign off to a slow start by his elite standards, with 10 points (3G / 7A) in 10 games.

Connor McDavid
Gustafsson is expected to be a healthy scratch on Wednesday vs. Winnipeg.

Albert Johansson will remain in the Red Wings lineup on Wednesday, resulting in Gustafsson being a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game. The 32-year-old Gustafsson is averaging 16:19 time-on-ice through six games with the Red Wings, recording two assists and a -2 plus/minus.

Erik Gustafsson
Lyon will start on Wednesday vs. Winnipeg.

The Red Wings rank fifth-worst in the league in terms of xGA/60 but their goaltending has kept them afloat at times, most notably when Lyon has been between the pipes. The 31-year-old Lyon is boasting a sensational 2.05 GAA and .940 SV% through five outings (2-2-0). That said, the Red Wings have lost two straight, outscored 8-5, and rank sixth-worth in the league offensively with only 25 goals in nine games. The Red Wings will face off against a Winnipeg Jets club that lost their first game of the season on Monday (8-1-0).

Alex Lyon
Merzlikins will start on Wednesday vs. the Islanders.

For the first time this season, the Blue Jackets will roll with Merzlikins between the pipes for consecutive games. After allowing seven goals on 48 shots (.854 SV%) in his first two contests, Merzlikins was tremendous in his third on Monday night, saving 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) in a 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Blue Jackets enter the action on Wednesday as +130 home underdogs against a New York Islanders club that has only scored 22 goals in nine games this season, the third-fewest in the league.

Elvis Merzlikins
Gaudette has been loaned to the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Gaudette has been in Ottawa's lineup for all but one game this season but has regularly been a part of paper transactions, assigning him to Belleville (AHL) for salary cap implications. The 28-year-old Gaudette has been productive for Ottawa lately, with two two-goal games in his last three contests.

Adam Gaudette
Kahkonen will make his Avalanche debut and start on Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay.

The 28-year-old Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%, but, with the ongoing struggles of Alexandar Georgiev, gets the opportunity to play on Wednesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 28-year-old Kahkonen was solid in a two-game conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), posting a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% despite losing both contests. Colorado enters the action on Wednesday as a slight -106 home favorite against Tampa Bay.

Kaapo Kahkonen
Tynan has been recalled from the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Tynan has been recalled from the Eagles (AHL) as a result of a Miles Wood (undisclosed) injury that will prevent him from playing on Wednesday night. The 32-year-old Tynan has 21 games of NHL experience but has not played in the NHL since a two-game stint with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021-22 season. Tynan has four points (0G / 4A) in six games with the Eagles this season.

T.J. Tynan
The Avalanche have placed Ross Colton (upper-body) on IR.

Colton was injured in Monday's loss and is expected to "miss some time," so it's not surprising to see him land on IR to open up a spot on the Avalanche roster for Wednesday's game. It's unclear whether Artturi Lehkonen or Jonathan Drouin are ready to make their returns to replace Colton or if they will need to recall a forward from the AHL.

Ross Colton

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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