Line Change
#Habs : Bon signe pour un retour de Desharnais. Il est au centre de Cole et Pacioretty.
Desharnais practicing on the top line is a good sign he returns tonight. The diminutive pivot has 14 goals and 52 points in 68 games this season.
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Budaj will start as he's the first goalie off the ice.
In four career appearances against the Sabres, Budaj has a 3-1-0 record with a 1.84 GAA and .933 SV%.
I don't see Radek Dvorak, who hurt his ankle last game.
Sounds like Dvorak could miss some playing time. He has four goals and 21 points in 69 games.
Sheldon Souray practicing this morning.
Souray skating is certainly an encouraging sign. Through 55 games, the offensive defenseman has six goals and 20 points.
Goalie Start
Joe Sacco will wait until this morning to announce tonight's starter against the Anaheim Ducks at the Pepsi Center, but all signs point toward Varlamov.
In three career starts against the Ducks, Varly has a 1-0-1 record with a 2.50 GAA and .902 SV%.
Goalie Start
By looks of the morning skate, we might see Peter Budaj get the start for the #Habs tonight in Buffalo.
In four career appearances against the Sabres, Budaj has a 3-1-0 record with a 1.84 GAA and .933 SV%.
Injury
Desharnais and Diaz are on the ice with their teammates.
Diaz skating is a good omen. The rookie defenseman has three goals and 16 points in 59 games.
Injury
Desharnais and Diaz are on the ice with their teammates.
Even though Desharnais is not expected to play tonight, returning to practice is a great sign. The diminutive pivot has 14 goals and 52 points in 68 games this season. No word on how much longer he's out.
D Gervais (shoulder) graduates to yellow caution jersey.
Gervais is expected to miss a few more games but getting on the ice is a good sign. He has four goals and nine points in 44 games.
Line Change
Lightning's Stamkos not skating today: body maintenance, team says.
Stamkos is most likely taking a maintenance day after playing continually increased minutes. Don't expect him to miss any playing time.
Panthers say Versteeg skated before as did Kuli #flapanthers
Kulikov getting back on the ice is a good sign but he's still not taking contact. The offensive defenseman registered four goals and 24 points in 46 games before getting hurt.
Panthers say Versteeg skated before as did Kuli #flapanthers
Versteeg getting back on the ice is a good sign but he's still not taking contact. The top line right wing has 22 goals and 49 points in 59 games.
Craig Anderson skated beforehand, holding complete hockey stick.
Great news on Anderson, who was unable to grip a stick earlier last week. He should be able to return before the end of the regular season at this pace.
Injury
No Jesse Winchester at practice this morning for Sens.
He scored two goals and seven points in 28 games before getting hurt.
Call up / Send down
#Isles have returned Anders Nilsson and Micheal Haley to Bridgeport.
Haley heads back to the minors with Cizikas and Martin healthy. He has no points and 33 PIM in nine games.
Call up / Send down
#Isles have returned Anders Nilsson and Micheal Haley to Bridgeport.
Nilsson heads back down to the AHL with Al Montoya healthy. He impressed in this recent stint so he might get another look.
Injury
Ellis with knee injury; wouldn't say season-ending
Sounds like Ellis has a relatively serious injury. He has three goals and eight points in 59 games.
Sekera now diagnosed with pneumonia and getting worse.
Sounds like Sekera will miss another game or two. He has three goals and 13 points through 58 games.
Line Change
Vanek and Kaleta in.
Look for Kaleta to stay in the lineup. The agitator has five goals and 10 points with 110 PIM in 53 games.
Line Change
Vanek and Kaleta in.
Look for Vanek to get back into the lineup tonight. The sniper has 23 goals and 50 points in 65 games.
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.