NHL Hockey Player News

The Avalanche have reassigned Ritchie to Oshawa (OHL).

The 27th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Ritchie will return to Oshawa after registering one goal and no assists in seven games with the Avalanche. Ritchie will play an integral role in his final OHL season with the Generals and is likely to play on Team Canada at the upcoming World Juniors.

Calum Ritchie
Fedotov will start Wednesday in Washington.

After suffering their fifth consecutive loss last night (0-4-1) at the hands of a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Flyers will turn to Fedotov between the pipes in a rematch on Wednesday night. The Flyers will be desperate to return to the win column, but Fedotov's numbers thus far leave little to be hopeful for, showcasing an ugly 6.09 GAA and .818 SV% in two outings (0-2-0). The Flyers enter action on Wednesday as +121 road underdogs against the Capitals.

Ivan Fedotov
Theodore (illness) returned to practice on Wednesday and is expected to be good for Friday vs. Ottawa.

Theodore was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's contest against the Los Angeles Kings but returned to practice on Wednesday and should be ready to play on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Noah Hanifin was on the top powerplay unit in Theodore's absence but will likely revert back to the secondary unit when Theodore returns to the lineup. The 29-year-old Theodore is off to a blistering start to the 2024-25 season, with seven points (1G / 6A), three on the powerplay, in six games.

Shea Theodore
Leddy (lower-body) will travel with St. Louis on their upcoming road trip.

Leddy suffered a lower-body injury last week and was been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to October 16th, making him eligible to return at any point on their upcoming road trip. The 33-year-old Leddy has zero points and a -3 plus/minus through four games this season. Pierre-Olivier Joseph has draw in as Leddy's replacement in the last three games.

Nick Leddy
Sundqvist (ACL) has been activated off of IR.

Sundqvist underwent surgery for a torn ACL towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign and, after a long recovery, was cleared for contact last week. The 30-year-old veteran enjoyed an average first season in St. Louis as far as personal production, with his six goals, 21 points, 68 SOG and 32 PIMs in 71 games played before the injury. Sundqvist could be an option to draw into the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, their first game without Roberto Thomas, who suffered a fractured ankle on Tuesday.

Oskar Sundqvist
Perunovich is expected to make his season debut on Thursday in Toronto.

Matthew Kessel will exit the Blues' lineup on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing Perunovich to enter the lineup for his season debut. The 26-year-old Perunovich has an offensive pedigree that has made him a near-point-per-game defenseman at every level other than the NHL. In 54 games with the Blues last season, Perunovich had 17 points (0G / 17A).

Scott Perunovich
Kessel is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday in Toronto.

Scott Perunovich will make his season debut on Thurday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Kessel to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Kessel has seen limited time, averaging 11:58 time-on-ice through six games, while primarily playing on the Blues' third defensive pair.

Matthew Kessel
Hughes (shoulder) will travel with the team to Detroit and is a possibility to return.

Hughes was given a 6-8 week timeline to return from a shoulder injury suffered in mid-September during training camp and appears to be on schedule to return. If he is unable to play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, Devils' head coach Sheldon Keefe insisted that Hughes should be in the lineup this weekend. The sophomore defenseman will play a key role in the Devils' back end. In 2023-24, he had nine goals, 47 points, 135 SOG, 28 PIMs, and a -25 plus/minus in 82 games, finishing third place in voting for the Calder trophy.

Luke Hughes
Pesce (fibula) will travel with the team to Detroit and is a possibility to return.

With his presence at practice the last several days, Pesce's debut with the Devils seems to be on the immediate horizon. If he is not able to play on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings, Devils' head coach Sheldon Keefe insisted that Pesce should be in the lineup this weekend. Pesce signed a six-year contract to join New Jersey in the offseason after nine successful seasons on Carolina's blueline. In 70 games in 2023-24, he had three goals, 13 points, 20 PIMs, and a +10 plus/minus while averaging 20:17 TOI/GP.

Brett Pesce
Koch has been reassigned to Tucson (AHL).

Koch made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes last season, registering 10 penalty minutes in one game. The undrafted 27-year-old Slovak made his North American debut last season, scoring 15 points (1G / 14A) in 63 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). In a corresponding move, Utah HC has recalled Maveric Lamoureux from Tuscon.

Patrik Koch
Fleury has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL).

Fleury has not drawn into Seattle's lineup yet this season, but with Vince Dunn (upper body) not eligible to return from LTIR yet, his demotion to Coachella Valley (AHL) might just be a paper transaction. That said, Fleury has been a stranger to NHL action over the last several seasons. After playing 41 games with the Montreal Canadiens in his rookie season in 2019-20, the 25-year-old Fleury has only played 22 combined NHL games since. Last season with Coachella Valley, Fleury had 36 points (7G / 29A) in 65 games.

Cale Fleury
Thomas has a fractured ankle and will be re-evaluated in six weeks.

Thomas was amid an excellent outing on Tuesday, recording two assists in his first 17 shifts before blocking a shot and exiting after recording 15:19 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old Thomas underwent x-rays after the game and, unfortunately, will likely be out of the lineup until at least December after being diagnosed with a fractured ankle. At practice on Wednesday morning, Brayden Schenn occupied Thomas' spot in the center position on the Blues' top line.

Robert Thomas
Lamoureux has been recalled from Tucson (AHL).

Due to a decimated defensive core, namely Sean Durzi (shoulder) and John Marino (lower-back) being sidelined for the next several months, Utah HC have opted to recall youngster Lamoureux from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL). The 20-year-old Lamoureux was drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, and is currently playing his first professional season, tallying three points (2G / 1A) in his first four games with Tuscon.

Maveric Lamoureux
Marino (lower back) underwent successful surgery and is expected to return in 3-4 months.

Marino was acquired in a trade from the New Jersey Devils in the offseason but will not be able to make his debut with the Utah Hockey Club for another 3-4 months. The 27-year-old Marino was absent from training camp due to an upper-body injury and ultimately opted for surgery to address his lower-back injury. Marino is joining his third NHL franchise and had four goals, 25 points, 41 PIMs and 57 SOG in 75 games played with New Jersey in 2023-24. With Sean Durzi (shoulder) also sidelined for the next several months, Utah's decimated defensive core have welcomed Vladislav Kolyachonok and Robert Bortuzzo into the mix.

John Marino
Durzi (right shoulder) underwent successful surgery and is expected back in 4-6 months.

Durzi's absence from Utah HC will be a devasting blow for their blueline, but the talented defenseman could be back before the end of the season. The 26-year-old defenseman was off to a strong start to the season, with two points (0G / 2A), 11 blocks, and seven penalty minutes in three games. Mikhail Sergachev has emerged as the quarterback on Utah's top powerplay unit since Durzi has been out of the lineup.

Sean Durzi
Barron (upper-body) is considered day-to-day.

Barron left Montreal's game Tuesday vs. New York after 20 shifts and 15:01 TOI due to an upper-body injury and did not return. The 22-year-old defender is luckily only day-to-day and will hope to return when Montreal plays St. Louis on Saturday. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

Justin Barron
Barron (upper-body) left Tuesday's game vs. New York and did not return.

Barron left Montreal's game Tuesday vs. New York after 20 shifts and 15:01 TOI due to an upper-body injury and did not return. The 22-year-old defender did not provide any updates post-game but should have some before Montreal returns to play on Saturday vs. St. Louis. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

Justin Barron
Thomas (lower-body) left Tuesday's game vs. Winnipeg and did not return.

Thomas was on fire Tuesday with two assists through his first 17 shifts but was forced to leave the Blues' contest vs. Winnipeg after 15:19 TOI due to a lower-body return and did not return. St. Louis is expected to provide updates in the upcoming days before their next game Saturday vs. Montreal. If the 25-year-old is forced to miss any time, it will be a massive loss for the Blues as he was already up to six points (1G/5A) in his first seven games played.

Robert Thomas

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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