Winger Steve Downie (illness) and Chuck Kobasew (back) also didn't practice.
Expect Kobasew to miss a few more games. He has seven goals and 13 points in 54 games.
NHL Hockey Player News
Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson missed practice today because of a knee injury and is questionable for Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center.
Johnson might not be able to play tomorrow. If he can't play, look for Ryan O'Byrne to draw back in. Johnson has four goals and 24 points in 63 games.
Goalie Start
Goalie Semyon Varlamov will get another start in the matinee against the Oilers.
In five career starts against the Oilers, Varlamov has a 2-3-0 record with a 2.63 GAA and .905 SV%.
Injury
Desharnais and Diaz missing from #Habs practice.
Diaz still not skating is a telling sign. The rookie defenseman has three goals and 16 points in 59 games.
Markov is back after fighting a virus.
Good to see Markov back on the ice; his status remains indefinite.
Line Change
Bourque-Eller-White
Eller moves back to center after recently playing on the wing. He has 15 goals and 26 points through 65 games.
Line Change
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Cole
Plekanec moves up to the top line with Desharnais out. He has 13 goals and 44 points in 67 games.
#Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett today on injured center Martin Hanzal: "He's day to day - and a question mark for tomorrow" vs. #Sharks.
Hanzal likely misses another couple of games. Through 54 games, he scored eight goals and 31 points.
Call up / Send down
GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today the Coyotes have recalled forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot from the Portland Pirates, the Coyotes American Hockey League affiliate (AHL).
Pouliot gets another crack at the lineup. In his first nine games with the Coyotes, he registered two assists.
Goalie Start
Noel would not say for certain that Ondrej Pavelec would start in goal over Chris Mason.
Pavelec lost his only career start against the Flames, stopping 20 of 23 shots faced.
Call up / Send down
#Ducks recall center Ryan O'Marra from Syracuse (AHL).
O'Marra could draw in for the day-to-day Nick Bonino. He has an assist through seven games this season.
Goalie Start
Coach Vee confirms Roberto Luongo to start against the Habs on Saturday. #originalsix #canucks
In 27 career starts against the Habs, Luongo has a 10-11-3-2 record with a 2.45 GAA, .921 SV% and two shutouts.
Injury
Ben Eager (virus) and Corey Potter (sore foot) didn't skate today; Eager won't play but Potter will make the trip to Denver
Sounds like Potter should be an option for this weekend. He has four goals and 20 points through 50 games.
Ben Eager (virus) and Corey Potter (sore foot) didn't skate today; Eager won't play but Potter will make the trip to Denver
Eager will miss at least another game due to sickness and will be kept away from his teammates until healthy. He has seven goals and 11 points in 53 games.
#CBJ interim coach Todd Richards said G Steve Mason (left hand) could make 3-game trip to Canada next week.
Mason will at least miss the next two games but the injury likely won't force him out for the remainder of the regular season.
Call up / Send down
#Habs recall Leblanc, can't be good news for Davey?
Leblanc comes back up to replace David Desharnais. The former 18th overall pick scored three goals and seven points in 28 games.
Brandon Dubinsky skated & tok shots for 1 hour by himself in quiet United Center. Not likely to play tonight, is targeting Sunday vs Isles.
Good news for Dubi, who hopes to return after missing two games. He has seven goals and 26 points in 62 games.
Ott and Morrow questionable
The Stars are hoping their captain can return tomorrow but he is probably 60/40 at this point. While battling through injuries most of the season, Morrow has eight goals and 22 points in 43 games.
Line Change
Fistric is fine.
Fistric is not expected to miss any playing time. He has an assist through 52 games.
Souray out tomorrow
Souray is once again injured and probably misses a couple more games. Through 55 games, the offensive defenseman has six goals and 20 points.
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.