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NHL Hockey Player News

Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the team has activated goaltender Kari Lehtonen from injured reserve.

Lehtonen has missed the last five games after being placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 11 when he suffered a lower body injury. In three games this season, he has posted a 2-1-0 record and is tied for second in the League with a .953 save percentage and fourth with a 1.57 goals against average.

Kari Lehtonen
Quick starts tonight for the Kings.

Quick allowed two goals on 29 shots in a 5-2 win over the Stars on Saturday. He has been a little inconsistent, but has now had two great starts in a row. His GAA is at 2.50 and SV% up to .913 so continue to start him, especially against the Flames tonight.

Jonathan Quick
Khabibulin "could" start vs. Lightning on Thursday says coach Joel Quenneville.

Khabibulin won his only start this season on October 11th. He stopped 19 of 21 shots in the W over the Islanders. The Lightning pose some problems matchup wise but were just shut out by the Bruins. If you're desperate Khabibulin might be a good spot start option on Thursday.

Freddie Hamilton will make his NHL debut on the Sharks top line with Joe Thornton and Tomas Hertl.

Brent Burns (mouth) is out, so Hamilton gets the call tonight in Detroit. It is a great opportunity to score in his first NHL game, but he isn't fantasy relevant with Burns expected to return on Thursday.

Freddie Hamilton
Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle says Kulemin may be available around October 29th. He will join team at practice soon.

Kulemin has missed Toronto's last seven games because of an ankle injury. He only appeared in two games but should return in late October or early November. The Maple Leafs have been successful despite Kulemin's absence as a number of young players have stepped up.

Nikolay Kulemin
Dallas Stars forward Ryan Garbutt has been offered the option of an in-person hearing after his high hit on Dustin Penner of the Anaheim Ducks in a game Sunday night.

Garbutt exited the penalty box in the second period of a 6-3 Anaheim victory and skated into Penner in the slot just as he released the puck striking him with his shoulder in the head area. No penalty was called at the time. Penner had to be helped from the ice and did not return. The in-person hearing allows the league's office of player safety more latitude in levying suspensions greater than five games in length although the fact there is an in-person hearing does not guarantee there will be supplemental discipline.

Ryan Garbutt
Niederreiter has been moved back to the top-line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu.

Niederreiter has moved around this lineup throughout the early part of the season, but found himself re-united with Parise and Koivu in practice this morning. He has one goal and three assists in nine games with his new team.

Nino Niederreiter
The Edmonton Oilers have recalled Tyler Pitlick from Oklahoma City (AHL).

Pitlick was the 31st overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He has 11 goals and 25 assists (36 points) in 113 games with OKC - including one goal and two assists in seven games this season. Both Ryan Smyth and Jordan Eberle are questionable for tomorrow's game, if one of them can't go, Pitlick would slide into the lineup.

Tyler Pitlick

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!