Line Change
#CBJ lines @ practice: Gillies - Carter - Prospal;
Gillies will play on a scoring line for the first time since joining the Blue Jackets. He has a goal and an assist through seven games.
NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
As to whether Trent Hunter or Kevin Westgarth will play tonight, the apparent answer is: both.
Hunter draws back into the lineup for tonight's game. The right wing has two goals and seven points through 33 games, playing mostly on the fourth line. He has no fantasy hockey value whatsoever.
Line Change
Andrei Loktionov is expected to be a healthy scratch
Loktionov has only four assists through 30 games. Despite dominating the AHL level it remains to be seen whether he can produce in the NHL.
Line Change
Daniel and Henrik Sedin will play together, despite being split up Thursday night.
Expect the Sedin twins to comprise two-thirds of the top line tomorrow night. Henrik is currently fourth in scoring with 54 points in 51 games.
Line Change
Daniel and Henrik Sedin will play together, despite being split up Thursday night.
Expect the Sedin twins to comprise two-thirds of the top line tomorrow night. Daniel currently sits 10th in the NHL with 52 points in 50 games.
Goalie Start
Luongo will start Saturday against the Avalanche
In 34 career starts against the Avs, Luongo has a 14-15-5 record with a 2.84 GAA, .903 SV% and two shutouts.
Call up / Send down
#Canucks trying to call up Byron Bitz from Chicago, but weather in Colorado is preventing him from flying in right now.
If Bitz plays, it will be his first NHL game since March 27th, 2010.
Injury
Chris Higgins will not fly with the #Canucks to Colorado. He'll join the team during the trip when he feels better.
Higgins missed last night's game with the flu and was not healthy enough to practice this morning. The former 14th overall pick scored 10 goals and 26 points through 45 games in his first full season in Vancouver. Mason Raymond replaced him on the second line.
Smith-Pelly [foot] improving, next week is a possibility for him.
Good news for the youngster. Sidelined since the World Juniors, Smith-Pelly has three goals and five points through 26 games.
Call up / Send down
#CBJ sending F Andrew Joudrey back to AHL Springfield.
Joudrey played in one NHL game. He has no fantasy hockey value.
Line Change
Oilers lines at practice today: Smyth-Belanger-Jones
Smyth gets bumped down to the third line for tomorrow's game. In his return tour of Edmonton, the veteran has 16 goals and 34 points in 51 games.
Line Change
Oilers lines at practice today: Horcoff-RNH-Hemsky
Horcoff shifts over to the wing with Gagner and Nugent-Hopkins playing down the middle. The team's captain has nine goals and 25 points through 51 games.
Line Change
Oilers lines at practice today: Horcoff-RNH-Hemsky
Nugent-Hopkins will start tomorrow's game on the second line. The star rookie has 13 goals and 35 points in his first 38 career games.
Line Change
Oilers lines at practice today: Hall-Gagner-Eberle
Gagner will stay between Hall and Eberle after his amazing 8-point performance last night. Interesting to see what he can do with consistent linemates and ice time.
Theo Peckham, who is obviously injured
Peckham has been valuable with his fists, registering 74 PIM over 46 games. Expect the D-pairing to remain the same for the time being.
Call up / Send down
Sexsmith has been reassigned
Sexsmith has no fantasy hockey value.
Antti Niemi is the first Shark on the practice ice this morning, in full gear, moving well.
Niemi was at "full go" this morning so expect him to at least backup tomorrow night.
Head coach Kirk Muller said Tim Gleason was "good to go." Gleason, a little banged up from last night, did not skate today.
Don't expect Gleason to miss any playing time. He has a goal and 15 points through 53 games.
Goalie Start
Miikka Kiprusoff starts in net tonight.
In 30 career starts against the Blackhawks, Kipper has a 11-13-1-4 record with a 3.03 GAA and .899 SV%.
Alexei Ponikarovsky has some swelling in his left hand from being hit with Salvador shot Thursday. He said X-ray was negative.
Ponikarovsky is expected to play through the bruise. He has a goal and three points in four games with the Devils.
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.