Line Change
Despres has ben demoted to the third D-pair.
After spending much of camp alongside Letang, Despres was on the third defense pairing with Engelland in final day of practice. His fantasy value has definitely decreased since yesterday.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Suspension
The Islanders have suspended Visnovsky for not showing up to camp.
Visnovsky won't be fantasy relevant until he returns to the Islanders and his suspension is lifted.
No Carey Price at Habs practice today. He tweaked his groin last night in intrasqaud shootout.
Price is still expected to play on tomorrow against the Leafs.
Atkinson is back on the ice Friday after missing practice yesterday with a "lower body" injury.
Atkinson appears like he will be ready for the season opener on Saturday. He is poised for a solid fantasy season on the Blue Jacket's top line.
Signing
Alexei Kovalev signs one-year contract with Florida worth $1 Million.
Kovalev isn't the player he used to be but still has some skill and brings experience to the Panthers. Keep an eye on him, he could make some fantasy noise.
Goalie Start
Varlamov is set to be in the Avs' net Saturday night when they open their 48-game season on the road against the Minnesota Wild.
In his 4 career start against the Wild, Varlamov has a 4-0-0 record with a 1.00 GAA, a .962 SV% and 1 shutout.
Panthers sign Dmitry Kulikov to a 2 year deal
Kulikov scores 28 points in 56 games last season for the Panthers and is their 2nd best fantasy defenseman (behind Campbell). Kulikov is still young and has tremendous upside.
Line Change
Kassian with Twins in line drills.
If Kassian plays with the Sedin twins it gives him a significant boost in fantasy value. He would provide some toughness and protection for the twins, but he is no slouch when it comes to scoring. Keep an eye on him, if he starts with the Sedin's he is worth an add.
Line Change
Despres might log a lot of minutes alongside partner Kris Letang.
Despres was a healthy scratch in the AHL during the lockout... But has the tools to be a good fantasy option. Especially playing for the Penguins and alongside one of fantasy's top D-men in Letang.
Kopitar skating with Stewart and Toffoli and doing all the drills.
Kopitar continues to progress faster than expected. He could return to the Kings soon. He's an elite talent, if you still have your draft get him before he falls.
Panthers release Svatos.
Svatos is not fantasy relevant until he finds a team.
Line Change
Guy Boucher confirms Cory Conacher has made the roster.
Conacher had 80 points in 75 games in the AHL last year and 28 in 36 during the lockout, is expected to play alongside Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell on the Lightning's 2nd line. If he gets off to a hot start and sticks with the this line he could be a good fantasy pickup. Keep an eye on him.
Line Change
Zach Boychuk looks like he's going to get a chance to play on the first line.
If Boychuk start the season with Eric Staal and Alexander Semin he could be in for a hot start. He had 16 goals and 16 assists in 37 games in the AHL during the lockout. Keep an eye on the former 1st round pick, you might like what you see.
Call up / Send down
Islanders have told Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart that they are going back to their CHL clubs.
Obviously both players don't have any fantasy value now, but these are both names you should keep an eye on in the future.
Call up / Send down
Penguins assign forwards Beau Bennett and Jayson Megna to Wilkes-Barre.
After Bennett saw some time in camp on a line with Malkin and Neal he has been sent back to the AHL. He is no longer fantasy relevant.
Waiver Move
Islanders claim C Keith Aucoin off waivers from the Leafs.
Aucoin isn't relevant in fantasy.
Call up / Send down
Ryan Johansen has officially made the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After the Blue Jackets cut Tim Erixon and Boone Jenner, it was made apperent that Johansen had made the team. Johansen could be CBJ's #1 center this season which opens the door for him to have solid season. Keep an eye on the 20 year-old.
James van Riemsdyk returns to Leafs practice today.
JVR bruised his foot blocking a shot on Tuesday, but looks like he'll be ready for Saturday. JVR has tremendous upside and will have the best opportunity of his young career. As long as he stays healthy a career is certainly possible.
Call up / Send down
Niederreiter continues to impress, but won’t start season with Islanders.
Until Niederreiter cracks the Islanders roster he remains irrelevant in fantasy. However when he does make it keep your eye on him.
Lucic absent from practice Thursday.
No word on why Lucic is absent other than his wife may be giving birth. Lucic is a great fantasy option in leagues that score hits and PIMS. Even in just point leagues he's not a bad option. Monitor his status as Saturday approaches.
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.