NHL Hockey Player News

Pageau (lower body) has a good chance to return to the Islanders' lineup for Game 2.

Pageau missed game 1 due to a lower-body injury that he suffered in the Islanders' season finale vs. the Penguins. If Pageau is available for game 2, expect him to centre the third line, bumping Kyle MacLean back to the fourth line and taking Simon Holmstrom out of the lineup.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Sergachev (lower body) has been ruled out for the remainder of the first round for Tampa Bay.

Sergachev has been out since February 7th due to a lower-body injury and has unfortunately been ruled out for the remainder of the first round. The 25-year-old appeared in only 34 games this season and had two goals, 19 points, 53 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -16 plus/minus.

Mikhail Sergachev
Motte (lower body) is expected to warmup for Game 1 but is considered a game-time decision.

Motte appeared in 69 games for the Lightning during the 2023-24 regular season and had six goals and nine points but will be a game-time decision for Game 1 on Sunday. Motte appears good to go but will make a final choice in warmups before committing to his 40th career playoff game.

Tyler Motte
Lomberg will draw back into Florida's lineup for Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay.

Lomberg took a seat in the press box for Florida's final game of the season but will return to the lineup as a physical presence for Game 1 vs. Tampa Bay. The 29-year-old fourth-liner enjoyed a strong fourth season in Florida with five goals, seven points, 68 SOG, and 80 PIMs in 75 games played while averaging only 9:32 TOI/GP.

Ryan Lomberg
Nylander (undisclosed) will not play in Game 1 in Boston.

Nylander played a full 82 games in each of the last two seasons but will miss Game 1 in Boston. There hasn't been much information on what is ailing Nylander or if it will keep him out longer. For now, consider him day-to-day and hope the Maple Leafs provide some clarity on this mysterious situation.

William Nylander
Samsonov led the Maple Leafs onto the ice for warmups for Game 1.

Samsonov had a rocky start to the season but finished the season well, going 9-2-2 with a .905 SV% in his final 13 games. During last year's postseason, Samsonov was 4-4 with a 3.13 GAA and .898 SV%. With Joseph Woll not playing particularly well since returning from injury (.890 SV% in 10 games), the Maple Leafs need to be able to rely on Samsonov in Round 1.

Ilya Samsonov
Swayman led the Bruins onto the ice for warmups for Game 1 vs. the Maple Leafs.

Swayman had a terrific regular season, going 25-10-8 with a 2.53 GAA, .916 SV% and three shutouts in 44 appearances (43 starts). Swayman will start Game 1 vs. Toronto but doesn't have a lot of NHL playoff experience. He's 3-4 with a 2.79 GAA and .901 SV% in eight appearances (six starts) since 2021. Swayman was undefeated vs. Toronto this season, going 3-0-0 with a sparkling 1.30 GAA and .959 SV%.

Jeremy Swayman
Grundstrom is expected to draw into the Kings lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs.

Grundstrom has been out since February 13th but it looks like he'll dress on the Kings' fourth line in game 1 vs. Edmonton. The 26-year-old winger did play two games with Ontario (AHL) during an LTIR conditioning loan and tallied one goal and one assist.

Carl Grundstrom
Janmark (undisclosed) will return to practice on Saturday and is a game-time decision for Game 1.

Janmark was nicked up at the end of the season and was questionable heading into their series with the Kings. However, his availability for Sunday's practice is a great sign that he'll play in game 1. Look for him to skate on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Evander Kane.

Mattias Janmark
Kane (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice Sunday and is a game-time decision for Game 1.

Kane missed the final three games o f the regular season but if he's able to practice on Sunday, it's likely that he'll be available for game 1 vs. the Kings. It was a bit of a disappointing season for the veteran winger, who finished the season with 44 points (24G / 20A) in 77 games.

Evander Kane
Andersen will start Game 1 vs. the Islanders.

Since returning from a scary blood clotting issue, Andersen has been nothing short of spectacular for the Hurricanes. The veteran netminder has gone 9-1-0 while only allowing more than two goals once and posting a .951 SV% and three shutouts in 10 games. During last year's postseason Andersen was 5-3 with a. 1.83 GAA and .927 SV%.

Frederik Andersen

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!