Line Change
ROSTER MOVES: Shane O'Brien activated from IR
O'Brien is enjoying a nice season with 71 PIM and 13 points. Expect him to get back into the lineup and face the Cats tonight.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Waiver Move
Brandon Yip placed on waivers.
Yip has no goals in 10 games. If someone else grabs him, he might have fantasy hockey value.
$125 Waivers
CHI's Brett McLean on unconditonal ($125) waivers for purposes of mutual termination of NHL contract to play in Europe.
McLean will go to Europe, where he has no fantasy hockey value.
Injury
Bickell out.
Bickell required stitches for a blocked shot and won't play tonight. After scoring 17 goals in a breakout, rookie campaign, the Bowmanville, Ont., native has only four tallies through 40 games.
Line Change
Smith is playing. 1/3 of forwards tonight are rookies.
Look for Smith to fill in on the third line. The rookie has two goals in nine games with the Blackhawks.
Call up / Send down
Chris Mueller reassigned to Milwaukee.
Mueller was a healthy scratch but could be recalled if the Preds need a center. He has no fantasy hockey value.
LaRose was not at practice but now ruling the room after practice. Can be heard all over RCI.
Sidelined since January 7th with an 'upper-body injury', the Canes will bring their winger along slowly. He has 11 goals and 21 points over 43 games.
Line Change
Ponikarovsky with Brent and Stewart.
Poni is demoted to the fourth line. He has seven goals and 15 points over 48 games.
Line Change
Appears Dalpe will be on line with Skinner and Jokinen today.
Dalpe moves onto the second line as Kirk Muller continues his search for serviceable scoring lines. The rookie has a goal and an assist through 13 games.
Spacek at practice.
Spacek on the ice is a good sign. Before getting hurt he cooled down with no points over his last 10 games. Spacek has scored a goal and seven points over 15 games.
Skinner's OK. He's going out.
Skinner stayed down after a hard hit from Brooks Orpik last night. The reigning Calder Trophy winner has an assist in two games since returning.
Line Change
Again, nothing set with Russell. He's skating well, skating fast. They're mixing and matching. #stlblues
Russell is healthy enough to play but where he fits into the lineup is the big question. He has three goals and five points since coming to St. Louis.
Line Change
57-21-74
Perron moves down to the second line with most of the team healthy. In his first 20 games back from injury, he has three goals and 15 points. He should be just as productive with the second line.
Line Change
20-42-25
Steen practiced on the first like with David Backes and Chris Stewart this morning. The second-generation forward scored 13 goals and 24 points before getting concussed. Look for him to draw in tomorrow.
Line Change
Appears as if Kundratek and Schultz are #Caps healthy scratches on D
Schultz has only played in 27 games this season and may be shipped out of Washington before receiving full-time play. He has five assists on the season and no relevance in fantasy hockey at this time.
Line Change
Appears as if Kundratek and Schultz are #Caps healthy scratches on D
The rookie was held pointless over his first four NHL games. He has no fantasy hockey value at this point.
Goalie Start
Neuvirth's first start since Dec. 26 seems likely, though unconfirmed.
In three career starts against the Habs, Neuvirth has a 1-1-0 record with a 2.91 GAA and .887 SV%.
Line Change
Looks like Jay Beagle out.
Beagle continues to sit out back-to-back games. He has no points over 11 games.
Line Change
Perreault also in for #Caps.
Perreault will play in his 27th game tonight. The Drummondville, Quebec native scored three goals and seven points as the fourth line center.
Line Change
Erskine in for Caps
Expect Erskine to play angry in the Caps first meeting with Rene Bourque since the Backstrom injury.
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.