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NHL Hockey Player News

In a somewhat shocking move -- unless you read Chris' post here last week -- the New York Islanders have placed winger Blake Comeau on waivers.

Just one year removed from a 24-goal, 46-point campaign, Comeau is placed on waivers. Should he be claimed by a better team he would regain some fantasy hockey value.

Blake Comeau
Brad Boyes got hurt against the Bruins, and he's not expected back for sometime.

The former ironman is expected to miss significant time with this recent injury. If the Sabres don't place him on IR, you may want to look for a better option. The former 43-goal scorer has posted only two through his first 21 games.

Brad Boyes
Patrick Kaleta (lower body) was unable to skate again after missing Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Boston, so he's out.

Kaleta could have added his unique traits to Wednesday's overtime loss to the Bruins but was unable to play or even practice. Although he is very valuable in energizing the Sabres, Kaleta's talents have never translated to fantasy hockey.

Patrick Kaleta
Zack Kassian, Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2009 draft, has been summoned from Rochester to play for the injury-plagued Sabres, according to the Twitter accounts of Kassian's friends and teammates.

Kassian is one of the team's top forward prospects. Prior to the callup he scored seven goals and 14 points in his first 18 AHL games.

Zack Kassian
Tyler Ennis, who is still recovering from Oct. 22 ankle sprain, practiced on a line but said he is not ready to return.

Ennis practiced on the fourth line yesterday morning but is not healthy enough to return. The diminutive forward has played only seven of the team's 21 games thus far. Look for him to help a banged up lineup when he returns.

Tyler Ennis
Howard, who will face Thomas' defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins on Friday in the Thanksgiving Showcase (1 p.m., NBC) at TD Garden.

In five career appearances against his hometown team, Thomas holds a 1-3-0 record with a 3.03 GAA and .912 SV%.

Howard, who will face Thomas' defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins on Friday in the Thanksgiving Showcase (1 p.m., NBC) at TD Garden.

Howard enters the Thanksgiving Showcase with a tiday 2-0-0 record, 1.50 GAA and .941 SV% in two career starts against the Bruins.

Jimmy Howard
He said backup Brian Boucher would start one of the next three games but would not say which one.

Boucher has not won a single game for the Canes despite allowing only one goal in each of his last three appearances. He may be due for a W so check back on his status.

Defenseman Joni Pitkanen returned to practice Thursday and possibly could play Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, Canes coach Paul Maurice said.

Pitkanen was recently downgraded from day-to-day to week-to-week. The Finnish stalwart will continue to help a defense-first lineup get back on the winning side when he returns.

Rome's hand not broken but can't grip stick. Will see how he feels tomorrow.

Rome looks day-to-day with a hand injury and certainly questionable for tonight's game. The depth defender has been a pleasant fantasy hockey surprise with three goals and five points over seven games with 21 PIM. Expect a further update before puck drop.

"I hope so. I think if it was his choice he would have played last night, but I think we’re also very optimistic he’ll be back.”

After missing Wednesday's game with a late scratch, Kulikov sounded like he would definitely only miss one game. However, that sounds somewhat in question now. Stay tuned for a further update on his status.

Dmitry Kulikov
Dineen: “He had a pretty good day today, so we’re feeling positive that he got a quality chance to be in this weekend. I haven’t made that final decision yet, but I’m encouraged by how he feels and how he looks today, and the medical feedback. So that’s a positive. We’re feeling good that he’s got a good chance of playing.”

Fleischmann remains questionable for this weekend's games after taking a high hit against the Rangers. The top-line winger went under observation and by all accounts sounds optimistic. Expect an update prior to game time.

Tomas Fleischmann
That means Bogosian will be in the Jets’ lineup as they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at RBC Center (6 p.m., TSN Jets, TSN 1290).

Bogosian will play despite delivering a questionable hit on Wednesday evening. While the former highly-touted defenseman has been solid by the Jets' standards, his six assists are a letdown to fantasy hockey owners who expected more.

Zach Bogosian
Niklas Backstrom, who missed Wednesday's game against Nashville due to a personal matter, is practicing today, which means he'd be available to start Friday vs. the Edmonton Oilers.

As Russo previously mentioned, it didn't seem like a long-term issue. Expect Backstrom to start but wait for an official confirmation from the team.

Niklas Backstrom

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!