I asked Hitchcock about Andy McDonald. Said he hasn't even seen him yet. Will update situation next week. Doesn't sound like he's on horizon
Probably safe to drop McDonald, who is suffering from his second concussion this year.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
Still no timetable for Sheppard's return from knee damage, but advised both he and Niittymaki will be traveling to DAL-COL for practice time
Sheppard just returned to the ice so getting back in game shape should be hard. Expect him to miss at least another month as he gets more comfortable with his surgically damaged knee.
Goalie Start
Cam Ward will be in net
Ward holds a 7-6-2 record with a 2.89 GAA, .909 SV% and two shutouts over 15 starts against the Sabres.
Frolik says he's out for tonight
Bench Frolik for tonight's game. The Kladno native scored three goals and seven points through 19 games for the Blackhawks.
Goalie Start
Miikka Kiprusoff gets the start in net for the Flames.
In 28 career starts against the Blackhawks, Kipper holds a 10-12-1-4 record with a 3.03 GAA and .899 SV%.
Line Change
Quenneville told WGN radio that Ben Smith would play right wing on Bolland's line tonight.
Smith will play in his first game this season. Smith scored six goals and 10 points in only nine games with the Rockford Ice Hogs indicating he is too good for the AHL.
Line Change
Brendan Morrison is 50-50, according to Sutter.
Morrison could play for Rene Bourque, who is a bit banged up. The veteran last played on November 4th due to a combination of a knee injury and decreasing skill set. Don't expect much from the 36-year-old.
Line Change
Cory Sarich draws in tonight.
Sarich draws in for Derek Smith tonight following a few games as a healthy scratch. He holds no fantasy hockey value.
Paajarvi-Gagner-Hemsky
Gagner practiced with the first line today but is still questionable. Rookie Anton Lander also took reps with the third line which indicates that the team has not made a decision regarding who to play. The oft-injured center has two assists through 11 games.
Line Change
Paajarvi-Gagner-Hemsky
Hemsky moves down to the third line. The Czech forward has posted only four assists in seven games and finished the last game with a minus-3 rating.
Line Change
Hall-Horcoff-Jones
Jones moves back to a scoring line after a brief stint on the third line. The team's second-best mullet scored four goals and seven points through 18 games.
Injury
Corey Potter (ankle).
Potter not practicing is indicative of not playing in the team's next game. Look for one of the two rookie callups to replace him in the lineup.
Line Change
Hall-Horcoff-Jones
Hall moves down a line to the second line where he will play with mentor-figure Shawn Horcoff. Through 17 games, the former 1st overall pick continues to break out with three goals and eight points.
Andy Sutton (groin)
Sutton not practicing is indicative of not playing in the team's next game. Look for one of the two rookie callups to replace him in the lineup.
Line Change
Smyth-RNH-Eberle
Smyth moves up to the top line to play with two talented youngsters. The Alberta native currently leads the team in goals (10) and points (8).
Goalie Start
Varlamov will sit for a second consecutive game tonight, in favor of Jean-Sebastien Giguere against the Dallas Stars.
In 38 career appearances against the Stars, Giguere holds a 14-20-1-3 record with a 2.87 GAA and .894 SV%.
Call up / Send down
Florida Panthers Executive Vice President & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today RW Michal Repik has been recalled from the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).
Repik scored two goals and nine points over 14 games for the Rampage. He may get a chance to play on a scoring line.
Komisarek and Lombardi out a minimum of three weeks.
Lombardi battled hard to get ready for opening night and scored an inspiring shorthanded goal. Since then he has failed to make an impact in real life or fantasy hockey as a third liner. Safe to drop the speedy forward.
Komisarek and Lombardi out a minimum of three weeks.
Rough break for Komi, who was finding his game after a couple down seasons. Look for Cody Franson to draw in for him.
Brown fighting minor injury.
Brown remains questionable for this weekend's games. Over 18 games he has accrued five fighting majors.
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.