NHL Hockey Player News

Stone (spleen) was cleared for full contact on Saturday and is a possibility to play Game 1 of the playoffs.

Stone has been out since February 20th but is ready for game 1 of the playoffs (yet again). Stone will skate on the second line with Tomas Hertl, who was acquired at the trade deadline with the cap space that Vegas saved while Stone was on LTIR. Prior to getting injured, Stone had 53 points (16G / 37A) in 54 games.

Mark Stone
Samsonov was the first goalie off the ice, is expected to start Game 1 in Boston.

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
Pageau (lower-body) will be a game-time decision in Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.

Pageau picked up a lower-body injury in the first period of the Islanders' season finale and is questionable to play in Game 1 in Carolina. If Pageau can't play, expect Kyle MacLean to move up to the third line and for Simon Holmstrom to centre the fourth line.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Nylander (undisclosed) missed Friday's practice and is a "possibility" for Game 1.

Nylander was not on the ice for Friday's practice and the Maple Leafs were non-committal about his availability for Game 1. This is likely gamesmanship more than anything, I don't think there's any real concern that Nylander won't be available for Saturday's contest.

William Nylander
Domi (undisclosed) will be back in the Maple Leafs lineup for Game 1 in Boston.

Domi missed the final two games of the regular season but will play in Game 1 vs. the Bruins on Saturday. Domi finished the season strong, scoring two goals with 13 assists (15 points) in his final 17 games of the season. He should continue to skate on the top line with Auston Matthews as well as PP2 in Game 1.

Max Domi
Motte (lower-body) is questionable for Game 1 vs. the Panthers.

Motte did not play the last three games for Tampa Bay and his status is up in the air for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 29-year-old Motte registered nine points (6G / 3A) and averaged 12:28 time-on-ice in 69 games this season.

Tyler Motte
Glendening (undisclosed) is questionable for Game 1 vs. the Panthers.

Glendening did not play in Tampa Bay's season finale due to an undisclosed injury and his status is up in the air for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 34-year-old Glendening scored 11 points (10G / 1A) in 81 games this season.

Luke Glendening
The Oilers have reassigned Philip Broberg to Bakersfield (AHL).

The Oilers rested several of their regulars in their season finale on Thursday, allowing Broberg to draw into the lineup but he has been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors. The 22-year-old Broberg scored 35 points (5G / 30A) in 48 games with Bakersfield this season.

Philip Broberg
The Oilers have reassigned Adam Erne to Bakersfield (AHL).

Erne drew into the Oilers' lineup for their season finale as the team rested several of their regulars but has been reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors (AHL). In 23 games with the Oilers this season, Erne recorded two points (1G / 1A).

Adam Erne
Dobson (upper-body) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.

Dobson did not play the last three games of the season for the Islanders but was at practice on Friday, an encouraging sign that he should be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old Dobson had a tremendous season for the Islanders, scoring 70 points (10G / 60A) in 79 games.

Noah Dobson
Ekblad (undisclosed) will play in Game 1 vs. the Lightning.

Ekblad did not play the final six games of the season for the Panthers due to an undisclosed injury but will be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ekblad has seen a decrease in offensive productivity the last few years but is still a major part of the Panthers' blue line. He had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 51 games this season.

Aaron Ekblad

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!