Martin Brodeur has left the Devils-Kings after the 1st period with what could be a shoulder injury.
No word on the extent of his injury at this point. Stay tuned for a further update.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Line Change
Looks like Derek Smith is in after all on defence, playing his second straight game.
Look for Smith to man the third pairing with Cory Sarich. The Belleville, Ontario native was held without a point in his first game as a member of the Flames.
Line Change
It looks like Anton Babchuk will remain out of the Flames lineup tonight. He is getting extra work after the skate.
Babchuk will miss his second consecutive game. Last season he scored eight goals and 27 points over 65 games. At this point there has been no injury announced.
Line Change
It that keeps up for all this season and next, through the end of Gonchar’s contract here, it’s certain to become wearing.
Gonchar continues to be the scapegoat in Ottawa, just one season into his contract. While he scored seven goals and 27 points in 67 games last season, his minus-15 rating and poor defensive play doesn't translate into fantasy or real hockey.
Scratches
Letestu will not play tonight with Malkin taking his place in the lineup. Set your lineup accordingly.
Line Change
Penguins' Evgeni Malkin returns against Capitals
Malkin in, set your lineups accordingly.
Geno participating in pregame skate
Still no word on whether or not he plays tonight. Stay tuned for a further update.
Gillies likely off IR
No word on if he draws in tonight. The Bolts won't dress an enforcer tonight so don't expect any fights.
Not likely to be any update on Rick DiPietro's status tonight. Went to get baseline neuro tests this AM. #Isles
Once again we do not recommend owning DiPietro but we will continue to update you his status.
Line Change
Sturm-Ebbett-Samuelsson
Moving to the fourth line is certainly not good for his fantasy hockey value. Through his first three games, Samuelsson scored a goal and two points. Expect this demotion to be temporary.
Line Change
Higgins-Hodgson-Hansen
Hansen moves up to a scoring line. Through his first three games, the Herlev, Denmark native posted one assist with a minus-2 rating while playing a defensive role with Manny Malhotra. This could be a boost in his fantasy hockey value.
Line Change
Higgins-Hodgson-Hansen
Higgins moves up to a scoring line. Through his first three games, the Smithtown, New York native scored two goals. This could be a boost in his fantasy hockey value.
Call up / Send down
The mercurial 19-year-old Russian winger plans to play for Farjestads BK of the Swedish Elite League, according to one source.
Kabanov was already sent back to Juniors which means he holds no immediate fantasy hockey value.
Call up / Send down
Stars activated Scott Glennie from Injured Reserve and assigned him to the Texas Stars.
Good to hear that Glennie is healthy after battling post-concussion syndrome. He loses all of his immediate fantasy hockey value by going to the AHL.
Antti Niemi’s status is still unclear, although it’s looking more and more like Niemi is nearing a return. He was the first goalie off of the ice on Thursday, and McLellan expects to know Thursday afternoon which goaltender will start against the Ducks at the Honda Center.
Sounds like Niemi remains close to returning but won't be rushed back. Last season, Niemi won 35 games while sporting a 2.38 GAA and .920 SV%. With Antero Niittymaki already out, Thomas Greiss should continue to man the crease.
The bad news is that Martin Havlat will still not be able to make his Sharks debut on Friday. Havlat took some line rushes with Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe on Thursday, but it appears that Tommy Wingels will remain on the wing with Havlat still recovering from left shoulder surgery.
Havlat continues to be as close to returning as possible without actually drawing in. The winger scored 22 goals and 62 points in 78 games with the Wild last season. Tommy Wingels will continue skating in his place on the second line.
Line Change
Marleau was back on the ice with his teammates on Thursday at HP Pavilion, skating with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski. He’ll be in the lineup on Friday when the Sharks play their first road game against Anaheim.
Marleau plays, as expected.
Line Change
Newly acquired Eric Nystrom skated with the team, but is not in. He is expected to play Saturday.
Nystrom probably starts his career with the Stars on the fourth line. Look for Toby Peterson or Krys Barch to draw out.
Line Change
Goligoski-Fistric
Fistric draws into the top defensive pairing, stabilizing the rover in Alex Goligoski. Considering he has all of three goals over 200 games played, don't expect any counting stats out of him.
Line Change
Nicklas Grossman (groin) is in tonight.
Grossman battled injuries most of last season, playing only 59 games. In those contests he managed to post a goal and 10 assists. Probably not too relevant in your fantasy hockey league.
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
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- 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.