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NHL Hockey Player News

Nikita Nikitin(D)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Nikitin saw 20 minutes, 5 seconds of ice time in the Blues' 4-2 loss to Nashville, and although he finished a plus-1 the defenseman led the Blues with four blocked shots. He showed the coaches something because two nights later, he was assigned to defend Iginla and Co.

Nikitin is currently paired with defensive stalwart Roman Polak creating a reliable shutdown pairing. This addition to the lineup should help Jaroslav Halak out but won't turn the dial in most fantasy hockey leagues.

Source:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-10-13T10:40:00.000Z
Nikita Nikitin
Braden Holtby(G)|FA
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
#Caps have recalled goaltender Braden Holtby from AHL Hershey.

Holtby's call up signifies that Michal Neuvirth won't dress for tonight's game. If he plays, expect an impressive outing as the 22-year-old posted a 1.79 GAA and .923 SV%. Certainly a player to watch in the long term.

Source:
Mike Vogel 2011-10-13T10:35:30.000Z
Braden Holtby
Mattias Ekholm(D)|EDM
Line Change
Line Change
There’s a possibility that Trotz could insert rookie defenseman Mattias Ekholm into the lineup for Thursday’s home opener. Ekholm was unavailable for Saturday’s game against St. Louis after catching the flu Friday.

Ekblom could fill in for Teemu Laakso on the blue line tonight. Last season he scored 10 goals and 33 points through 55 games with Brynas IF Gavle of the SEL. He could boost the team's offense from the third defensive pairing.

Source:
Predators Insider 2011-10-13T10:43:13.000Z
Mattias Ekholm
Viktor Stalberg(LW)|
Line Change
Line Change
After skating on his own earlier this week, Viktor Stalberg returned to practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury during a Sept. 28 exhibition with the Red Wings. Coach Joel Quenneville said Stalberg is close to returning to game action.

Stalberg is close enough to returning that the club sent down Brandon Saad. Last year he scored 12 goals and 24 points while seeing action next to Jonathan Toews. Look for him to improve on those totals in his third full season.

Source:
Chicago Tribune 2011-10-13T10:28:42.000Z
Viktor Stalberg
Ryan Murphy(RD)|FA
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
We have nothing official from the Carolina Hurricanes, but Ryan Murphy tweeted the news himself last night at 11:27pm, and the message was confirmed by TSN's Bob McKenzie shortly thereafter.

Murphy loses all fantasy hockey value by returning to the OHL. With the improved play of Jamie McBain last night he was just a victim of the number game. Getting his feet wet with the NHL team should help his development in the long run.

Source:
Canes Country 2011-10-13T08:45:02.000Z
Ryan Murphy
Henrik Lundqvist(G)|FA
Hot Streak
Hot Streak
“I feel pretty good,” Lundqvist said. “We just started so I better feel good. I’m getting there. It always takes you a little while to get where you want to be but it’s coming. I feel pretty good. It’s just about repeating the small stuff.”

Lundqvist is already off to a strong start, posting a 1.86 GAA and .931 SV% over his first two games. Although the elite starting goalie lost both tilts after regulation he should finish in the top five.

Source:
Ranger Rants 2011-10-12T22:40:17.000Z
Henrik Lundqvist
Colin Greening(LW)|
Line Change
Line Change
"There’s lots of skilled players in the league, but he’s such a physical specimen that he’s hard to control, he’s intimidating, he can hurt guys on the forecheck and he creates lots of space for himself and his wingers."

Over the first two games, Greening has played on one of the team's top two lines producing two goals in the process. A power forward with skill to boot, the 25-year-old could pot 20 goals while playing with his talented linemates.

Source:
OttawaSenators.com 2011-10-12T20:23:03.000Z
Colin Greening
Brendan Smith(D)|FA
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Detroit Red Wings, as expected, have recalled defenseman Brendan Smith from the Grand Rapids Griffins. This enables Smith to serve two more games of his five-game suspension (Thursday and Saturday) while Mike Commodore remains on short-term injured reserve.

Smith has no fantasy hockey value until he finishes serving his suspension.

Source:
Mlive.com 2011-10-12T20:18:39.000Z
Brendan Smith

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!