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NHL Hockey Player News

Joe Morrow(LD)|
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"Right now, we don't have Brooks Orpik (abdominal) on the ice, so there is opportunity that wasn't there before," coach Dan Bylsma said. "That opportunity may be there at the start of the season. ... (Morrow) is getting an opportunity because of his play, for what he's done on the ice and also because we have players that haven't been able to participate in games and some of the training camp."

Morrow has been practicing on the top pairing alongside Kris Letang and could provide the Pens with another puck-moving defenseman. Last season he led the Portland Winterhawks defenders with nine goals and 49 points. Look for him to stick on a nine-game tryout.

Source:
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 2011-09-30T10:28:47.000Z
Joe Morrow
Brett Connolly(RW)|FA
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He called it "a great honor" to compete for a spot on the Lightning roster. He said he is trying to "live in the moment" and "get better every day."

With a few subtractions from last season's roster, Connolly seemed poised to grasp a roster spot with an excellent training camp. So far he has not disappointed and could earn a shot at one of the top two lines. Last season he scored career highs in goals (46) and points (73) but did not alleviate concerns about dominating the WHL. He could need another season before finally making the leap but keep him in mind as a high-end sleeper.

Source:
TampaBay.com 2011-09-30T10:24:50.000Z
Brett Connolly
Ryan Whitney(D)|INA
Injury
Injury
EDMONTON - Defenceman Ryan Whitney may be travelling with the Edmonton Oilers to St. Paul, Minn., and Vancouver, but he will not play in either of their final two pre-season games.

Right now Whitney is no lock to start the season healthy. Last season, the former fifth overall pick scored two goals and 27 points over 35 games, leading to an inflated ADP. He should produce around 40 points for the Oilers but should not be expected to rise to an elite level until fully healthy as his track record indicates he should not be relied on for much more.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2018-07-18T17:53:31.162Z
Scott Clemmensen(G)|
Injury
Injury
Scott Clemmensen, who had his first procedure on his right knee on Monday after two previous operations on his left knee, including one this summer, was on crutches at morning skate in Coral Springs.

Again, not good news for Clemmensen, who was expected to battle Jose Theodore for the starting goalie gig. The 34-year-old veteran posted a respectable 8-11-7 record with a 2.62 GAA and .911 SV% over 31 games last season. Look for Tyler Plante to take his role as the team's backup.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-09-30T10:10:30.000Z
Scott Clemmensen
Mike Kostka(D)|FA
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Still here is defenseman Michael Kostka, who coach Kevin Dineen had for two seasons in Portland. He could be battling Keaton Ellerby for the seventh spot on the blue line.

Kostka led the Rochester Americans in points last season. At 25 he has little left to prove at the AHL level which could lead the team to keep him around as a spare defender.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-09-30T10:09:15.000Z
Mike Kostka
Evgenii Dadonov(LW)|FA
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That means bubble players such as Shawn Matthias, Evgeny Dadonov are safe for now.

The Chelyabinsk, Russia has surprised since coming to North America and could have solidified his role with the big club. Last season he managed to score eight goals and 17 points through 36 games, showing signs of a breakout campaign. While he should start the season on the third line, expect him to see valuable offensive minutes down the road.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-09-30T09:38:01.000Z
Evgenii Dadonov
Shawn Matthias(C)|
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That means bubble players such as Shawn Matthias, Evgeny Dadonov are safe for now.

Matthias figures to begin the season on the fourth line. Last season he scored six goals and 16 points over 51 games for the Panthers, forcing the young forward to compete for playing time. Following a successful Junior career with the Belleville Bulls, the pivot never scored more than 10 goals and 20 points over three professional seasons.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-09-30T09:36:23.000Z
Shawn Matthias
Jacob Markstrom(G)|FLA
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“I don’t know that mind-set,’’ said Markstrom, a former junior star for his country’s national teams in Sweden. “I want to play every game. You need to have that mind-set. You can’t be happy to sit on the bench. I’ll see what happens. This is a good team, a good league and [we have] good goalies in this organization.

Markstrom clearly wants to grasp the starting goalie position sooner rather than later. Last season he finished with a 16-20-1 record over 37 games played, sporting a 2.98 GAA and .907 SV%. He played in one game last season with the Panthers, allowing two goals over 40 minutes. He remains one of the team's top prospects so keep him high up on your sleeper lists.

Source:
Sun-Sentinel 2011-09-30T09:31:23.000Z
Jacob Markstrom
Andrew Ebbett(C)|FA
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But when it was over, Vigneault turned some heads when he was asked of all the players competing for a job, who stood out? Without hesitation, he said Ebbett.

Ebbett may be a better player than Hodgson now but the team likely keeps him on the bench for their long-term needs. Last season he managed two goals and five points through 33 games with the Phoenix Coyotes. As a tryout, he could earn a contract as a depth player.

Source:
The White Towel 2011-09-29T18:18:51.000Z
Andrew Ebbett
Cody Hodgson(C)|FA
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They also can see nothing would help Hodgson’s development more than meaningful minutes in meaningful NHL games. So, all things being equal, Hodgson should be the guy. Hodgson has had good moments but hasn’t been great this preseason.

Hodgson has showed very little this preseason but likely still gets a chance at the second line role. The former 10th overall pick scored 17 goals and 30 points through 52 games for the Manitoba Moose last season. He could mesh well with veterans Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm.

Source:
The White Towel 2011-09-29T18:14:36.000Z
Cody Hodgson
Marc Staal(LD)|FA
Injury
Injury
Following the Rangers 2-0 victory over HC Sparta Prague on Thursday night, head coach John Tortorella was asked about the health status of All-Star defenseman Marc Staal, who remains home in New York. Tortorella said that Staal "feels better today" and the the club "is hoping to get him practicing with (the Connecticut Whale) on Friday.

Staal has not joined the team yet which puts his immediate return in jeopardy. While we skated with the team earlier in training camp, his absence from the current road trip is telling and could derail the team's early season attempt at momentum. Stay tuned for a further update on the blue-line's leader.

Source:
Blueshirts United 2011-09-29T18:04:20.000Z
Marc Staal
Kurtis Foster(D)|INA
Injury
Injury
Ducks D Kurtis Foster (thigh) skated for the first time on his hown since undergoing surgery 10 days ago.

Certainly good news for Foster, who should return to the team at some point in October. The offensive defenseman posted eight goals in each of his last two seasons. He could find similar success in Anaheim if given any significant PP time.

Source:
Eric Stephens 2018-07-18T17:53:24.049Z
Mike Zigomanis(C)|INA
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
got the call from the big team 2day, going 2 b playn in hockeytown tmrw nite- guess i had a couple good pracs this wk #neverknowwhoswatching

Over his eight games with the team last season Zigomanis managed to put up an assist. Don't expect him to bring any fantasy hockey value to your lineup.

Source:
Mike Zigomanis 2018-07-18T17:53:27.709Z
David Rundblad(D)|
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With defenceman Jared Cowen just about clinching a spot on the team, the next task is to decide what to do with David Rundblad. He has the option to return to Sweden if he doesn’t make the NHL, but hasn’t made an entirely compelling case for staying.

Rundblad likely makes the team simply because he would bolt for Sweden. Last season he posted incredible stats -- 11 goals. 50 points over 55 games played. He figures to go through plenty of growing pains in his first North American season.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-09-29T17:56:02.000Z
David Rundblad
Nikita Filatov(LW)|INA
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One that has potential, though, is the threesome of Colin Greening, Jason Spezza, and Nikita Filatov. Spezza had some history with Greening last season and he has now played a couple of pre-season games with Filatov.

Filatov gets his first legitimate chance to succeed in Ottawa. The enigmatic winger potted only six goals over 44 NHL games which were spread out over three seasons. Expect him to thrive with a change of scenery, which would make him a sleeper at his current price tag.

Source:
Senators Extra 2018-07-18T17:53:28.360Z
Colin Greening(LW)|
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One that has potential, though, is the threesome of Colin Greening, Jason Spezza, and Nikita Filatov. Spezza had some history with Greening last season and he has now played a couple of pre-season games with Filatov.

Greening has a chance to stick on a top line should he continue gaining chemistry with Filatov and Spezza. Last year he scored six goals and 13 points with the Sens over 24 games. The budding power forward could very well score 15-20 goals if he stays healthy and on a scoring line.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-09-29T17:51:55.000Z
Colin Greening
Peter Regin(C)|
Injury
Injury
Peter Regin breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday. His left shoulder, injured when he was checked into the boards in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, is not seriously injured. He could rejoin the team for practice as early as Monday and possibly even be ready for the season-opening game against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Regin's injury was initially deemed serious but sounds like a day-to-day ailment. Last season he only scored three goals and 17 points as he battled through inconsistency and injury. While the Sens have an insurance plan in Mika Zibanejad, they likely hope their Danish playmaker can return to the 15 goal, 30+ point range.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-09-29T17:49:49.000Z
Peter Regin

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!