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NHL Hockey Player News

– Jonas Hiller reported himself to be in good condition after participating in the team’s intrasquad scrimmage Monday and is anxious to get into a game to see whether he’s fully recovered from the vertigo symptoms that plagued him last season.

All recent reports indicate Hiller looking sharp at practice, stopping numerous of the team's snipers point-blank. However, keep in mind he let in three goals on 12 shots in his only NHL game back.

Jonas Hiller
ANAHEIM — Ducks Blog caught up with Kyle Palmieri and Emerson Etem, two former first-round picks who are trying to win jobs on Ducks roster during training camp.

The young Etem scored 45 goals and 80 points with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. Considering he could play in Juniors for one more season and has not stepped on AHL ice yet, he would probably need to over-impress just to make the team.

Emerson Etem
ANAHEIM — Ducks Blog caught up with Kyle Palmieri and Emerson Etem, two former first-round picks who are trying to win jobs on Ducks roster during training camp.

Palmieri holds a decent chance of making the team after leading the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL in scoring last season. His breakout speed and nose for the net are only two NHL-ready qualities, the big question is playing time.

Kyle Palmieri
“Hopefully I’m going to have the chance, which I didn’t have the last few years, which is to sit in that crease and some games and the score is 4-1 or 5-1,” Vokoun said. “I don’t have to worry every minute of every game. If it’s 1-1 or 2-1 and every mistake you make people tell you."

Vokoun should greatly benefit from winning more games. Despite a career .917 SV%, the Czech 'tender sports a 262-267-35-41 line.

#Canucks Wondering about Byron Bitz at Canucks camp? Call off the search party. Hurt groin 2 weeks ago, likely out 1 more week.

Bitz could challenge for a roster spot on the fourth line. The Saskatoon native played in 87 games over three seasons between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists.

Defenceman Theo Peckham, meanwhile, spent the summer in Edmonton rather than Owen Sound, Ont., his usual off-season haunt, and worked out under the watchful eye of team fitness consultant Simon Bennett.

Peckham finally stuck on the team following three separate stints with the big club. In his second full season, the Richmond Hill, Ont. native will play a more efficient game with an increased fitness level.

Eberle heeded the advice of a nutritionist this past off-season and reported to the Edmonton Oilers training camp with three per cent less body fat and more strength.

A fitter Eberle should, in theory, produce more on the ice. Last season, Eberle only scored 11 points through his first 27 games which could have been a lack of preparation entering the season.

Jordan Eberle
Don't know how many 2-goal games #Sens expect out of Jared Cowen but they're handy when he's trying to make the team. #BigNight #Leafs #NHL

The former 9th overall pick remains one of the better defensive prospects in the game. His two-goal output could put him on the Sens' Opening Night roster.

Jared Cowen
For now, Parse said he feels 100-percent healthy and is playing right wing on the third line, alongside center Jarret Stoll and left winger Kyle Clifford. Parse has 12 goals in 64 career NHL games, so his potential is clear, but can he stay on the ice?

Parse will only have limited fantasy value as long as the current top-six forwards remain healthy. Considering Simon Gagne, Dustin Penner and Justin Williams are somewhat injury prone, he may pot 20 goals if able to suit up every night.

He had a miserable 2010-11 season, with just three goals and 14 assists, so everyone’s hoping Peter Regin can rebound and maybe, just maybe, take a spot on the second line.

Regin scored 13 goals and 29 points just two seasons ago, so the offensive potential is certainly there. In theory, with a talented winger like Nikita Filatov on his wing, 20 goals and 20 assists could be more than attainable.

Peter Regin
Oilers also assign forward Toni Rajala to Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League. 9 cuts in all. 58 bodies remain on the roster.

The former Brandon Wheat King could be better served on a young team without so many talented forwards ahead of him on the depth chart.

Toni Rajala
I thought (Jan) Mursak was all over the puck. To me, Conner and Mursak today were on the puck, big-time. I thought they were very good, relentless, chasing, skating, moving. To me they were effective.

The native of Yugoslavia found himself in 19 games last season, scoring his first NHL goal. Expect him to find his way into the lineup sooner rather than later.

“The other guy I really thought was excellent today was Big E (Jonathan Ericsson). I thought Ericsson was really poised, big, moved the puck.''

As a potential top-4 defender, Ericsson will need to step up at both ends of the ice. Should he succeed, he could find himself paired with Niklas Kronwall or Nicklas Lidstrom, which would certainly help his fantasy value. The 27-year-old scored three goals and 15 points in 74 games last season.

Jonathan Ericsson
TRAVERSE CITY --Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard didn't practice or scrimmage Monday in training camp due to a bruised left foot. But he doesn't believe it's anything significant and is listed as day-to-day.

Yet another 'bruised' player following another day of scrimmages and training camp. Howard should be fine as the Red Wings rest him for the regular season.

Jimmy Howard
Of the 30-year-old Rallo, who played for the Texas Stars last year, Dineen said, “You see 26 goals in the American League and he’s a guy you’re going to look toward producing offensively to an extent. I thought he had some real responsible shifts as well. The challenge for him is to always keep up with the pace of play and make sure he’s engaged in the play and using his smarts as well as generating some speed.”

Rallo is a longshot to make the team but could see some playing time due to injuries later in the season.

Greg Rallo
Added Reinprecht, “It felt good to get some ice time and back in the swing of things. It would have been nice to have finished that one there with a minute left, but that’s the way it is. It’s just nice to be out there playing with (Bergenheim and Carter).”

Reinprecht holds a $2.05 million cap hit which could guarantee he makes the team (in order to hit the cap floor).

Steven Reinprecht
“He’s an intriguing player,” Dineen said of Esposito, a Mount Royal, Quebec, native. “He comes from an organization that historically is always full of a lot of veteran players. They play to win every night, so a lot of times prospects in that organization have a little trouble finding some ice (time). His stats may reflect that. Like a lot of players, we want to see them in a game and give them the opportunity. I thought he was very solid for us tonight.”

With all of the Florida Panthers' offseason acquisitions, Esposito remains a longshot to make the team.

Angelo Esposito
Forward Martin Erat knows he will continue to have back pain for the rest of his career. The ailment, which caused him to miss 18 games last season won’t go away. But he believes he can manage it, which is why he worked on strengthening his mid-section in hopes of dulling the pain over the long haul of the season.

With a $6 million cap hit, the Preds certainly expect more from Erat. Following back-to-back 57-point campaigns, the Czech native posted at least 49 points over the past three seasons. If fully healthy, this top liners could be a nice sleeper pick.

Martin Erat
Liles now takes over as the Leafs’ primary puck-moving defenceman — inheriting the mantle held by Tomas Kaberle, though he does not invite comparisons to the former Leaf star.

Sounds like the Leafs will rely on Liles to be their main point producer. The 30-year-old defender established a career high in assists with 40 while playing for the lowly Colorado Avalanche.

John-Michael Liles

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!