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NHL Hockey Player News

The reports of Josh Bailey signing for two years, $2.1 million ($1.05 million salary) strikes me as a sign that the agents lost this one.

Bailey scored 11 goals and 28 points last season but is behind John Tavares and Frans Nielsen in the team's depth chart. The former 9th overall pick still holds the potential to break out but lacks and playing time, and overall consistency throughout his career, to attain such a goal.

Josh Bailey
The winger will be limited as camp begins but still hopes to play in up to four of the Hawks' seven exhibitions. He says doctors have told him "for the start of the season, no question at all I'll be 100 percent."

Kane missing part of training camp and only a handful of exhibition games seems much better than all of training camp. Expect him to get going earlier in the year, and draft accordingly.

Patrick Kane
The winger will be limited as camp begins but still hopes to play in up to four of the Hawks' seven exhibitions. He says doctors have told him "for the start of the season, no question at all I'll be 100 percent."

Kane missing part of training camp and only a handful of exhibition games seems much better than all of training camp. Expect him to get going earlier in the year, and draft accordingly.

Patrick Kane
I'm hearing the Winnipeg Jets are considering moving Dustin Byfuglien back to forward this season.

If the Jets believe Zach Bogosian can produce offensively, they will need to give him an appropriate amount of playing time. Moving Byfuglien creates top-pairing minutes, which in theory could be filled by the fourth-year player.

Dustin Byfuglien
"My approach to any camp is to go in with the 100 percent mind-set that you're going to stay, and that's my mind-set here,"

Siemens will need to fight an uphill battle against eight NHL-ready defensemen. Even if he does make the roster, don't expect much offense from the rugged, WHL defender.

Duncan Siemens
Things can always change, but initially, the offensive-minded Czech forward acquired from Minnesota for Heatley will be skating alongside Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe.

As predicted, look for Havlat to skate alongside the Clowe-Couture duo. The injury-prone winger should see an up-tick in production as his linemates are a certain upgrade over Kyle Brodziak and company.

Martin Havlat
Burns -- the single most significant acquisition of the offseason -- will start camp alongside Marc-Edouard Vlasic, rounding out a top four

Back when the Sharks traded for Burns we argued his lack of value could derive from not playing top-pairing minutes. While we remain highly bullish on the talented Burns, his value will not exponentially rise until he receives those minutes as he essentially upgrades Jason Demers.

Brent Burns
He has an opportunity to come in and battle for a job on our hockey team, but at the same time he doesn't have to be one of our top two centers if he does make our hockey club. He's a talented kid who can play in a lot of situations.

Reports out of Columbus indicate Johansen will lead the third line as the Blue Jackets attempt to roll three scoring lines out next season. The dynamic center impressed at the recent Traverse City Prospects Tournament and should be the focus of training camp.

Ryan Johansen
He said on Wednesday that he can’t say for certain yet if he is ready for prime time, only that his primary objective hasn’t changed: he wants to start the season with the Oilers, and not the Red Deer Rebels.

The 2011 first overall pick sounds eager to make the team out of camp but will need to outplay veterans like Gilbert Brule and Eric Belanger in the process. Training camp should be a litmus test for his work ethic and determination.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
He seems destined to a fourth-line role on the Oilers, at first glance, with Ryan Jones on one wing and somebody in the middle — Gilbert Brule, Ryan O’Marra, Anton Lander or Chris Vande Velde.

Eager should have another Eager-like season, agitating and fighting by trade. The 27-year-old has averaged 120 PIM or more over the last three seasons.

Tim Erixon, perhaps the best player for the Rangers during this week, looks like he will compete for a spot on the Rangers blueline this Fall.

Erixon will compete with Michael Del Zotto, Pavel Valentenko and others for a spot on the opening night roster. Following a strong showing at this week's Rookie Tournament, Erixon certainly did not hurt his chances.

Tim Erixon
The Sabres and defenseman Tyler Myers wrapped up their contract extension talks this morning, with the sides agreeing to a seven-year deal. Financial details were not immediately available.

With an improved supporting cast, Myers should be preparing for a career year. Look for his current average of 11 goals and 43 points to be his absolute floor.

Tyler Myers
Marinaro says that Markov has his knee drained in the United States and now must take time to rehab it again. The radio host says Markov developed the problem as a result of training too hard in order to be ready for the 2011-12 season.

Already bad news for the often-injured Markov. Every season it seems like his previous season's injuries make him a value pick but Markov has not played a full season in almost three years now. Draft knowing he will likely miss substantial amounts of playing time.

Andrei Markov
Signed as a free agent to a two-year, $9.5 million contract in the off-season, the smooth skating Connolly likely will start training camp on the No. 1 line between wingers Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.

Connolly once again struggled to stay healthy last season, ending the year in the Sabres' doghouse. Playing between Kessel and Lupul should help improve on his lower totals of last season -- 13 G, 42 P. As usual, the trick to Connolly succeeding is staying healthy.

“Every time I’m out there I feel better,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming, 18 months without doing anything. It’s coming back and I’m excited to get going.”

Certainly sounds like Mueller is on track to return to the lineup during the preseason. If you had him on your cheat sheet, keep him where he is as he looks "fine" on the ice. Expect further updates as they are reported.

Peter Mueller

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.

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