Goalie Start
Merzlikins is expected to start Saturday vs. the Penguins.
NHL Hockey Player News
Nylander (upper-body) is expected to be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Saturday.
Nylander has missed the last two games after taking an elbow to the head from Keegan Kolesar last Saturday. Nylander has been excellent since being acquired by Columbus, picking up eight goals and three assists (11 points) in 15 games.
Goalie Start
Soderblom will start Saturday in Philadelphia.
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will likely start Saturday vs. the Rangers.
Guhle has been suspended for one game for his slash from the bench on Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny.
Robinson will be a healthy scratch for Friday's game against the Devils.
Robinson will take a seat on Friday in order to make way for the return of Tyson Jost (knee). Robinson has three goals and seven assists in 44 games this season.
Jost (knee) will play against the Devils on Friday.
Jost will return to the Sabres lineup after missing just over a week due to the injury. He has two goals and two assists in 36 games this season. Eric Robinson will draw out of the lineup to make room for Jost's return.
Goalie Start
Levi will start against the Devils on Friday.
The Sabres were on the losing end of an embarrassing 6-2 contest against the Ottawa Senators last night and will turn to Levi in the crease on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. Levi was solid in relief of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Wednesday, saving 31 of 32 shots (.969 SV%) in the eventual 6-2 loss.
Aston-Reese has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) on emergency conditions.
Detroit will be without Patrick Kane (illness) on Saturday and have a few players banged up which has led to the emergency recall of Zach Aston-Reese. The 29-year-old forward has appeared in only one game for the Red Wings this season and barely saw the ice as he only had 6:29 TOI without any counting stats.
Olofsson has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) on Friday.
Olofsson only appeared in one game for the Kraken and had no counting stats across 14:57 TOI and has been reassigned to Coachella Valley (AHL) on Friday. The 29-year-old will return to the Firebirds, where he had a goal and eight points in 41 games prior to his previous call up.
Fleury has been recalled from Coachella Valley (AHL) on an emergency basis.
Fleury has been recalled by Seattle for a second time this season on an emergency basis after putting up 32 points (6G/26A) in 60 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL). The 25-year-old has appeared in 12 games for the Kraken so far this season and has an assist, and two PIMs with limited ice time.
Nashville has signed Ryan Ufko to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Ufko is Nashville's 2021 fourth-round pick (115th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on Friday. The 20-year-old defenseman had an impressive third season at UMass (NCAA) as the team captain, with 10 goals, 26 points, 14 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 37 games played.
Shea has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Friday.
Shea will return to Pittsburgh yet again after putting up two goals and six points in 22 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 27-year-old is still looking for his first NHL point this season as he appeared in 22 games with the Penguins earlier in the year and had six PIMs and a -2 plus/minus.
Ceci (illness) missed practice on Friday and will be a game-time decision on Saturday vs. Anaheim.
Ceci was absent from the Oilers' morning skate on Friday due to a lingering illness and will be a game-time decision on Saturday vs. Anaheim. If the 30-year-old defenseman is unable to go, Troy Stecher will likely take his spot in the lineup. Ceci has yet to miss a game this season as he has three goals, 21 points, 86 SOG and a +6 plus/minus through 71 games played so far.
Moverare has been recalled from Ontario (AHL) on Friday.
Moverare's short stint with Ontario (AHL) lasted a total of three days as the 25-year-old was recalled from the minors on Friday. The rookie defensemen scored his first NHL goal this season but is still without an assist to go along with his 10 SOG, six PIMs and +3 plus/minus through 19 games played this season.
Pietrangelo (illness) has joined Vegas on their road trip and is likely to return on Saturday vs. Minnesota.
Pietrangelo has missed Vegas' last six games due to illness but has rejoined the team on their road trip and is likely to return in Minnesota on Saturday. The 34-year-old is having a down year compared to his previous seasons in Vegas, with four goals, 32 points, 137 SOG and 24 PIMs in 62 games played before his ailment.
Anaheim has signed Nico Myatovic to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Myatovic was drafted by Anaheim in the 2023 second round (33rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday and will join San Diego (AHL) for the remainder of the season. The 19-year-old left-winger just completed his fourth junior season with the Seattle Thunderbirds (AHL) and had nine goals, 30 points and 20 PIMs in 34 games played.
Kane (illness) is questionable to play on Saturday in Florida.
Kane missed the Red Wings' important game Thursday due to illness and is questionable to return to the lineup on Saturday in Florida. The 35-year-old has turned out to be one of the season's best signings as he has been nothing short of spectacular in his return from a back injury, with 17 goals, 40 points, 125 SOG and six PIMs in 41 games played this season.
Goalie Start
Varlamov will start on Saturday in Tampa Bay.
Goalie Start
Lyon will start on Saturday in Florida.
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!
- 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.