NHL Hockey Player News

Markstrom (lower body) skated for the first time Monday and hopes to return on Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Markstrom has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury and will miss at least one more. Dustin Wolf has filled in admirably so far since Markstrom's injury, saving 67 of 70 shots (.957 SV%), winning both of his starts, and will start again Monday against the Washington Capitals.

Jacob Markstrom
Eriksson Ek (lower body) did not join the Wild on their California road trip and is expected to miss at least the next two games.

Eriksson Ek has not played the last two games due to a lower-body injury and will miss at least two more. Eriksson Ek has been tremendous for Minnesota this season and, although the severity of his injury seems minor, it creates a sizeable void down the middle in the lineup. Through 66 games this season, Eriksson Ek already has 60 points (29G / 31A), only one shy of his career-high set last season.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Bobrovsky missed practice on Monday due to illness.

The Panthers do not play until Thursday, March 21st, so Bobrovsky's absence from practice due to illness could be a moot point by then. The veteran netminder has been terrific this season but has struggled lately, allowing three or more goals in three straight (1-2-0), including allowing four goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in his last outing.

Sergei Bobrovsky
Smith has been recalled from Tucson (AHL) on an emergency loan.

Smith was the third-round pick of the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 14 career NHL games but has yet to suit up with the Coyotes this season. In 48 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners, he has 27 points (9G / 18A).

Nathan Smith
Edmonton has signed Connor Ungar to a two-year, entry-level contract on Monday.

Ungar is an undrafted 22-year-old netminder out of Alberta who has earned himself his first professional contract after an impressive campaign with Brock University (OUAA), posting a 2.15 GAA and .932 SV% in 26 games (20-6-0). Previously, Ungar spent five seasons in the WHL.

Connor Ungar
Wotherspoon has been reassigned to Utica (AHL) on Monday.

Wotherspoon earned his first call-up of the season last week after it was announced Jonas Seaganthaler (concussion) would be out indefinitely, but did not crack the lineup. The 31-year-old defenseman's last NHL appearance was in 2016-17 with Calgary. He has succeeded on Utica's back-end this season, with four goals, 19 points, 18 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 54 games played.

Tyler Wotherspoon
Daws has been reassigned to Utica (AHL) on Monday.

With the Devils' recent acquisitions of Kaapo Kahkonen and Jake Allen, Daws has become the odd-man out and has been reassigned to the Utica Comets (AHL). Daws struggled to be consistent between the pipes for the Devils this season, posting a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% in 21 games (9-11-0).

Nico Daws
Wolf will start Monday vs. the Capitals.

The Flames will turn to Wolf for a third straight game with Jacob Markstrom still sidelined with a lower-body injury. Wolf has been sensational at every level but, before this stint, has had trouble translating that to NHL success in limited action. That said, the 22-year-old Wolf may be finding his form with the Flames, as he has saved 67 of 70 shots (.957 SV%) since Markstrom's injury and has won both of his two starts. The Flames enter action as -130 home favourites against the Washington Capitals.

Dustin Wolf
Wayne Simmonds is retiring with the Philadelphia Flyers after 15 NHL seasons.

Simmonds was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and announced an end to his 15-year career on Monday. The 35-year-old SImmonds most recently played with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, being limited to only 18 games, scoring two points (0G / 2A). He ends his career with 1037 games and 526 points (263G / 263A), including two 30-goal campaigns.

Wayne Simmonds
Lycksell has been recalled from Lehigh-Valley (AHL) on Monday.

The Flyers made two transactions on Monday morning, recalling Lycksell and Adam Ginning from the Lehigh-Valley Phantoms (AHL). Lycksell played nine games with the Flyers this season but has spent most of his time in the AHL, scoring 38 points (19G / 19A) in 36 games with the Phantoms.

Olle Lycksell

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!