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NHL Hockey Player News

The Flyers have acquired Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick from the Flames for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost.

Kuzmenko broke onto the NHL scene in the 2022-23 season with a tremendous 74 points (39G / 35A) in 81 games with the Vancouver Canucks. The now 28-year-old has struggled to recapture that scoring prowess, with only 61 points (26G / 35A) in 109 games since.

Andrei Kuzmenko
Motte is listed as a scratch for Thursday's game in Edmonton.

Motte just returned from an upper-body injury on Monday, and it's unclear whether he may have reaggravated the injury or if he's simply a healthy scratch for Thursday's game. His absence makes way for the return of Vladimir Tarasenko (illness).

Tyler Motte
Lyon will start in Edmonton on Thursday.

Lyon will make his first start since January 21st when the Red Wings travel to Edmonton on Thursday. Lyon took an unfortunate loss his last time out, stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced in a 2-1 overtime loss in Philadelphia. He owns an 8-6-1 record and a .901 SV% on the season. Lyon could have a hard time getting back in the win column on Thursday, as the Red Wings enter action at +225 on the money line.

Alex Lyon
Gibson will start in Calgary on Thursday.

Gibson will make his 21st start of the season when the Ducks visit the Flames on Thursday. He stopped 9 of the 10 shots he faced in Saturday's game against the Predators before exiting the game due to an upper-body injury. Gibson owns an 8-8-2 record and a .912 SV% on the season. He and the Ducks enter action on Thursday at +160 on the money line.

John Gibson
Sorokin will start in Philadelphia on Thursday.

The Islanders are riding a season-best five-game winning streak and will roll with Sorokin between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Sorokin was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old netminder has been stellar lately, posting a .944 SV% in his last six games (5-1-0). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as -119 road favorites against a Flyers squad that suffered a disappointing 5-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils last night.

Ilya Sorokin
Suzuki will make his NHL debut against the Blackhawks on Thursday.

Suzuki was the 28th overall pick of the Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game but has been impressive at the AHL level. He has 30 points (6G / 24A) in 38 games with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) this season. He'll fill in for Sebastian Aho, who is out with an illness.

Ryan Suzuki
Aho (illness) is not on the ice for warmups for Thursday's game against the Blackhawks

Aho was absent from Carolina's morning skate on Thursday due to an illness and will be unavailable for their meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 27-year-old Aho has 51 points (17G / 34A) in 51 games this season, including five points (3G / 2A) in his last three.

Sebastian Aho
Kochetkov will start against the Blackhawks on Thursday.

The Hurricanes had a 4-0 shutout victory over the New York Rangers courtesy of a 22-save shutout by Frederik Andersen. That said, they will switch to Kochetkov between the pipes on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 25-year-old Kochetkov has a 2.48 GAA and .903 SV% through 31 games this season (18-9-3). He has been solid lately, posting a .913 SV% across his last 15 games (7-5-3). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as dominant -398 home favorites against a Blackhawks squad coming off an impressive 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pyotr Kochetkov
Vasilevskiy led the Lightning onto the ice for warmups for Thursday's game against the Kings.

Despite being questionable with an illness, Vasilevskiy will in fact get the nod in goal when the Lightning host the Kings on Thursday. Vasilevskiy took an unfortunate loss his last time out, allowing just one goal on 31 shots in a 2-0 loss in Detroit on Saturday. His record sits at 20-15-2 on the season to go along with a .915 SV%. Vasilevskiy and the Lightning enter action on Thursday at -160 on the money line.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

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!