NHL Hockey Player News

Jankowski has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) on Friday.

Jankowski scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings but will be reassigned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL), ending his five-game stint with the Predators. The 29-year-old Jankowski has 329 NHL games under his belt but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with Milwaukee in the AHL, scoring an impressive 47 points (15G / 32A) in 42 games.

Mark Jankowski
Pickard will start on Friday vs. Minnesota.

Pickard has continued to be serviceable despite the Oilers' recent struggles and will return to the crease on Friday night. After their franchise-best 16-game winning streak ended earlier this month, the Oilers have showcased a pedestrian 4-3-1 in their last eight, allowing three or more goals in each contest. That said, Pickard is riding a six-game winning streak, allowing three or fewer goals in each while boasting a respectable .916 SV%. The Oilers enter action as -177 home favourites against the Minnesota Wild.

Calvin Pickard
Hellebuyck is expected to start on Friday in Chicago.

Hellebuyck had the night off in Winnipeg's 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday but will return to the crease on Friday in a favourable matchup against the low-scoring Chicago Blackhawks (2.09 GF / GP). Hellebuyck allowed five goals on 33 shots (.848 SV%) in his last contest but was playing excellent hockey leading up to that, saving 87 of 90 shots (.967 SV%) during a three-game winning streak. The Jets enter action on Friday as sizeable -275 road favourites.

Connor Hellebuyck
Mrazek will start on Friday vs. Winnipeg.

Mrazek had the night off in Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday but will return to the crease on Friday night. The Czech netminder had a rough time in his last outing, allowing five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks enter action as +237 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets club that is 4-5-1 in their last 10.

Petr Mrazek
Fasching (illness) has been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL) for conditioning purposes.

Fasching has been out of the lineup since before the All-Star break and has been reassigned to Bridgeport (AHL) for conditioning. The depth right-winger has struggled offensively with the Islanders this season, with three goals, eight points, 30 SOG and a -8 plus/minus in 35 games played.

Hudson Fasching
Tarasov will start Friday vs. the Sabres.

Tarasov will start for the second straight game after an impressive outing in his last contest. On Wednesday, Tarasov exited the game briefly at the end of the second period but returned in the third en route to saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The Blue Jackets enter Friday's matchup against the Buffalo Sabres as +136 home underdogs.

Daniil Tarasov
Luukkonen is in the starter's crease at Buffalo's morning skate.

Luukkonen will likely return to the crease for the fourth straight game on Friday evening. The 24-year-old Finnish netminder has been outstanding lately, allowing more than three goals only once in his last 15 outings (9-6-0), boasting a terrific .933 SV% and three shutouts. The Sabres are -147 road favourites heading into Friday's tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Mrazek was in the starter's crease at Friday's morning skate.

Mrazek had the night off in Chicago's 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday but will likely return to the crease on Friday night. The Czech netminder had a rough time in his last outing, allowing five goals on 41 shots (.878 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blackhawks enter action as +237 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets club that is 4-5-1 in their last 10.

Petr Mrazek
Lycksell has been loaned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL).

Lycksell was limited to only 4:36 time-on-ice in his last outing on February 12th, his only action in the last seven games, and has been loaned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. The 24-year-old Lycksell has played five games for the Flyers this season, tallying one assist and nine shots on goal.

Olle Lycksell
Oshie left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and did not return.

Oshie had to be helped off the ice after suffering a non-contact lower-body injury. Head coach Spencer Carbery said that his level of concern for Oshie's injury was "fairly high" and added that he'll be evaluated on Friday. Expect the Capitals to release a detailed timeline in the coming days, but it looks like Oshie is going to be out long-term.

T.J. Oshie
Rittich will start against the Predators on Thursday.

The Kings will turn back to Rittich after Cam Talbot got the nod in each of the team's last two games. Rittich secured a victory his last time out, allowing four goals on 32 shots as Los Angeles held on to defeat the Bruins by a score of 5-4. Rittich owns an impressive .919 SV% and 2.25 GAA on the season to go along with his 8-2-3 record. He draws a solid matchup on Thursday, with the Kings being -160 favourites to pick up the win over the visiting Predators.

David Rittich
Saros will start in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Saros will return to the Predators' crease after a rare backing up of Kevin Lankinen in Nashville's last game after he was the first goalie off the ice at an optional skate on Thursday. The 28-year-old has recently become the talk of trade speculation even though he is having one of the worst seasons of his nine-year career, with his 21-21-2 record, 3.02 GAA and .902 SV%. He will head to Los Angeles to take on the Kings on Thursday, who have won four straight and are third in the NHL in shots per game (33.5).

Juuse Saros

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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