NHL Hockey Player News

Demek has been reassigned to Henderon (AHL) on Friday.

Demek was the 128th overall pick of the Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL Entry Entry Draft. He was recalled by the Golden Knights last week but was unable to crack the lineup. The 20-year-old Slovak-born forward is playing his first professional season and has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 44 games with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL.

Jakub Demek
Skinner will start on Saturday in Seattle.

Skinner will start for the fourth straight game on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken, who are coming off a 2-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a two-game losing skid in which he allowed 11 combined goals, Skinner has won two straight, including a 32-save performance (.941 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

Stuart Skinner
Jarnkrok (broken knuckle) is a game-time decision on Saturday vs. New York.

Janrkrok has been out of the lineup since late January but his return is on the immediate horizon. The 32-year-old Jarnkrok played all 46 games for the Maple Leafs before his injury, scoring 19 points (10G / 9A) while averaging 15:18 time-on-ice.

Calle Jarnkrok
Samsonov will start on Saturday vs. New York.

Samsonov will start for the third straight game on Saturday in a matchup against the red-hot New York Rangers. The 27-year-old Samsonov is coming off his worst outing since rejoining the Maple Leafs from a conditioning stint with the Marlies (AHL) in mid-January, allowing five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 6-2 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Ilya Samsonov
Giordano (head) has been placed on Injured Reserve.

Giordano played only 3:09 time-on-ice before exiting the Maple Leafs' 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes with an upper-body injury in the first period. The 40-year-old Giordano just returned from a five-game absence for personal reasons earlier this week and has missed considerable time already this season.

Mark Giordano
Hellebuyck will start on Saturday vs. Carolina.

Hellebuyck will start the front end, and less favourable matchup, of a back-to-back for the Jets on Saturday. The All-Star netminder played exceptionally despite allowing three goals on 35 shots (.914 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night, snapping a four-game winning streak for the Jets.

Connor Hellebuyck
New York has signed Connor Mackey to a two-year, contract extension.

Mackey played one game with the Rangers earlier this season but has spent the majority of the 2023-24 campaign with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), scoring 11 points (2G / 9A) in 36 games. The undrafted 27-year-old defenseman has played 40 career NHL games across stints with the Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Calgary Flames.

Connor Mackey
Lyon will start on Saturday vs. Florida.

Lyon will get the chance to redeem himself after a poor showing in his last outing. On Thursday, Lyon allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders, snapping his four-game winning streak where he allowed only eight total goals. He will face off against the Florida Panthers, the team he made a name for himself with last season, and saved 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) against in a 3-2 victory on January 17th.

Alex Lyon
Primeau will start on Saturday vs. Tampa Bay.

Primeau will return to the crease on Saturday, his first start in four games for the Canadiens. In his last outing, Primeau allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Primeau and the Canadiens will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated them 4-3 in their last meeting on December 31st.

Cayden Primeau
Vilardi (upper body) left Thursday's game early and did not practice on Friday.

Vilardi exited Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not participate in practice on Friday. The 24-year-old Vilardi has been productive lately, scoring 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last seven games.

Gabriel Vilardi
Dadonov (lower body) is not expected back for the 2023-24 season.

Dadonov has not played since February 10th due to a lower-body fracture and will be out of the lineup for the remainder of the season. Dadonov had three points (2G / 1A) in his last five games before his injury and is expected to miss four to six weeks. Logan Stankoven has been the main benefactor with Dadonov out of the lineup, recording four points (3G / 1A) in four games in his spot on the third line with Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn.

Evgenii Dadonov

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!