Goalie Start
Andersen is in the starter's crease at the Hurricanes' morning skate.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Flyers have recalled Jacob Gaucher from Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Gaucher comes up from the AHL after an injury to Owen Tippett and the trade of Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee on Thursday. Gaucher could be in line to make his NHL debut on Sunday after scoring 14 goals and 13 assists (27 points) in 44 AHL games this season.
The Flyers have recalled Emil Andrae from Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Andrae has split his 2024-25 season between the AHL and NHL. In 20 games with the Flyers earlier this season, Andrae had one goal and four assists (five points). It's unclear whether or not he will draw into the lineup for Sunday's game in Colorado.
The Devils have recalled Nico Daws from Utica (AHL).
Daws will join Jake Allen to serve as the Devils' goalie tandem while Jacob Markstrom is sidelined with an injury. Daws appeared in 21 NHL games last season, going 9-11-0 with a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV%. In 21 AHL games this season, he is 5-14-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .888 SV%.
The Lightning have recalled Gage Goncalves from Syracuse (AHL).
Goncalves was "demoted" in a paper transaction on Friday, but has been recalled to the Lightning roster ahead of Saturday's game vs. the Islanders. Goncalves has skated in each of the last two games and has three points (1G / 2A) in 28 games this season.
The Lightning have recalled Matt Tomkins from Syracuse (AHL).
Tomkins was recalled to serve as Andrei Vasilevskiy's backup on Thursday because Jonas Johansson (undisclosed) is day-to-day. Yesterday's demotion was just a paper move, expect him to serve as Vasilevskiy's backup on Saturday.
The Penguins have acquired Melvin Fernström, Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen, and a 2025 first-round pick from the Canucks for Drew O'Connor and Marcus Pettersson.
The Penguins have acquired Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen, Melvin Fernström and a 2025 first-round pick from the Canucks for Drew O'Connor and Marcus Pettersson.
The Penguins have acquired Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernström and a 2025 first-round pick from the Canucks for Drew O'Connor and Marcus Pettersson.
The Canucks have acquired Drew O'Connor and Marcus Pettersson from the Penguins for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernström and a 2025 first-round pick.
The Canucks have acquired Marcus Pettersson and Drew O'Connor from the Penguins for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Melvin Fernström and a 2025 first-round pick.
Line Change
de Haan is a healthy scratch for Friday's game against the Blues.
de Haan draws out of the lineup in favour of Keaton Middleton. de Haan has zero goals and seven assists in 38 games this season.
Middleton will draw into the Avalanche lineup on Friday.
Middleton will slot in for Calvin de Haan, who is a healthy scratch on Friday. Middleton is yet to score a goal and has just one assist in 23 games this season.
Line Change
Kessel will draw into the Blues lineup on Friday.
Kessel will make his first appearance since December 12th, filling for Colton Parayko, who was late scratch on Friday due to an illness. Kessel has no goals and three assists in 26 games this season.
Parayko (illness) will not play in Colorado on Friday.
Parayko was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the team not announcing his absence prior to warmups. Matthew Kessel will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Stars placed Heiskanen (lower-body) on injured reserve on Friday.
Heiskanen exited Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period with 19:50 time-on-ice after Mark Stone made contact with his knee in an awkward collision. The 25-year-old Heiskanen leads Dallas in time-on-ice (25:10) and is out week-to-week. Before his injury, Heiskanen had five points (0G / 5A) during a five-game point streak.
Goalie Start
Hofer will start in Colorado on Friday.
Hofer played well in relief of Jordan Binnington in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, saving 10 of 11 shots (.909 SV%). The 24-year-old Hofer will start on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche and look to build on his 2.74 GAA and .906 SV% through 18 appearances this season (10-5-1). He has a .925 SV% in his last four appearances (2-1-0). The Blues enter the action on Friday as +158 road underdogs against an Avalanche team coming off a disappointing 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said there is a "good chance" Knies (upper-body) returns to Toronto's lineup on Saturday.
Knies suffered an upper-body injury on January 22nd and has not played since. The 22-year-old Knies is having a productive season in Toronto, scoring 31 points (18G / 13A) in 47 games. He has 12 points (7G / 5A) in his last 10 games. He is officially questionable for Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said there is a "good chance" Tavares (lower-body) returns to Toronto's lineup on Saturday.
Tavares has not played since January 14th, missing six games, but appears to be nearing a return after practicing in full on Friday. Before his injury, Tavares had been held off the scoresheet in three straight games but is still producing at a near point-per-game pace, scoring 42 points (20G / 22A) in 43 contests. He is officially questionable for Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Line Change
Raty will draw into the Canucks lineup on Friday.
Raty will fill the void left in Friday night's lineup after J.T. Miller was traded to the Rangers. Raty will centre Danton Heinen and Phil Di Giuseppe on Vancouver's fourth line.
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
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- 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.