NHL Hockey Player News

Gawanke has been placed on unconditional waivers and will have his contract terminated.

Gawanke has spent the entirety of the season with the San Jose Baracuda of the AHL, tallying 27 points (8G / 19A) in 38 games. The 24-year-old was the fifth-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He will return to Germany and will play for Adler Mannheim.

Leon Gawanke
Jonsson-Fjallby has cleared waivers and been loaned to Manitoba (AHL).

With newcomer Sean Monahan joining the Jets and Mark Scheifele being activated from IR, Jonsson-Fjallby was placed on waivers Tuesday and will report to the Manitoba Moose (AHL). In 26 games this season, the 25-year-old Jonsson-Fjallby has five points (2G / 3A), 23 shots, and 28 hits while averaging 8:07 time-on-ice.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
Dumba (upper body) will return Thursday vs. Vegas.

Dumba returned to practice on Tuesday and will re-enter the Coyotes' lineup after a three-game absence. The 29-year-old Dumba has been limited to only five points (2G / 3A) in 44 games with the Coyotes this season while playing predominantly on a defensive pair with Travis Dermott.

Matt Dumba
Hayton (upper body) will return to the Coyotes' lineup Thursday.

Hayton has not played since mid-November and will make his long-awaited return to the lineup on Thursday. Before his injury, Hayton had four points (2G / 2A) in his last five games after being held without a single point in his previous 11.

Barrett Hayton
Acciari (concussion) is expected to miss the Penguins' next two road games before providing another update.

Acciari was limited to only 5:35 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets before exiting the game with a concussion. Acciari has played 11 of the past 12 games for the Penguins but failed to register a point in that time while averaging 12:58 time-on-ice.

Noel Acciari
Turcotte has been recalled from Ontario (AHL) on Thursday.

Turcotte was reassigned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL in correspondence with the All-Star and, after being recalled on Thursday, will likely draw back into the lineup in the Kings' first game back. In his last outing, Turcotte scored two points (1G / 1A) while playing 10:02 time-on-ice.

Alex Turcotte
Lyon will start on Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Lyon has emerged as the go-to guy between the pipes for the Red Wings and will start on Saturday when the team returns to the ice for their first game since the All-Star break. Lyon has a 2.51 GAA and .922 SV% in 21 games (13-6-2) but will be hard-pressed for a victory against the high-scoring Vancouver Canucks.

Alex Lyon
Demko will start on Thursday in Boston.

Demko returns to the crease on Thursday as he attempts to extend his nine-game winning streak. On Tuesday, Demko was excellent, saving 22 of 24 shots (.917 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. The California-born netminder is putting together a Vezina-calibre season with a 2.43 GAA, .920 SV%, and five shutouts through 36 games (27-8-1). The Canucks enter Thursday's matchup against the Boston Bruins as +120 road underdogs.

Thatcher Demko
Georgiev is expected to start Thursday in Carolina.

After getting the night off on the back end of a back-to-back on Tuesday, Georgiev will likely return to the crease for the sixth time in the last seven games. Georgiev has been excellent lately, posting a .938 SV% across his last three games (2-0-1) while allowing two or fewer goals in each contest, his first stretch of that calibre since the opening week of the season. That said, the Avalanche are +122 road underdogs on Thursday against a Carolina Hurricanes club that saw their three-game winning streak end with a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Alexandar Georgiev
Stanley will draw back into the Jets' lineup as the replacement for suspended Brenden Dillon.

Brenden Dillon was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head of Noel Acciari on Tuesday, creating a lineup opening for Stanley. Stanley has not played since December 12th and has been limited to only seven games this season, averaging 12:19 time-on-ice.

Logan Stanley
Brossoit will start Thursday in Philadelphia.

Brossoit will tend the twine on Thursday in an attempt to snap a four-game losing streak for the Jets. Brossoit has been sensational when called upon this season, highlighted by a multi-week stretch where he has posted a 4-0-1 record, allowing fewer than three goals in each contest and posting a dazzling .951 SV%. The Jets look poised to get back into the win column as -136 road favourites against a Philadelphia Flyers club that snapped a five-game losing skid in their last outing.

Laurent Brossoit
Kuemper will start Thursday in Florida.

Charlie Lindgren started in the Capitals' return from the All-Star break on Tuesday but did not finish the contest. Kuemper entered the game in relief of Lindgren, saving 15 of 17 shots (.882 SV%) in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Kuemper has been wildly inconsistent this season, highlighted by his performances in his last two starts, in which he allowed five goals in one contest and recorded a shutout in the other. As such, the Capitals are sizeable +237 road underdogs heading into action against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night.

Darcy Kuemper
Markstrom will start Thursday vs. New Jersey.

Markstrom will return to the crease for the Flames on Thursday night, his fifth straight start. The 32-year-old Markstrom has been sensational lately, winning two straight games by saving 53 of the last 54 shots he's faced (.981 SV%). The Flames are +126 road underdogs against a Devils that is welcoming Jack Hughes back into the lineup and is coming off an impressive 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Jacob Markstrom
Cizikas (lower body) was activated from the Long-Term Injured Reserve and is expected back on Thursday.

Cizikas has been out of the lineup since January 9th due to a lower-body injury but will return to action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old is producing at a similar rate to his previous seasons, with 11 points (5G/6A) in 39 games played before his injury.

Casey Cizikas

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!