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NHL Hockey Player News

Lee (illness) will play against the Blackhawks on Thursday.

Lee has been excellent for the Islanders lately but is battling an illness and was considered a game-time decision on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old Lee has 24 points (13G / 11A) in 30 games this season, including scoring 11 (6G / 5A) in his last nine.

Anders Lee
Savard (upper-body) will not play against the Penguins on Thursday.

Savard was a surprise scratch on Thursday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The Canadiens added that Savard is considered day-to-day with the injury. Jayden Struble will draw into the lineup in his place.

David Savard
Colangelo was reassigned to San Diego (AHL) on Thursday.

Colangelo was sent down in order to make room on the roster for Robby Fabbri, who was surprisingly activated from injured reserve as he is set to return against the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Colangelo is yet to register a point in eight NHL games this season.

Sam Colangelo
Zellweger is a healthy scratch for Thursday's game in Toronto.

Zellweger was a surprise absence on Thursday and was not announced as a scratch prior to warmups. Jackson Lacombe will draw into the lineup in his place while Pavel Mintyukov will likely fill Zellweger's spot on Anaheim's first power-play unit.

Olen Zellweger
Dostal will start in Toronto on Thursday.

The Ducks will turn to Dostal for the tail-end of their back-to-back in Toronto on Thursday. Dostal is fresh off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Canadiens on Monday when he stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced. The 24-year-old netminder owns an impressive .921 SV% on the season, but a lack of goal support has left him with an underwhelming 6-7-3 record. He'll have a tough time getting back in the win column on Thursday as the Ducks enter action as +330 underdogs to the Maple Leafs.

Lukas Dostal
Talbot will start in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Talbot missed the last four games but will start for the first time since December 1st. Talbot had an excellent start to the season, going 5-2-1 with a 2.34 GAA, .927 SV% and one shutout in his first nine games. However, things haven't been quite as good recently, as he's gone 1-3-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .895 SV% in his last six games. On Thursday, Talbot and the Red Wings are +119 underdogs in Philadelphia.

Cam Talbot
Rittich will start in New Jersey on Thursday.

Darcy Kuemper has played the last two games for the Kings but they will revert to Rittich on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old Rittich has a 2.45 GAA and .891 SV% in 17 appearances (10-6-0). With Kuemper battling through two different injuries already this season, the Kings may utilize Rittich more often than not in order to keep Kuemper fresh. The Kings enter Thursday's contest with the Devils as +132 road underdogs.

David Rittich
Lindgren will start in Columbus on Thursday.

The Capitals will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Lindgren between the pipes on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lindgren has won three straight outings, improving to a 2.80 GAA and .894 SV% in 13 games this season (8-5-0). The Capitals have won six of their last seven and enter Thursday's contest as -155 road favorites against a Blue Jackets club that has lost four of their last five (1-4-0).

Charlie Lindgren
Martinez (upper-body) flew back to Chicago to be re-evaluated.

Martinez was limited to only 13:53 time-on-ice before exiting Saturday's game due to an upper-body injury. He will miss a second consecutive game on Thursday and is being reevaluated in Chicago. The 37-year-old Martinez is averaging 20:05 time-on-ice, recording four points (1G / 3A), 38 blocks, and four hits in 15 games.

Alec Martinez

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!