Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

NHL Hockey Player News

Jacob Markstrom(G)|NJD
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Markstrom will start vs. Los Angeles on Thursday.

Markstrom has a light night in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, allowing two goals on 16 shots (.875 SV%), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 34-year-old Markstrom has been serviceable this season, posting a 2.48 GAA and .906 SV% in 21 games (13-6-2). The Devils enter Thursday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Kings club outscoring their opposition 21-8 during a season-best six-game winning streak.

Source:
Amanda Stein 2024-12-12T20:52:35.760Z
Jacob Markstrom
Zach Whitecloud(D)|CGY
Injury
Injury
Whitecloud (upper-body) is expected to return to Vegas' lineup on Thursday in Winnipeg.

Whitecloud has been out of the lineup for two weeks but will return to action on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Whitecloud was averaging 17:23 time-on-ice before his injury, recording two points (1G / 1A), 40 blocks, and 33 hits in 21 games.

Source:
Ken Wiebe 2024-12-12T20:29:13.432Z
Zach Whitecloud
Adin Hill(G)|VGK
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hill will start in Winnipeg on Thursday.

The Golden Knights have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 8-3, and will roll with Hill between the pipes on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Hill has a respectable 2.63 GAA and .905 SV% in 18 games this season (12-4-2) and has been excellent lately, allowing three or fewer goals in eight straight (6-1-1), posting a stellar .938 SV%. The Golden Knights enter Thursday's contest as +108 road underdogs against a Jets club they defeated 4-3 less than two weeks ago.

Source:
Ken Wiebe 2024-12-12T20:28:30.111Z
Adin Hill
Sergei Bobrovsky(G)|FLA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Bobrovsky will start in Vancouver on Thursday.

Bobrovsky has strung together four straight wins, allowing only six combined goals and posting a sublime .941 SV%. It's a step in the right direction for the 36-year-old Bobrovsky, who has a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% in 19 games this season (13-5-1). The Panthers enter Thursday's contest as -159 road favorites against a Vancouver Canucks club welcoming J.T. Miller (personal) back into the lineup.

Source:
Doug Plagens 2024-12-12T20:25:51.855Z
Sergei Bobrovsky
Karel Vejmelka(G)|UTA
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start in Colorado on Thurdsay.

Vejmelka struggled in his previous outing, allowing four goals on 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild. Despite the minor blip on Tuesday, the 28-year-old Czech netminder has been stellar between the pipes this season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .915 SV% in 15 appearances (4-7-2). Utah HC enters Thursday's contest as +156 road underdogs against a Colorado Avalanche club that defeated them 5-1 in their only other meeting this season.

Source:
Cole Bagley 2024-12-12T20:01:00.595Z
Karel Vejmelka
Robert Bortuzzo(D)|FA
Injury
Injury
Bortuzzo (lower-body) did not travel with Utah on their current trip and is expected to be out indefinitely.

Bortuzzo has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries this season. He exited Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury after playing only 6:57 time-on-ice. The 35-year-old Bortuzzo is averaging 11:03 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in 15 games this season.

Source:
Belle Fraser 2024-12-12T19:50:17.094Z
Robert Bortuzzo
Charlie Lindgren(G)|WSH
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Lindgren is expected to 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).

Source:
Sammi Silber 2024-12-12T19:48:37.994Z
Charlie Lindgren
Kevin Lankinen(G)|VAN
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Lankinen will start vs. Florida on Thursday.

Thatcher Demko (lower body) made his long-awaited season debut in a 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, but the Canucks will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Lankinen has been solid tending the twice for the Canucks this season, posting a 2.65 GAA and .908 SV% in 20 games (13-4-3), and will likely continue seeing a reasonable workload as Demko acclimates pack to game speed. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as +153 home underdogs against a Panthers club riding a three-game winning streak.

Source:
Doug Plagens 2024-12-12T19:18:14.084Z
Kevin Lankinen
Alex Nylander(LW)|FA
Send Down
Send Down
Nylander cleared waivers on Thursday and has been reassigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

With several injured players returning to the Maple Leafs lineup, Alex Nylander had fallen out of the lineup rotation and was placed on waivers on Wednesday. Nylander was signed by the Maple Leafs three weeks ago and averaged 9:53 time-on-ice while recording zero points in five games.

Source:
Leafs PR 2024-12-12T19:39:06.598Z
Alex Nylander
Mason Lohrei(D)|BOS
Line Change
Line Change
Lohrei will be a healthy scratch in Seattle on Thursday.

Parker Wotherspoon will draw back into the lineup for the Bruins on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, resulting in Lohrei being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Lohrei has consistently been in the lineup this season, averaging 17:45 time-on-ice and scoring 12 points (1G / 11A) in 26 games.

Source:
Fluto Shinzawa 2024-12-12T19:26:33.867Z
Mason Lohrei
Marc McLaughlin(C)|NJD
Line Change
Line Change
McLaughlin will be a healthy scratch in Seattle on Thursday.

Tyler Johnson will return from a five-game absence on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, making McLaughlin the odd-man out as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old McLaughlin has played six straight for the Bruins, averaging 9:46 time-on-ice and scoring zero points.

Source:
Fluto Shinzawa 2024-12-12T19:35:01.554Z
Marc McLaughlin
Parker Wotherspoon(D)|PIT
Line Change
Line Change
Wotherspoon will draw back into Boston's lineup in Seattle on Thursday.

Mason Lohrei will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Wotherspoon re-enter the lineup for the first time since November 29th. The 27-year-old Wotherspoon is averaging 15:51 time-on-ice and has zero points, 17 blocks, and 19 hits in 15 games this season.

Source:
Fluto Shinzawa 2024-12-12T19:28:02.959Z
Parker Wotherspoon
Tyler Johnson(C)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Johnson is expected to draw back into Boston's lineup on Thursday in Seattle.

Marc McLaughlin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Johnson to return from a five-game absence. The 34-year-old Johnson is averaging 13:07 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) in eight games this season.

Source:
Fluto Shinzawa 2024-12-12T19:18:38.860Z
Tyler Johnson
Joonas Korpisalo(G)|BOS
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Korpisalo will start in Seattle on Thursday.

Jeremy Swayman allowed eight goals in Tuesday's one-side 8-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and the Bruins will revert to Korpisalo between the pipes. The 30-year-old Korpisalo has a solid 2.40 GAA and .909 SV% in 10 appearances this season (6-2-1) but has been excellent lately, allowing three or fewer goals in six straight (5-0-1), posting a stellar .931 SV%. The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight -115 road favorites against a Seattle Kraken club with points in four of their last five (3-1-1).

Source:
Fluto Shinzawa 2024-12-12T19:16:36.214Z
Joonas Korpisalo
Henri Nikkanen(C)|WPG
$125 Waivers
$125 Waivers
Nikkanen has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.

Nikkanen was a fourth-round pick, 113th overall, of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has never played an NHL game and has four points (1G / 3A) in 13 games with the Manitoba Moose (AHL) this season.

Source:
Winnipeg Jets PR 2024-12-12T19:10:27.586Z
Henri Nikkanen
J.T. Miller(C)|NYR
Line Change
Line Change
Miller will return from his personal leave vs. Florida on Thursday

Miller returned to practice on Tuesday and will return from an 11-game absence on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Before his absence, the 31-year-old Miller had been centering the top line and top powerplay unit in Vancouver and scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 17 games, leading all forwards on the team.

Source:
Vancouver Canucks 2024-12-12T19:08:57.822Z
J.T. Miller

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!