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NHL Hockey Player News

Barkov (undisclosed) will not play against the Predators on Thursday.

Barkov played a season-high 24:26 in the Panthers' last game on March 16th, but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point, which will cause him to miss Thursday's contest against the Nashville Predators. The 28-year-old Barkov has four points (3G / 1A) in his last six games but has been held off the scoresheet in four.

Aleksander Barkov
Hamonic (lower-body) will play against the Blues on Thursday.

Hamonic has not played since February 27th, missing 10 games with a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The 33-year-old defenseman has six points (2G / 4A), 51 hits, and 74 blocks in 47 games this season.

Travis Hamonic
Giroux (illness) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to play against the Blues on Thursday.

Giroux is battling an illness and his status is up in the air for Thursday's contest against the St. Louis Blues. Despite the Senators' struggles this season, the 36-year-old Giroux has enjoyed another productive campaign, scoring 57 points (19G / 38A) in 67 games.

Claude Giroux
Forsberg will start against the Blues on Thursday.

After a 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins with Joonas Korpisalo between the pipes on Tuesday, the Senators will turn to Forsberg on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. Forsberg didn't fare any better in his last outing, allowing seven goals on 38 shots (.816 SV%) in a 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Senators, outscored 13-4 in their last two games (0-2-0), enter action as -126 home favourites against the Blues.

Anton Forsberg
Larkin (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to return to the lineup for Thursday's game against the Islanders.

Larkin returned to practice in a full capacity on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2nd and appears ready to play on Thursday. Before his injury, Larkin led the Red Wings with 54 points (26G / 28A) in 55 games while averaging 3.0 shots per night.

Dylan Larkin
Brossoit will start in New Jersey on Thursday.

Brossoit will look to extend Winnipeg's three-game winning streak as he takes the crease for the second time in four games on Thursday vs. New Jersey. The 30-year-old veteran netminder has been arguably the league's best backup this season with his impressive 12-4-2 record, 1.99 GAA and .927 SV%. He will head to New Jersey to take on the Devils, who have struggled as of late winning only three of their last 10 games.

Laurent Brossoit
Desmith will start on Thursday vs. Montreal.

DeSmith will get the call between the pipes for the fourth consecutive game when the Canucks host the Canadiens on Thursday. He picked up his first victory since taking over as the Canucks' interim starter in a 3-2 win over the Sabres on Tuesday, allowing two goals on 17 shots. He should continue to see the bulk of the work in the Canucks' crease over the next couple weeks while starter Thatcher Demko is sidelined with a knee injury. DeSmith is in a great spot to stay in the win column on Thursday, with the Canucks being -260 favourites over the Habs.

Casey DeSmith
Jiricek has been recalled from Cleveland (AHL) on an emergency basis.

Jiricek has been in Cleveland (AHL) since early January but will head back to Columbus on Thursday on an emergency basis. The 20-year-old rookie defenseman has played well despite only averaging 14:46 TOI per game this season, with a goal, eight assists, 33 SOG, 20 PIMs, and a -1 plus/minus through 36 games played.

David Jiricek
Pionk (illness) is not expected to play on Thursday but will still be a game-time decision.

Pionk missed practice on Wednesday due to illness and is expected not to suit up on Thursday but still remains a game-time decision. If the 28-year-old is forced to miss Thursday, he will miss his first game of the season after picking up 25 points (5G/20A) in 68 games played.

Neal Pionk
Rempe will draw back into the Rangers' lineup on Thursday in Boston.

Rempe served his two-game suspension and was a healthy scratch for the Rangers' previous game but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday in Boston. The 21-year-old towering winger has taken the NHL by storm since playing his first game in February, with a goal, two points, eight SOG, and 54 PIMs in 10 games played.

Matt Rempe
Quick will start on Thursday in Boston.

The Rangers will rely on Quick in the crease on Thursday night for his second start in the last four games. The veteran Quick has only played twice in the last 10 games but has recorded victories in each, most recently saving 34 of 38 shots (.895 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 16th. The Rangers enter action as +126 road underdogs against a Boston Bruins club riding a three-game winning streak.

Jonathan Quick
Blackwell (upper body) will be out Thursday vs. Anaheim and is day-to-day as he is further evaluated by team doctors.

Blackwell left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and will not be available on Thursday vs. Anaheim as he is being further evaluated by the team. The 30-year-old center has eight goals and 12 points in 39 games before his injury.

Colin Blackwell

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!