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NHL Hockey Player News

Lehkonen (illness) will miss Tuesday's game vs. Calgary.

Lehkonen has been absent from the last two practices and will not play against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old Lehkonen has been tremendous lately, tallying 13 points (8G / 5A) in his last 12 games. Valeri Nichushkin is expected to take Lehkonen's spot on the top powerplay unit.

Artturi Lehkonen
Dunn (upper body) is expected to miss his fourth-straight game on Tuesday but was a full participant in morning skate.

Dunn has not played since March 4th when he was on the receiving end of a high hit from Calgary's Martin Pospisil, which landed him a three-game suspension. The 27-year-old Dunn is enjoying another productive season with Seattle and has six points (3G / 3A) in his last seven games. He will miss a third straight game on Tuesday but could return to the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Vince Dunn
Annunen will start on Tuesday vs. Calgary.

Annunen has started two of the last five games for the Avalanche and will return to the crease on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old netminder has only allowed two total goals across his last three games (2-0-1) and is riding a two-game shutout streak, saving 61 consecutive shots. Colorado enters action as a -164 road favourite against the Calgary Flames.

Justus Annunen
Joshua (hand) has been placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve retroactive to February 13, 2024.

Joshua hurt his hand in a fight on February 13th against Chicago and has not played since. The 27-year-old had been enjoying a breakout season in his fourth year in the NHL, with 13 goals, 26 points, 69 SOG, 46 PIMs and +16 plus/minus in 53 games before his injury.

Dakota Joshua
Skinner will start on Wednesday vs. Washington.

Skinner has only started one of the last three games but will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals. His recent inactivity hasn't resulted from poor play as he has been impressive lately, allowing two or fewer goals in five straight (4-0-1), posting a .947 SV%.

Stuart Skinner
Annunen is in the starter's crease at Colorado's morning skate.

Annunen has started two of the last five games for the Avalanche and will likely return to the crease on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old netminder has only allowed two total goals across his last three games (2-0-1) and is riding a two-game shutout streak, saving 61 consecutive shots. Colorado enters action as a -164 road favourite against the Calgary Flames.

Justus Annunen
Grubauer was the first goalie off the ice at Seattle's morning skate on Tuesday.

Joey Daccord played the last two games for Seattle, ending a streak of four straight starts for Grubauer. Grubauer has been tremendous since returning to the lineup from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, posting a sensational .943 SV% in seven appearances (5-1-0), far and away his best stretch as a member of the Seattle Kraken. That said, Seattle enters action as a +128 home underdog against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Philipp Grubauer
Rodrigues (lower body) is out on Tuesday in Dallas and considered day-to-day.

Rodrigues exited Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames after playing only 9:05 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. Before his injury, Rodrigues had three points (2G / 1A) in his last four games. Kyle Okposo will draw into the Panthers lineup on Tuesday, making his team debut.

Evan Rodrigues
Okposo will make his Panthers' debut on Tuesday in Dallas.

Okposo will make his Panthers' debut on Tuesday night after being acquired via trade from the Buffalo Sabres last week. The 35-year-old Okposo is an impending UFA and has tallied 22 points (12G / 10A), 106 shots, and 60 hits while averaging 13:37 time-on-ice through 61 games this season.

Kyle Okposo
Gibson will start on Tuesday in Chicago.

Gibson has played only one of the last five games for the Ducks but will return to the crease on Tuesday night. The 30-year-old netminder has allowed four or more goals in three of his last four (1-2-1), including six on 36 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars in his last outing. The Ducks enter action as slight -101 road underdogs against the Chicago Blackhawks.

John Gibson
Pospisil will return on Tuesday from his three-game suspension.

Pospisil was suspended for three games after delivering a high hit on Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn. The Slovak-born Pospisil has six goals and nine assists in 45 games this season and will return to the Flames' lineup on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Martin Pospisil
Silovs has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) on Tuesday.

With Thatcher Demko sidelined for the next few weeks, Vancouver recalled Silovs from Abbotsford (AHL). Silovs played five games in Vancouver last season but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with Abbotsford, posting a 2.74 GAA and .907 SV% in 33 games (15-11-6). The 22-year-old Silovs is unlikely to see much, if any, action with Vancouver and will likely serve exclusively as Casey DeSmith's backup.

Arturs Silovs
Hayton (undisclosed) appears to be out on Tuesday vs. Minnesota.

Hayton has begun to find productivity lately but is unlikely to play on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. In his last six games, Hayton has scored four points (2G / 2A) after scoring only two points (0G / 2A) in his previous 11.

Barrett Hayton
Sanford will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Anaheim.

Sanford performed well in the last three games for the Blackhawks, tallying one point (0G / 1A), seven shots, and three hits. He exits the lineup on Tuesday to allow Andreas Athanasiou (groin) to play his first game since mid-November.

Zach Sanford
Slaggert signed a two-year, entry-level contract on the weekend and is expected to make his debut on Friday vs. Los Angeles.

Slaggert was the third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has earned himself a two-year, entry-level contract. The 21-year-old forward has spent the last four seasons playing collegiate hockey with Notre Dame and scored 31 points (20G / 11A) in 36 games this season.

Landon Slaggert
Mrazek will start Tuesday vs. the Ducks.

The Blackhawks have won two of their last three outings, but Mrazek has not been in between the pipes for either. The Czech netminder has allowed four or more goals in three straight (0-3-0) and is riding a six-game losing skid (0-5-1). That said, Mrazek and the Blackhawks are slight -107 home favourites against an Anaheim Ducks club that has scored only six goals in their last four games (1-3-0).

Petr Mrazek
Vejmelka will start Tuesday in Minnesota.

Vejmelka is responsible for two of the Coyotes' last three wins and will return to the crease for the fourth time in the last seven games. The Czech netminder has allowed three or fewer goals in three straight (2-1-0) but is coming off a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, where he allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%). The Coyotes enter action as +171 road underdogs against Minnesota.

Karel Vejmelka
Luukkonen will start on Tuesday vs. Detroit.

Luukkonen has started 11 of the 12 games for the Sabres and will return to the crease again on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old Luukkonen has been tremendous this season, a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the Sabres. In his last outing, Luukkonen saved 30 of 32 shots (.938 SV%) in a 3-2 win against the high-powered offence of the Edmonton Oilers. The Sabres enter action on Tuesday as -125 home favourites against the Detroit Red Wings, losers of five in a row.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

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!