1-year, $850,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Expires 2027 (UFA).
Source:
2026-09-25T23:59:00.000Z
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
2-year, $7,900,000 contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. Expires 2029 (UFA).
Source:2026-09-25T23:59:00.000Z
Kulich (undisclosed) is expected to return to Buffalo's practice on Saturday.
Kulich only appeared in 12 games with the Sabres in 2025-26 due to injury, but was removed from Thursday's preseason game vs. Detroit for precautionary reasons. The 22-year-old was Buffalo's 2022 1st-round pick (28th overall) and is hoping for a breakout campaign after putting up 18 goals, 29 points, and 154 SOG across 75 GP in the last two seasons. He is expected to return to Sabres' practice on Saturday.
Zellweger (concussion) is expected to be ready for Sabres' opening night.
Brazeau left Friday's practice with a lower-body injury.
Merzlikins (shoulder) will begin the 2026-27 season on Injured Reserve.
Chytil (upper-body) left Thursday's preseason game vs. Edmonton and will not return.
Chytil left Thursday's game vs. Edmonton with an upper-body injury after an ugly collision with a referee. The 27-year-old missed 70 games in 2025-26 with an upper-body injury, so this update adds to a long list of bad-luck injuries for the forward across his nine-year career. Since joining Vancouver midseason in 2024-25, he has appeared in 27 regular-season games for the Canucks.
Casey (lower-body) left Thursday's preseason game vs. New York and is out indefinitely.
Casey is expected to "miss some time," according to Head Coach Sheldon Keefe. It is a tough blow for the 22-year-old, who was hoping to make the Devils' lineup out of camp after appearing in two games last season and spending a stint on the injured reserve. In 29 games with Utica (AHL) last season, the defenseman put up an impressive 19 points despite also having a -13 -plus/minus. New Jersey is expected to provide an injury update in the coming days.
Kulich (undisclosed) left Thursday's preseason game vs. Detroit for precautionary reasons and did not return.
Kulich only appeared in 12 games with the Sabres in 2025-26 due to injury and was removed from Thursday's preseason game vs. Detroit for precautionary reasons. The 22-year-old was Buffalo's 2022 1st-round pick (28th overall) and is hoping for a breakout campaign after putting up 18 goals, 29 points, and 154 SOG across 75 GP in the last two seasons.
Lyon (upper-body) left Thursday's preseason game vs. Detroit and did not return.
Lyon had a scare on Thursday, leaving Buffalo's preseason game vs. Detroit with an upper-body injury in the 2nd period. The 33-year-old is expected to be evaluated on Friday, as the Sabres update us on his status heading into their season opener vs. Columbus on October 1st. Lyon was expected to split time with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen this season, but will likely be replaced by Colten Ellis if he is forced to miss any time.
5-year, $21,250,000 contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Expires 2032 (UFA).
Source:2026-09-24T23:59:00.000Z
6-year, $82,500,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. 15 team no trade list in Years 5-6. Expires 2032 (UFA).
Source:2026-09-24T23:59:00.000Z
Paul (undisclosed) is day-to-day and is questionable for the season opener.
Paul left Wednesday's preseason game vs. Ottawa with an undisclosed injury and did not return. While the 30-year-old forward's availability for the season opener is uncertain, Head Coach Jim Hiller insisted the his injury is day-to-day. Paul was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay in the offseason after putting up seven goals, 15 points, and 68 SOG in an injury-filled 51-game campaign in 2025-26.
Kindel (lower body) is week-to-week and continues to be evaluated.
Kindel suffered a lower-body injury in Monday's preseason game, did not return, and has been sidelined since. Team doctors are still evaluating him, but he has been listed as week-to-week. The 19-year-old forward enters his sophomore season after scoring 35 points (17G / 18A) in 77 games with Pittsburgh in 2025-26.
Ovechkin (lower body) was a full participant at practice on Thursday.
Ovechkin has dealt with a lower-body injury throughout training camp but completed his first full practice on Thursday. Capitals Head Coach Spencer Carbery was uncertain if Ovechkin would suit up for a preseason game, but was not concerned about the injury. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer played 82 games in the 2025-26 season and scored 64 points (32G / 32A). The Capitals added notable offensive depth in the offseason, so Ovechkin, coming off a career-low 17:27 time on ice, could see his playing time dip even more in 2026-27.
Oettinger (lower-body) was kept out of Dallas' preseason game vs. Minnesota on Wednesday as a precaution.
Dallas played it safe with their star goaltender on Wednesday, sitting Jake Oettinger due to lower-body tightness for their 2-0 preseason loss vs. Minnesota. The 27-year-old is entering his seventh NHL season and has 35+ wins in each of the last four seasons while taking the majority of the reps in the Stars' net.
Paul (undisclosed) left Wednesday's preseason game vs. Ottawa and did not return.
Paul's Maple Leafs debut may have to wait after the 30-year-old left Wednesday's preseason game vs. Ottawa with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Paul's injury is not expected to be serious, but the Maple Leafs will provide updates on Thursday when they address the media. He was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay in the offseason after putting up seven goals, 15 points, and 68 SOG in an injury-filled 51-game campaign in 2025-26.
Brady Tkachuk (undisclosed) is day-to-day, but is expected to be ready for the season opener.
Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice suggested that Tkachuk should be ready to make his team debut in the season opener on Tuesday after a few days of rest. Tkachuk has already appeared in two preseason games and is expected to play on a line alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. The hard-hitting 27-year-old forward finished the 2025-26 season with 59 points (22G / 37A), 175 hits, and 221 shots in 60 games with the Ottawa Senators.
Greenway (lower body) is day-to-day.
Greenway tweaked a lower-body injury, practiced Wednesday, and is out day-to-day. The 29-year-old Greenway, entering his first season with the Blackhawks, has dealt with injury concerns over his career, including playing only 74 games in his past two seasons combined.
Samuelsson (lower body) is out week-to-week.
Samuelsson exited Tuesday's preseason game after suffering a lower-body injury and is expected to miss the start of the season, out week-to-week. The 26-year-old defenseman had a breakout 2025-26 season, playing predominantly alongside Rasmus Dahlin, scoring 41 points (13G / 28A) and registering a +41 plus/minus in 78 games.
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!
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.