Philadelphia has signed Nolan Foote to a one-year, two-way contract.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Winnipeg has signed Henry Thrun to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Devils have signed Amadeus Lombardi to a two-year deal worth $875K AAV ($1.75M total)
Lombardi was a fourth-round pick, 113th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has yet to play an NHL game and has spent the entirety of the past three seasons in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 2025-26, he scored 42 points (16G / 26A) in 47 games.
Dallas has signed Jamie Benn to a one-year, $850,000 AAV contract extension.
Benn's production has dipped in recent seasons, but he still adds solid value on a league-minimum contract for a Dallas Stars team facing salary cap adversity. The soon-to-be 37-year-old forward averaged a career-low 13:17 time-on-ice in 2025-26, but still managed a serviceable 36-point campaign (15G / 21A) while playing 60 games.
Toronto has signed Vinnie Lettieri to a one-year, two-way contract.
Toronto has added significant forward depth this offseason, with Lettieri adding to the growing list of capable forwards that can flourish in a bottom-six role. The 31-year-old forward spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 42 points (14G / 28A) in 55 games with the Toronto Marlies.
Toronto has signed Samuel Hlavaj to a one-year, two-way contract.
Hlavaj was buried behind some strong organizational goaltending depth for the Minnesota Wild and hopes to get a bigger chance to showcase his talents in Toronto, likely in the AHL with the Marlies. The 25-year-old Slovak goalie had modest numbers player for a poor Iowa (AHL) team last season, posting a 3.28 GAA and .887 SV% in 22 games (7-11-4), but made a name for himself while representing Slovakia at the Winter Olympics.
The Predators have signed Hunter Skinner to a one-year, two-way deal.
Skinner made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Blues, but has otherwise exclusively played in the AHL. The 25-year-old defenseman, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, scored 19 points (7G / 12A) last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).
The Wild signed Justin Kirkland to a one-year, two-way deal.
Primarily an AHL player, Kirkland appeared in at least 20 games for the Calgary Flames the past two seasons and will add some depth for the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old forward scored two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games with the Flames last season.
The Sharks have signed Ivar Stenberg to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Less than a week after being drafted 2nd overall by the San Jose Sharks, Stenberg has been rewarded with a three-year, entry-level contract. The 18-year-old Swedish forward is coming off a 33 point season (11G / 22A) in 43 games with Frolunda HC (SweHL).
The Canadiens have signed Jakub Dobes to a there-year deal worth $5,357,575 AAV ($16.073M total).
Dobes' role has increased over the past two seasons for the Canadiens, culminating in a solid 2025-26 campaign, in which he posted a serviceable 2.78 GAA and .901 SV% in 43 appearances (29-10-4). That said, the 25-year-old Czech goalie made his real mark in the playoffs, guiding his team to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 19 games (9-10). Dobes is expected to share the Canadiens' crease this season with Jacob Fowler.
The Sharks signed Kyle Keyser to a one-year, two-way contract.
Keyser is an undrafted goalie that have bounced between the AHL and ECHL in recent seasons. The 27-year-old posted a solid 2.09 GAA and .922 SV% last season in 15 games (9-4-1) with the Colorado Eagles. He will provide some organization depth in 2026-27 for the San Jose Sharks.
The Senators have signed Leevi Meriläinen to a one-year deal worth $1.1M.
Merilainen faces some heavy competition for playing time in Ottawa this season as the team heads into 2026-27 with Linus Ullmark and Sam Ersson both under contract and ahead of him on the depth chart. The 23-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick of the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, struggled in limited NHL action last season, posting a 3.51 GAA and .860 SV5 in 20 appearances (8-10-1).
The Sabres have signed Aidan McDonough to a one-year, two-way contract.
McDonough, a seventh-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is coming off an impressive 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (23G / 21A) in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 26-year-old forward played six NHL games in 2022-23, but has exclusively played in the AHL since.
The Blue Jackets have signed Erik Gudbranson to a one-year deal worth $1.75M AAV.
Gudbranson battled injuries for most of the 2025-26 season, but his veteran presence will return to the Blue Jackets blueline in 2026-27 after signing a one-year contract extension. The 34-year-old averaged 17:46 time-on-ice, recording three points (1G / 2A), 64 blocks, and 45 hits in 37 games last season.
The Wild have signed Max Shabanov to a one-year deal worth $1.6M AAV.
After a couple of successful seasons with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, Shabanov made his NHL debut in 2025-26 and struggled to find his footing. Regularly a healthy scratch, the talented 25-year-old forward was limited to just 44 games (5G / 13A) while averaging 13:41 time-on-ice. The Minnesota Wild hope that Shabanov can find his scoring touch and gel alongside countryman Kirill Kaprizov in 2026-27.
The Canucks have signed Matthew Stienburg to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Sharks have signed Brett Leason to a one-year, two-way contract.
An NHL veteran of 226 games, Leason spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 44 points (14G / 30A) in 56 games with the Hershey Bears. The 27-year-old forward will likely provided similar organization depth for a young and exciting Sharks team.
The Rangers have signed Dennis Cholowski to a two-year contract worth $875K AAV ($1.75M total).
Cholowski, the 20th-overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, once viewed as a potential powerplay quarterback, has fallen into more of a depth organizational piece in recent seasons. The 28-year-old defenseman played 17 games last season with the New Jersey Devils, recording two assists.
The Maple Leafs have signed Cole McWard to a two-year deal worth $875K AAV ($1.75M total).
McWard has only played nine NHL games in his career, but provided solid organizational depth on the blueline for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The undrafted 25-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 27 points (6G / 21A) in 63 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.
The Maple Leafs have signed Henry Rybinski to a two-year deal worth $875K AAV ($1.75M total).
Rybinski has yet to play an NHL game but has become an effective contributor in recent seasons in the AHL, which is likely what the Toronto Maple Leafs hope he can bring to their organization. The 25-year-old forward scored 30 points (10G / 20A) last season in 59 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL).
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.