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NHL Hockey Player News

Perreault will draw into the Rangers lineup on Thursday.

Perreault will slot into the lineup in place of Artemi Panarin, who is out with an illness. The 20-year-old Perreault recorded one assists in three games with the Rangers earlier this season, but has spent most of the campaign in the AHL, where he has 17 points (10G / 7A) in 20 games with Hartford.

Gabriel Perreault
Panarin (illness) will not play in St. Louis on Thursday.

The Rangers will be without Panarin for Thursday's game due to an illness. After an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, with seven points (2G / 5A) in his first 14 games, Panarin has returned to his elite point-producing form in recent weeks, with 27 points (9G / 18A) in his last 21 games.

Artemi Panarin
Shesterkin will start in St. Louis on Thursday.

The Rangers are amazingly coming off being shutout for the seventh time in 17 home games (4-10-3), but return to the road, where they have thrived this season (12-5-1). Shesterkin has allowed three or more goals in four straight games (1-2-1), posting a 3.30 GAA and .881 SV%, and hopes to return to the elite form that justified him becoming the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. The 29-year-old Shesterkin has a 2.55 GAA and .908 SV% in 27 games this season (13-11-3). The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as -131 road favorites against a Blue team that played last night, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 1-0.

Igor Shesterkin
Timmins (undisclosed) took full part in warmups and is expected to play against the Flyers on Thursday.

Timmins is battling an undisclosed injury but it appears he will avoid missing his first game of the season. The 27-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:20 time-on-ice, recording 69 blocks, 23 hits, and six assists in 32 games.

Conor Timmins
Lyon will start against the Flyers on Thursday.

The Sabres' three-goalie rotation is, at least temporarily, down to two with Colten Ellis (concussion) sidelined. As such, Lyon will return to the crease on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 33-year-old Lyon is on a hot run lately, winning three straight while posting a solid 2.05 GAA and .925 SV%. He has a 2.99 GAA and .905 SV5 through 17 appearances this season (6-6-3). The Sabres enter the action on Thursday as -137 home favourites against a Flyers team with points in five straight games (2-0-3).

Alex Lyon
Hagel (upper-body) will not play against the Kings on Thursday.

Tampa Bay has faced a myriad of injuries to key players this season, with Hagel being the latest, suffering an upper-body injury that leaves him unavailable for Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old Hagel is putting together another fantastic season with 31 points (18G / 13A) in 31 games. That said, he has been held off the scoresheet in five of his last six games.

Brandon Hagel
Forsberg will start in Tampa Bay on Thursday.

With Darcy Kuemper on injured reserve, the Kings will opt against giving Pheonix Copley his season debut and instead turn to Forsberg for the second time in as many nights. Forsberg and the Kings took the loss on Wednesday, with Forsberg allowing three goals on 28 shots. The Kings enter action on Thursday at +175 on the money line.

Anton Forsberg
Vasilevskiy will start against the Kings on Thursday.

Vasilevskiy was activated from Injured Reserve on Wednesday and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has not played since December 2nd, but his team has treaded water without him, going 2-4-1 in seven games. Before his injury, Vasilevskiy was having a season worthy of Vezina consideration, posting a 2.31 GAA and .916 SV% in 19 games (11-6-2). The Lightning enter action on Thursday at -200 on the money line.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Kirkland has been recalled from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).

Kirkland started the season with the Flames, but has been with the Wranglers (AHL) since mid November, where he has seven points (5G / 2A) in 14 games. The 29-year-old Kirkland scored eight points (2G / 6A) in a career-high 21 games last season. He has one assist through nine games in 2025-26.

Justin Kirkland

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!