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NHL Hockey Player News

Hofer will start against the Oilers on Friday.

Hofer will get the call for the 33rd time this season when the Blues host the Oilers on Friday. The 25-year-old Hofer has been outstanding since the NHL returned from the Olympic break, posting a 4-0-1 record and a ridiculous .948 SV%. He'll need to be at his best again on Friday, as the Blues enter action at +150 on the money line against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Joel Hofer
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in Thursday's game against the Ducks and will miss the remainder of the regular season.

Matthews was involved in a knee on knee collision with Ducks Captain Radko Gudas and immediately left the game. Gudas was issued a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play, and is currently awaiting a decision on any supplemental discipline. Matthews' injury caps what has been a nightmare season for the Maple Leafs. The team did not give any update regarding any potential surgery or timeline for the injury, only saying Matthews would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. Matthews' season comes to an abrupt end after 60 games played and career lows of 27 goals and 26 assists.

Auston Matthews
Sundqvist will draw into the Blues lineup on Friday.

Sundqvist will draw into the lineup on Friday along with Jonatan Berggren and Justin Holl as the Blues opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Dalibor Dvorsky, Tyler Tucker, and Nathan Walker will all serve as healthy scratches.

Oskar Sundqvist
Holl will draw into the Blues lineup on Friday.

Holl will draw into the lineup on Friday along with Jonatan Berggren and Oskar Sundqvist as the Blues opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Dalibor Dvorsky, Tyler Tucker, and Nathan Walker will all serve as healthy scratches.

Justin Holl
Walker will be a healthy scratch for Friday's game against the Oilers.

Walker will take a seat along with Dalibor Dvorsky and Tyler Tucker as the Blues opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Oskar Sundqvist, Jonatan Berggren, and Justin Holl will all draw into the lineup in their place.

Nathan Walker
Tucker will be a healthy scratch for Friday's game against the Oilers.

Tucker will take a seat along with Nathan Walker and Dalibor Dvorsky as the Blues opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Oskar Sundqvist, Jonatan Berggren, and Justin Holl will all draw into the lineup in their place.

Tyler Tucker
Jones will draw into the Oilers lineup on Friday.

Jones was recalled from Bakersfield (AHL) on Friday and will immediately draw into the lineup in place of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who is unavailable due to a personal matter. Jones has split time between the NHL and AHL this season, playing eight games with the Oilers and 39 with the Bakersfield Condors. He has one goal and one assist in those eight NHL games.

Max Jones
Nugent-Hopkins (personal) will not play in St. Louis on Friday.

Nugent-Hopkins is a surprise scratch on Friday, with Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch only announcing his absence about an hour before puck drop. Knoblauch did not indicate whether the team expects Nugent-Hopkins to be available for Sunday's game against the Predators.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Ingram will start in St. Louis on Friday.

Ingram will be back between the pipes for the Oilers tonight after getting the night off on Thursday in favour of Tristan Jarry. Ingram turned in a solid performance in his last start, allowing just two goals on 26 shots in a 4-2 win in Vegas on Sunday. The 28-year-old netminder has appeared in 19 games with the Oilers this season, compiling a 9-6-1 record and an .892 SV%. Ingram and the Oilers enter action on Friday at -150 on the money line.

Connor Ingram
The Oilers placed Dach (undisclosed) on long-term injured reserve on Friday.

Newly acquired Colton Dach lasted only 1:35 time-on-ice in his third game with the Oilers on Tuesady, exiting with an undisclosed injury. The 23-year-old forward did not play on Thursday and was said to be undergoing further evaluation. He has one assist in three games with Edmonton. Max Jones was recalled from Bakersfield (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Colton Dach
The Oilers recalled Max Jones from Bakersfield (AHL) on Friday.

Jones will fill the roster spot left vacant by Colton Dach, who was placed on long-term injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. Jones has split time between the NHL and AHL this season, playing eight games with the Oilers and 39 with the Bakersfield Condors. He has one goal and one assist in those eight NHL games.

Max Jones
Kuemper will start on Long Island on Friday.

The Kings are battling to stay in playoff contention but have not been able to secure victories regularly, including games with Kuemper tending the twine. The 35-year-old veteran goalie has lost four of his last five starts (1-3-1), posting an ugly 3.84 GAA and .857 SV%. The Kings enter Friday's contest as +125 road underdogs against the New York Islanders, a team they defeated 5-3 less than two weeks ago.

Darcy Kuemper
Miller (upper-body) appears ready to return in Minnesota on Saturday.

Miller has not played since suffering an upper-body injury on March 2nd, but has resumed practicing this week and could be an option on Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. The Rangers have gone 4-1-0 without Miller, who was picking up production before his injury, scoring 14 points (3G / 11A) in his last 13 games.

J.T. Miller
Ottawa has acquired Riley Kidney from Montreal for Hunter Shepard and Jake Chiasson.

Kidney was a second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but has yet to play an NHL games. The 22-year-old forward spent the last two seasons with the Laval Rocket (AHL), but has spent most of 2025-26 in the ECHL, where he has 33 points (11G / 22A) in 46 games with the Trois-Rivieres Lions.

Riley Kidney
Montreal has acquired Hunter Shepard and Jake Chiasson from Ottawa for Riley Kidney.

Shepard has some NHL experience, including one appearance with the Ottawa Senators earlier this season, but has almost exclusively played in the AHL over the past few seasons. The undrafted 30-year-old goalie has a 3.65 GAA and .885 SV% in 15 games (6-7-2) this season with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Hunter Shepard
San Jose has signed Ty Dellandrea to a two-year contract worth $1.625 million AAV ($3.25M total).

Dellandrea has battled some injuries this season and has been sidelined since early January due to a lower-body injury, but he has been an effective bottom-six forward when healthy, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 25-year-old Dellandrea is averaging 14:24 time-on-ice, recording 11 points (2G / 9A) and 117 hits in 42 games this season.

Ty Dellandrea
Kuemper is expected to start on Long Island on Friday.

The Kings are battling to stay in playoff contention but have not been able to secure victories regularly, including games with Kuemper tending the twine. The 35-year-old veteran goalie has lost four of his last five starts (1-3-1), posting an ugly 3.84 GAA and .857 SV%. The Kings enter Friday's contest as +125 road underdogs against the New York Islanders, a team they defeated 5-3 less than two weeks ago.

Darcy Kuemper

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!