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NHL Hockey Player News

Sorokin will start in Montreal on Thursday.

Sorokin was one of the hottest goalies in the NHL heading into the Olympic break and will hope to pick up where he left off when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old Sorokin had a rough start to the season, with an ugly 3.75 GAA and .868 SV% in his first seven games (2-4-1), but quickly turned things around, going 18-9-1 with a stellar 2.10 GAA and .928 SV% the rest of the way. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that had points in four straight games heading into the break (3-0-1).

Ilya Sorokin
Fox (undisclosed) is expected to return vs. Philadelphia on Thursday.

Fox has not played since the beginning of January, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, wrapping up his second stint on Long-Term Injured Reserve this season. The 27-year-old Fox has had trouble staying healthy, but has been highly productive when in the lineup, scoring 28 points (4G / 24A) in 30 games.

Adam Fox
Zibanejad (illness) returned to morning skate on Thursday and is expected to play vs. Philadelphia.

Zibanejad was productive for Team Sweden at the Olympics, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in five games. He returned home with an illness that kept him out of practice on Wednesday, but he is expected to play on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 32-year-old Zibanejad was on an offensive tear before the Olympic break, scoring 23 points (11G / 12A) in his last 16 games.

Mika Zibanejad
Shesterkin will return and start vs. Philadelphia on Thursday.

Shesterkin was sidelined for a month heading into the Olympic break due to a lower-body injury, but he will return to the crease when the Rangers return to action on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers struggled without Shesterkin, going 2-11-1, and will be eager to have him back between the pipes. The 30-year-old goalie played his most consistent hockey of the season before his injury, winning four of six (4-1-1) while posting a 2.04 GAA and .934 SV%. The Rangers enter Thursday's contest as -132 home favourites against a Flyers team they defeated 6-3 in their previous meeting.

Igor Shesterkin
Haula (olympics) will be a game-time decision vs. Chicago on Thursday.

Haula was a surprising contributor for Team Finland at the Olympics, scoring six points (3G / 3A) in six games to help them win a Bronze Medal. Still, he may not be ready to play when Nashville returns to action on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 34-year-old Haula has 29 points (9G / 20A) in 57 games with the Predators this season.

Erik Haula
Saros (olympics) will be a game-time decision vs. Chicago on Thursday.

Saros was excellent for Team Finland at the Olympics, helping them win a Bronze Medal, but he may not be ready to suit up when Nashville returns to action on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 30-year-old Saros has not had the same success at the NHL level this season and was particularly struggling heading into the Olympic break, allowing three or more goals in nine consecutive appearances (4-2-2) while posting an ugly 4.31 GAA and .875 SV%.

Juuse Saros
Sorokin is in the starter's crease at New York's morning skate.

Sorokin was one of the hottest goalies in the NHL heading into the Olympic break and will hope to pick up where he left off when he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 30-year-old Sorokin had a rough start to the season, with an ugly 3.75 GAA and .868 SV% in his first seven games (2-4-1), but quickly turned things around, going 18-9-1 with a stellar 2.10 GAA and .928 SV% the rest of the way. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Canadiens team that had points in four straight games heading into the break (3-0-1).

Ilya Sorokin
Stutzle (illness) will be a game-time decision vs. Detroit on Thursday.

Stutzle played well for Team Germany at the Olympics, scoring six points (4G / 2A) in five games, but his return to the Senators' lineup may have to wait, as he is battling an illness. The 24-year-old Stutzle is having a terrific season, with 61 points (28G / 33A) through 57 games. He had 10 points (6G / 4A) while riding a seven-game point streak heading into the Olympic break.

Tim Stützle
Ullmark will start vs. Detroit on Thursday.

Ullmark did not play in Ottawa's final game before the Olympic Break due to an illness, but he will suit up Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. Ullmark had only played two games since returning from a five-week personal leave, but played well, winning both games while posting a 1.50 GAA and .930 SV%. Ottawa needs a strong finish to the season to return to the playoffs, beginning by entering Thursday's game as -151 home favourites against a Red Wings team that defeated them 4-3 in their previous meeting.

Linus Ullmark
Chinakhov (personal) will play vs. New Jersey on Thursday.

Chinakhov did not practice on Wednesday due to a personal matter, but will play in Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils. With Sidney Crosby (lower body) sidelined for at least four weeks, the Penguins will hope that Chinakhov can elevate his game to help supplement some of the team's missing offensive production. The 25-year-old Chinakhov has 12 points (8G / 4A) in 18 games with the Penguins.

Egor Chinakhov
Silovs will start vs. New Jersey on Thursday.

Silovs was performing admirably heading into the Olympic break, and the Penguins will turn to him to tend the twine in their first game back. The 24-year-old Silovs has a 2.10 GAA and .922 SV% in his last seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby (lower body) for the next several weeks and will need a strong team effort down the stretch, starting with goaltending, if they plan to return to the postseason. Pittsburgh enters Thursday's contest as a -153 home favourite against a New Jersey Devils team that played last night and lost 2-1 to the Buffalo Sabres.

Arturs Silovs

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!