Protas (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Kleven is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
Sanderson (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Thompson was the first goalie off the ice at the Capitals' mornign sakte.
Goalie Start
Greaves is in the starter's crease at Columbus' morning skate.
Goalie Start
Bussi is in the starter's crease at Carolina's morning skate.
Donovan has been recalled from Belleville (AHL).
Sandin-Pellikka has been recalled from Grand Rapids (AHL) under emergency conditions.
McLaughlin has been recalled from Utica (AHL).
Halonen has been recalled from Utica (AHL).
Goalie Start
Hofer will start in Anaheim on Friday.
Hofer will be back between the pipes for the Blues tonight after getting the night off on Wednesday. Hofer will be looking to bounce-back from a tough start in his last appearance, when he was tagged for five goals on 29 shots in a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Sharks on Monday. The 25-year-old netminder carries a 19-12-5 record and a .908 SV% into Friday night's matchup, where the Blues enter action at +115 on the money line.
Hathaway will draw into the Flyers lineup on Friday.
Hathaway will slot in on Friday as the Flyers opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup. Carl Grundstrom will sit in his place.
Grundstrom is a healthy scratch for Friday's game against the Islanders.
Grundstrom will take a seat on Friday as the Flyers opt to get some fresh legs into their lineup. Garnet Hathaway will draw into the lineup in his place.
Ekman-Larsson (lower-body) is doubtful for Saturday vs. Los Angeles.
The Maple Leafs were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and they also lost Ekman-Larsson, who exited the game after only 7:03 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. With only six games remaining in the season, it is unclear when or if Ekman-Larsson will be targeting a return.
Line Change
Barkey is expected to be a healthy scratch on Friday.
Alex Bump will re-enter Philadelphia's lineup on Friday, resulting in Barkey being a healthy scratch. The 20-year-old Barkey is averaging 13:23 and has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 38 games this season.
Line Change
Bump is expected to draw back into Philadelphia's lineup on Long Island on Friday.
Denver Barkey will be a healthy scratch on Friday, allowing Bump to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Bump is averaging 12:51 time-on-ice and has six points (3G / 3A) in 12 games this season.
Goalie Start
Vladar will start on Long Island on Friday.
With only seven games remaining this season, the Flyers, desperately battling to remain within playoff contention, will turn to Vladar on Friday against the New York Islanders. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has been a steadying presence between the pipes all season, but he is coming off a disappointing performance, allowing five goals on 17 shots (.706 SV%) in a 6-4 loss to the Washington Capitals. The loss marked only the second time in the last 16 appearances that Vladar had allowed more than three goals in a game (8-5-3). The Flyers enter Friday's contest as +123 road underdogs against an Islanders team that has been outscored 12-6 in their last two games (0-2-0).
Sunlev has been recalled from the Calgary Wranglers (AHL).
Suniev was a third-round pick of the Flames in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, who made his NHL debut last season, playing one game. The 21-year-old forward has 23 points (15G / 8A) in 55 games this season with the Calgary Wrangelrs (AHL).
Rooney has been recalled from Tucson (AHL).
Rooney played one game with the Mammoth earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 32-year-old forward has 23 points (12G / 11A) in 43 games with season with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).
Roy (upper-body) will remain out for Colorado's two games this weekend.
Roy has been effective in a bottom-six role since being acquired by Colorado, but has been sidelined for a week and will miss at least two more games. The 28-year-old had five goals in 59 games with Toronto, but already scored three in nine games with Colorado.
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.