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NHL Hockey Player News

Reilly (undisclosed) will return to Toronto's lineup in Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Rielly missed Toronto's final two games before the Olympic break, but will be ready to play when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 31-year-old defenseman has 31 points (7G / 24A) and a -17 plus/minus in 54 games this season.

Morgan Rielly
Hanifin (olympics) will be out vs. Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Hanifin scored three points (1G / 2A) in six games while representing Team USA at the Olympics and will not be ready to return to Vegas' lineup until Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old Hanifin's offensive production has been negatively affected by Vegas's deep blue line this season and has been limited to only 20 points (2G / 18A) through 47 games.

Noah Hanifin
Eichel (olympics) will be out vs. Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Eichel scored six points (2G / 4A) in six games while representing Team USA during their Gold Medal performance at the Olympics and will not be ready to return to Vegas' lineup until Friday against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old Eichel is producing at a career-best rate this season, with 68 points (21G / 47A) through 50 games.

Jack Eichel
Portillo has been recalled from Ontario (AHL).

Portillo being recalled from Ontario (AHL) indicates that Los Angeles is unsure if Darcy Kuemper will be ready to suit up on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. after returning from his stint with Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. The 25-year-old Portillo has a 2.47 GAA and .905 SV% in 20 games (14-3-1) with the Ontario Reign this season.

Erik Portillo
McBain (illness) missed practice on Tuesday.

McBain did not practice on Tuesday due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will be ready to play when Utah returns to action on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 26-year-old forward has 19 points (6G / 13A) and 196 hits in 57 games this season.

Jack McBain
Horvat (Olympics) will return to New York's lineup on Thursday in Montreal.

Horvat scored two goals in six games while representing Canada during their Silver Medal performance at the Olympics. The 30-year-old will hope to continue his career-best point production when he returns to New York's lineup on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. He has 40 points (24G / 16A) in 44 games this season.

Bo Horvat
Kulak will make his Avalanche' debut on Wednesday vs. Utah.

Colorado acquired Brett Kulak and a 2028 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh for Samuel Girard on Tuesday and he is expected to make his team debut on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. Kulak will join his third NHL team this season after spending stints in Edmonton and Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old defenseman has accompanied his team to the Stanley Cup Finals in two straight seasons and will add some stability and experience to Colorado's blueline. He has nine points (1G / 8A) and 77 blocks in 56 combined games this season.

Brett Kulak
Necas (lower-body) has returned from the Olympics and is expected to play vs. Utah on Wednesday.

Necas was impressive while representing Czechia at the Olympics, leading his team with eight points (3G / 5A) in five games. The 27-year-old forward will look to continue his career-best pace when he returns to Colorado's lineup on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth. He has 62 points (22G / 40A) in 52 games this season.

Martin Necas
Landeskog (mid-body) returned from the Olympics and is expected to suit up for Colorado in Utah on Wednesday.

Landeskog had been sidelined for five weeks leading up to the Olympic break due to a mid-body injury, but he was cleared to return to action at the Olympics, where he scored four points (2G / 2A) in five games. The 33-year-old Landeskog has 22 points (7G / 15A) in 41 games this season and started to show signs of his old self before his injury, with 15 points (5G / 10A) in his last 19 games with Colorado.

Gabriel Landeskog
Dunne (mid-body) is expected back in New Jersey on Wednesday.

Dunne missed the final four weeks leading up to the Olympic break due to a mid-body injury, but he will be ready to suit up for the team on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old Dunne is averaging 9:31 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 28 games this season.

Josh Dunne
Pionk is week-to-week with a new, undisclosed injury.

Pionk did not play the final four weeks leading up to the Olympic break and will remain sidelined when the team returns to action, out week-to-week with a new ailment. With Josh Morrissey (upper body) also sidelined, Logan Stanley will likely fill in as the interim quarterback on Winnipeg's top powerplay unit.

Neal Pionk
Joshua (lacerated kidney) is healthy and expected to return on Wednesday in Tampa Bay.

Joshua has been sidelined since late December due to a kidney laceration, but will return to the team in their first game after the Olympic break on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Maple Leafs, recording 10 points (6G / 4A) and 127 hits in 36 games this season.

Dakota Joshua
Sanheim (olympics) is expected to return to Philadelphia's lineup vs. Washington on Wednesday.

Sanheim scored one assist in five games with Team Canada during their Silver Medal performance at the Olympics. The 29-year-old defenseman has 24 points (6G / 18A) in 56 games with the Flyers this season and will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Washington Capitals as they continue their push for a playoff spot.

Travis Sanheim
Colorado has acquired Brett Kulak and a 2028 2nd round pick from Pittsburgh for Samuel Girard.

Kulak will join his third NHL team this season after spending stints in Edmonton and Pittsburgh. The 32-year-old defenseman has accompanied his team to the Stanley Cup Finals in two straight seasons and will add some stability and experience to Colorado's blueline. He has nine points (1G / 8A) and 77 blocks in 56 combined games this season.

Brett Kulak
Pittsburgh has acquired Samuel Girard from Colorado for Brett Kulak and a 2028 2nd round pick.

Girard is a talented offensive defenseman who was buried on a deep Colorado blueline, but could see a larger role after being traded to Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old defenseman has 235 points (37G / 198A) in 588 career games. He had a career-high 37 points (6G / 31A) in 76 games with Colorado in the 2022-23 season.

Samuel Girard

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!