Werenski (lower-body) is expected to return on Saturday vs. Buffalo.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Smith is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Chinakhov is expected to make his Penguins' debut vs. Detroit on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Bussi is in the starter's crease at Carolina's morning skate.
Jarvis (upper-body) returned to Carolina's practice in a non-contact jersey on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Woll is in the starter's crease at Toronto's morning skate.
Goalie Start
Samuel Ersson will start in Calgary on Wednesday.
Ersson will make his 15th start of the season when the Flyers travel to Calgary on New Year's Eve. The 26-year-old netminder secured the victory in his last start, stopping 20 of the 21 shots he faced in a 3-1 win in Chicago on December 23rd. Ersson brings a 6-4-4 record and an .872 SV% into Wednesday's matchup, where the Flyers enter action at +120 on the money line.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start in Detroit on Wednesday.
The Jets went 3-8-1 in 12 games with Hellebuyck sidelined due to a knee injury, but unfortunately for them, their struggles have continued since Hellebuyck's return. The 32-year-old goalie has just one win since his return, posting a 2.65 GAA and .893 SV% in seven games (1-3-3). The Jets enter Wednesday's contest as -107 road favorites against a Detroit Red Wings team that is 7-3-0 in its last 10 games.
Vatrano will be out for approximately six weeks due to a shoulder fracture.
Goalie Start
Allen will start in Columbus on Wednesday.
After an 8-1-0 start to the season, the Devils have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference, plummeting in the standings, going 12-16-2. The Devils hope to end the calendar year on a high note, turning to Allen to tend the twine against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 35-year-old Allen has a solid 2.54 GAA and .910 SV% in 20 games this season (10-8-1). The Devils enter the action as +108 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Start
Luukkonen will start in Dallas on Wednesday.
With Alex Lyon currently sidelined due to an injury, the Sabres will rely on Luukkonen on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old goalie was solid in his most recent game, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. He has a 2.58 GAA and .897 SV% in 12 games this season (6-5-1). The Sabres are riding a nine-game winning streak and enter Wednesday's contest as +131 road underdogs against a Stars team with points in four straight (4-0-2).
Groshev is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Anaheim on Wednesday.
Groshev made his NHL debut in Tampa Bay's previous game and recorded an assist in 13:03 time-on-ice. The 24-year-old defenseman was a third-round draft pick of the Lightning in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Line Change
Finley is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Anaheim on Wednesday.
Dominic James will re-enter Anaheim's lineup on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, resulting in Finley being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Finley is averaging 8:57 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 13 games this season.
Line Change
James is expected to draw back into Tampa Bay's lineup vs. Anaheim on Wednesday.
Jack Finley will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing James to re-enter the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks. The 23-year-old James is averaging 12:16 time-on-ice and has seven points (2G / 5A) in 23 games this season.
Line Change
Johnston will draw into Anaheim's lineup vs. Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Ryan Strome will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Johnston to re-enter the lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 31-year-old Johnston has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 37 games this season.
Line Change
Strome will be a healthy scratch vs. Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Ross Johnston will draw back into Anaheim's lineup on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, sending Strome to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Strome has been a healthy scratch several times and has seemingly fallen out of favor in Anaheim, averaging a career-low 11:51 time-on-ice and scoring only six points (2G / 4A) in 21 games.
Mukhamadullin (lower-body) is expected to play vs. Minnesota on Wednesday after originally being a game-time decision.
Mukhamadullin was battling a lower-body injury, but will be ready to play in Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old defenseman is averaging 16:47 time-on-ice and has six points (2G / 4A) in 21 games this season.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start vs. Anaheim on Wednesday.
Vasilevskiy has won three straight and will return to the crease on Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has a 2.30 GAA and .913 SV% in 23 games this season (14-7-2). Even better, he has an elite 1.64 GAA and .937 SV% in his last 11 games (9-2-0).
Goalie Start
Dostal will start vs. Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Dostal is battling through a rough stretch and will attempt to find his form tending the twine on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has an ugly 3.84 GAA and .793 SV% in his last five games (1-4-0). He has a 3.12 GAA and .889 SV% in 24 games this season (13-9-1).
Goalie Start
Wallstedt will start vs. San Jose on Wednesday.
Wallstedt has not been able to maintain the otherworldly 1.14 GAA and .967 SV% he had in six November games (6-0-0), but has still been stellar in December, posting a 2.54 GAA and .919 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as -166 road favorites against a San Jose Sharks team on a two-game winning streak.
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.