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NHL Hockey Player News

Eichel left practice on Tuesday early due to an illness.

Eichel has been excellent this season and is pacing for career-best offensive totals, with 41 points (12G / 29A) in 31 games. He has nine points (1G / 8A) during a five-game point streak. It's unclear if Eichel's illness will keep him out of the lineup when Vegas returns to action on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Jack Eichel
Theodore missed practice on Tuesday due to an upper-body injury.

Despite seeing limited powerplay time due to the Golden Knights running a five-forward top unit, Theodore has remained productive from the blueline this season, with 20 points (4G / 16A) in 31 games. It's unclear if Theodore will be ready to play when Vegas returns to action on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Shea Theodore
Wolf will start in San Jose on Tuesday.

After an abysmal start to the season, the Flames have been much better lately, winning four of their last five (4-1-0), and will turn to Wolf to tend the twine on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 24-year-old Wolf has a tremendous 1.45 GAA and .940 SV% in his last five games (4-1-0), his winningest stretch of the season. He has a 2.86 GAA and .899 SV% in 25 games (10-12-2). The Flames enter the action on Tuesday as -131 road favorites against a Sharks team that will be without one of their top offensive contributors, Will Smith (undisclosed).

Dustin Wolf
Blackwood will start in Seattle on Tuesday.

The league-leading Avalanche will turn to Blackwood to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 29-year-old Blackwood was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers. He has a 2.19 GA and .920 SV% in 12 games this season (9-1-1). Colorado enters the action on Tuesday as enormous -292 road favorites against a Seattle team on a two-game losing skid (0-2-0).

Mackenzie Blackwood
Gaudette (lower-body) will be out vs. Calgary on Tuesday and is day-to-day.

Gaudette will not play on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames to tend to a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old forward recorded an assist in his most recent game, snapping a four-game pointless skid. He has 11 points (7G / 4A) in 29 games this season.

Adam Gaudette
Smith (undisclosed) will be out for the upcoming week and will be re-evaluated on Monday, December 22nd.

Smith suffered an undisclosed injury in Saturday's rollercoaster 6-5 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and will be sidelined for at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 20-year-old second-year player has 29 points (12G / 17A) in 33 games this season.

Will Smith
Kurashev is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Kurashev exited Saturday's 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins after only 8:03 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old Kurashev has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 31 games this season. He has only three assists in his last 12 games and will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future.

Philipp Kurashev
Leddy is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vincent Iorio will draw into San Jose's lineup on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, sending Sam Dinckinson and Nick Leddy to the sidelines as healthy scratches. The 34-year-old Leddy is averaging 17:21 time-on-ice and has three assists in 14 games this season.

Nick Leddy
Dickinson is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vincent Iorio will draw into San Jose's lineup on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, sending Sam Dinckinson and Nick Leddy to the sidelines as healthy scratches. The 19-year-old Dickinson is averaging 14:48 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A) in 26 games this season.

Sam Dickinson
Iorio is expected to draw back into San Jose's lineup vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

Nick Leddy and Sam Dickinson will be healthy scratches on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vincent Iorio to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Iorio is averaging 16:08 time-on-ice and is still searching for his first point of the season through nine games.

Vincent Iorio
Mukhamadullin (upper-body) will return to San Jose's lineup vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

Nick Leddy and Sam Dickinson will be healthy scratches on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Shakir Mukhamadullin and Vincent Iorio to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Mukhamadullin is averaging 16:33 time-on-ice and has five points (1G / 4A) in 15 games this season.

Shakir Mukhamadullin
Brossoit has cleared waivers and been assigned to Rockford (AHL).

Brossoit underwent hip surgery in the offseason and just recently finished a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, where he posted a 3.39 GAA and .900 S% in three games (2-1-0). The 32-year-old Brossoit has battled injuries in recent years, not playing since the 2023-24 season, but has been an effective NHL netminder when healthy, posting a 2.64 GAA and .911 SV% in 140 career appearances (64-46-13).

Laurent Brossoit
Boston has claimed Vladislav Kolyachonok from Dallas off of waivers.

Kolyachonok started this season in the AHL, but injuries on the Dallas blueline awarded him the opportunity to make his team debut last month. The 24-year-old played in 11 games with Dallas, scoring three points (1G / 2A), but with regulars returning to the lineup, Kolyachonok found himself out of the lineup and ultimately on waivers. He joins a Bruins team that has battled its own share of blueline injuries.

Vladislav Kolyachonok
St. Louis has claimed Jonatan Berggren from Detroit off waivers.

Berggren was drafted 33rd overall by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but had trouble establishing himself with them at the NHL level and was ultimately placed on waivers. The 25-year-old forward had six points (2G / 4A) in 15 games this season and hopes to solidify himself as a full-time NHLer with the Blues.

Jonatan Berggren
Askarov will start vs. Calgary on Tuesday.

Askarov has only played once in the last 10 days, but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 23-year-old Askarov has struggled with a 4.05 GAA and .846 SV% in his last three games (1-2-0). The Sharks are hoping Askarov's prolonged break can help him return to the form he had in November when he boasted an excellent 1.88 GAA and .944 SV% in 10 games (8-2-0). The Sharks enter Tuesday's contest as +118 home underdogs against a Flames team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0).

Yaroslav Askarov
Vasilevskiy (undisclosed) has been activated from IR.

On Monday, Tampa Bay Head Coach Jon Cooper announced that Vasilevskiy is aiming to return before Christmas. However, with Vasilevskiy activated from Injured Reserve and Brandon Halverson reassigned to Syracuse (AHL), his return appears imminent. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has not played since December 2nd, but his team has treaded water without him, going 2-4-1 in seven games. Before his injury, Vasilevskiy was having a season worthy of Vezina consideration, posting a 2.31 GAA and .916 SV% in 19 games (11-6-2).

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Askarov was the first goalie off the ice at San Jose's morning skate.

Askarov has only played once in the last 10 days, but will likely return to the crease on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. The 23-year-old Askarov has struggled with a 4.05 GAA and .846 SV% in his last three games (1-2-0). The Sharks are hoping Askarov's prolonged break can help him return to the form he had in November when he boasted an excellent 1.88 GAA and .944 SV% in 10 games (8-2-0). The Sharks enter Tuesday's contest as +118 home underdogs against a Flames team that has won four of their last five (4-1-0).

Yaroslav Askarov

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!