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NHL Hockey Player News

Johansson (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups and is expected to return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.

Johansson has been sidelined for the last week because of a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 35-year-old Johansson is pacing for career-best offensive totals, with 34 points (13G / 21A) in 46 games. That said, his production has cooled down in recent weeks, with only two points (1G / 1A) in his last eight games.

Marcus Johansson
Eriksson Ek (undisclosed) was activated off injured reserve and is expected to return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.

Eriksson Ek has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury two weeks ago, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 19:34 time-on-ice and has 32 points (11G / 21A) in 45 games this season.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Talbot will start in Minnesota on Thursday.

John Gibson was between the pipes for Wednesday's win over the Maple Leafs, so it will be Talbot's turn when the Red Wings play their second game in as many nights on Thursday. Talbot was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss in his last start, losing 3-0 in Boston back on January 13th despite allowing just two goals on 40 shots. The 38-year-old netminder has largely taken a back seat to Gibson of late thanks to the latter's incredible form, but Talbot does still own a respectable 11-7-3 record on the season. Talbot and the Wings enter action on Thursday at +135 on the money line.

Cam Talbot
The Penguins placed Graves (lower-body) on injured reserve on Thursday.

Graves presumably picked up the injury at some point in Wednesday's win over the Flames, though exactly when is unclear. The Penguins have yet to announce a timeline for his return. Erik Karlsson (lower-body) was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move.

Ryan Graves
Karlsson (lower-body) will return to the Penguins lineup on Thursday.

Karlsson returns to the lineup after missing the last five games with a lower-body injury. His presence is a more than welcomed addition to the Penguins blue-line given the injuries to Kris Letang and Ryan Graves. Karlsson has appeared in 44 games this season, tallying four goals and 29 assists.

Erik Karlsson
Regula is a healthy scratch for Thursday's game against the Penguins.

Regula will be the odd-man out on the Oilers' blue-line on Thursday. His absence makes room for the return of Leon Draisaitl (personal), as the Oilers opt to return to a more traditional lineup structure with 12 forwards and only six defencemen.

Alec Regula
Draisaitl (personal) will return to the Oilers lineup on Thursday.

Draisaitl is a welcomed but surprise addition to the Oilers lineup on Thursday. The Oilers originally stated that he was likely to rejoin the team later this week, though there was no specific mention of a return on Thursday prior to the start of warmups. The 30-year-old Draisaitl has been on a tear for the past few weeks, with 36 points (10G / 26A) in his last 21 games.

Leon Draisaitl
Silovs will start in Edmonton on Thursday.

The Penguins will unsurprisingly hand Silovs the start for tail-end of their back-to-back after Stuart Skinner got the nod on Wednesday. Silovs suffered a third consecutive defeat in his last start, allowing three goals on 25 shots in a shootout loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday. The 24-year-old netminder brings an 8-6-8 record and .890 SV% into Thursday night's matchup, where the Pens enter action at +145 on the money line.

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!