The Blue Jackets have acquired Valeri Nichushkin from the Avalanche 2026 2nd Round Pick, 2027 3rd Round Pick, and 2028 5th Round Pick.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Penguins have acquired Hendrix Lapierre from the Capitals for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth round pick.
With Washington's recent acquisitions of Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch, the team has sent Lapierre to Pittsburgh in exchange for 2027 third-round and 2028 fifth-round draft picks. The 24-year-old Lapierre played a career-high 74 games with Washington last season, but saw a slightly diminished role, averaging only 8:50 time-on-ice while scoring 16 points (4G / 12A).
Florida has acquired Garnet Hathaway and a 2026 6th round pick from Philadelphia for a 2026 5th round pick and a 2027 4th round pick.
The hard-hitting Florida Panthers added some additional toughness to their lineup, acquiring Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick. The 34-year-old forward is coming off his worst offensive season, scoring only three points (1G / 2A) in 66 games, but his physical presence remained, tallying 59 penalty minutes and 252 hits.
Carolina has signed Juuso Valimaki to a one-year, $900,000 contract extension.
Valimaki was a 16th-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but he spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 23 points (7G / 16A) in 27 games. The 27-year-old defenseman has had some success at the NHL level, including an impressive 34-point campaign (4G / 30A) in the 2022-23 season in 78 games with the Arizona Coyotes.
Buffalo has signed Zach Benson to a seven-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($52.5 million total).
Benson was drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and made his presence felt with a breakout 2025-26 season, scoring 43 points (13G / 30A) in 65 games. The 21-year-old forward continued to gain attention in the postseason, where he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 13 games. He should continue to see his role elevate in the upcoming season with the Sabres, especially with the recent departure of top-six forward Alex Tuch.
Nashville has acquired Chase Bradley, Jack Drury and a 2029 3rd round pick from Colorado for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux.
Nashville has acquired Jack Drury, Chase Bradley and a 2029 3rd round pick from Colorado for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux.
Colorado has acquired Zachary L'Heureux and Fedor Svechkov from Nashville for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley, and a 2029 3rd round pick.
Colorado has acquired Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux from Nashville for Jack Drury, Chase Bradley, and a 2029 3rd round pick.
Winnipeg has signed Isak Rosen to a two-year, $925,000 AAV contract extension ($1.85M total).
The Capitals have signed Alex Tuch to an eight-year deal worth $10.5M AAV ($84.0M total).
After ongoing negotiations with the Buffalo Sabres that extended throughout the regular season and into the offseason, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement, leading to Tuch being part of a sign-and-trade with the Washington Capitals in exchange for a third-round pick. The 30-year-old Tuch had a solid 2025-26 season with the Sabres, scoring 66 points (33G / 33A) in 79 games. He has scored 33 or more goals in four of his last five seasons and will add a significant offensive boost to Washington's top-six.
The Capitals have acquired Alex Tuch from the Sabres for a third-round draft pick.
The Sabres have acquired Louis Crevier, the No.4 overall pick in 2026 and the No.45 overall pick in 2026 from the Blackhawks for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Crevier was a seventh-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, who is coming off his first full-time season at the NHL level. The 25-year-old defenseman scored 25 points (7G / 18A) and averaged 17:08 time-on-ice in 78 games last season.
The Blackhawks have acquired Jordan Greenway and Bowen Byram from the Sabres for Louis Crevier, the No.4 overall pick in 2026 and the No.45 overall pick in 2026.
Greenway has battled injuries the past few seasons, but will get a fresh start in 2026-27, joining the Chicago Blackhawks with one year remaining in his contract, which has a $4 million AAV. The 29-year-old forward has been limited to only 74 combined games in his last two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, scoring 14 points (4G / 10A).
The Blackhawks have acquired Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway from the Sabres for Louis Crevier, the No.4 overall pick in 2026 and the No.45 overall pick in 2026.
Byram will head to the Chicago Blackhawks with one year remaining on his contract, which has an AAV of $6.25 million. The 25-year-old Byram averaged 22:20 time-on-ice and scored 42 points (11G / 31A) in 82 games with the Buffalo Sabres last season while playing in a secondary role behind the team's top blueliner, Rasmus Dahlin. Byram will likely see increased deployment in Chicago and play see time with the team's top powerplay unit.
The Blues have acquired Milton Gastrin, Connor McMichael and the No.16 overall pick in 2026 from the Capitals for Jordan Kyrou.
The Blues have acquired Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and the No.16 overall pick in 2026 from the Capitals for Jordan Kyrou.
The Capitals have acquired Jordan Kyrou from the Blues for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and the No.16 overall pick in 2026.
Ottawa has acquired Brandon Svoboda, Kasper Halttunen and William Eklund in exchange for the 2026 9th overall pick.
Ottawa has acquired Kasper Halttunen, William Eklund and Brandon Svoboda in exchange for the 2026 9th overall pick.
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
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- 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.
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- 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.