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NHL Hockey Player News

Pittsburgh has acquired Kaeden Korczak from Vegas for Parker Wotherspoon (50% retained).

Korczak had a big role on the Vegas Golden Knights' blueline in the 2025-26 season, playing a career-high 78 games and scoring 16 points (3G / 13A). The 25-year-old Korczak is entering the first year of a four-year contract worth $13 million ($3.25M AAV).

Kaedan Korczak
Vegas has acquired Parker Wotherspoon (50% salary retained) from PIttsburgh for Kaeden Korczak.

Wotherspoon had a breakout 2025-26 season, playing predominantly alongside Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh, recording 30 points (3G / 27A) and a +17 plus/minus in 80 games. The 28-year-old defenseman spent his first six professional seasons playing exclusively in the AHL before making his NHL debut in 2022-23 with the New York Islanders.

Parker Wotherspoon
Philadelphia has acquired the rights to Noah Philp from Carolina for the rights to Kyle Masters.

Philp is an undrafted forward that made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes midseason in 2025-26, but he only suited up in two games, spending most of his campaign in the AHL, recording 17 points (8G / 9A) in 29 games with the Chicago Wolves.

Noah Philp
Carolina has acquired the rights to Kyle Masters from Anaheim for the rights to Noah Philp.

Masters was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft that has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old defenseman spent the 2025-26 season in the ECHL, where he recorded three assists in 10 games with the Wichita Thunder.

Kyle Masters
The Blues have signed Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $2.0M.

Berggren was acquired mid-season in 2025-26 by the Blues off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings and made enough of an impact with his new team to earn a one-year contract extension. The 25-year-old Swedish forward, the 33rd-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 36 games with the Blues last season.

Jonatan Berggren
The Mammoth have signed Sebastian Cossa to a two-year, $2.0M AAV contract ($4.0M total)

Cossa was drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and was at times considered the team's goalie of the future after excelling at the AHL level. That said, he was buried until some strong goaltending depth in the organization and will ultimately get a shot with the Utah Mammoth after being acquired in a trade for a first-round pick last week. The 23-year-old goalie had a solid 2.33 GAA and .915 SV% last season in 39 games (26-8-4) with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Sebastian Cossa
The Devils acquired Ben Steeves, Evan Rodrigues, and Jesper Boqvist from the Panthers for Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank.

Steeves is an undrafted forward who has yet to play an NHL game and will add some organizational depth to the New Jersey Devils. The 24-year-old had a solid 2025-26 season in the AHL, recording 45 points (23G / 22A) and 100 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Ben Steeves
The Devils acquired Jesper Boqvist, Evan Rodrigues, and Ben Steeves from the Panthers for Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank.

Boqvist has been a solid bottom-six forward in recent seasons and will add his talents to the New Jersey Devils in 2026-27. The 27-year-old Swedish forward averaged 11:50 time-on-ice and recorded 13 points (4G / 9A) last season in 73 games with the Florida Panthers. Boqvist has a Devils' draft pick, 36th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and spent four seasons with the team between 2019 and 2023.

Jesper Boqvist
The Devils acquired Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves from the Panthers for Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank.

Rodrigues has been a reliable bottom-six forward for the Panthers the past few seasons, moving up the lineup when needed, but will get a fresh start in 2026-27, joining the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old forward has scored over 30 points in each of his past five seasons, including a 31-point campaign (11G / 20A) in 2025-26 in 69 games with the Panthers.

Evan Rodrigues
The Panthers acquired Angus Crookshank and Jacob Markstrom from the Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.

Crookshank has spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL and will add some organizational depth to the Florida Panthers' forward group. The 26-year-old scored 36 points (24G / 12A) last season in 60 games with the Utica Comets (AHL).

Angus Crookshank
The Panthers acquired Jacob Markstrom and Angus Crookshank from the Devils for Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.

The Panthers entered the postseason with neither of their goaltenders from the previous season under contract. Now, after acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, they completed their goaltending tandem on Tuesday by acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils. The 36-year-old Markstrom has struggled with consistency throughout his career and is coming off an unencouraging 2025-26 season, during which he posted a pedestrian 3.07 GAA and .883 SV% in 44 appearances (23-19-1). That said, he will be joining a stronger defensive Florida Panthers team and hopes to return to the form he has had in previous seasons.

Jacob Markstrom
The Blues have placed Jonathan Drouin on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.

Drouin has one year left on his deal that carries a $4.0M cap-hit. According to PuckPedia, Drouin's buy-out will carry a $1.33M cap-hit for 2027 and 2028. Drouin, who had just one goal and two assists (three points) in nine games with the Blues after being acquired in the Brayden Schenn trade, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

Jonathan Drouin
The Panthers have acquired Akira Schmid from the Golden Knights for a 2028 third-round pick.

The Panthers entered the postseason with neither of their goaltenders from the previous season under contract, looking to revamp the position, and Schmid was their first acquisition. The 26-year-old Schmid spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights, earning a career-high 34 starts due to numerous injuries above him on the team's goaltending depth chart. That said, he was serviceable when called upon, posting a 2.59 GAA and .893 SV% with a 16-10-6 record.

Akira Schmid
Seattle has signed Jon-Randall Avon to a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $850,000.

Avon is an undrafted forward that has spent the past three seasons playing in the AHL. The 22-year-old saw some success in 2025-26 in his first season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring 24 points (10G / 14A) in 45 games.

Jon-Randall Avon
Winnipeg has acquired Jack St. Ivany from Pittsburgh for David Gustafsson.

St. Ivany has split time between the AHL and NHL the past few seasons. He was on track to get a larger look with Pittsburgh in the NHL in 2025-26, but his season was derailed by injuries, playing just 20 games and recording seven assists. The 26-year-old defenseman will likely be vying for a position on Winnipeg's opening-night roster in the 2026-27 season.

Jack St. Ivany
Pittsburgh has acquired David Gustafsson from Winnipeg for Jack St. Ivany.

Gustafsson has been unable to establish himself as a full-time NHLer and will hope a change of scenery, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins, can inspire some confidence and more consistent play. The 26-year-old forward has played 149 career NHL games, all with the Winnipeg Jets, but he spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 32 points (10G / 22A) in 48 games with the Manitoba Moose.

David Gustafsson
Utah has signed Nick DeSimone to a two-year contract extension worth $1 million AAV ($2M total).

DeSimone has battled for NHL playing time throughout his career and finally became a regular fixture on the blueline for the Utah Mammoth in 2025-26, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 31-year-old defenseman scored eight points (2G / 6A) last season in 40 games.

Nick DeSimone

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!