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NHL Hockey Player News

Smith (undisclosed) has had his injury designation upgraded to day-to-day.

Smith has not played in nearly a month and was back at practice last week, albeit in a non-contact jersey, for the first time since suffering his injury. He underwent contact drills for this first time on Monday and appears to be nearing a return to the lineup. The 20-year-old second-year player has 29 points (12G / 17A) in 33 games this season.

Will Smith
Tsyplakov will be a healthy scratch in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Kyle MacLean will draw back into New York's lineup on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending Tsyplakov back to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Tsyplakov's second-year struggles in the NHL continue, with only one point (1G / 0A) in 24 games. He had 35 points (10G / 25A) last year in his rookie season.

Maxim Tsyplakov
Sorokin will start in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Sorokin was solid in his most recent game, saving 33 of 36 shots (.917 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild, and he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 30-year-old Sorkin has a solid 2.47 GAA and .915 SV% along with a league-leading four shutouts through 26 games this season (14-10-2). He has allowed three or fewer goals in 18 of his last 19 games (12-6-1).

Ilya Sorokin
Blackwell is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Los Angeles on Monday.

Blackwell has been a healthy scratch several times in the past few weeks and will return to the sidelines on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 32-year-old Blackwell is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has seven points (2G / 5A) in 40 games this season.

Colin Blackwell
Benn (upper-body) will return vs. Los Angeles.

Benn has not played since January 4th because of an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The veteran 36-year-old signed a team-friendly deal laced with bonuses based on reaching games-played milestones, including $500,000 for reaching 60 games. Benn has already missed 22 games this season, so he will be hard-pressed to make sure he doesn't miss another and miss out on a lucrative bonus.

Jamie Benn
Carlsson (undisclosed) left practice on Monday and did not return.

Carlsson did not finish practice on Monday, and it is unclear whether his ailment will affect his status for Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars. The 21-year-old Carlsson is having an excellent season for Anaheim, with 44 points (18G / 26A) in 44 games, but has drifted off in recent weeks as the Ducks have struggled, being held off the scoresheet in nine of the team's last 11 games.

Leo Carlsson
Miller (lower-body) has been placed on IR retroactive to January 11th.

Miller exited Sunday's 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils late in the first period because of a lower-body injury and he has subsequently been placed on Injured Reserve. The 33-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:45 time-on-ice and has one assist in 15 games this season. Winnipeg has recalled Phillips from Manitoba (AHL) in a corresponding move.

Colin Miller
Oettinger was the first goalie off the ice at Dallas' morning skate.

Oettinger has allowed three or more goals in seven of his last eight games (2-4-2), posting a 3.33 GAA and .879 SV%, and hopes start with a clean slate on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old Oettinger has seen his totals fall in recent weeks, boasting a 2.76 GAA and .900 SV% in 28 games (16-8-4). The Stars enter Monday's contest as -117 road favorites against a typically low-scoring Kings team that is on an offensive surge, averaging 3.5 goals per game over its past eight games (4-3-1).

Jake Oettinger
Petrovic is expected to draw back into Dallas' lineup in Los Angeles on Monday.

Ilya Lyubushkin will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Petrovic to re-enter the lineup against the Los Angeles Kings. The 33-year-old Petrovic has been a regular for the Stars this season, but has been a healthy scratch several times in the past couple weeks. He is averaging 15:48 time-on-ice, recording nine points (2G / 7A), 61 blocks, and 67 hits in 41 games this season.

Alex Petrovic
Lyubushkin is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Los Angeles on Monday.

Alex Petrovic will draw back into the Stars' lineup on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings, sending Lyubushkin to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Lyubushkin is averaging 16:33 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 51 hits, and 58 blocks in 33 games this season.

Ilya Lyubushkin
Pittsburgh has signed Blake Lizotte to a three-year contract extension worth $2.25 million AAV ($6.75M total).

Lizotte is in his second season with the Penguins and continues to be an effective bottom-six defensive forward, earning himself a three-year, $6.75 million contract extension. The 28-year-old forward is averaging 13:57 time-on-ice and has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 35 games this season.

Blake Lizotte
Kuemper was the first goalie off the ice at Los Angeles' morning skate.

Kuemper has been a driving force for a low-scoring Kings team all season, but he finds himself in a rough stretch, having allowed four or more goals in four of his last five games (2-2-1). Before this most recent rough patch, Kuemper was playing excellently, posting a 2.04 GAA and .924 SV% in his previous 20 games (10-5-5). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight +106 home underdogs against a reeling Dallas Stars team that has lost seven of their last eight games (1-3-4).

Darcy Kuemper
Tynan is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday vs. Toronto.

Ivan Ivan will draw back into Colorado's lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Tynan to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Tynan made his season debut in Colorado's most recent game, recording 8:13 time-on-ice and tallying one shot on goal.

T.J. Tynan
Ivan is expected to draw back into Colorado's lineup vs. Toronto on Monday.

Ivan made his NHL debut last season and scored eight points (5G / 3A) in 40 games with the Avalanche, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 23-year-old Czech forward has eight points (2G / 6A) in 30 games with the Eagles (AHL) this season. T.J. Tynan will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch.

Ivan Ivan

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!