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NHL Hockey Player News

Los Angeles has signed Mathieu Joseph to a one-year, $900,000 pro-rated contract on Friday.

Joseph was unable to secure a regular role with the St. Louis Blues this season and had his contract terminated earlier this week. He has quickly moved on and signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Joseph averaged 12:41 time-on-ice and had 11 points (2G / 9A) in 39 games with the Blues this season.

Mathieu Joseph
Blackwood will start in Dallas on Friday.

In a meeting between the top two teams in the league standings, Colorado will turn to Blackwood on Friday against the Dallas Stars. The 29-year-old Blackwood has a solid 2.03 GAA and .914 SV% in three games since returning from the Olympic break, continuing an outstanding first full season in Colorado. The Avalanche enter Friday's action as -116 road favourites against a Stars team that is riding a franchise-best 10-game winning streak and has outscored their opposition 19-6 in their last four games.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Carolina has acquired Nicolas Deslauriers from Philadelphia for a conditional 2027 7th round pick.

The Hurricanes have added some grit to their bottom-six forward group by acquiring Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers. The 35-year-old Deslauriers averaged 8:05 time-on-ice while recording one assist, 33 penalty minutes, and 86 hits in 24 games this season.

Nicolas Deslauriers
Blankenburg will not make his Avalnache debut on Friday vs. Dallas.

The Avalanche acquired Blankenburg from the Predators on Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. Blankenburg is a somewhat underrated, 27-year-old two-way defenceman who's put up career highs in goals (six) and assists (15) in just 49 games this season. He quarterbacked the Predators second power-play unit at times this season, but it's unclear where exactly he will slot in on the pecking order of an Avalanche blue-line that just recently swapped out Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak.

Nick Blankenburg
Rosen is expected to arrive in Winnipeg on Friday and is hopeful to make his debut on Saturday vs. Vancouver.

With Buffalo having an influx of young forwards, Isak Rosen found himself on the outside and has been traded alongside Jacob Bryson, a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick to Winnipeg for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. Rosen was drafted in the 1st round of the 2021 NHL Draft (14th overall) but has failed to stick at the NHL level through three seasons. In 2025-26 he appeared in 16 games, picking up a career high three goals, seven points and 16 SOG.

Isak Rosen
Bryson is expected to arrive in Winnipeg on Friday and is hopeful to make his Jets' debut vs. Saturday vs. Vancouver.

After six seasons in Buffalo, Jacob Bryson is now a member of the Winnipeg Jets alongside Isak Rosen a 2027 2nd Round Pick, and conditional 2026 4th Round Pick for Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn. Bryson is 28-year-old and has never surpassed more than 10 points in an NHL season. Through 35 games played in 2025-26, he has two goals, five points and eight PIMs.

Jacob Bryson
Tolopilo will start in Chicago on Friday.

Tolopilo had a rough outing in his most recent stat, allowing six goals on 37 shots (.838 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, but was solid in relief of Kevin Lankinen on Wednesday, saving nine of 10 shots (.900 SV%) in an eventual 6-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 25-year-old Tolopilo has a 3.27 GAA and .901 SV% in 12 appearances this season (3-5-2). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +128 road underdogs against a Chicago Blackhawks team coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Nikita Tolopilo
Dach is expected to make his Oilers' debut on Friday vs. Carolina.

The Oilers acquired Dach and forward Jason Dickinson in exchange for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round draft pick earlier this week. A second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Dach made his NHL debut in 2025, registering five goals and 11 assists across 78 games with the Blackhawks. He is expected to make his team debut on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Colton Dach
Dickinson is expected to make his Oilers' debut vs. Carolina on Friday.

The Oilers acquired Dickinson and forward Colton Dach in exchange for forward Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 first-round draft pick earlier this week. In Dickinson, the Oilers are gaining an excellent two-way forward who should excel in a shutdown role and finally fill Edmonton's third-line-centre void. A former first-round pick way back in 2013, Dickinson has spent the last four seasons with the Blackhawks, developing into one of the league's more underrated defensive forwards. The Georgetown, Ontario native won't need to worry about obtaining a work visa and will make his Oilers debut on Friday when they host the Hurricanes.

Jason Dickinson
Murphy will make his Oilers' debut vs. Carolina on Friday.

Edmonton, one of the NHL's worst defensive teams (3.38 GA/GP), acquired Murphy from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday to help them shore up their blueline. In 60 games with Chicago this season, the 32-year-old Murphy averaged 16:34 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (4G / 9A), 62 hits, and 87 blocks. He will make his team debut on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Connor Murphy
Carrick (trade) is expected to arrive in Buffalo on Friday and has a chance to make his debut on Saturday.

Carrick was one of many Ranger players on the trade block and finds himself in Buffalo after the Sabres traded a 2026 3rd round pick and a 2026 6th round pick (CHI) to the New York Rangers to acquire him. The 34-year-old veteran forward has reached double digit points (10) for just the 4th time in his 11 NHL seasons and should play a complimentary role in Buffalo's bottom-six.

Sam Carrick
Kane (illness) will remain out vs. Chicago on Friday.

The 34-year-old Kane's name has circulated trade rumours, and with the trade deadline on Friday. He did not play on Wednesday and will not play on Friday as well, assuming he is not traded before then. He has two points (2G / 0A) in his last three games and 27 points (11G / 16A) in 59 outings this season.

Evander Kane

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.

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