New York has signed Ethan Bear to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Winnipeg has signed Walker Duehr to a two-year, two-way contract extension.
The Red Wings have signed Theo Rochette to a one-year, entry-level contract.
Rochette went undrafted and played five seasons in the QMJHL before heading to Switzerland for the last three seasons. In 2026, he led Lausanne HC in goals (22) and finished second in points (43) in 46 games. He will likely report to Grand Rapids (AHL) to begin the 2026-27 season.
Kolesar will be a healthy scratch for Game 6.
Korczak will be a healthy scratch for Game 6.
Bowman will make his playoffs debut in Game 6.
Korczak will enter the Golden Knights' lineup for Game 6.
Smith will draw into the Golden Knights' lineup for Game 6.
Goalie Start
Bussi will start Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Hurricanes' 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5. Since entering the series in Game 3, Bussi has turned aside 59 of the 65 shots that he's faced (.908 SV%), stopping 2.48 goals above expected. He's been great, and has positioned the Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup in Vegas on Sunday. Bussi and the Hurricanes enter Game 6 as -114 road favourites.
Goalie Start
Bussi is expected to start Game 6 in Vegas on Sunday.
Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Hurricanes' 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5. Since entering the series in Game 3, Bussi has turned aside 59 of the 65 shots that he's faced (.908 SV%), stopping 2.48 goals above expected. He's been great, and has positioned the Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup in Vegas on Sunday. Bussi and the Hurricanes enter Game 6 as -114 road favourites.
Karlsson (arm) will not play in Game 6 on Sunday.
Karlsson left Game 5 with an arm injury on a hit from Sean Walker and did not return. With Karlsson sidelined for Game 6, the Golden Knights will have to shuffle their lines around. Either Brandon Saad or Reilly Smith will enter the lineup to replace Karlsson, and either Tomas Hertl will centre the second line, or Pavel Dorofeyev will move back into the top-6 with Mitch Marner going back to centre. Head coach John Tortorella would not commit to his changes.
Goalie Start
Hart will start Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Hart allowed four goals on 24 shots in the Golden Knights 4-2 loss in Carolina in Game 5. Despite allowing four goals in all five games of the series and posting an .856 SV%, head coach John Tortorella has continued to express his confidence in Hart, and will turn to him again in a must-win Game 6 on Sunday. In the first three rounds, Hart stopped 0.88 goals above expected per/60. He's given up 0.48 goals above expected per/60 in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers have acquired Emil Pieniniemi from the Penguins for Oliver Okuliar.
Pieniniemi was a third-round pick of the Penguins in 2023, and he spent the 2025-26 season splitting time between the AHL and ECHL. He spent most of the year with the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL), where he had 11 points (6G / 5A) in 26 games.
The Penguins Oliver Okuliar from the Panthers for Emil Pieniniemi.
Okuliar was an undrafted free agent who has played one season in North America (2024-25) since signing with the Florida Panthers in April 2024. He spent the 2025-26 season in the Swedish Hockey League with Skellefteå AIK, recording 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists) in 46 regular-season games. He also finished second on the team in playoff scoring with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists), helping Skellefteå AIK capture its fifth Le Mat Trophy as SHL champions in club history.
Karlsson (upper-body) left Game 5 and is not likely to return for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final.
Goalie Start
Bussi will start Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Frederik Andersen was near-perfect in the opening three rounds of the postseason, but has struggled in the Stanley Cup Finals, leading to Brandon Bussi relieving him in Game Three for his first postseason appearance in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss. The 27-year-old went on to make his first postseason start in Game Four, helping his team even the series at 2-2 with a 5-3 victory. Bussi has saved 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) in his two appearances and will likely return to the crease in a pivotal Game Five. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favourites against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Goalie Start
Hart will start Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Golden Knights will unsurprisingly stick with Hart between the pipes for a pivotal Game 5 matchup in Carolina on Thursday. Hart turned in a fourth-straight performance with a sub .900 SV% in Game 4, allowing four goals on 27 shots in the 5-3 defeat. Hart and the Golden Knights head into Game 5 as slight underdogs, entering action at +125 on the money line.
Kuefler has been signed to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.75 million ($875,000 AAV).
Chromiak has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 AAV.
Goalie Start
Bussi is expected to start Game 5 vs. Vegas.
Frederik Andersen was near-perfect in the opening three rounds of the postseason, but has struggled in the Stanley Cup Finals, leading to Brandon Bussi relieving him in Game Three for his first postseason appearance in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss. The 27-year-old went on to make his first postseason start in Game Four, helping his team even the series at 2-2 with a 5-3 victory. Bussi has saved 36 of 40 shots (.900 SV%) in his two appearances and will likely return to the crease in a pivotal Game Five. The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as -151 home favourites against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- 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.