The Blues have signed Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $2.0M.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Mammoth have signed Sebastian Cossa to a two-year, $2.0M AAV contract ($4.0M total)
The Flyers have signed Carl Grundstrom to a one-year, $1.0M contract.
Grundstrom was a reliable bottom-six forward for the Flyers in the 2025-26 season, earning himself a one-year contract extension. The 28-year-old Swedish forward averaged 11:51 time-on-ice and scored 13 points (9G / 4A) in 47 games last season.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
$125 Waivers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Utah has signed Joshua Roy to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Roy has seen limited action at the NHL level over the past two seasons and hopes to reestablish himself in a more regular role in 2026-27 with the Utah Mammoth. The 22-year-old forward, a fifth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he scored 45 points (23G / 22A) in 57 games with the Laval Rocket.
The Bruins have signed Ivan Ivan to a one-year, two-way contract.
Ivan's RFA rights were acquired from the Avalanche on Sunday and he signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Bruins. The 23-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he had 26 points (11G / 15A) in 66 games with the Colorado Eagles. He'll likely start the 2026-27 season in the AHL, but should be one of the first players summoned to Boston.
Seattle has signed Lleyton Roed to a one-year, entry-level contract.
Roed is an undrafted forward that played collegiate hockey with Bemidji State University for two seasons before making his professional debut at the AHL level in 2023-24. The 23-year-old scored 38 points (11G / 27A) last season in 65 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL).
Utah has signed Kailer Yamamoto to a two-year, $1.75 million AAV contract extension ($3.5M total).
After spending most of the previous season in the AHL, Yamamoto returned to playing predominantly in the NHL in 2025-26. He scored 23 points (13G / 10A) in 59 games with the Utah Mammoth, earning himself a two-year contract extension worth $3.5 million ($1.75M AAV).
Toronto has signed Troy Stecher to a two-year contract extension worth $1.35M AAV ($2.7M total).
Stecher was claimed off waivers from the Oilers in mid-November and recorded 14 points (3G / 11A) in 58 games with the Maple Leafs in 2025-26. With their current depth chart, Stecher and Emil Andrae will likely battle for the No.6 defenseman spot in training camp. Even if he serves as the No.7 defenseman all season, Stecher provides the Maple Leafs with a cheap veteran replacement when injuries occur on the back-end.
Florida has acquired the rights to Radko Gudas from Anaheim for the rights to AJ Greer.
After three seasons in Anaheim, Gudas is set to become a UFA on Wednesday. Florida acquired his negotiating so they can get a head start on bringing him back. Gudas played with the Panthers from 2021 to 2023, where ehe had 44 points (7G / 37A) but more importantly for his brand of hockey, 917 hits and 314 blocked shots. He would likely settle into a third-pairing role if he signs with the Panthers at age-36.
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.
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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.
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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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- 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.
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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.