NHL Hockey Player News

Brennan Othmann(LW)|NYR
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Othmann is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Chicago.

Othmann is expected to skate on a line with Nick Bonino and Jonny Brodzinski in his NHL debut on Thursday. The 20-year-old Othmann was the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has 23 points (9G / 14A) in 28 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL this season.

Source:
Dan Rosen 2024-01-04T15:51:02.097Z
Brennan Othmann
Jackson Lacombe(D)|ANA
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Lacombe will draw back into Anaheim's lineup for Wednesday's game against the Maple Leafs.

Lacombe will draw in for Radko Gudas, who will miss Wednesday's game with an illness. Lacombe is yet to score a goal this season and has just four assists in 34 games. He is expected to skate alongside Cam Fowler on the Ducks' top pair on Wednesday.

Source:
@AnaheimDucks 2024-01-04T01:40:32.134Z
Jackson Lacombe
Nicholas Robertson(LW)|TOR
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Robertson will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday's game in Anaheim.

With Toronto playing their second game in as many nights when they travel to Anaheim on Wednesday, Sheldon Keefe is opting to get a pair of fresh legs into the lineup as Pontus Holmberg will draw into the lineup in place of Robertson. It's the first time Robertson has been listed as a healthy scratch since he was recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on November 6th. Robertson has five goals and six assists in 24 games this season.

Source:
David Alter 2024-01-04T00:12:38.812Z
Nicholas Robertson
Colin Miller(D)|WPG
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Miller will draw back into the Devils' lineup on Wednesday.

Miller will re-enter the lineup in Washington in place of the injured Ondrej Palat (lower-body). Miller is expected to skate on the Devils' third pair while Brendan Smith will move upfront to play with the fourth line. Miller has no goals and one assist in 16 games this season.

Source:
Amanda Stein 2024-01-04T00:10:01.652Z
Colin Miller
Pontus Holmberg(RW)|TOR
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Holmberg will draw into the Leafs' lineup on Wednesday.

With Toronto playing their second game in as many nights when they travel to Anaheim on Wednesday, Sheldon Keefe is opting to get a pair of fresh legs into the lineup as Holmberg will draw in while Nick Robertson is expected to be a healthy scratch. Holmberg has no goals and one assist in nine games this season.

Source:
David Alter 2024-01-04T00:05:44.637Z
Pontus Holmberg
Hendrix Lapierre(C)|WAS
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Hendrix Lapierre will be a healthy scratch Wednesday vs. New Jersey.

With the debut of Max Pacioretty incoming Wednesday Hendrix Lapierre will be the odd man out of the Capitals' forward lines vs. New Jersey. The 21-year-old centre has been enjoying a successful first full season in Washington, with two goals, four assists, 18 SOG, and a -1 plus/minus.

Source:
Sammi Silber 2024-01-03T22:25:47.584Z
Hendrix Lapierre
Joel Edmundson(D)|LAK
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Joel Edmundson (maintenance) will be the odd man out of the Capitals' lineup Wednesday vs. New Jersey.

Edmundson will head to the press box Wednesday vs. New Jersey as he takes a maintenance game on the Capitals' second half of their back-to-back. The 30-year-old shutdown defensemen has a goal, an assist, and eight PIMs in 21 games played this season and will be replaced by Trevor van Riemsdyk Wednesday.

Source:
Sammi Silber 2024-01-03T22:27:13.498Z
Joel Edmundson
Trevor van Riemsdyk(D)|WAS
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Trevor van Riemsdyk will draw back into the Capitals' lineup Wednesday vs. New Jersey.

van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch for the Capitals' first game of their back-to-back Tuesday but will draw back into the lineup Wednesday as they take on New Jersey. The 32-year-old will replace Joel Edmundson (maintenance) and will look to pick up his first goal to go alongside his six assists, 34 SOG, six PIMs and -6 plus/minus through 30 games played.

Source:
Sammi Silber 2024-01-03T22:28:40.190Z
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Arthur Kaliyev(RW)|NYR
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Kaliyev is listed as a scratch for Tuesday's game against the Maple Leafs.

Kaliyev's absence for Tuesday's game is a surprise, and it's unclear at this time whether this is simply a healthy scratch or if it's due to an undisclosed injury. He has six goals and eight assists in 30 games this season. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will enter the lineup in his place.

Source:
Zach Dooley 2024-01-03T03:11:17.838Z
Arthur Kaliyev
Justin Holl(D)|DET
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Justin Holl will draw back into the Red Wings' lineup Tuesday in San Jose.

Holl was a healthy scratch for the Red Wings' last two games but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday for Jeff Petry. The 31-year-old Holl signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract in the offseason and has provided no goals, four assists, five SOG, 18 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 25 games played this season.

Source:
Daniella Bruce 2024-01-02T20:48:50.411Z
Justin Holl
Brendan Lemieux(LW)|CAR
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Brendan Lemieux will draw back into the Hurricanes' lineup Tuesday vs. the Rangers.

With Jesper Fast (upper body) out indefinitely, Brendan Lemieux will draw back into the Hurricane's lineup for the first time since December 9th. The 27-year-old scrappy left-winger has made brief appearances for Carolina this year as he has two goals, eight SOG, and 33 PIMs while only averaging 7:10 TOI.

Source:
Carolina Hurricanes 2024-01-02T19:51:27.869Z
Brendan Lemieux
Kyle Burroughs(D)|LAK
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Kyle Burroughs will draw back into the Sharks' lineup Tuesday vs. Detroit.

Nikita Okhotyuk will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Burroughs to re-enter the lineup for the Sharks. Burroughs has four points (0G / 4A), 85 hits, and 72 blocks in 35 games this season. He is expected to skate with Calen Addison on the third defensive pair.

Source:
Max Miller 2024-01-02T20:11:39.019Z
Kyle Burroughs

NHL Line Changes

NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.

Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.

On The Fly

Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.

On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.

In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.

Play Stoppages

NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.

Bench Configuration

It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.

Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.

Line Change Rules

Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.

Last Line Change

The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.

For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.

For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.

Penalties & Infractions

While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.

A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.

Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.

How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey

NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.

Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.