NHL Hockey Player News

Pittsburgh has signed Philip Tomasino to a one-year, $1.75 contract.

Tomasino was the Nashville Predator's 24th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft but was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the 2024-25 season. He scored 23 points (11G / 12A) in 50 games with the Penguins, earning himself a one-year contract extension worth $1.75 million.

Philip Tomasino
The Senators have signed Lars Eller to a one-year deal worth $1.25M.

Eller will enter his 17th NHL season with a new team, the sixth of his career, after signing a one-year contract worth $1.25 million with the Senators. The 36-year-old Eller split the 2024-25 season between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring 22 points (10G / 12A) in 80 games.

Lars Eller
The Rangers have signed Justin Dowling to a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV).

Dowling played a career-high 52 games with the New Jersey Devils last season, scoring seven points (2G / 5A). The 34-year-old forward has played 152 career games and will likely continue his role as a depth forward, battling for lineup deployment with the Rangers.

Justin Dowling
Buffalo has signed Tyson Kozak to a three-year contract worth $775,000 AAV ($2.325 Million total).

Kozak made his NHL debut with the Sabres last season, scoring five points (3G / 2A) in 21 games. The 22-year-old Kozak was drafted in the seventh round in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres. He remains with the team on a three-year deal worth $775K AAV.

Tyson Kozak
Buffalo has signed Justin Danforth to a two-year deal worth $1.8 million AAV ($3.6M total).

Danforth is an undrafted 32-year-old forward who did not make his NHL debut until the 2021-22 season, playing most of the three seasons since at the NHL level with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He scored 21 points (9G / 12A) in 61 games last season with the Blue Jackets.

Justin Danforth
Minnesota has signed Nico Sturm to a two-year, $4 million contract ($2 million AAV).

Sturm joined the Florida Panthers before the trade deadline last season and played eight games in the postseason en route to a Stanley Cup. The 29-year-old Sturm has 92 points (46G / 46A) in 331 career games and will return to the Minnesota Wild after playing four seasons with them to begin his career.

Nico Sturm
San Jose has signed John Klingberg to a one-year, $4 million contract.

After not playing professional hockey for over a year due to injuries, Klingberg signed with the Edmonton Oilers late in the 2024-25 campaign. He recorded four points (1G / 3A) in 11 games with the Oilers and four points (1G / 3A) in 19 postseason games. The 32-year-old Klingberg isn't far removed from being one of the league's elite powerplay quarterbacks. He scored a career-high 67 points (8G / 59A) in 82 games with the Dallas Stars in the 2017-18 season.

John Klingberg
San Jose has signed Philipp Kurashev to a one-year, $1.2 million contract.

After five seasons in Chicago, Philipp Kurashev has joined the San Jose Sharks on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. The 25-year-old Swish center broke out in 2023-24 with 18 goals and 54 points but regressed to his career norms in 2024-25 with only seven goals and 14 points in 51 games played.

Philipp Kurashev
Buffalo has signed Alex Lyon to a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5 million AAV).

Buffalo made its first move of Free Agency on Tuesday by bringing in backup goaltender Alex Lyon on a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5 million AAV). The 32-year-old undrafted netminder had spent the last two seasons in Detroit, appearing in 70 games combined and had a 14-9-1 record, 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% last season.

Alex Lyon
Pittsburgh has signed Connor Dewar to a one-year, $1.1 million contract extension.

Pittsburgh will bring back a familiar face on Day 1 of free agency by signing Connor Dewar to a one-year contract extension. The 26-year-old forward came to Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline and finished the season with four goals and 10 points in 48 games played between Toronto and Pittsburgh. He is expected to fill a bottom-six role much like he did last season after being acquired.

Connor Dewar

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!