NHL Hockey Player News

The Golden Knights have signed Cole Schwindt to a one-year deal worth $825K.

Schwindt was claimed off waivers from the Flames in early October and spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Golden Knights. The 24-year-old winger had one goal and seven assists (eight points) in 42 games with the Golden Knights but will likely serve as their No.13 forward to start 2025-26.

Cole Schwindt
The Golden Knights have signed Jonas Rondbjerg to a one-year, two-way contract.

Rondbjerg spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he tallied 11 goals and 15 assists (26 points) in 53 games. He's shuffled back and fourth between the AHL and NHL for four straight seasons, appeared in 76 total NHL games, posting three goals and seven assists (10 points). Expect him to be a fringe roster player again in 2025-26.

Jonas Rondbjerg
The Golden Knights have signed Raphael Lavoie to a one-year, two-way contract.

Lavoie was claimed off waivers from Edmonton in early October but appeared in just nine games with the Golden Knights, spending most of the season in Henderson (AHL). The 24-year-old forward had 17 goals and 10 assists (27 points) in 42 AHL games and will likely begin the 2025-26 season with Henderson.

Raphael Lavoie
The Islanders have signed Marc Gatcomb to a one-year deal worth $900K.

Gatcomb split the 2024-25 season between the AHL and NHL. During his time with the Islanders, he had nine points (8G / 1A) and 149 hits in 39 games. He'll be a fringe roster player for them in 2025-26 and could end up back in the AHL to begin the season.

Marc Gatcomb
The Capitals have signed Lynden Lakovic to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Lakovic was selected with the No.27 overall pick in this summer's NHL draft and quickly signed his entry-level deal with the Capitals. The 18-year-old left winger spent the 2024-25 season with the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), where he led the team in goals (27) and points (58) despite appearing in just 47 of 68 games.

Lynden Lakovic
The Kraken signed Jake O'Brien to a three-year, entry-level contract.

O'Brien was selected No.8 overall in this summer's NHL draft and quickly signs his entry-level deal with the Kraken. The 18-year-old centre spent the 2024-25 season with the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), where he was third on the team with 98 points (32G / 66A) in 66 games. Expect him to return to the OHL for the 2025-26 season.

Jake O'Brien
Christian Fischer announced his retirement from the NHL.

Christian Fischer announced his retirement from the NHL. Fischer is retiring from the NHL after nine seasons and 523 games, at the age of 28. "It’s just more so a decision of moving on into another chapter of my life,” Fischer said. Fischer wraps up his career with 137 points (62G / 75A) across nine seasons with the Coyotes, Red Wings and Blue Jackets.

Christian Fischer
Montreal has signed William Trudeau to a one-year, two-way contract.

Trudeau turned pro in 2023 and has played three straight seasons with the Laval Rocket. Most recently, the 22-year-old defenseman had five goals and 14 assists (19 points) in 68 games. With a loaded blueline in Montreal, Trudeau's path to NHL games is difficult.

William Trudeau
Washington has signed Milton Gastrin to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Gastrin was selected No.37 overall in this summer's NHL draft. The Swedish centre spent most of the 2024-25 season in the Sweden's top junior league, where he was tied for the team-lead with 18 goals and second on MoDo Jr. in points with 42 in 40 games. He's expected to make the full-time jump to the SHL this season.

Milton Gastrin

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!