The Bruins have signed Georgii Merkulov to a one-year extension worth $775K.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Senators have signed Leevi Merilainen to a one-year extension worth $1.05 million.
The Red Wings have signed Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $1.825 million.
The Oilers have signed Evan Bouchard to a four-year extension worth $10.5M AAV ($42M AAV total).
The Panthers have signed Aaron Ekblad to an eight-year deal worth $6.1M AAV ($48.8M total).
Ekblad was expected to be a highly desired commodity in Free Agency on July 1st, but the Panthers have locked him up to an eight-year contract extension worth $6.1 million AAV. The 29-year-old Ekblad was drafted first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with Florida. Ekblad had 380 points (118G / 262A) in 732 career games.
The Red Wings have signed Albert Johansson to a two-year deal worth $1.125M AAV ($2.25M total).
Johansson made his NHL debut last season, scoring nine points (3G / 6A) in 61 games with the Red Wings, and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension worth $1.125 million AAV. The 24-year-old defenseman was the 60th overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
The Islanders signed Alexander Romanov to an 8-year deal worth $6.25M AAV ($50.0M total).
Romanov missed portions of the 2024-25 season due to injuries, limited to only 64 games, but has signed a massive eight-year contract worth $6.25 million AAV. The hard-hitting 25-year-old defenseman has 64 points (13G / 51A), 465 blocks, and 502 hits in 221 career games with the New York Islanders.
The Canucks signed Guillaume Brisebois to a one-year, two-way contract.
Brisebois was drafted 66th overall by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with the organization but has only played 30 NHL games. The 27-year-old defenseman has become a reliable shutdown defense at the AHL level. He had five points (2G / 3A) in 48 games with Abbotsford (AHL) last season.
The Canucks signed Aatu Räty to a two-year deal worth $775K AAV.
In 2024-25, Raty played a career-high 33 games with Vancouver, scoring a career-high 11 points (7G / 4A). The 22-year-old Finnish forward spent most of the season in the AHL, scoring 40 points (17G / 23A) in 43 games with the Abbotsford Canucks and contributed to their Calder Cup championship with three points (0G / 3A) in six postseason games.
The Canucks signed Max Sasson to a one-year deal worth $775K AAV.
Sasson made his NHL debut last season, scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 29 games with Vancouver. The undrafted 24-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Calder Cup-winning Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), scoring 32 points (13G / 19A) in 41 regular season games followed by 14 points (5G / 9A) in 24 postseason games.
The Canucks signed Arshdeep Bains to a two-year deal worth $775K AAV.
Bains played a career-high 13 games with Vancouver last season, scoring his first career NHL goal, but was limited to only two games since the end of November. The 24-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 43 points (11G / 32A) in 50 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. He had an impressive 24 points (7G / 17A) in 24 AHL playoff games en route to a Calder Cup trophy.
The Maple Leafs acquired Matias Maccelli from the Mammoth for a conditional 2027 3rd round pick.
The 2027 3rd round pick can become a 2029 2nd round pick if the Maple Leafs make the playoffs and Maccelli records at least 51 points during the 2025-26 season. Maccelli had a down-year in 2024-25, but in the two years prior to that he averaged 16 goals and 44 assists (60 points) per 82 games. With Mitch Marner likely on his way out, Maccelli should provide some of the playmaking from the wing that their top-6 is losing.
The Wild have acquired Vladimir Tarasenko from the Red Wings for future considerations.
The Red Wings signed Tarasenko last season to play alongside Patrick Kane, but the experiment didn't last long, with Tarasenko spending portions of the season on the third and fourth lines. The former 40-goal scorer was limited to only 33 points (11G / 22A) in 80 games with the Red Wings. The 33-year-old will hope to re-establish his scoring prowess by playing alongside countryman Kirill Kaprizov.
The Oilers have signed Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million.
The Oilers acquired Kapanen from the St. Louis Blues via waivers last season and have signed him to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. The 28-year-old Kapanen had 13 points (5G / 8A) in 57 games with the Oilers last season and made an impact in the playoffs, tallying six points (3G / 3A) in 12 games.
The Oilers signed Noah Philp to a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $775,000.
The 26-year-old Philp made his long-awaited NHL debut last season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 15 games with the Oilers. The undrafted 26-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 35 points (19G / 16A) in 55 games with the Bakersfield Condors.
The Bruins signed Michael DiPietro to a two-year contract worth $812.5K AAV ($1.625M total).
The Bruins solidified their goaltending depth by signed DiPietro to a two-year contract with a $812.5K AAV. The 26-year-old netminder has impressed at every level but has not been able to establish himself in the NHL yet. Dipeitro had a solid 2.05 GAA and .927 SV% in 40 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.
The Bruins signed John Beecher to a one-year contract worth $900K.
Beecher was the 30th-overall pick of the Bruins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and played a career-high 78 games, scoring 11 points (3G / 8A), in his second NHL season in 2024-25. The 24-year-old Beecher played primarily on the fourth-line for the Bruins last season.
The Bruins have signed Henri Jokiharju to a three-year deal worth $3.0M AAV ($9.0M total).
Jokiharju was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres last season and made a positive impact in his brief tenure with the Bruins, earning himself a three-year contract extension with a $3 million AAV. The 26-year-old Finnish defenseman recorded four points (0G / 4A) and averaged 21:22 time-on-ice in 18 games with the Bruins in 2024-25.
Nashville has signed Nicolas Hague to a four-year, $22 million contract extension $5.5 million AAV).
Minutes after being acquired from Vegas in a trade for Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon, Nashville has signed Nicolas Hague to a four-year, $22 million contract extension ($5.5 million AAV). The 26-year-old appeared in 68 games for Vegas in his sixth season with the Golden Knights, picking up five goals, 12 points and 40 PIMs.
Nashville has acquired Nicolas Hague from Vegas for Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons.
Minutes after being acquired from Vegas in a trade for Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon, Nashville signed Nicolas Hague to a four-year, $22 million contract extension ($5.5 million AAV). The 26-year-old appeared in 68 games for Vegas in his sixth season with the Golden Knights, picking up five goals, 12 points and 40 PIMs.
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!