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NHL Hockey Player News

Skinner will be a healthy scratch vs. Detroit on Friday.

With Will Smith (upper body) set to return, Jeff Skinner will head to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 33-year-old Skinner has struggled this season with only 13 points (6G / 7A) in 32 games. That said, he has five points (1G / 4A) in his last five games.

Jeff Skinner
Askarov will start in Detroit on Friday.

In their last 21 games (12-9-0), the Sharks have allowed fewer than three goals only three times, all while Alex Nedeljkovic has been between the pipes. During that stretch, the Sharks rank second-worst in the league defensively (4.00 GA/GP), and have not received the stout netminding from Askarov that they became accustomed to earlier in the season. In his last 13 games (7-6-0), the 23-year-old Askarov has an ugly 3.64 GAA and .865 SV%. The Sharks enter Friday’s contest as +158 road underdogs against a Detroit Red Wings team whose four-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Yaroslav Askarov
Slavic (rehab) will return to Carolina’s lineup vs. Florida on Friday.

Slavin just recently returned after missing ten games with an upper-body injury, and was given the night off after playing two games. He will return to the lineup on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old veteran defenseman has one assist in seven games this season.

Jaccob Slavin
Carrier (lower-body) will be out vs. Florida on Friday.

Carrier is battling an undisclosed injury, did not play for Carolina on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings, and will remain sidelined on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The 31-year-old Carrier scored a goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, giving him 10 points (5G / 5A) in 38 games this season.

William Carrier
Gostisbehere (illness) is doubtful to play on Friday vs. Florida.

Gostisbehere has been overcoming an illness and did not practice on Thursday. He is unlikely to play on Friday against the Florida Panthers, but the Hurricanes will be hopeful he can play on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old defenseman has cooled off a little, but is still having an excellent season, with 32 points (6G / 26A) in 35 games.

Shayne Gostisbehere
Bussi will start vs. Florida on Friday.

Bussi was serviceable in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%), but received no goal support as the Hurricanes were defeated 3-0 by the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old Bussi, in his first NHL season, remains the most reliable option between the pipes for the Hurricanes, with a 2.31 GAA and .902 SV% in 20 games (16-3-1). The Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as -172 home favorites against a Panthers team on a two-game winning streak.

Brandon Bussi
Dostal will start in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Ducks are coming off an impressive 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars, where Dostal saved 24 of 25 shots (.960 SV%), marking the first time in seven starts that he has allowed fewer than four goals (1-5-1). The 25-year-old goalie has struggled since returning from a multi-week injury in mid December, posting a 3.23 GAA and .863 SV% in 13 games (3-9-1). The Ducks enter Friday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that beat Dostal six times on 30 shots (.800 SV%) in a 6-1 win three weeks ago.

Lukas Dostal
Vladar (undisclosed) is day-to-day and will not dress on Saturday.

Vladar was off to a rough start in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, allowing two goals on five shots, but did not get the chance to redeem himself, leaving the game towards the end of the first period because of an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old Vladar has arguably been Philadelphia's most valuable player this season, posting a 2.46 GAA and .905 SV% in 28 games (16-7-4). Samuel Ersson has struggled this season and carried that into a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Luckily for the Flyers, Vladar's injury does not appear to be a long-term concern, so they shouldn't have to rely on Ersson for an extended period.

Dan Vladar
Aube-Kubel has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

With Matt Boldy (undisclosed) and Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) on Injured Reserve, Minnesota has recalled Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel from Iowa (AHL). The 29-year-old Aube-Kubel is an NHL veteran of 308 games, but has spent most of the season in the AHL. He has one assist in four games with Minnesota this season.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Haight has been recalled from Iowa (AHL).

With Matt Boldy (undisclosed) and Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) on Injured Reserve, Minnesota has recalled Hunter Haight and Nicolas Aube-Kubel from Iowa (AHL). The 21-year-old Haight made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing two games. He remains in search of his first career point.

Hunter Haight
Eriksson Ek (lower-body) has been placed on IR.

Eriksson Ek exited last Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken after only 7:57 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and has not played since. The 28-year-old Eriksson Ek is averaging 19:34 time-on-ice and has 32 points (11G / 21A) in 45 games this season. He on Saturday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres, but his placement on Injured Reserve suggests he may miss at least one more game.

Joel Eriksson Ek
Boldy (undisclosed) has been placed on IR.

Boldy showed no signs of an ailment in yesterday's 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but has surfaced on Injured Reserve and will miss at least the next four games before he is eligible to return to the lineup. The 24-year-old Boldy is having an outstanding season, with 51 points (27G / 24A) in 48 games this season. That said, he is amid his worst stretch of the season, with only four points (2G / 2A) in his last eight games.

Matt Boldy

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!