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NHL Hockey Player News

Ellis will backup on Wednesday in New York.

Ellis has regularly served as Buffalo's backup goalie in recent weeks, and will return to the position on Wednesday as Alex Lyon is battling a lower-body injury. The 25-year-old Ellis as served as Buffalo's third goaltender for most of the season and has not had many opportunities to tend the twine.

Colten Ellis
Dunne will be a healthy scratch vs. New York on Wednesday.

Dunne has only played two games in the last month and will return to the sidelines as a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The 27-year-old forward is averaging 9:24 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 33 games this season.

Josh Dunne
Greenway will be a healthy scratch vs. New York on Wednesday.

Greenway has played the last few games for the Sabres after missing over two months due to an injury, but he will return to the sidelines on Wednesday. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 12:21 time-on-ice and has six points (1G / 5A) in 37 games this season.

Jordan Greenway
Kozak will draw back into Buffalo's lineup vs. New York on Wednesday.

Kozak has seen limited action in recent weeks, but he will re-enter the lineup on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. The 23-year-old Kozak is averaging 11:17 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 42 games this season.

Tyson Kozak
Luukkonen will start in New York on Wednesday.

For the first four weeks following the Olympic break, the Sabres had an equal goalie rotation, but with Alex Lyon struggling in recent games, the team will turn to Luukkonen for his fifth start in their last six games. The 27-year-old Luukkonen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since returning from the Olympic break, Luukkonen has boasted an impressive 2.25 GAA and .921 SV% in 12 games (9-2-1). The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -138 home favourites against a suddenly surging New York Rangers team that has outscored opponents 27-8 in their last six games (5-1-0).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Schenn will be a healthy scratch in New York on Wednesday.

Michael Kesselring will re-enter Buffalo's lineup on Wednesday, sending Schenn to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 36-year-old Schenn has been used sparingly since being acquired by Buffalo at the trade deadline. The 36-year-old defenseman has zero points and seven hits in three games with Buffalo.

Luke Schenn
Lyon (lower-body) tweaked something at practice on Wednesday and will not backup vs. New York.

Lyon was already schedule to not dress in Wednesday's game against the New York Rangers, as the Sabres have regularly had Colten Ellis serve as the team's back up goalie, but now he will be sidelined due to a lower-body ailment. The 33-year-old Lyon has struggled in recent outings, resulting in his starting only one of the team's last five games. The severity of Lyon's injury is unclear, but the team will hope he can use the time off to reset and return to his early-season form.

Alex Lyon
Luukkonen is in the starter's crease at Buffalo's morning skate.

For the first four weeks following the Olympic break, the Sabres had an equal goalie rotation, but with Alex Lyon struggling in recent games, the team will turn to Luukkonen for his fifth start in their last six games. The 27-year-old Luukkonen was solid in his most recent outing, saving 23 of 25 shots (.920 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since returning from the Olympic break, Luukkonen has boasted an impressive 2.25 GAA and .921 SV% in 12 games (9-2-1). The Sabres enter Wednesday's contest as -138 home favourites against a suddenly surging New York Rangers team that has outscored opponents 27-8 in their last six games (5-1-0).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Shesterkin will start vs. Buffalo on Wednesday.

Since being officially eliminated from the playoffs, the Rangers have showcased their most impressive stretch of the season. The team is coming off a dominant 8-1 victory over the Washington Capitals, where Shesterkin saved 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%). The 30-year-old Shesterkin has won three of his last four while posting a tremendous 1.51 GAA and .938 SV%. The Rangers enter Wednesday's contest as +125 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team coming off an important 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning to help them inch closer to their goal of winning the Atlantic Division.

Igor Shesterkin
Stolarz is in the starter's crease at Toronto's morning skate.

Stolarz was not especially sharp in his most recent outing, allowing three goals on 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. The 32-year-old Stolarz has had a largely disappointing 2025-26 campaign, but he has posted solid numbers in his last eight appearances (3-2-2), with a 2.65 GAA and .913 SV%. The Maple Leafs enter Wednesday's contest as +136 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that needs to bounce back after an embarrassing 8-1 loss to the New York Rangers to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive.

Anthony Stolarz
Yakemchuk has been loaned to Belleville (AHL).

With a myriad of injuries on Ottawa's blueline, Yakemchuk was recalled from Belleville (AHL) and made an unexpected NHL debut this season. The 20-year-old, seventh-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, scoring two points (1G / 1A) in four games with Ottawa, but with healthy bodies drawing back into the lineup, he will return to Belleville (AHL).

Carter Yakemchuk
Chatfield left Tuesday's game vs. Boston with a lower-body injury and did not return.

Chatfield exited Tuesday's game after only 13:54 time-on-ice due to a lower-body injury. The severity of Chatfield's injury is unclear, but the team will likely err on the side of caution with the playoffs fast approaching. The 29-year-old defenseman has 17 points (2G / 15A) in 71 games this season.

Jalen Chatfield
Kulikov will be out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after breaking his finger vs. Montreal on Tuesday.

Kulikov has been added to the growing list of Panthers with season-ending injuries, after suffering a broken finger on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Kulikov ends the 2025-26 season with zero points and 22 hits through 19 games.

Dmitry Kulikov

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!