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NHL Hockey Player News

Helleson is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Toronto on Monday.

With Radko Gudas (lower body) and Pavel Mintyukov (lower body) returning to Anaheim's lineup, Helleson will join Frank Vatrano as a healthy scratch on Monday. The 25-year-old Helleson is averaging 17:15 time-on-ice and has 12 points (2G / 10A) in 54 games this season.

Drew Helleson
Vatrano is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Toronto on Monday.

After three straight twenty-goal seasons, Vatrano's production has plummeted this season. The 31-year-old forward has just four goals and four assists through 46 games. He will be a healthy scratch on Monday, along with Drew Helleson, to accommodate the returns of Radko Gudas (lower body) and Pavel Mintyukov (lower body).

Frank Vatrano
Askarov was the first goalie off the ice at San Jose's morning skate.

Askarov was excellent in his return from a multi-week absence due to a lower-body injury, but he only lasted half the game before exiting with a new, unrelated injury. The 23-year-old Askarov saved all 11 shots he faced on Thursday before exiting the eventual 2-1 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. That said, his absence will be short-lived this time, returning to the crease on Monday in a rematch against the Blues. The Sharks enter Monday's contest with even -105 odds at home.

Yaroslav Askarov
Mintyukov (lower-body) will rejoin Anaheim's lineup vs. Toronto on Monday.

Mintyukov did not play in Anaheim's previous game, but he will return to the lineup on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 22-year-old defenseman is averaging 18:26 time-on-ice and has 20 points (8G / 12A) in 67 games this season.

Pavel Mintyukov
Husso will start vs. Toronto on Monday.

Husso has had a semi-regular workload in recent weeks and will return to the crease on Monday against the Toronto Maple Leafs for his sixth start in Anaheim's last 14 games. The 31-year-old Finnish goalie has earned his increased workload with serviceable play in the backup position, posting a solid 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in five games this month (3-2-0). The Ducks enter Monday's contest as -184 home favourites against a Maple Leafs team coming off a one-sided 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Ville Husso
Gudas (lower-body) will return and play vs. Toronto on Monday.

Gudas was issued a five-game suspension after a vicious season-ending knee-on-knee collision with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this month. The 35-year-old Gudas missed Anaheim's previous game due to a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Monday against an angry Maple Leafs team. Gudas has 13 points (2G / 11A) and 160 hits in 54 games this season.

Radko Gudas
Gudas (lower-body) is a game-time decision vs. Toronto on Monday.

Gudas was issued a five-game suspension after a vicious season-ending knee-on-knee collision with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this month. The 35-year-old Gudas missed Anaheim's previous game due to a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Monday against an angry Maple Leafs team.

Radko Gudas
Gibson will start in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

With the Red Wings desperately battling to stay in playoff contention, Gibson has picked a poor time to see a decline in his play. The 32-year-old Gibson's strong 2025-26 season has arguably been the main contributor to the Red Wings' playoff optimism, but he has lost six of his last nine outings (3-5-1), posting a pedestrian 2.86 GAA and .895 SV%. The Red Wings have lost both of their meetings against the Pittsburgh Penguins this season (0-1-1), but will catch them on the tail end of a back-to-back on Tuesday.

John Gibson
Toronto has called up Bo Groulx from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) on an emergency basis.

Groulx was a second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft that had five points (1G / 4A) in 65 career NHL games, all with the Ducks, before being called up by the Maple Leafs earlier this month. The 26-year-old forward was productive in a brief stint with the Maple Leafs, adding to his career totals with five points (3G / 2A) in nine games.

Bo Groulx
Beecher will draw back into Calgary's lineup in Colorado on Monday.

Tyson Gross will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing Beecher to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Beecher is averaging 10:17 time-on-ice and has six points (3G / 3A) in 33 games this season.

John Beecher
Wolf will start in Colorado on Monday.

The Flames have alternated goalies semi-evenly in recent weeks and will turn to Wolf for a second consecutive game on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 24-year-old Wolf was serviceable in Saturday's 7-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%). He has a solid 2.13 GAA and .920 SV% in his last five appearances (3-1-0). That said, the Flames enter Monday's contest as massive +308 road underdogs against an Avalanche team whose five-game point streak (4-0-1) was snapped on Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Dustin Wolf
Sanderson (upper-body) will remain out on Tuesday and is considered day-to-day.

Sanderson was labeled as week-to-week when he suffered an upper-body injury in Seattle on March 7th, but appears to nearing a return. That said, he will miss at least one more game before he is cleared to play. With Ottawa's blueline being decimated with injuries, the team will be eager to welcome their top defenseman back into the lineup as soon as possible.

Jake Sanderson
Barkov (lower-body) will remain out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season

Barkov underwent surgery to repair ACL and MCL injuries in late September and has been on the road to recovery ever since. He has been skating for the past several weeks and has been a more regular participant at practice lately. That said, with the Panthers effective out of playoff contention, he will officially be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Aleksander Barkov
Crosby (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Long Island on Monday.

Crosby has not played since suffering a lower-body injury in the first period of Thursday's 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators, but could return to the lineup on Monday against the New York Islanders. With the Penguins still amid a battle for a playoff spot, they'll need Crosby's 64 points (28G / 36A) through 61 games back in their lineup as soon as possible.

Sidney Crosby

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

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