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NHL Hockey Player News

Blackwood (lower-body) returned to the ice on Thursday but is still considered week-to-week.

Blackwood has not played since New Year's Eve due to a lower-body injury and is still week-to-week. Trent Miner was recalled from the Eagles (AHL) in Blackwood's absence, but Scott Wedgewood has played every game since and should continue to have a heavy workload until Blackwood returns from injury.

Mackenzie Blackwood
Moore (upper-body) has been placed on IR.

Moore has not played in nearly two weeks due to an upper-body injury and has been placed on Injured Reserve. The 30-year-old California-born forward has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 37 games this season, a significant decline after averaging over 43 points in his previous four campaigns.

Trevor Moore
Wedgewood will start vs. Ottawa on Thursday.

After a remarkable 31-2-7 start to the season, the Avalanche, for the first time, have gone two games without a point (0-2-0), and hope for a strong performance from Wedgewood to help end their mini-slump. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been excellent all season, but has shown signs of being human over the past two weeks, allowing three or more goals in four of five games (2-2-0), posting a .876 SV%. He has a 2.20 GAA and .917 SV% in 27 games this season (18-3-4). The Avalanche enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -257 home favorites against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

Scott Wedgewood
Rittich will start in Nashville on Thursday.

Ilya Sorokin returned from a two-week absence due to an injury in the Islanders' most recent game, recording a shutout in a 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, but the team will turn to Rittich on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Rittich has been excellent over the last two months, posting a solid 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in 13 games (8-3-2). The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight +108 road underdogs against a Predators team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

David Rittich
Grubauer is in the starter's crease at Seattle's morning skate.

After four dreadful seasons with Seattle, posting a 3.07 GAA and .890 SV% in 156 games (57-78-12), Grubauer finally looks like the goalie that the team signed to a six-year, $35.4 million contract ($5.9M AAV) in 2021. The 34-year-old Grubauer saved 41 of 42 shots (.976 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames. He has an excellent 2.21 GAA and .926 SV% in 14 games this season (8-3-1). The Kraken enter Thursday's contest as +133 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that has lost five of its last eight games (3-2-3).

Philipp Grubauer
Saros is expected to start vs. the Islanders on Thursday.

Saros had been playing well lately but had a forgetful night in his most recent outing, allowing six goals on 43 shots (.860 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Oilers. Before his recent blip, the 30-year-old Finnish goalie had a 2.72 GAA and .906 SV% in his last 13 games (9-4-0). The Predators enter the action on Thursday as -119 home favorites against a New York Islanders team coming off a monstrous 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Juuse Saros
Nemec (undisclosed) will return vs. Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Nemec has not played in nearly a month because of an undisclosed injury, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 21-year-old Slovak defenseman was having a solid season from New Jersey's blueline before his injury, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 31 games.

Simon Nemec
Wedgewood is expected to start vs. Ottawa on Thursday.

After a remarkable 31-2-7 start to the season, the Avalanche, for the first time, have gone two games without a point (0-2-0), and hope for a strong performance from Wedgewood to help end their mini-slump. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has been excellent all season, but has shown signs of being human over the past two weeks, allowing three or more goals in four of five games (2-2-0), posting a .876 SV%. He has a 2.20 GAA and .917 SV% in 27 games this season (18-3-4). The Avalanche enter Tuesday's contest as sizable -257 home favorites against an Ottawa Senators team that has lost five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

Scott Wedgewood
Rittich is in the starter's crease at New York's morning skate.

Ilya Sorokin returned from a two-week absence due to an injury in the Islanders' most recent game, recording a shutout in a 9-0 win over the New Jersey Devils, but the team will turn to Rittich on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 33-year-old Rittich has been excellent over the last two months, posting a solid 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in 13 games (8-3-2). The Islanders enter the action on Thursday as slight +108 road underdogs against a Predators team coming off a 6-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

David Rittich
Pickard will start in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Connor Ingram had a solid outing in Edmonton's 6-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, but Pickard will tend the twine on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 33-year-old Pickard allowed four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 5-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and has struggled with consistency most of the season. Pickard has an ugly 3.73 GAA and .873 SV% in 15 games this season (4-6-2). The Oilers enter the action on Thursday as -112 road favorites against a reeling Jets team on a dreadful 3-12-5 run.

Calvin Pickard
Regula is expected to be a healthy scratch in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Riley Stillman will draw back into Edmonton's lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, resulting in Regula being a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Regula is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has three assists in 26 games this season.

Alec Regula
Frederic will draw back into Edmonton's lineup vs. Winnipeg on Thursday.

Frederic was a healthy scratch in Edmonton's previous game, the second time in the last three weeks, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 27-year-old Frederic has had a terrible first half of the season, with only three points (2G / 1A) and a -10 plus/minus through 41 games.

Trent Frederic
Vladar will start vs. Toronto on Thursday.

The Flyers have made it clear that Vladar is their go-to option between the pipes and will start again on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 28-year-old Czech goalie has allowed three or fewer goals in nine straight games (6-1-2), posting a solid .916 SV%. He has a 2.37 GAA and .910 SV% through 25 games this season (16-6-3)). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as -113 home favorites against a Maple Leafs team with points in seven straight games (5-0-2).

Dan Vladar
Marchand (undisclosed) is out vs. Montreal on Thursday and is considered day-to-day.

Marchand exited Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs after only 11:41 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury. Panthers' Head Coach Paul Maurice said Marchand had been battling an injury for a while, and they opted to take him out of the game for precautionary reasons, hoping it is a minor injury. The 37-year-old Marchand is having a renaissance season with the Panthers, scoring 46 points (23G / 23A) through 41 games.

Brad Marchand
Nylander (undisclosed) is a possibility to return vs. Vancouver on Saturday.

Nylander has been out of the lineup for nearly two weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The talented forward has already missed nine games due to various injuries this season, but has been excellent when healthy. The 29-year-old Nylander has 41 points (14G / 27A) in 33 games.

William Nylander
Chychrun left practice on Thursday after colliding with a teammate and did not return.

Justin Sourdif collided with teammate Jakob Chychrun at practice on Thursday and did not return. The team has yet to provide an update on either player's status. The 27-year-old Chychrun is having a terrific season from Washington's blueline, scoring 32 points (15G / 17A) in 44 games.

Jakob Chychrun
Sourdif left Thursday's practice after colliding with a teammate and is being further evaluated.

Justin Sourdif collided with teammate Jakob Chychrun at practice on Thursday and did not return. The team has yet to provide an update on either player's status. The 23-year-old Sourdif has nine points (5G / 4A) in his last five games and is one game removed from a career-high five-point performance (3G / 2).

Justin Sourdif

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!