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NHL Hockey Player News

Harkins will be a healthy scratch vs. Los Angeles on Friday.

Ryan Poehling will return from a two-week absence due to an upper-body injury on Friday, resulting in Harkins being the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 28-year-old Harkins has two goals in 13 games this season.

Jansen Harkins
Poehling (upper-body) will return vs. Los Angeles on Friday.

Poehling has not played since November 11th, recovering from an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old has five points (1G / 5A) in 16 games this season. Jansen Harkins will serve as a healthy scratch to accommodate Poehlin's return.

Ryan Poehling
Tsyplakov is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. Philadelphia on Friday.

Kyle MacLean will draw back into New York's lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, resulting in Tsyplakov watching the game from the press box as a healthy scratch. After a solid rookie season, scoring 35 points (10G / 25A) in 77 games, the 27-year-old Tsyplakov has struggled finding his footing in 2025-26, with only one point (1G / 0A) through 15 games.

Maxim Tsyplakov
Texier will make his Montreal debut in Vegas on Friday.

Texier has not played since November 6th, and was finally placed on waivers last week by the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Texier has one assist while averaging 10:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season. Jared Davidson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Texier's Canadiens' debut.

Alexandre Texier
Xhekaj will draw back into Montreal's lineup vs. Vegas on Friday.

Adam Engstrom will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing Xhekaj to return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has one assist and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games. The usually hard-hitting defenseman has seen a massive dip in his hit production this season, averaging only 1.5 hits per game, after averaging 2.8 in his previous three seasons.

Arber Xhekaj
Dunne will be a healthy scratch vs. New Jersey on Friday.

With Jordan Greenway drawing back into Buffalo's lineup on Friday against the New Jersey Devils, Dunne heads to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Dunne is averaging 9:05 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 16 games this season.

Josh Dunne
Dostal will be out 2-3 weeks with an upper-body injury.

Dostal is battling an upper-body injury and will be sidelined for two to three weeks, leaving Petr Mrazek and Ville Husso to battle for time in the Ducks' crease. The 25-year-old Dostal has a serviceable 2.81 GAA and .904 SV% in 17 games this season (11-5-1).

Lukas Dostal
Cooley will start in Florida on Friday.

Wolf has been outdone by his counterpart, allowing Cooley to see increased action in recent weeks, a trend that will continue on Friday against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old Cooley has a dazzling 1.86 GAA and .930 SV% in eight appearances this season (2-2-1). He has allowed more than two goals in a game only once this season.

Devin Cooley
Mitchell will make his NHL debut vs. Philadelphia on Friday.

Mitchell is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that has spent the previous three seasons playing exclusively in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. The 25-year-old Mitchell has three points (0G / 3A) in 12 games with Bridgeport this season. He has never played an NHL game.

Travis Mitchell
Kuemper will start in Anaheim on Friday.

The Kings have struggled offensively lately, scoring only eight goals in their last five games, but have salvaged a serviceable 2-1-2 record thanks to strong goaltending. Kuemper saved 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. The 35-year-old netminder returns to the crease on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, looking to build on a solid 2.30 GAA and .910 SV% through 16 games (8-4-4).

Darcy Kuemper
Husso will start vs. Los Angeles on Friday.

Petr Mrazek struggled replacing an injured Lukas Dostal (upper body) in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, and the Ducks will test their luck with Husso between the pipes on Friday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Husso is no stranger to the NHL, appearing in 145 games (71-46-19) with a 3.05 GAA and .901 SV%. That said, he has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he has a 2.49 GAA and .908 SV% in 13 games (6-4-3) with the San Diego Gulls.

Ville Husso
Tolopilo will start in San Jose on Friday.

Tolopilo was solid in his season debut in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, saving 37 of 41 shots (.902 SV%), and has earned himself another start on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. Tolopilo made his NHL debut last season, playing two games (1-1-0) with the Canucks and posting a 2.15 GAA and .885 SV%. He has a 3.35 GAA and .901 SV% in five games (1-3-1) with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL).

Nikita Tolopilo
Lyon will start vs. New Jersey on Friday.

The Sabres are at the bottom of an ultra-tight Eastern Conference with a 9-10-4 record, and hope to return to .500 on Friday with Lyon tending the twine against the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old Lyon has not played since allowing two goals on three shots (.333 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on November 13th. He has a 3.07 GAA and .907 SV% in 12 games this season (3-5-3).

Alex Lyon
Allen will start in Buffalo on Friday.

The Devils have struggled with Jack Hughes (hand) out of the lineup, but two strong performances from Jacob Markstrom, saving 53 of 58 combined shots (.914 SV%), have led them to a two-game winning streak. That said, the Devils will flip the script, turning to 35-year-old Jake Allen to tend the twine on Friday against a Buffalo Sabres team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0). Allen has not played since allowing six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on November 22nd. He has a 2.46 GAA and .908 SV% in 12 games this season (7-4-0).

Jake Allen
Schmid will start vs. Montreal on Friday.

Schmid only has one regulation loss, but has not been at his best in his last two outings (0-0-2), allowing seven goals on 56 combined shots (.875 SV%). That said, he has given his team a chance on most nights, posting a serviceable 2.47 GAA and .900 SV% in 14 games (9-1-4). It’s unclear what Schmid’s workload will look like, or whether he stays in the NHL, when Carter Hart makes his debut, and Adin Hill (lower body) returns from injury. Still, the 25-year-old Schmid has proven himself as a reliable netminder for Vegas this season.

Akira Schmid
Stolarz (upper-body) will not travel with Toronto on their upcoming road trip.

Stolarz, originally considered day-to-day, has been sidelined since suffering an upper-body injury on November 11th. The team has not revealed concrete details about his injury, but this latest development suggests he is not close to returning. The 31-year-old Stolarz struggled before his injury, posting a 3.51 GAA and .884 SV% in 13 games (6-5-1). Expect Joseph Woll to continue seeing most of the action while Stolarz is sidelined.

Anthony Stolarz
Woll will start in Washington on Friday.

Woll is coming off his best performance of the season, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 2-1 overtime win over the Blue Jackets. He returns to the crease on Friday against a Washington Capitals team on a two-game winning streak, looking to get his record above .500 for the first time this season. The 27-year-old netminder has a 2.74 GAA and .914 SV% in five games this season (2-2-1).

Joseph Woll

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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