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NHL Hockey Player News

Ilya Sorokin is in the Starters' crease Tuesday at morning skate.

It appears Sorokin will return to the crease for the Islanders after getting his first night off on Saturday. Sorokin is a safe bet between the pipes on most nights but will be put to the ultimate test on Tuesday as the Islanders face off against the undefeated Colorado Avalanche (5-0-0). In three games this season (2-0-1), Sorokin has a 2.31 GAA and .914 SV% but is coming off his weakest performance thus far, allowing five goals on 39 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils.

Ilya Sorokin
The Capitals have reassigned Clay Stevenson to Hershey (AHL).

Stevenson has been serving as Darcy Kuemper's backup, with Charlie Lindgren sidelined with an injury. Hunter Shepard will replace him in that role on Tuesday. Stevenson has gone 4-1-0 while allowing 10 goals on 119 shots (.916 SV%) in five career AHL games.

Clay Stevenson
The Capitals have recalled Hunter Shepard from Hershey (AHL).

Shepard is a 27-year-old career AHLer, who has gone 2-0-0 while allowing six goals on 52 shots (.885 SV%) in his first two starts with Hershey this season. He replaces Clay Stevenson on the Capitals' roster and figures to serve as Darcy Kuemper's backup vs. the Maple Leafs.

Hunter Shepard
Justin Sourdif has been loaned to Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Sourdif failed to pick up a point in any of the three games he appeared in for the Panthers but only averaged 8:50 TOI and had two SOG in his first appearance in the NHL and has been loaned to Charlotte (AHL) Monday. The 21-year-old returns to the Checkers, where he had seven goals and 24 poitns in 48 games played in 2022-23.

Justin Sourdif
Daemon Hunt has been recalled from the Iowa Wild (AHL).

Hunt was the Wild's 2020 third-round pick (65th overall) and has been recalled to Minnesota Monday for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old defensemen had yet to pick up a point with Iowa (AHL) but had seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through four games. Hunt has a shot to make his NHL debut if John Merrill is held out of the lineup due to injury Tuesday.

Daemon Hunt
Patrik Laine (upper body) has been placed on injured reserve.

Laine was the target of Rasmus Andersson's high hit which led to a four-game suspension and has now been placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old has not played more than 56 games in a single season since 2019-20 and had a goal and an assist through four games thus far in 2023-24.

Patrik Laine
Connor Ingram will start Tuesday vs. Los Angeles.

Ingram will return to the crease on Tuesday for his third game, as the Coyotes continue to split time between their two netminders early this season. Ingram has played well to start the season, posting a 2.02 GAA and .926 SV% in two games (1-1-0). The Coyotes are +161 road underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that is scoring (4.20 GF/GP) almost as much as they are allowing (3.80 GA/GP).

Connor Ingram
Taylor Hall is week-to-week with a shoulder injury and expected to miss the next couple of games.

Hall suffered a shoulder injury in game two of the season and was initially given a week-to-week prognosis. To everyone's surprise, Hall missed only one game and returned to the lineup. Three games later, Hall seems to have reaggravated his shoulder injury and is once again going to be week-to-week because of it. Hall has played primarily with Connor Bedard this season and has two points (0G / 2A) and seven shots in five games. The Blackhawks might welcome Philipp Kurashev back into their lineup on Tuesday, which would help replace Hall on the roster.

Taylor Hall
Jason Zucker is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Zucker is week-to-week after exiting Saturday's game against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. In his first season with the Coyotes, Zucker has two points (2G / 0A), 14 shots, and 7 hits in five games. Jan Jenik and Zach Sanford have both been recalled from the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL).

Jason Zucker
Zach Sanford has been recalled from Tucson (AHL).

Sanford has registered one point (0G / 1A) in three games with the Tuscon Roadrunners this season and will hope to make his NHL season debut for the Coyotes with this most recent call-up. Sanford and Jan Jenik, who were both called up on Monday, are both candidates to cycle in and out of the lineup as Jason Zucker will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Zach Sanford
Jan Jenik has been recalled from the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL).

Jenik has already played two games for the Coyotes this season, going without a point and registering four hits and four penalty minutes. Jenik and Zach Sanford, who were both called up on Monday, are both candidates to cycle in and out of the lineup as Jason Zucker will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

Jan Jenik
Pavel Buchnevich (upper body) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.

Buchnevich has sat out the last two games with an upper-body injury but might return to the lineup on Tuesday. Buchnevich hasn't yet had the opportunity to make his presence felt in the Blues' lineup, going pointless in two games thus far. If he can play, he will likely replace Brandon Saad on the top line and top powerplay unit.

Pavel Buchnevich
Philipp Kurashev (wrist) feels ready to go but will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. Boston.

Kurashev has indicated that he is ready to play and will likely return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Kurashev has not played yet this season and is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he scored 25 points (9G / 16A) in 70 games. His potential return to the lineup comes just after news broke that teammate Taylor Hall will be week-to-week with a shoulder injury.

Philipp Kurashev
Joseph Woll will start Tuesday vs. Washington.

Woll is quickly making his case to be the more reliable option in net for the Maple Leafs as he will start on Tuesday for the second time in their last four contests. Woll came in to relieve Ilya Samsonov on Saturday and saved all 29 shots he faced to help the Maple Leafs come from behind and win 4-3 in overtime against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In two games (1-1-0), Woll has an impressive 1.69 GAA and .949 SV%, completely outperforming his counterpart, Samsonov, who has an ugly 4.34 GAA and .831 SV% through four games (2-1-0). Samsonov and the Leafs will be facing off against a Washington Capitals that has been miserable offensively to start the season, averaging a league-worst 1.25 goals per game this season (1-2-1).

Joseph Woll
Vinni Lettieri is expected to make his season debut Tuesday vs. Edmonton.

Lettieri was recalled late Sunday from Iowa (AHL) and is expected to make his Minnesota Wild debut Tuesday vs. Edmonton. The 28-year-old had a goal, two assists, four PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in four game with Iowa (AHL) in 2023-24 prior to his promotion. He had previously played 83 career NHL games played for three different organizations and has seven goals and 18 points in that span.

Vinni Lettieri
Brett Pesce is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after missing last game.

Pesce did not play on Saturday and his status remains up in the air for Tuesday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning. After registering a career-best 30 points (5G / 25A) in 82 games in the 2022-23 season, Pesce has had a nice start to 2023-24 with two points (1G / 1A) in five games. Jalen Chatfield will likely remain in the lineup until Pesce can return.

Brett Pesce
Sebastian Aho (upper body) will be a game-time decision Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay.

The Hurricanes will hope to welcome Aho, who is listed as a game-time decision, back into their lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Aho has missed the last three games after suffering an upper-body injury. He has three points (1G / 2A) and eight shots while averaging 21:00 time-on-ice through three games this season. If Aho is unable to suit up, Teuvo Teravainen will likely remain on the top line as his replacement.

Sebastian Aho
Anthony Stolarz will get his first start of the season Tuesday vs. San Jose.

Stolarz will make his season debut on Tuesday and start his first as a Florida Panther. Stolarz spent last season as the backup goalie for the Anaheim Ducks, where he had 19 appearances (5-6-0) and posted a 3.66 GAA and .899 SV%. The Panthers rank 20th defensively at the moment (3.40 GA/GP), which is a slight improvement over what Stolarz was exposed to as a Duck last season (4.09 GA/GP). The Panthers will face off against the Sharks, who rank second-worst in the league offensively, averaging a miniscule 1.40 goals per game through five contests (0-4-1).

Anthony Stolarz
Andrei Svechnikov (knee) will remain out Tuesday vs. Tampa Bay.

Svechnikov will not play on Tuesday and it is still unclear when he will return, but it appears imminent after being a full participant in practice on Monday. Svechnikov has missed six games already for the Hurricanes and will look to have an immediate impact in their top six when he returns to the lineup. He had 55 points (23G/ 32A) in 64 games last season.

Andrei Svechnikov

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!