NHL Hockey Player News

The Ducks have signed Justin Kirkland to a two-year, two-way contract.

Kirkland was a third-round pick in 2014 but has yet to make his NHL debut since turning pro in 2017. The 25-year-old, who had 48 points (25G / 23A) in 66 games with Stockton (AHL) last year, will likely report to San Diego (AHL) to start 2022-23.

Justin Kirkland
The Ducks have signed Chase De Leo to a two-year, two-way contract.

De Leo was with the Ducks organization from 2019-to-2021 but spent last year with the Devils. He returns to Anaheim on a two-way contract, so expect him to start 2022-23 in San Diego (AHL). He had 56 points (21G / 35A) in 55 games with Utica (AHL) last season.

Chase De Leo
The Ducks have signed Glenn Gawdin to a two-year deal worth $1.525 million ($762.5K AAV).

Gawdin was originally a fourth-round pick of the Blues in 2015 but he turned pro with the Flames in 2019. He's only appeared in nine NHL games to-date but had a solid 2022 season in the AHL, scoring 15 goals with 35 assists (50 points) in 62 games with Stockton. The one-way contract suggests he could make the NHL roster to open 2022-23.

Glenn Gawdin
The Devils have reportedly signed Ondrej Palat to a five-year deal worth $30.0 million ($6.0M AAV).

Palat spent the first 10 years of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being a seventh-round pick in 2011. Palat is a good complimentary top-6 winger that can play with either Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier in New Jersey. Over the last three seasons, he's averaged 20 goals and 35 assists (55 points) per 82 games.

Ondrej Palat
The Blues have signed Josh Leivo to a one-year deal worth $750K.

Leivo saw some NHL action with the Hurricanes last season but spent most of the year in the AHL, where was fifth on the team with 46 points (22G / 24A) in 54 games. In St. Louis he'll be a fringe roster player, who may start the year in the AHL.

Josh Leivo
The Panthers have signed Rudolfs Balcers to a one-year contract worth $750K.

Balcers was originally drafted by the Sharks in 2015 but was traded to Ottawa as a part of the Erik Karlsson deal in 2018. He found his way back to San Jose via waivers in 2021 and had a career-best 23 points (11G / 12A) in 61 games with San Jose last season. He provides the Panthers a little depth at left wing and can move up and down the lineup.

Rudolfs Balcers
The Blackhawks have signed Dylan Sikura to a one-year, two-way contract ($750K NHL/$500K AHL).

Sikura broke into the NHL with the Blackhawks in 2018 after being a sixth-round pick in 2014. He's spent the last two seasons with Vegas and Colorado, playing primarily in the AHL. In 58 career NHL games, he has 17 points (3G / 14A)/.

Dylan Sikura
The Rangers have signed Ryan Carpenter to a one-year contract worth $750K.

Carpenter was with the Blackhawks from 2020-2022 before being dealt to Calgary at the Trade Deadline. Carpenter finished the season with three goals and nine assists (12 points) in 67 games. Carpenter will battle with Sammy Blais, Dryden Hunt and Ryan Reaves for playing time in the Rangers' bottom-6.

Ryan Carpenter
The Red Wings have signed Mark Pysyk to a one-year, $850k contract.

Pysyk spent 2022 with the Sabres, scoring three goals with nine assists (12 points) in 68 games. Detroit will be Pysyk's fourth team in four years, playing with Florida, Dallas and Buffalo previously. He's a nice depth piece, with the flexibility to play defence or the wing in a pinch.

Mark Pysyk
The Ducks have signed Ryan Strome to a five-year, $25 million contract.

Strome found a home on the Rangers' second line playing with Artemi Panarin for the last three seasons, tallying 53 goals and 109 assists (162 points) in 200 games--22 goals and 45 assists (67 points) per 82-game pace. In Anaheim he should play a similar role as the No.2 centre behind Trevor Zegras but likely will not have the star power of Panarin on his wing.

Ryan Strome
The Kraken have signed Cameron Hughes to a two-year, two-way contract.

Hughes spent the first five years of his career in the Bruins' organization after being a sixth-round pick in 2015. He's only appeared in two NHL games since, but led Providence (AHL) in scoring with 45 points (14G / 31A) in 59 games last season.

Cameron Hughes
The Kraken have signed Andrew Poturalski to a two-year contract.

Poturalski led the AHL with 101 points (28G / 73A) in 71 games a season ago but only appeared in two NHL games with the Hurricanes. The 28-year-old has been great in the AHL but has yet to make a splash at the NHL-level. Given the Kraken's depth issues at forward, Poturalski could finally get a real NHL shot at some point in 2022-23.

Andrew Poturalski
The Flames have re-signed Nikita Zadorov to a two-year, $7.5 million contract.

Zadorov is a huge (6-6, 235), physical defenseman, who had 22 points (4G / 18A) in 74 games with the Flames a season ago. The 27-year-old led Flames' defensemen in hits (181) and could take on a larger penalty killing role in 2022-23 with Erik Gudbranson now in Columbus.

Nikita Zadorov
The Golden Knights have signed Michael Hutchinson to a one-year contract.

Hutchinson provides the Golden Knights a little more goaltending depth with NHL experience. In 2022 he spent most of the season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, where he was 11-10-4 with a 3.23 GAA and .899 SV%. He is 55-55-15 with a 2.79 GAA and .905 SV% in 137 career NHL appearances.

Michael Hutchinson

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!



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