The Kings have signed Andreas Athanasiou to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million.
NHL Hockey Player News
The Canadiens have signed Corey Perry to a one-year deal worth $750K.
The Lightning acquired Anders Nilsson and Marian Gaborik from the Senators for Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette and a 2022 second-round pick.
The Lightning acquired Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson from the Senators for Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette and a 2022 second-round pick.
The Senators acquired Cedric Paquette, Braydon Coburn and a 2022 second-round pick from the Lightning for Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson.
The Senators acquired Braydon Coburn, Cedric Paquette and a 2022 second-round pick from the Lightning for Marian Gaborik and Anders Nilsson.
The Blues have signed Mike Hoffman to a professional tryout contract (PTO).
Hoffman will join Blues for Training Camp beginning January 3. Hoffman spent the last two seasons in Florida, averaging 35 goals and 35 assists per 82 games. Hoffman has 20-plus goals in six straight seasons and 30-plus assists in five straight. Hoffman would help fill in for Vladimir Tarasenko, who is expected to be out until at least late January.
The Senators have signed Tim Stuetzle to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Stuetzle was the No.3 overall pick in this year's draft and is currently representing Team Germany at the World Juniors, where he has one goal and one assist in two games thus far. Stuetzle is expected to join the Senators for training camp after the WJC and should start the season in Ottawa.
The Senators acquired Derek Stepan from the Coyotes for a 2021 second-round pick.
In a late-night Boxing Day deal, the Senators brought in veteran centre Derek Stepan from Arizona. Stepan has one-year left on his deal, which carries a $6.5M cap-hit (per PuckPedia) and should prove to be a veteran stop-gap while the Senators' young centres continue to develop. Sepand has a chance to step into the Senators' top-6 and potentially play with Brady Tkachuk and/or Evgenii Dadonov. The last couple of seasons have been rough for Stepan, but he brings great shot volume and a reliable two-way game to a team with a lot of youth.
The Oilers signed Slater Koekkoek to a one-year deal worth $850K.
Koekkoek played well in his first full season with the Blackhawks, particularly after he was paired up with Olli Maatta. The duo put up some terrific underlying numbers and Koekkoek set a new career-high with 10 points (1G / 9A) in just 42 games. In Edmonton, he'll provide some depth on the blueline and will likely serve as a reserve most of the time. However, he should be the first man in whenever there is an injury.
The Blackhawks have signed Carl Soderberg to a one-year contract worth $1.0 million.
Chicago brings in a seven-year veteran to help fill some gaps that were created by injuries this week. Alex Nylander could miss all of the 2021 season after undergoing knee surgery and Kirby Dach was injured in Team Canada's exhibition game before the World Juniors and could miss some time. Soderberg will likely fill a spot in the bottom-6 with Dylan Strome moving up to take Dach's spot with Patrick Kane. Soderberg had 35 points (17G / 18A) in 70 games with the Coyotes a season ago.
Nylander underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee and is out indefinitely.
Nylander could be in danger of missing all of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery on Monday, which is part of the reason why the Blackhawks went out and signed veteran Carl Soderberg on Saturday. The 22-year-old Nylander struggled in his first season in Chicago, collecting just 26 points (10G / 16A) in 65 games. His injury opens the door for a lot of competition in the Blackhawks' training camp next week.
The Lightning re-signed Anthony Cirelli to a three-year contract worth $14.4 million ($4.8M AAV).
Cirelli is coming off of a really strong second season in the NHL, where he scored 16 goals and 28 assists (44 points) in 68 games. Cirelli had to take on a bigger role with Steven Stamkos injured for a good portion of the season and he flourished as the Lightning's No.2 centre. With Nikita Kucherov out for all of 2021, he will likely play the same role and Stamkos will shift over to the wing to fill-in for Kucherov. Cirelli's ceiling will be capped so long as he is playing with the likes of Alex Killorn and Tyler Johnson and not the upper echelon of talent in Tampa Bay, but he's a player that should have a 20-goal, 30-assist pace in 2021's shortened season.
The Sabres signed Casey Mittelstadt to a one-year deal worth $874,125.
Mittelstadt has yet to live up to the billing of being selected No.8 overall in 2017 and that led to him being demoted to the AHL in 2020. He had nine points (4G / 5A) in 31 games with the Sabres before being sent to Rochester, where he tallied 25 points (9G / 16A) in 36 games. Mittelstadt is expected to get a spot in the Sabres' bottom-6 to start the 2021 season but has a lot to prove if he's going to get a raise next summer.
Signing
The Ducks signed Ryan Miller to a one-year deal worth $1.0 million.
Miller posted to Twitter that he "tried out retirement for [nine] months (thanks COVID) Decided I wasn’t feeling it." The veteran returns for his fourth season with the Ducks and will serve as the primary backup to John Gibson with Antony Stolarz as the No.3 option. Miller started 19 games a season ago, going 9-6-4 with a 3.10 GAA and .908, both among the worst of his career.
Kucherov will have hip surgery and will not play during the 2021 regular season.
The Lightning are hopeful that Kucherov will be available for the playoffs. Kucherov going on LTIR provides the Lightning with $9.5 million in cap space, which is a positive to come out of this. Tampa Bay is pressed up tight against the cap but losing their best player should allow them to get RFA Anthony Cirelli under contract before the start of the season.
The Canadiens have signed Michael Frolik to a one-year contract worth $750K.
The Predators have signed Erik Haula to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million.
The Predators have signed Mikael Granlund to a one-year contract worth $3.75 million.
The Lightning signed Alexander Volkov to a one-year deal worth $700K.
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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