NHL Hockey Player News

Neal Pionk(D)|WPG
Signing
Signing
The Jets have signed Neal Pionk to a six-year deal worth $7.0M AAV ($42.0M total).

Pionk has tied a career-high with 10 goals this season and has been rewarded with a six-year, $42-million contract extension ($7.0M AAV). The 29-year-old defenseman has tallied 216 points (37G / 179A) in 435 games over six season with Winnipeg. He recently returned from a month-long absence due to injury and has picked up where he left off, with two points (1G / 1A) in three games.

Source:
Murat Ates 2025-04-17T17:15:12.535Z
Neal Pionk
Karsen Dorwart(LW)|PHI
Line Change
Line Change
Dorwart will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Dorwart made his NHL debut earlier this month, scoring zero points in five games, but will be a healthy scratch in Philadelphia's season finale on Thursday. Dorwart is an undrafted 22-year-old out of Michigan State University that scored 31 points (13G / 18A) in 35 games with the club in 2024-25.

Source:
@NHLFlyers 2025-04-17T17:04:26.927Z
Karsen Dorwart
Clay Stevenson(G)|WAS
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Stevenson will start vs. Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Stevenson will make his NHL debut on Thursday in Washington's season-finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Stevenson is an undrafted netminder who has spent most of the previous three seasons playing for the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 26-year-old Stevenson has a 2.94 GAA and .888 SV% in 33 games with Hershey this season (18-8-4). Washington enters Thursday's contest as -108 road favorites against Pittsburgh.

Source:
Bailey Johnson 2025-04-17T16:21:59.920Z
Clay Stevenson
Marcus Hogberg(G)|NYI
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Hogberg will start vs. Columbus on Thursday.

The Islanders have lost four of their last five (1-3-1) and hope to end the season positively, turning to Hogberg between the pipes in their season-finale on Thursday. Hogberg has struggled when called upon lately, posting an abysmal 6.04 GAA and .780 SV% in his last four outings (0-2-2). The 30-year-old goalie has a 3.14 GAA and .887 SV% in 14 appearances this season (2-5-3). The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +157 road underdogs against a Columbus Blue Jackets team riding a four-game winning streak.

Source:
Andrew Gross 2025-04-17T17:46:07.889Z
Marcus Hogberg
Jonas Johansson(G)|TBL
Goalie Start
Goalie Start
Johansson was the first goalie off the ice at Tampa Bay's morning skate.

Tampa Bay will give Andrei Vasilevskiy the night off before they head into the playoffs for the first-round series against the Florida Panthers, turning to Johansson between the pipes in their season-finale against the New York Rangers. Johansson struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 25 shots (.840 SV%) in a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.08 GAA and .898 SV% in 18 games this season (9-5-3). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as +105 road underdogs against New York.

Source:
Gabby Shirley 2025-04-17T16:05:00.581Z
Jonas Johansson

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!