The Oilers have recalled Kailer Yamamoto from Bakersfield (AHL).
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Rittich will start Sunday vs. the Canucks.
Goalie Start
McElhinney will start Sunday vs. the Red Wings.
Goalie Start
Ullmark will start Sunday in Boston.
Goalie Start
Howard led the Red Wings onto the ice for warmups.
Howard surrendered five goals on 45 shots in the Red Wings loss to the Coyotes last Sunday. With Jonathan Bernier still banged up, Howard is expected to start for the second straight game. He is 1-4-1 with a 4.56 GAA and .865 SV% in six road games this season and will be in tough against a Panthers team that averages 3.65 goals per game on home-ice.
Goalie Start
Saros led the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Saros allowed two goals on 19 shots after replacing Pekka Rinne in last night's loss to the Penguins. He'll get the chance to start the game in Pittsburgh tonight but comes in with his own share of struggles. Saros is 2-2-2 with a 3.14 GAA and .894 SV% in his last six starts and is obviously a risky option against a Penguins team that is 8-2-0 in their last 10.
Smith will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Rangers head coach David Quinn said that he's seen some "slippage" in Smith's play lately, so he will be replaced by Michael Haley against the Maple Leafs.
Line Change
Haley will draw into the Rangers lineup on Saturday.
Haley was a healthy scratch vs. the Hurricanes last night but will replace Brendan Smith in the lineup in Toronto. Haley was born in nearby Oshawa, Ontario and has one goal in 17 games this season.
Fogarty has been recalled from Hartford (AHL) and will make his season debut on Saturday.
Fogarty has nine goals and 14 assists (23 points) in 32 games with Hartford this season. Fogarty will likely play on the fourth line in his season debut and will replace Brendan Lemieux, who is out 3-to-4 weeks with a fractured hand. Fogarty is a former third-round pick (2011) who has no points in 11 career NHL games.
Lemieux is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks with a hand fracture.
Lemieux was forced to leave Friday's game against Carolina with a fractured hand and he is expected to miss at least three weeks. With Lemieux out, Steven Fogarty is expected to draw into the lineup Saturday in Toronto.
Goalie Start
Howard is expected to start Saturday in Florida.
Howard surrendered five goals on 45 shots in the Red Wings loss to the Coyotes last Sunday. With Jonathan Bernier still banged up, Howard is expected to start for the second straight game. He is 1-4-1 with a 4.56 GAA and .865 SV% in six road games this season and will be in tough against a Panthers team that averages 3.65 goals per game on home-ice.
Goalie Start
Georgiev will start Saturday in Toronto.
Georgiev allowed six goals on 40 shots in the Rangers 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs on December 20th. Henrik Lundqvist has started the last three games, including last night, so Georgiev will start against the Maple Leafs again tonight. He is 2-2-0 with a 3.01 GAA and .932 SV% in four career starts against Toronto.
van Riemsdyk is expected to be a healthy scratch vs. the Capitals.
van Riemsdyk has played in the last five games but will be replaced by Haydn Fleury tonight vs. the Capitals. van Riemsdyk has just three assists in 24 games this season.
Line Change
Fleury is expected to be back in the Hurricanes lineup on Saturday.
Fleury has shuffled in and out of the Hurricanes lineup this season but has been a healthy scratch for the last five games. He will replace Trevor van Riemsdyk on the third pair with Jake Gardiner. Fleury has two goals and two assists (four points) in 19 games this season.
The Ducks have reassigned Daniel Sprong to San Diego (AHL).
Sprong played in one game during his call-up but sat as a healthy scratch on Friday with Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg back in the lineup. Sprong returns to the AHL, where he has seven goals and 11 assists (18 points) in 24 games.
Kempny (illness) did not travel to Carolina.
Kempny missed last night's game with an illness and will miss his second straight game on Saturday. With Kempny staying back in Washington, Christian Djoos will remain on the Capitals blueline vs. the Hurricanes.
Line Change
Brooks will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
Brooks, who was a fourth-round pick in 2016, has eight goals and eight assists (16 points) in 20 AHL games this season. Brooks will replace Ilya Mikheyev in the lineup but will likely make his debut on the fourth line with Frederik Gauthier and Dmytro Timashov.
The Predators have placed Colton Sissons (lower-body) on IR.
Sissons was hurt last night vs. the Penguins and was spotted leaving Bridgestone Arena with a protective boot on his right leg. Sissons move to IR means he will miss at least one week, meaning he'll miss the Winter Classic. Yakov Trenin was called up to take Sissons' roster spot.
The Predators have recalled Yakov Trenin from Milwaukee (AHL).
Trenin comes back up after a six-game stint before the Christmas break, where he had one goal and one assist. Trenin will replace Colton Sissons on the roster after he was moved to IR. The former second-round pick has 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points) in 20 AHL games this year.
Goalie Start
Holtby will start Saturday in Carolina.
Holtby was yanked after allowing four goals on 11 shots in the Capitals loss in Boston on Monday. With Ilya Samsonov starting last night's overtime win, Holtby will get the Hurricanes in Carolina on Saturday. Holtby is 9-4-1 with a 3.19 GAA and .897 SV% on the road this year and allowed three goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss in his first game vs. the Hurricanes.
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.
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- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
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