Goalie Start
Demko is expected to start Thursday vs. the Flames.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Lankinen will start Thursday vs. the Blue Jackets.
Grzelcyk (lower-body) is doubtful for Friday.
Grzelcyk suffered a lower-body injury in Wednesday's overtime win over the Rangers and is unlikely to play on Friday. Grzelcyk has had a very difficult time staying healthy this season, having missed six of the first 12 games.
Paul (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Paul was missing from the Senators' morning skate and will be a game-time decision tonight in Winnipeg. Look for Cedric Paquette to draw in for Paul if he's unable to go.
Line Change
Leonard will draw back into the Sharks lineup on Thursday.
Leonard has been a healthy scratch for the last six games but will replace Rudolfs Balcers in the lineup on Thursday. Leonard had two assists, nine shots and a minus-5 rating in his first seven career NHL games.
Line Change
Balcers will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Balcers suited up for the last two games, firing one shot with a minus-1 rating. On Thursday he will be replaced by John Leonard, who has sat out for the last six games.
Murphy will miss 10-14 days with a hip injury.
Murphy was a bit of a surprise scratch on Tuesday but Chicago announced that he'll miss at least 10 days with a hip injury. This is a huge loss for Chicago, who had Lucas Carlsson replace him in the top-4 a couple of nights ago.
Shaw is in concussion protocol and will not be available for Thursday's game.
This is terrible news for Shaw, who has a long history of concussion issues. This could keep Shaw sidelined long-term and opens the door for Lucas Wallmark to be back in on Thursday.
Puljujarvi (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Puljujarvi was missing from Thursday's morning skate for "precautionary reasons" and his status for tonight's game in Montreal is in question. Head coach Dave Tippett did not provide much of an update on Puljujarvi but James Neal will take his place with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins if he can't go.
Goalie Start
Smith will start Thursday in Montreal.
Goalie Start
Jones will start Thursday in Los Angeles.
Vesalainen will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
The Jets will get Tucker Poolman back on Thursday and dress seven defensemen and 11 forwards, so Vesalainen will sit after playing in four straight games.
Poolman will return to the Jets lineup on Thursday.
Poolman has been out since the season opener due to COVID-19 protocol but will dress as the seventh defenseman on Thursday. Poolman will replace Kristian Vesalainen.
Sekera will return to the Stars lineup on Thursday.
Sekera has been sidelined by COVID-19 protocol since January 30th but will replace Joel Hanley in the lineup on Thursday. Sekera has no points and two shots in five games this season.
Malkin (eye) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.
Malkin left Wednesday's practice early with some discomfort in one of his eyes. Head coach Mike Sullivan called Malkin a game-time decision for Thursday's game but it seems likely that he placed.
Goalie Start
Smith was the first goalie off of the ice at the Oilers' morning skate.
Goalie Start
Korpisalo will start Thursday in Chicago.
Line Change
Peeke has been elevated to the active roster and is expected to make his season debut on Thursday.
Peeke split the 2020 campaign between the NHL and AHL, totalling three points (1G / 2A) in 22 games with the Blue Jackets. Peeke is expected to replace Dean Kukan.
The Blue Jackets have activated Elvis Merzlikins (upper-body) from IR.
Merzlikins has missed the last three games but has been activated ahead of Thursday's game in Chicago. It's unclear whether or not he will start tonight after Korpisalo posted a 22-save win on Monday.
Goalie Start
DeSmith will start Thursday against the Islanders.
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!
- 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.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.