Line Change
Mueller will draw into the Devils lineup on Friday.
Matt Tennyson landed on IR on Thursday, so Muller will play for the first time since November 22nd. Mueller has no points and a minus-7 rating in 14 games this season.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Hughes (lower-body) will return to the Devils lineup on Friday.
Hughes has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury but will play Friday vs the Blackhawks. Hughes has had a slow-start to his NHL career, posting just 11 points (4G / 7A) in 24 games.
Goalie Start
Blackwood will start Friday vs. the Blackhawks.
Blackwood surrendered four goals on 30 shots in the Devils' loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday. In his last six outings, Blackwood has gone 1-4-0 while posting a horrible 4.12 GAA and. 878 SV%. Tonight he takes on a Blackhawks team that played last night and come in having lost six of their last eight (2-5-1) while scoring 2.13 goals per game.
The Maple Leafs have recalled Martin Marincin from Toronto (AHL).
The Maple Leafs placed Andreas Johnsson on LTIR and used the cap relief to call-up Martin Marincin to be an extra defenseman on their trip to St. Louis.
The Maple Leafs have recalled Pontus Aberg from Toronto (AHL).
Aberg has been tremendous with the Marlies this season, leading the team with 24 points (10G / 14A) in 22 games. With Andreas Johnsson going on LTIR, Aberg comes up and could make his Maple Leafs debut on Saturday night.
Call Up
The Maple Leafs have recalled Nic Petan from Toronto (AHL).
Every time Petan goes to the AHL, he has quickly returned to the Maple Leafs. This time it's because Andreas Johnsson was hurt on Wednesday. Petan has just three assists in 13 NHL games this season but has dominated the AHL, posting seven points (2G / 5A) in three games.
The Maple Leafs have placed Andreas Johnsson (leg) on LTIR.
Johnsson was hurt while blocking a shot against the Avalanche and will miss at least 10 games/24 days with a leg injury. Moving Johnsson to LTIR opens up a roster spot and gives the Maple Leafs some cap flexibility that they didn't have before. They used that to call-up Nic Petan, Pontus Aberg and Martin Marincin from the Marlies (AHL).
Goalie Start
Raanta will start Friday in Pittsburgh.
Raanta allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Coyotes loss to the Sharks last Saturday. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Raanta, who finished November at 3-2-1 wth a 2.46 GAA, .931 SV% and one shutout--a big improvement on his October numbers. He is still behind Darcy Kuemper on the depth chart but starts about every third game. Tonight he faces a Penguins team that has won four straight on home ice, scoring 4.5 goals per game while doing so.
Rust (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Friday.
Rust has missed the last three games but it looks like he'll play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Rust will be back on the top-line with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel and comes in with 17 points (9G / 8A) in 14 games this season.
Schultz (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Friday.
Schultz has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury but was took regular reps in Thursday's practice and appears in line to play on Friday. Schultz, who has eight points (2G / 6A) in 21 games this season, will be in the top-4 and top power-play unit in his return.
Line Change
Dal Colle is expected to be scratched on Thursday.
Killorn (lower-body) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play Thursady.
Goalie Start
Mrazek led the Hurricanes onto the for warmups.
Kadri (lower-body) will not play Thursday in Montreal.
Burakovsky (upper-body) will return to the Avalanche lineup in Montreal.
Landeskog (lower-body) will return to the Avalanche lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck will start Thursday in Dallas.
Line Change
Dahlstrom will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Dahlstrom played in the last two games but will be replaced by Nathan Beaulieu, who returns from an upper-body injury.
Beaulieu (upper-body) will return to the Jets lineup on Thursday.
Beaulieu has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but is expected to play in Dallas. Beaulieu, who has one assist in nine games this season, will replace Carl Dahlstrom on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Kuemper will start Thursday in Philadelphia.
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.