Goalie Start
Demko led the Canucks onto the ice for warmups.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Canucks have placed Travis Hamonic (upper-body) on IR.
Hamonic was hurt in the third period of Wednesday's game and was placed on IR prior to Thursday's game vs. the Canadiens. With Hamonic out, Brogan Rafferty was added to the 23-man roster and either he or Jordie Benn will draw into the lineup on Thursday.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy confirmed to start Thursday in Columbus.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 37 shots in the Lightning's win over the Blackhawks last Friday. Vasilevskiy won his first two games of the season while stopping 57 of the 60 shots (.950 SV%). Those two games came against a terrible Blackhawks team, so tonight's matchup with the Blue Jackets should be a much stiffer test.
Bailey (COVID-19) has been activated and is on the ice for warmups; expected to play vs. the Devils.
Goalie Start
Hellebuyck led the Jets onto the ice for warmups.
Hellebuyck stopped 35 of 37 shots in the Jets loss in Toronto on Monday. Hellebuyck stood tall but the offence fell flat, leading to his first loss of the 2021 campaign. Hellebuyck has been strong early on, stopping 58 of the 63 shots (.921 SV%) that he's faced and is a must-start with a great matchup tonight in Ottawa.
Goalie Start
Wedgewood led the Devils onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Murray led the Senators onto the ice for warmups.
Murray gave up four goals on 28 shots in the Senators' loss to the Jets on Tuesday. Murray has struggled in his first three games of the season, giving up a combined 10 goals on 91 shots (.890 SV%). Things won't get any easier on Thursday with a high-powered Jets team in town.
Goalie Start
Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for wamups.
Blackwood was added to the COVID-19 protocol list and will not be available for Thursday's game.
Goalie Start
Murray is expected to start Thursday vs. the Jets.
Murray gave up four goals on 28 shots in the Senators' loss to the Jets on Tuesday. Murray has struggled in his first three games of the season, giving up a combined 10 goals on 91 shots (.890 SV%). Things won't get any easier on Thursday with a high-powered Jets team in town.
Goalie Start
Allen is expected to start Thursday in Vancouver.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy is expected to start Thursday in Columbus.
Manson will be out six weeks with an oblique muscle injury and has been placed on IR.
Manson missed Wednesday's game with an injury he suffered on Monday and unfortunately for the Ducks, the oblique issue will keep him out for roughly six weeks. This is a huge loss for a Ducks blueline that is running thin on experience.
The Flyers have promoted Samuel Morin to the active roster.
Morin is a 6-foot-6 defenseman who is making the transition to forward this promotion puts him one step closer to playing forward at the NHL-level. The 25-year-old will not play on Thursday but he could make his season debut soon with both Sean Couturier and Morgan Frost out with injuries.
Hutton is day-to-day and will not make the trip to Washington.
Hutton started the last two games but will miss Friday and Sunday's game in Washington. Luckily for the Sabres, Linus Ullmark (personal) re-joined practice on Thursday, so he should start with Hutton out.
Ullmark (personal) returned to practice on Thursday.
Ullmark missed the last two games due to the death of his father but was back on the ice on Thursday. With Carter Hutton day-to-day with an injury, a heavy-hearted Ullmark could be back in the crease Friday in Washington.
Line Change
Clague will draw back into the Kings lineup on Thursday.
Clague played in the season opener but sat out the last two games. On Thursday he is expected to replace Kurtis MacDermid and skate on the third line with Sean Walker. He had one shot and two PIMS in 15:19 TOI last Thursday.
Riikola (upper-body) is out "longer term."
Riikola suffered an upper-body injury midway through Tuesday's overtime win over the Capitals and is expected to miss an extended period of time. The Penguins' blueline is in trouble with Riikola, Mike Matheson and Marcus Pettersson all out for at least a couple of weeks.
Line Change
Gilbert will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Gilbert played 9:54 TOI in his season debut on Tuesday. Gilbert played because Ian Cole was traded for Greg Pateryn a few hours before the game. With Pateryn available on Thursday, Gilbert will be scratched.
Line Change
Johnson will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Johnson played 11:47 TOI in his season debut on Tuesday but will come out of the lineup so Bowen Byram can make his NHL debut in Los Angeles. The Avalanche are easing Johnson back into action after he missed training camp with COVID-19.
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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- 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.