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NHL Hockey Player News

Erik Cernak(Defenseman)(D)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Injury

Cernak (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

The Lightning are already without Ryan McDonagh and could be without Cernak as well. Cernak is dealing with an undisclosed injury and has been listed as a game-time decision in Dallas. If Cernak can't play, Luke Schenn will draw into the lineup.

Source:

Erik Erlendsson 2021-03-25T18:53:32.951Z

Ryan McDonagh(Defenseman)(D)|Tampa Bay Lightning TBL

Injury

McDonagh (lower-body) will not play on Thursday.

McDonagh will miss his second straight game on Thursday but head coach Jon Cooper hinted to him missing the final game of their road-trip (Saturday) as well. With McDonagh out, Andreas Borgman will remain in the lineup on Thursday.

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Bryan Burns 2021-03-25T18:52:02.674Z

Marc-Andre Fleury(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Fleury is expected to start Thursday in Colorado.

Source:

David Schoen 2021-03-25T17:53:47.336Z

Max Pacioretty(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Pacioretty (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Source:

David Schoen 2021-03-25T17:48:12.675Z

Jordan Binnington(Goalie)(G)|St Louis Blues STL

Goalie Start

Binnington will start Thursday in Minnesota.

Source:

Jim Thomas 2021-03-25T17:22:42.006Z

Bowen Byram(Defenseman)(D)|Chicago Blackhawks CHI

Injury

Byram (lower-body) will return to the Avalanche lineup on Thursday.

Byram was scratched Tuesday in Arizona but will play tonight vs. the Golden Knights. Byram is still searching for his first career goal and has just two assists in his first 18 NHL games.

Source:

Conor McGahey 2021-03-25T17:16:41.205Z

J.T. Compher(Left Wing)(LW)|Detroit Red Wings DET

Line Change

Compher will be back in the Avalanche lineup on Thursday.

Compher was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will replace Matt Calvert (undisclosed) in the lineup on Thursday. Compher, who has been shifted into a fourth-line role since his return from injury, has just two goals and three assists in 23 games this season.

Source:

Peter Baugh 2021-03-25T17:10:22.147Z

Matt Calvert(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Calvert (undisclosed) will not play on Thursday.

Calvert is dealing with "some nagging injuries" so J.T. Compher will replace him on the fourth line on Thursday. Consider Calvert day-to-day and questionable to play Saturday.

Source:

Peter Baugh 2021-03-25T17:08:57.163Z

Philipp Grubauer(Goalie)(G)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Goalie Start

Grubauer will start Thursday vs. the Golden Knights.

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Lauren Jbara 2021-03-25T17:07:04.302Z

Kevin Lankinen(Goalie)(G)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Goalie Start

Lankinen will start Thursday vs. the Panthers.

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Phil Thompson 2021-03-25T16:41:00.163Z

Alex Nedeljkovic(Goalie)(G)|San Jose Sharks SJS

Goalie Start

Nedeljkovic will start Thursday in Columbus.

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Chip Alexander 2021-03-25T16:14:55.101Z

Jake Oettinger(Goalie)(G)|Dallas Stars DAL

Goalie Start

Oettinger will start Thursday vs. the Lightning.

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Bruce LeVine 2021-03-25T15:49:26.707Z

Jarred Tinordi(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Tinordi (upper-body) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Tinordi missed the Bruins last game but was on the ice for Wednesday's practice and could return to the lineup on Thursday. Tinordi, who has been held pointless in eight games with the Bruins, will skat with Steven Kampfer if he plays.

Source:

Joe McDonald 2021-03-25T15:32:42.571Z

Trent Frederic(Center)(C)|Edmonton Oilers EDM

Injury

Frederic (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Thursday.

Frederic was banged up in the Bruins' last game on March 18th but was on the ice for Wednesday's practice and will be a game-time decision on Thursday. Frederic, who has four goals and one assist in 28 games this season, is expected to play in the bottom-6 but should see some PP2 usage with Jake DeBrusk still out.

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Joe McDonald 2021-03-25T15:30:24.674Z

Jake Oettinger(Goalie)(G)|Dallas Stars DAL

Goalie Start

Oettinger will likely start Thursday vs. the Lightning.

Source:

Matthew DeFranks 2021-03-25T15:26:06.955Z

Kevin Lankinen(Goalie)(G)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Goalie Start

Lankinen is in the starter's crease at the Blackhawks morning skate.

Source:

Ben Pope 2021-03-25T15:25:17.754Z

Matt Dumba(Defenseman)(D)|Pittsburgh Penguins PIT

Injury

Dumba (lower-body) will return to the Wild lineup on Thursday.

As hinted to on Wednesday, Dumba will return from a three-game absence on Thursday. The Wild managed to go 2-1-0 without Dumba but he'll provide a massive lift to their blueline vs. St. Louis. Dumba has been relatively quiet as of late but has accumulated 11 points (5G / 6A) in 26 games so far this season.

Source:

Jessi Pierce 2021-03-25T15:24:09.389Z

Cam Talbot(Goalie)(G)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Goalie Start

Talbot will start Thursday vs. the Blues.

Source:

Sarah McLellan 2021-03-25T15:21:28.718Z

Tuukka Rask(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Rask (undisclosed) will return to the Bruins crease on Thursday.

Source:

Joe McDonald 2021-03-25T15:20:14.187Z

Christian Wolanin(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Colorado Avalanche COL

Line Change

Wolanin will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Wolanin played in six straight games but was seeing very limited ice time, especially in the three most recent games, where he played under 10 minutes in each game. Wolanin, who has three assists in 15 games this season, will be replaced by Braydon Coburn in the lineup but look for Mike Reilly to take over PP2 duties.

Source:

Wayne Scanlan 2021-03-25T15:18:08.454Z

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.