NHL Hockey Player News

Smith will start Wednesday in Columbus.

Smith allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Flames win in Washington on Monday. Smith has won his first two starts of the Flames road trip and now heads to Columbus with a 6-1-0 record, 1.97 GAA and .946 SV% away from Calgary this season. However, he will have a tough time getting goal support with Sergei Bobrovsky like in the other net.

Mike Smith
Lundqvist will start Wednesday in Carolina.

Lundqvist stopped all 20 shots that he faced in the Rangers shutout win over the Senators on Sunday. Tonight he will make his 19th start of the season and comes into Wednesday at 6-2-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .927 SV% in November. Lundqvist has struggled on the road this year though, going 2-3-0 with a 3.55 GAA and .909 SV%.

Henrik Lundqvist
Nilsson will likely start Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

Nilsson allowed four goals on 31 shots in the Canucks loss to St. Louis on Saturday. It wasn’t a great performance for Nilsson, but with the Canucks in Pittsburgh on the tail-end of a back-to-back, look for Nilsson to get back between the pipes tonight. The 27-year-old has gone 3-1-0 with a 1.89 GAA and .945 SV% on the road.

Anders Nilsson
Schneider will start Wednesday vs. the Bruins.

Schneider allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Devils’ win in Minnesota on Monday. November has been an average month for Schneider, who is 3-3-2 with a 2.56 GAA and .925 SV% in eight starts, but Monday was a big road win for the Devils. Tonight he faces a Bruins team that is 2-1-0 on their current road trip.

Cory Schneider
Paquette (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.

Paquette has been sidelined by a lower-body injury since October 17th, but he is very close to return to the Lightning lineup. The 24-year-old will be a game-time decision vs. Chicago and comes into tonight with one assist in six games this season.

Cedric Paquette
Vasilevskiy will start Wednesday vs. the Blackhawks.

Vasilevskiy allowed four goals on 31 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Islanders on Saturday. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Vasilevskiy, who has won 14 of his first 17 appearances of the season. He has been virtually unbeatable at Amalie Arena (8-1-1) and the Blackhawks are just 5-4-1 on the road.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Dotchin (undisclosed) will not play against the Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Dotchin has missed the last two practices and will miss tonight’s game because on an undisclosed injury. With Dotchin out, Andrej Sustr could draw into the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Saturday.

Jake Dotchin
Schneider is in the starter's crease at the Devils morning skate.

Schneider allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Devils’ win in Minnesota on Monday. November has been an average month for Schneider, who is 3-3-2 with a 2.56 GAA and .925 SV% in eight starts, but Monday was a big road win for the Devils. Tonight he faces a Bruins team that is 2-1-0 on their current road trip.

Cory Schneider
Mayfield will draw back into the Islanders lineup on Wednesday.

Mayfield will replace Thomas Hickey on the Islanders blueline as they continue to rotate this third pairing from time-to-time. Mayfield has been a healthy scratch for the last three games but returns with two goals and two assists (four points) in 12 games this season.

Scott Mayfield

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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