NHL Hockey Player News

Backes (concussion) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.

Backes has missed the last three games with a concussion, but has practiced for a few days in a row, which is a good sign that he will be available tonight. However, he has to be medically cleared and is listed as a game-time decision. If Backes does play, expect him to skate on the second line with David Krejci and Ryan Spooner.

David Backes
The Coyotes have recalled Laurent Dauphin from Tucson (AHL).

Dauphin, 21, has two goals and one assist in 20 games with the Coyotes this season. He has also logged 11 points (5G / 6A) in 10 games with the Roadrunners and could get back in the Coyotes’ lineup tonight with Jordan Martinook and Martin Hanzal getting hurt in last night’s game.

Laurent Dauphin
Lehtonen was the first goalie off of the ice.

Lehtonen allowed four goals on 33 shots in the Stars loss to the Canadiens on Wednesday. The loss snapped his personal three-game winning streak and it looks like he’ll start for the fifth time in six games tonight in St. Louis. Lehtonen is 5-7-2 with a 2.84 GAA and .894 SV% on the road and the Blues are a really strong home team.

Kari Lehtonen
Johnson is expected to start Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Johnson allowed three goals on 25 shots in the Flames’ loss to the Ducks on December 29th. Brian Elliott struggled last night in Vancouver, so Johnson goes tonight vs. the Canucks on home-ice. Johnson has struggled in his last four starts, going 0-4-0 with a terrible 4.12 GAA and .862 SV%. He stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss in his first start vs. Vancouver.

Chad Johnson
Neuvirth leads the Flyers onto the ice for warmups.

Neuvirth has been sidelined since November 12th and after backing up in his first game back, but Neuvirth will start vs. the Lightning this afternoon. Neuvirth struggled before the injury, going 4-2-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .859 SV%, but the Lightning come limping in having lost four of their last six while being outscored 22-14.

Michal Neuvirth
Condon starts Saturday vs. the Capitals.

Condon allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Senators’ loss in Washington on New Year’s Day. Condon has lost three in a row while posting a 3.04 GAA and .889 SV% and tonight he faces the Capitals again. Condon is 4-1-3 with a 1.96 GAA and .932 SV% at the Canadian Tire Centre, but his matchup is rough and you should explore other options tonight.

Mike Condon
Talbot will start Saturday in New Jersey.

Talbot allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Oilers’ win in Boston on Thursday. Talbot has lost three of his last five starts despite posting a strong 2.35 GAA and.926 SV%. Despite Jonas Gustavsson’s strong career numbers vs. the Devils, Talbot will start his 37th game tonight. He is 10-4-5 with a 2.59 GAA and .916 SV% on the road.

Cam Talbot
Hutton will start Saturday vs. the Stars.

Hutton allowed one goal on nine shots after replacing Jake Allen in the Blues’ loss to the Predators on December 30th. Hutton has gone 3-1-2 with a 2.49 GAA and .907 SV% in six starts on home ice this season and tonight he faces a Stars team that ranks 18th in the NHL in scoring (2.56 GF/PG).

Carter Hutton
Vasilevskiy will start this afternoon in Philadelphia.

Vasilevskiy was shelled for five goals on 18 shots in the Lightning’s loss to the Predators on Thursday. Vasilevskiy has lost four of his last six starts while posting a brutal 3.62 GAA and .868 SV%. Vasilevskiy has struggled as the Lightning’s temporary No.1, but has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .968 SV% in his first two starts against the Flyers.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Rask was the first goalie off of the ice.

Rask allowed four goals on 25 shots in the Bruins’ loss to the Oilers on Thursday. Rask has lost his first two starts of 2017 while allowing a combined six goals on 50 shots (.880 SV%). Despite his recent struggles, tonight he will face the Panthers for the fourth time this season—he has gone 3-0-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .947 SV% in their first three meetings.

Tuukka Rask
Holtby is in the starter's crease this morning.

Holtby stopped all 29 shots that he faced in the Capitals’ shutout win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday. Holtby put an abrupt stop to the Blue Jackets’ winning streak and will start again in Ottawa. Despite a terrible outing vs. the Maple Leafs, Holtby sits at 2-0-0 with a 1.71 GAA, .934 SV% and one shutout in his first three starts of the 2017 calendar year.

Braden Holtby
Reimer will start Saturday vs. the Bruins.

Reimer stopped 28 of 29 shots in the Panthers’ win over the Predators last night. Roberto Luongo was scheduled to start, but was hurt in warmups. With Luongo out, Reimer will start again tonight vs. the Bruins. Reimer has gone 2-2-1 with a 2.37 GAA and .927 SV% on home ice this season—but he lost his first start vs. the Bruins.

James Reimer

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.

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