Athanasiou (upper-body) is a late scratch for Saturday's game vs. the Panthers.
Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA
NHL Hockey Player News
The Avalanche have recalled Sheldon Dries from Colorado (AHL).
Dries has split his campaign between the NHL and AHL. During his time with the Avalanche, Dries has four points (2G / 2A) in 16 games. Dries could be back in the lineup on Saturday with Colin Wilson going on IR.
The Avalanche have placed Colin Wilson (shoulder) on IR.
Wilson suffered a shoulder injury vs. the Blackhawks on Friday and is expected to miss multiple weeks. His movement IR is a formality to open up a roster spot. Sheldon Dries, A.J. Greer and Pavel Francouz has been recalled from Colorado (AHL).
Schlemko (undisclosed) will come out of the Canadiens lineup on Saturday.
Schlemko has been in the lineup for the last three games but is banged up and won’t play on Saturday. Brett Kulak will replace him on the Canadiens’ blueline.
Line Change
Kulak will be back in the Canadiens lineup on Saturday.
Kulak has been a healthy scratch for the last two games but will replace David Schlemko on Saturday. Kulak has just one assist in 12 games this season but is a solid daily fantasy punt—he averaging 2.1 shots per game and 0.8 blocked shots.
Goalie Start
Vasilevskiy will start Saturday in Edmonton.
Vasilevskiy allowed two goals on 38 shots in the Lightning’s win in Vegas on Tuesday. Vasilevskiy was given Thursday night off but will be back in net tonight in Edmonton. Since returning from injury, Vasilevskiy has stopped 121 of 129 shots (.938 SV%), picking up right where he left off. Vasilevskiy is a must-start whenever he gets the nod.
Goalie Start
Markstrom is in the starter's crease at the Canucks morning skate.
Markstrom stopped 29 of 30 shots in the Canucks win over the Blues on Thursday. Markstrom has been red-hot as of late—since December 5th, Markstrom leads the NHL in wins (6-0-0), third in GAA (1.67) and SV% (.942). Markstrom has been impressive but allowed five goals, albeit on 48 shots, in a 6-3 loss in their first meeting of the season.
Goalie Start
Howard leads the Red Wings onto the ice for warmups.
Howard allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Red Wings loss to the Senators on December 14th. He missed a start earlier in the week with a sore back but backed up Jonathan Bernier on Thursday. Howard has gone 7-4-3 with a 2.60 GAA and .925 SV% on home-ice this season and is 1-0-0 vs. the Panthers so far.
Boychuk (personal) is questionable for Sunday.
Boychuk missed Saturday’s practice to be with his wife for the birth of their son and the Islanders are unsure whether or not he will travel to Dallas. Devon Toews will replace Boychuk if doesn’t play.
Goalie Start
Koskinen will start Saturday vs. the Lightning.
Koskinen allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Oilers loss in Vancouver last Sunday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Koskinen, who comes into Saturday’s game at 7-0-0 with a 0.92 GAA, .970 SV% and three shutouts on home-ice this season. Despite his undefeated record at Rogers Place, Koskinen draws a tough matchup with the Lightning in town.
The Senators have recalled Marcus Hogberg from Belleville (AHL).
Hogberg was a third-round pick (No.78 overall) in 2013 and is in his third AHL season. Hogberg has gone 2-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .906 SV% in seven games this season and will likely only serve as Mike McKenna’s backup on Saturday.
Line Change
Eriksson Ek will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Eriksson Ek has just two assists in his last 14 games and will be replaced by J.T. Brown on Saturday night. Eriksson Ek has had a hard time getting traction at the NHL level since being selected No.20 overall in 2015.
Line Change
Brown will be back in the Wild lineup on Saturday.
Brown has been a healthy scratch for three of the last four games but will replace Joel Eriksson Ek on Saturday. Brown has one goal, three assists, 22 PIMS and a minus-6 rating in 27 games this season.
Line Change
Lammikko will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Lammikko has five assists in 30 games this season but has been held pointless in the last 15 games and 28 of 30 games. Lammikko will be replace by Denis Malgin.
Line Change
Malgin will be back in the Panthers lineup on Saturday.
Malgin was a healthy scratch in Toronto on Thursday but will replace Juho Lammikko in Detroit. Malgin has two goals and five assists (seven points) in 20 games this season.
Ekholm (illness) will be back in the Predators lineup on Saturday afternoon.
Ekholm was a late scratch from Thursday’s lineup in Philadelphia but will play today in Boston. Ekholm has three goals and 19 assists (22 points) in 35 games this season.
Goalie Start
Rinne leads the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Rinne allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Predators loss in Philadelphia on Thursday. Rinne has lost three in a row and is 4-3-0 with a 2.60 GAA and .907 SV% in December. In his first start against the Bruins, Rinne stopped all 26 shots that he faced in a 1-0 shutout win (Nov.3).
Goalie Start
Luongo will start Saturday afternoon in Detroit.
Luongo allowed five gaols on 22 shots in the Panthers loss in Toronto on Thursday. Luongo is now 3-3-1 with a 3.21 GAA and .897 SV% in December but draws a healthy matchup in Detroit. The Red Wings are a below-average team but the 39-year-old comes in at 3-5-0 with a 3.76 GAA and .892 SV% on the road this season.
Bergeron (ribs) will be back in the Bruins lineup on Saturday.
Bergeron has been out since November 16th but will draw back into the lineup Saturday afternoon vs. the Predators. Bergeron’s return will shuffle the Bruins’ top-6 a bit and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson will be a healthy scratch. Bergeron has nine goals and 17 assists (26 points) in 19 games this season.
Goalie Start
Georgiev will likely start Saturday in Toronto.
Georgiev stopped 14 of 15 shots in the Rangers win over the Ducks on Tuesday. It was easy night for Georgiev, who will have a much more difficult matchup tonight against the Maple Leafs. Georgiev has gone 2-3-0 with a 4.28 GAA and .877 SV% on the road this season and should be left on the waiver wire tonight.
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.