NHL Hockey Player News

Niemi leads the Stars onto the ice for warmups.

Niemi allowed one goal on 29 shots in the Stars’ shutout loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Niemi has turned in back-to-back great outings, stopping 62 of 65 shots (.954 SV%). This afternoon he has the unenviable task of trying to stop the Flyers’ 10-game winning steak. Niemi is 6-2-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .940 SV% on home-ice.

Antti Niemi
Lundqvist will start Saturday in Nashville.

Lundqvist stopped all 27 shots that he faced in the Rangers’ shutout win in Dallas on Thursday. It was a great way for Lundqvist to reassert himself in the Rangers’ crease after sitting four four consecutive games. Tonight he will take on a Nashville team that has struggled in December, making him a great option again.

Henrik Lundqvist
Talbot will start Saturday vs. the Lightning.

Talbot allowed three goals on 31 shots in the Oilers’ loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Talbot has gone 3-1-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .912 SV% in six starts this month and is 7-7-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .917 SV% on home-ice this season. He will take on a Lightning team that has lost eight of their last 10 games.

Cam Talbot
No morning skate for the Lightning, but Bishop likely in net.

Bishop allowed three goals on 22 shots in the Lightning’s win in Calgary on Wednesday. Andrei Vasilevskiy got the nod last night in a loss to the Canucks, so expect Bishop to start tonight in Edmonton. The 30-year-old netminder has gone 2-2-1 with a 2.28 GAA and .915 SV% in five appearances in the month of December.

Ben Bishop
Pastrnak will undergo a procedure on his right elbow; will not play on Sunday.

Pastrnak will undergo the same procedure that David Backes had done earlier in the year. Backes missed five games or two weeks, so expect Pastrnak to have the same timetable. It is a good time to undergo the procedure as the Bruins will have e few days off for Christmas.

David Pastrnak
Saros will start Saturday vs. the Rangers.

Saros surrendered three goals on 27 shots in the Predators loss to the Flyers on December 4th. Saros has gone 1-2-0 with a 1.70 GAA and .940 SV% in three NHL starts this season and has dominated the AHL, going 11-2-0 with a 1.76 AA and .938 SV% with Milwaukee. Saros will give Pekka Rinne the night off vs. the Rangers, who have won four of their last five.

Juuse Saros
Condon will start Saturday vs. the Devils.

Condon allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Senators loss to San Jose on Wednesday. Condon has struggled recently, losing his last three starts while posting a 4.14 GAA and .836 SV%. Despite the rough stretch, he should be a solid start against a Devils team that has lost four in a row and sit 4-10-4 on the road this season.

Mike Condon
Bernier was the first goalie off of the ice.

Bernier allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Ducks win in Boston on Thursday. Bernier has won his last two starts while turning aside 53 of 58 shots (.914 SV%). Bernier has struggled on the road this season—going 3-2-0 with a 3.43 GAA and .888 SV%, but he makes for a great start against the NHL’s lowest-scoring team.

Jonathan Bernier
Kinkaid will start Saturday vs. the Senators.

Kinkaid allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Devils’ loss to St. Louis last Friday. Kinkaid will start the first game of the Devils’ back-to-back tonight in Ottawa, which leaves Cory Schneider for Sunday. Kinkaid has gone 3-1-1 with a 2.52 GAA and .932 SV% on the road this season and the Senators come in having lost three in a row.

Keith Kinkaid
Vanek (undisclosed) will be in the lineup on Saturday.

Vanek was listed as questionable after missing Friday's practice, but he will be in the lineup tonight vs. the Ducks. Vanek will skate with Dylan Larkin and Gustav Nyquist and comes in with 15 points (5G / 10A) in 20 games this season.

Thomas Vanek
Andersen will start Saturday vs. the Penguins.

Andersen allowed two goals on 30 shots in the Maple Leafs’ shootout loss to the Coyotes on Thursday. Andersen has lost back-to-back shootouts and has now lost four of his last five starts while posting a 1.92 GAA and .933 SV%. He’ll be making his second start vs. the Penguins and was beat for four goals on a whopping 49 shots in a 4-1 loss in their first meeting.

Frederik Andersen
Call up / Send down
Call up / Send down
The Senators have recalled Casey Bailey from Binghamton (AHL).

Bailey has registered nine goals and five assists (14 points) in 25 games with Binghamton this season. He has one career NHL goal in six games, all with the Maple Leafs two seasons ago. He should be in the Senators lineup for at least two games while Mike Hoffman is suspended.

Casey Bailey
The Capitals have recalled Zach Sanford from Hershey (AHL).

Sanford, 22, registered just one assist in 19 games with the Capitals this season, but picked up seven points (4G / 3A) in six games with Hershey after being sent down. He returns to the Capitals and could draw into the lineup tonight vs. the Canadiens.

Zach Sanford
Holtby will start Saturday vs. the Canadiens.

Holtby allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Capitals’ win in Brooklyn on Tuesday. With Philipp Grubauer starting last night, Holtby will start tonight vs. the Canadiens. Holtby has won his last four starts while posting a 1.72 GAA, .939 SV% and one shutout. He’ll face Montreal on home-ice, where he has gone 9-4-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .921 SV% this season.

Braden Holtby
Darling will start Saturday in St. Louis.

Darling allowed four goals on 32 shots in the Blackhawks’ win in Brooklyn on Thursday. Darling has won three in a row while posting a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%. Darling is expected to start both games of the Blackhawks’ weekend back-to-back, starting tonight in St. Louis. The 27-year-old has gone 3-1-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .916 SV% on the road this season.

Scott Darling
Ward will start Saturday vs. the Sabres.

Ward allowed three goals on 26 shots in the Hurricanes’ shootout loss to the Capitals last night. Despite the loss, Ward will go again tonight vs. the Sabres. Ward has lost his last three starts while posting a 4.04 GAA and .844 SV%. Tonight he faces a Buffalo team that has gone 5-2-1 in eight games since Jack Eichel returned to the lineup.

Cam Ward
Smith will start Saturday in Minnesota.

Smith gave up two goals on 46 shots in the Coyotes’ shootout win in Toronto on Thursday. Smith has won two in a row while turning aside 81 of 84 shots (.964 SV%). Smith has played very well since returning from injury and has gone 3-3-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .935 SV% in December. This afternoon he will take on a Coyotes team that has won six consecutive games.

Mike Smith

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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