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NHL Hockey Player News

Brendan Smith(Defenseman)(D)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Line Change

Smith will get back into the Rangers lineup on Friday.

Smith has been a healthy scratch for the last six games, but will return to the Rangers blueline tonight in Columbus. Smith, who has two assists in 11 games this season, will replace Steve Kampfer tonight.

Source:

@NYRangers 2017-11-17T09:29:13.000Z

Henrik Lundqvist(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Lundqvist will start Friday in Columbus.

Lundqvist was pulled after allowing four goals on 34 shots in the Rangers’ loss in Chicago on Wednesday. The Rangers didn’t really show up and putting Ondrej Pavelec in was more of an effort to give the team a spark than a knock on Lundqvist, who allowed at least one softy. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Lundqvist, who are 4-3-1 in their last eight games.

Source:

@NYRangers 2017-11-17T10:53:40.000Z

Torey Krug(Defenseman)(D)|St Louis Blues STL

Injury

Krug (undisclosed) will not be in the Bruins lineup on Thursday.

Source:

@NHLBruins 2017-11-16T22:04:16.000Z

David Krejci(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Krejci (back) will return to the Bruins lineup in Los Angeles.

Source:

@NHLBruins 2017-11-16T22:03:53.000Z

Jonathan Quick(Goalie)(G)|New York Rangers NYR

Goalie Start

Quick leads the Kings onto the ice for warmups.

Source:

Elliott Teaford 2017-11-16T22:03:09.000Z

Pekka Rinne(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Rinne leads the Predators onto the ice for warmups.

Rinne allowed three goals on 29 shots in the Predators win over the Capitals on Tuesday. The win extended Rinne’s personal winning streak to four games and moved him to 9-2-2 with a 2.29 GAA, .926 SV% and one shutout on the season. Tonight he faces the Wild Devan Dubnyk, who comes in with three consecutive shutouts.

Source:

Thomas Willis 2017-11-16T19:40:26.000Z

Torey Krug(Defenseman)(D)|St Louis Blues STL

Injury

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

Source:

Joe McDonald 2017-11-16T17:28:57.000Z

Marcus Kruger(Center)(C)|Free Agent FA

Injury

Kruger (illness) will not play on Thursday.

Source:

Michael Smith 2017-11-16T17:28:20.000Z

William Nylander(Right Wing)(RW)|Toronto Maple Leafs TOR

Injury

Nylander (illness) is expected to play Thursday vs. the Devils.

Source:

Dave McCarthy 2017-11-16T17:28:01.000Z

Frederik Andersen(Goalie)(G)|Carolina Hurricanes CAR

Goalie Start

Andersen will start Thursday vs. the Devils.

Andersen allowed two goals on 35 shots in the Maple Leafs win over the Bruins last Friday. After nearly a full week off, Andersen is expected to start tonight vs. the Devils. Andersen comes in on a three-game winning streak, but struggled in his first start vs. New Jersey—he allowed six goals on 31 shots in a 6-3 loss in mid-October.

Source:

Kristen Shilton 2017-11-16T15:47:51.000Z

Pekka Rinne(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Rinne is expected to start Thursday in Minnesota.

Source:

Thomas Willis 2017-11-16T19:40:02.000Z

Roberto Luongo(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Luongo will start Thursday in San Jose.

Luongo gave up three goals on 43 shots in the Panthers win over the Stars on Tuesday. Since returning from injury, Luongo has won two of four starts while stopping 148 of 159 shots (.931 SV%). Tonight he draws a tough road matchup against a Sharks team that has won six of their last seven.

Source:

David Dwork 2017-11-16T17:42:28.000Z

Jonathan Quick(Goalie)(G)|New York Rangers NYR

Goalie Start

Quick was the first goalie off of the ice at the Kings morning skate.

Quick gave up three goals on 27 shots in the Kings loss to Vancouver on Tuesday. Quick has now lost three in a row while allowing a combined 10 goals on 103 shots (.903 SV%). In his first start against the Bruins, Quick stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 overtime win in late-October.

Source:

Jon Rosen 2017-11-16T17:44:44.000Z

William Carrier(Left Wing)(LW)|Carolina Hurricanes CAR

Line Change

Carrier will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Source:

David Schoen 2017-11-16T15:41:07.000Z

Jon Merrill(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Merrill will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Source:

David Schoen 2017-11-16T15:40:56.000Z

Brendan Leipsic(Left Wing)(LW)|

Line Change

Leipsic will draw into the Golden Knights lineup on Thursday.

Source:

David Schoen 2017-11-16T15:40:43.000Z

Shea Theodore(Defenseman)(D)|Vegas Golden Knights VGK

Line Change

Theodore will draw into the Golden Knights lineup on Thursday.

Source:

David Schoen 2017-11-16T15:40:33.000Z

Maxime Lagace(Goalie)(G)|Free Agent FA

Goalie Start

Lagace will start Thursday in Vancouver.

Lagace allowed seven goals on 29 shots before leaving Tuesday’s game in Edmonton with an injury. He has now won just two of his seven starts (+ one relief appearance) while posting a brutal 4.12 GAA and .860 SV%. No disrespect, but he was the Golden Knights’ fourth string goalie for a reason, so he’s a very risky fantasy option.

Source:

Brendan Batchelor 2017-11-16T17:39:07.000Z

Jonathan Huberdeau(Left Wing)(LW)|Calgary Flames CGY

Injury

Huberdeau missed the morning skate but is expected to play on Thursday.

Source:

Steve Goldstein 2017-11-16T14:51:23.000Z

Jakub Vrana(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Line Change

Vrana will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Source:

Isabelle Khurshudyan 2017-11-16T14:19:54.000Z

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.