Williams (lower-body) is not on the ice for warmups; will not play vs. Boston.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Rask will start Wednesday in Washington.
Rask allowed three goals on 21 shots in the Bruins’ win in Tampa Bay last night. Rask has won three in a row despite allowing three goals in each start and posting an .870 SV%. The Bruins No.1 will go again tonight with Zane McIntyre as his backup—he allowed four goals on 20 shots in a 4-3 OT loss in his fist start vs. Washington.
Hansen (knee) will not play Thursday, but could return on Saturday.
Hansen has been out since December 22nd, but could return on Saturday vs. the Wild. Hansen rotated in on Brandon Sutter’s line in Wednesday’s practice and has nine points (5G / 4A) in 18 games this season.
Donskoi (upper-body) will not travel to Vancouver for Thursday's game.
Donskoi will miss his fourth consecutive game with an upper-body injury that previously cost him three games in mid-January. Monitor his status prior to Saturday’s game vs. the Coyotes.
Galchenyuk (knee) will return to the Canadiens' lineup on Thursday.
Galchenyuk has missed the last three games with a knee injury, but will return to the Canadiens’ lineup on Thursday. After returning from his previous knee injury, Galchenyuk registered two goals and two assist in five games before getting hurt again. Galchenyuk skated David Desharnais and Andrew Shaw on Wednesday.
Call up / Send down
The Kings have recalled Paul LaDue from Ontario (AHL).
LaDue, 24, was a sixth round pick (181st overall) in 2012 and this is his first career NHL call-up. LaDue has registered six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 36 games with Ontario this season and could make his debut on Wednesday night.
The Coyotes have acquired Branden Troock and Brendan Ranford from the Stars for Justin Peters and Justin Hache.
Troock, 22, was a fifth round pick in 2012 and has split his 2016-17 season between the AHL and ECHL. Troock had four assists in 10 games with Texas and nine points (7G / 2A) in 15 games with Idaho. He is expected to report to Tucson.
The Coyotes have acquired Brendan Ranford and Branden Troock from the Stars for Justin Peters and Justin Hache.
Ranford, 24, was a seventh round pick of the Flyers in 2010 and has appeared in just one career NHL game. Ranford has collected 17 points (6G / 11A) in 36 games with Texas (AHL) and will report to Tucson.
The Stars have acquired Justin Hache and Justin Peters from the Coyotes for Brendan Ranford and Branden Troock.
Hache, 23, was a seventh round in 2012 and has recorded one assist in five games with Tucson (AHL) and nine points (2G / 7A) in 21 games with Rapid City (ECHL). He will report to Texas (AHL).
The Stars have acquired Justin Peters and Justin Hache from the Coyotes for Brendan Ranford and Branden Troock.
Peters has gone 5-6-0 with a 4.17 GAA and .868 SV% in 12 games with Tucson this season and with Adin Hill played great and the Stars in need of goaltending depth, Peters will report to Texas (AHL).
Kruger (illness) will return to the Blackhawks lineup on Thursday.
Kruger missed Tuesday’s game with an illness, but is over his bug and will return to the lineup on Thursday. The two-way centre has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 40 games this season and should replace Dennis Rasmussen in the lineup.
Goalie Start
Crawford will start Thursday in Arizona.
Crawford allowed two goals on 28 shots in the Blackhawks’ loss in San Jose on Tuesday. Crawford finished January at 5-5-0 with a 3.18 GAA and .894 SV% and will look to have a better February that starts tonight versus the Coyotes. Crawford has gone 7-8-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .907 SV% in 15 starts on the road this season.
Goalie Start
Smith will be between the pipes Tuesday vs. Chicago.
Smith allowed three goals on 39 shots in the Coyotes’ loss to the Kings on Tuesday. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Smith, who will make his 32nd start of the season tonight. He is 8-8-2 with a 2.73 GAA and .921 SV% in 18 starts on home-ice, but will be in tough against the Blackhawks.
Domi (hand) returned to practice on Wednesday; could play as soon as Thursday.
Domi has missed the last 23 games after undergoing surgery on his hand. Domi was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and the Coyotes didn’t rule out a possible return on Thursday. Monitor his status during tomorrow’s morning skate.
Call up / Send down
The Panthers have sent Dylan McIlrath to Springfield (AHL).
McIlrath last played on January 18th and has only appeared in five games with the Panthers this season. McIlrath heads to Springfield, where he has one goal and one assist in six games this season.
Call up / Send down
The Panthers have sent Jared McCann to Springfield (AHL).
McCann played with Nick Bjugstad and Jaromir Jagr last night and finds himself in the AHL today. The 20-year-old has seven points (1G / 6A) in 29 games with the Panthers and six points (4G / 2A) in 15 games with Springfield.
Call up / Send down
The Canadiens have sent Daniel Carr to St. John’s (AHL).
Carr appeared in the last three games, but will return to St. John’s with Alex Galchenyuk set to return to the lineup on Thursday. Carr has two goals and one assist in three games with the IceCaps this season.
The Coyotes have acquired Mitch Moroz from the Oilers for Henrik Samuelsson.
The Oilers drafted Moroz five spots after the Coyotes selected Henrik Samuelsson in 2012. Moro has registered just one goal and two assists (three points) in 17 games with Bakersfield (AHL) and will report to Tucson.
The Oilers have acquired Henrik Samuelsson from the Coyotes for Mitchell Moroz.
Samuelsson, 22, was the 27th overall pick in 2012, but has only appeared in three career NHL games. Samuelsson was a target of the Oilers in 2012 and now he has a shot to crack their roster with some strong play in Bakersfield (AHL). Samuelsson has registered just two goals and one assist in 20 games with Tucson (AHL) this season.
Call up / Send down
The Bruins have sent Anton Khudobin to Providence (AHL).
Khudobin was recalled after the All-Star break and served as Tuukka Rask’s backup last night, but was sent down likely so Zane McIntyre can come up and start tonight’s game in Washington. Khudobin has gone 6-3-1 with a 2.86 GAA and .892 SV% in Providence.
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.