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NHL Hockey Player News

Drafted

The Blues select Klim Kostin with the 31st overall pick.

Kostin entered the draft as NHL Central Scoutings top European skater and for good reason. Kostin has great size (6-foot-2/207 lbs.) and uses it effectively. Kostin plays a physical game, but doesn’t do it at the expense of any offence.

Source:

Andrew Allsman 2017-06-23T22:08:49.000Z

Eeli Tolvanen(Right Wing)(RW)|Seattle Kraken SEA

Drafted

The Predators select Eeli Tolvanen with the 30th overall pick.

Source:

Mark Scheig 2017-06-23T22:03:10.000Z

Henri Jokiharju(Defenseman)(D)|Boston Bruins BOS

Drafted

The Blackhawks select Henri Jokiharju with the No.29 overall pick.

Like a lot of young Finnish defensemen, Jokiharju is a strong skater with high-end passing skills. Jokiharju finished second among Portland Winterhawks defensemen in points in 2016-17, posting nine goals and 39 assists (48 points) in 71 games.

Source:

Tracey Myers 2017-06-23T21:56:28.000Z

Shane Bowers(Center)(C)|San Jose Sharks SJS

Drafted

The Senators select Shane Bowers with the 28th overall pick.

Bowers won’t blow you away with his offensive numbers like others in this draft class, but plays an excellent two-way game. Bowers had 22 goals and 29 assists (51 points) in 60 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) this season and looks like a low-risk draft pick.

Source:

@Senators 2017-06-23T21:47:55.000Z

Morgan Frost(Center)(C)|Calgary Flames CGY

Drafted

The Flyers select Morgan Frost with the No.27 overall pick.

Source:

@NHLFlyers 2017-06-23T21:44:13.000Z

Jori Lehtera(Center)(C)|

Trade

The Flyers have acquired Jori Lehtera the No.27 overall pick and a conditional 2018 1st round pick from the Blues for Brayden Schenn.

Source:

Elliotte Friedman 2017-06-23T21:42:31.000Z

Brayden Schenn(Center)(C)|St Louis Blues STL

Trade

The Blues have acquired Brayden Schenn from the Flyers for Jori Lehtera, the No.27 overall pick and a conditional 2018 1st round pick.

Source:

Elliotte Friedman 2017-06-23T21:41:24.000Z

Jake Oettinger(Goalie)(G)|Dallas Stars DAL

Drafted

The Stars select Jake Oettinger with the 26th overall pick.

Source:

Mike Heika 2017-06-23T21:38:19.000Z

Ryan Poehling(Center)(C)|Anaheim Ducks ANA

Drafted

The Canadiens select Ryan Poehling with the 25th overall pick.

Poehling is a rangey player, standing in at 6-foot-2, but needs to add bulk to that frame. Poehling posted seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 35 games in his first season with St. Cloud State.

Source:

Mark Scheig 2017-06-23T21:30:17.000Z

Kristian Vesalainen(Left Wing)(LW)|Winnipeg Jets WPG

Drafted

The Jets select Kristian Vesalainen with the 24th overall pick.

Source:

Mark Scheig 2017-06-23T21:24:41.000Z

Pierre-Olivier Joseph(Defenseman)(D)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Drafted

The Coyotes select Pierre-Olivier Joseph with the 23rd overall pick.

Source:

Dave Vest 2017-06-23T21:20:10.000Z

Kailer Yamamoto(Right Wing)(RW)|Utah Mammoth UTA

Drafted

The Oilers select Kailer Yamamoto with the 22nd overall pick.

Yamamoto is undersized (5-foot-8/153 lbs.) but makes up for it with exceptional speed and elusiveness. In his third season with the Spokane Chiefs (WHL), Yamamoto led the team in goals (42), assists (57) and points (99).

Source:

Jack Michaels 2017-06-23T21:13:32.000Z

Filip Chytil(Center)(C)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Drafted

The Rangers select Filip Chytil with the 21st overall pick.

Source:

@NYRangers 2017-06-23T21:08:38.000Z

Robert Thomas(Center)(C)|St Louis Blues STL

Drafted

The Blues select Robert Thomas with the 20th overall pick.

Source:

Adam Vingan 2017-06-23T21:04:03.000Z

Josh Norris(Center)(C)|Buffalo Sabres BUF

Drafted

The Sharks select Josh Norris with the 19th overall pick.

Source:

Paul Hamilton 2019-04-10T23:48:56.611Z

Urho Vaakanainen(Defenseman)(D)|New York Rangers NYR

Drafted

The Bruins select Urho Vaakanainen with the 18th overall pick.

Source:

Mark Scheig 2017-06-23T20:50:47.000Z

Timothy Liljegren(Defenseman)(D)|San Jose Sharks SJS

Drafted

The Maple Leafs have selected Timothy Liljegren with the 17th overall pick.

Liljegren was a projected top 3 pick at the start of the season, but had a rough year, which started with mono. Missing eight weeks hurt his production and his draft stock, but the Leafs land a talented offensive-defenseman that loves to get into the action.

Source:

Chris Johnston 2017-06-23T20:52:54.000Z

Juuso Valimaki(Defenseman)(D)|Carolina Hurricanes CAR

Drafted

The Flames select Juuso Valimaki with the 16th overall pick.

Valimaki is a mobile defenseman that oozes with offensive ability. The Finnish blueliner piled up 61 points (19G / 42A) in 60 games with the Tri-City Americans—good for fourth on the team. He’ll bring a lot of high-octane offence to the Flames blueline in the future.

Source:

Paul Hamilton 2017-06-23T20:39:59.000Z

Erik Brannstrom(Right Defenseman)(LD)|Free Agent FA

Drafted

The Golden Knights make Erik Brannstrom the 15th overall pick.

Brannstrom is a bit undersized (5-foot-10/179 lbs.) for an NHL defenseman, but he was a solid two-way D-man for HV71 this season. He posted six points (1G / 5A) in 35 games this season and projects as a strong puck-moving defenseman who will need to try an add some bulk to fit into the NHL.

Source:

Mark Scheig 2017-06-23T20:43:52.000Z

Cal Foote(Defenseman)(D)|Free Agent FA

Drafted

The Lightning have picked Callan Foote with the No.14 overall pick.

The son for former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote, Callan is a solid two-way defenseman who doesn’t get himself in a lot of trouble. He plays a simple game in his own end and has the ability to put up points at the other. Foote led all Kelowna Rockets’ defensemen with 57 points (6G / 51A) in 71 games this season.

Source:

Bryan Burns 2017-06-23T20:29:39.000Z

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.