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NHL Hockey Player News

Smith will start Monday vs. the Avalanche.

Smith gave up four goals on 30 shots in the Coyotes’ win over the Devils on Saturday. Smith has gone 11-11-4 with a 2.91 GAA And .914 SV% on home ice this season and he is an interesting option tonight with the league-worst Colorado Avalanche in town.

Mike Smith
Fleury will start Monday in Calgary.

Fleury allowed two goals on 42 shots in the Penguins’ win in Edmonton on Friday. Fleury has been great in his last two starts, winning both while stopping 68 of 70 shots (.971 SV%). Fleury has stepped his game up going 4-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .933 SV% in his last six starts. His improved play could see him get more starts down the stretch.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Shore will make his Canucks debut on Monday.

Shore was a second round pick (No.44 overall) in 2009 and signed with the Canucks last week after finishing his season with Kloten HC in Switzerland. The 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. forward had 24 goals and 24 assists (48 points) in 50 games overseas and the Canucks will take a look at him for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Drew Shore
Granlund (illness) will return to the Canucks’ lineup on Monday.

Granlund missed Saturday’s game with food poisoning, but will play tonight vs. the Bruins. Granlund will skate with the Sedin Twins and comes into play with five goals and four assists (nine points) in his last 14 games.

Markus Granlund
Darling (upper-body) will return as the Blackhawks’ backup on Tuesday.

Darling will return much quicker than originally expected. His original timetable was three weeks, but the netminder only missed two weeks and will return as Corey Crawford’s backup in Montreal on Tuesday.

Scott Darling
Fleury was the first goalie off of the ice at the morning skate.

Fleury allowed two goals on 42 shots in the Penguins’ win in Edmonton on Friday. Fleury has been great in his last two starts, winning both while stopping 68 of 70 shots (.971 SV%). Fleury has stepped his game up going 4-1-1 with a 2.22 GAA and .933 SV% in his last six starts. His improved play could see him get more starts down the stretch.

Marc-Andre Fleury
Crawford will be between the pipes Tuesday in Montreal.

Crawford allowed two goals on 44 shots in the Blackhawks’ victory over Minnesota on Sunday. It was an excellent performance from Crawford, who has won five of his last seven starts with a 2.43 GAA and .928 SV%. Tonight he’ll start in his hometown against a Habs team who he beat 3-2 on home-ice back in November.

Corey Crawford
Petan will be a healthy scratch on Monday.

Petan got back into the lineup on Saturday, but played just eight minutes.Tonight he will come out of the lineup as a healthy scratch for the fifth time in six games. Petan will be replaced by Chris Thorburn—a move that is bound to upset Jets fans.

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

Quick stopped 17 of 19 shots in the Kings’ win over the Capitals. Quick has won three consecutive starts while posting a 1.91 GAA and .918 SV%. Quick hasn’t missed a beat in his return to the Kings’ crease and will look to extend his winning streak tonight vs. the Blues.

Jonathan Quick
Elliott will start Monday vs. the Penguins.

Elliott stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Flames’ shutout win in Winnipeg on Saturday. Elliott has won eight straight and has posted back-to-back shutouts, stopping all 55 shots that he faced vs. the Canadiens and Jets. His sensational run will be put to the test tonight against a Penguins team that is riding a five-game winning streak of their own.

Brian Elliott
Elliott is in the starter's crease at the morning skate.

Elliott stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Flames’ shutout win in Winnipeg on Saturday. Elliott has won eight straight and has posted back-to-back shutouts, stopping all 55 shots that he faced vs. the Canadiens and Jets. His sensational run will be put to the test tonight against a Penguins team that is riding a five-game winning streak of their own.

Brian Elliott
Hellebuyck will be in goal Monday in Nashville.

Hellebuyck surrendered three goals on 29 shots in the Jets’ loss to the Flames on Saturday. Hellebuyck has dropped three straight starts while allowing a combined 10 goals on 73 shots (.863 SV%). Despite hitting a rough stretch, the Jets really have no choice but to stick with him as they try to push for the playoffs.

Connor Hellebuyck
Rinne is expected to start Monday vs. the Jets.

Rinne allowed three goals on 34 shots in the Predators’ overtime loss to the Kings on Thursday. Despite Juuse Saros getting the win on Saturday, look for Rinne to be between the pipes tonight vs. the Jets. Rinne is 16-5-4 with a 2.37 GAA and .915 SV% on home ice this season.

Pekka Rinne
Ekblad (concussion) will miss 7-10 days.

Ekblad was forced from Saturday’s game in Tampa Bay with a concussion and is expected to miss at least one week—which is four games for the Panthers this week. This is a tough loss for the Fantasy playoffs because Ekblad has four points (2G / 2A) and a ridiculous 51 shots in his last 11 games.

Aaron Ekblad

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!