Vaakainen will be back in the Rangers lineup on Saturday.
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NHL Hockey Player News
Goalie Start
Vejmelka will start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.
Vejmelka allowed one goal on 30 shots in the Mammoth's win over the Predators on Thursday. Vejmelka is riding a five-game winning streak, stopping 123 of the 137 shots (.898 SV%) that he's faced. Tonight he'll face a Carolina team that rest a handful of regulars on Thursday, making Vejmelka a strong option in what would otherwise be considered a difficult matchup.
Goalie Start
Vladar will start Saturday in Winnipeg.
Goalie Start
Annunen led the Predators onto the ice for warmups.
Annunen stopped all 43 shots that he faced in a 5-0 shutout win over the Ducks on Tuesday. Annunen has quietly been one of the best goalies in the league since the start of February, going 5-5-0 while ranking second in the NHL in GAA (2.02) and SV% .934 SV% among goalies with at least 10 starts. Tonight he'll look to keep the Predators season alive vs. the Wild, who he is 1-1-1 with a 3.39 GAA and .907 SV% against in his career.
Goalie Start
Soderblom led the Blackhawks onto the ice for warmups.
Goalie Start
Gibson led the Red Wings onto the ice for warmups.
Gibson allowed two goals on 15 shots before leaving Thursday's win vs. the Flyers with neck stiffness following a collision in his crease. Despite getting banged up on Thursday, Gibson will start yet again on Saturday, in a must-win game vs. New Jersey. Gibson is 14-11-3 with a 3.04 GAA and .882 SV% on home-ice this season but stopped all 21 shots in a shutout win in his only start vs. New Jersey this season.
The Avalanche have signed T.J. Hughes to a one-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.
Hughes will join the Colorado Eagles on an AHL Professional Tryout agreement (PTO) for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The Red Wings have signed Dylan James to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2026-27 season.
Coleman (personal) will be back in the Flames lineup on Saturday.
Line Change
Walker will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Line Change
Finley will be a healthy scratch on Saturday.
Line Change
Suter will be back in the Blues lineup on Saturday.
Line Change
Sundqvist will be back in the Blues lineup on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Hofer will start Saturday in Chicago.
Hofer gave up three goals on 37 shots in the Blues' loss to the Avalanche on Tuesday. Despite the loss, it was another strong outing for Hofer, who is 9-2-2 while ranking second in GAA (1.82) and first in SV% (.941) since the Olympic break. He's a must-start on Saturday against a Blackhawks team that has lost seven of their last eight games and nine of their last 11.
Line Change
Petrovic will draw into the Stars lineup on Saturday.
Heiskanen (lower-body) will not play for the rest of the regular season.
Heiskanen suffered a lower-body injury vs. the Wild on Thursday and will be shut down for the rest of the regular season. The Stars are hopeful that he'll be ready for Game 1 of the postseason.
Line Change
Hunt will draw back into the Wild lineup on Saturday.
Hunt will play for the first time since March 1st, replacing Jared Spurgeon, who is one of three regulars getting the night off. Hunt has five assists in 29 games this season and no goals in 42 career NHL games.
Line Change
Sturm will draw back into the Wild lineup on Saturday.
Sturm has been scratched for eight straight games, but he will play Saturday with Joel Eriksson Ek getting the night off. Sturm has picked up just 11 points (5G / 6A) in 47 games this season, playing primarily in a fourth line role.
Line Change
Brink will draw back into the Wild lineup on Saturday.
Brink was a healthy scratch in Dallas on Thursday but will replace Mats Zuccarello in the lineup on Saturday. Brink has picked up two goals and two assists (four points) in 10 games since being acquired by the Wild.
Line Change
Spurgeon (rest) will not play on Saturday.
Spurgeon will be one of three players sitting out Saturday's game in Nashville. Daemon Hunt will replace Spurgeon in the lineup and skate wth Jeff Petry at 5v5.
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.