Line Change
Aman will draw back into Vancouver's lineup on Thursday in Florida.
NHL Hockey Player News
Desharnais is expected to draw back into the Canucks' lineup on Thursday in Florida.
Line Change
Quinn is likely to be out on Thursday in Columbus.
Quinn played 12:27 time-on-ice in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Penguins, his lowest ice time of the season thus far. Through five games this season, Quinn only has one points (0G / 1A), five shots on goal, four hits, and -4 plus/minus rating.
Goalie Start
Levi will start on Thursday in Columbus.
Levi has outperformed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen early in the 2024-25 season, being responsible for their only win, but the team has opted to alternate starting goalies thus far. As such, Levi will likely start in between the pipes in the Sabres' sixth game of the season on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old Levi has a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% in two games this season (1-1-0). The Sabres enter action on Thursday as -141 road favorites against the Blue Jackets.
Goalie Start
Lankinen will start on Thursday in Florida.
The Canucks are winless in three games this season and will turn to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Despite losing 3-2 in a shootout, Lankinen was stellar, the best goaltending performance this season for the Canucks, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%). The Canucks enter the action on Thursday as slight -106 road favorites against a Panthers club without their two biggest offensive threats, Matthew Tkachuk (illness) and Aleksander Barkov (lower body).
Goalie Start
Levi is expected to start on Thursday in Columbus.
Levi has outperformed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen early in the 2024-25 season, being responsible for their only win, but the team has opted to alternate starting goalies thus far. As such, Levi will likely start in between the pipes in the Sabres' sixth game of the season on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 22-year-old Levi has a 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% in two games this season (1-1-0). The Sabres enter action on Thursday as -141 road favorites against the Blue Jackets.
Drouin (upper-body) is still expected to "miss some time".
Drouin played 21:25 in Colorado's season-opening 8-4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights but has not returned to practice since. Ross Colton has been the main beneficiary in Drouin's absence, finding himself on a dangerous top powerplay unit.
Wood (arm) has a possibility to play on Friday vs. Anaheim.
Wood left Wednesday’s loss vs. Boston with an undisclosed injury after just 12:46 TOI but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. A myriad of injuries for the Avalanche had thrust Wood onto their top line alongside Logan O'Connor and Nathan MacKinnon.
Martinez (right groin) has been placed on IR.
Martinez is battling a lower-body ailment and will miss at least one week of action. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit. The Blackhawks have recalled Isaak Phillips from the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) in the interim.
Phillips has been recalled from Rockford (AHL).
With Alec Martinez (lower-body) being placed on Injured Reserve, the Blackhawks have recalled Phillips from the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). The 23-year-old Phillips set a career-high in games played last season, scoring six points (0G / 6A) in 33 games with the Blackhawks.
Goalie Start
Saros was in the starter's crease at Nashville's morning skate.
The Predators, one of only two teams without a point early in the 2024-25 season (0-3-0), will likely turn to Saros on Thursday when they attempt to snap their losing skid. The 29-year-old Saros has been unspectacular to start the season, posting an ugly 4.19 GAA and .855 SV% in two games (0-2-0). That said, slow starts are nothing new for Saros, who had a .892 SV% in his first 14 games last season (5-9-0) before steadying to a .913 SV% in his next 47 (29-14-4). The Predators enter action on Thursday as +110 home underdogs against an Edmonton Oilers club that won their first game of the season on Tuesday.
Goalie Start
Pickard will start on Thursday in Nashville.
Fresh off of their first victory of the season, snapping a three-game losing skid, the Oilers will switch to Pickard between the pipes on Thursday evening against the Nashville Predators. The Predators are off to a rough start, one of only two teams yet to record a point in the standings (0-3-0), and as such, the Oilers enter gameplay as -126 road favorites. The 32-year-old Pickard has struggled in two appearances this season (0-1-0), posting a 4.17 GAA and .778 SV% but was excellent as the Oilers backup netminder last season, posting a 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% in 23 outings (12-7-1).
Goalie Start
Ersson is expected to start on Saturday vs. Vancouver.
The Flyers will likely return to Ersson in their crease on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flyers have earned three of a possible four points (1-0-1) when Ersson has been in net this season, providing adequate results for the team despite a less-than-stellar 2.86 GAA and .895 SV%.
Line Change
Allan is expected to draw back into Chicago's lineup on Thursday vs. San Jose.
Veteran defenseman Alec Martinez will not play on Thursday due to a lower-body injury, allowing Allan to enter the Blackhawks' lineup. The 21-year-old Allan was the 32nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He played 60 games with the Rockford IceHogs last season, tallying 17 points (5G / 12A).
Eriksson Ek (broken nose) is expected to return on Saturday in Columbus.
Originally expected to return on Tuesday, Eriksson Ek is likely to make his return on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eriksson Ek did not travel with Minnesota for the start of their seven-game road trip after he took an elbow to the face from Adam Larsson in the second period and went to the locker room in last Saturday's game. He missed the final 12:45 of the period before returning to the game in the third period with a full face shield. He only played one shift, though, left the game again and did not return.
Goalie Start
Fedotov will start on Thursday in Seattle.
The Flyers are 1-1-1 to start the season, with their only regulation loss coming when Fedotov was in the crease. That said, the Flyers will return to Fedotov for the second time this season and hope he can redeem himself after a poor first performance when he allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 28-year-old Fedotov only has four games of NHL experience (0-2-1), with an ugly 5.01 GAA and .821 SV%. The Flyers enter action on Thursday as +120 road underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.
Lemieux has cleared waivers and is expected to be assigned to Chicago (AHL).
Lemiuex has not played yet this season due to an undisclosed injury and will likely start his 2024-25 campaign with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) after clearing waivers on Thursday. The 28-year-old Lemiuex has 74 points (36G / 38A) and 548 penalty minutes in 307 career games.
Gambrell has cleared waivers and is expected to be assigned to Cleveland (AHL).
Gambrell spent the entire 2024 season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), scoring 14 goals with 22 assists (36 points) in 66 games. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blue Jackets in the offseason. The 27-year-old has plenty of NHL experience, playing 233 career games for the Sharks and Senators.
Line Change
Walker is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday vs. the Islanders.
Kapanen will draw back into St. Louis' lineup on Thursday vs. the Islanders.
Nathan Walker will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kapanen to re-enter the lineup for the Blues. The 28-year-old Kapanen has zero points in three games this season, recording a -3 plus/minus while averaging 15:14 time-on-ice.
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
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