NHL Hockey Player News

Varlamov led the Islanders onto the ice for warmups and will start Saturday in Dallas.

Patrick Roy favoured Varlamov last season after taking over the Islanders' head coaching duties and will turn to Varlamov for consecutive games to start the season. The 36-year-old Varlamov was great last season, posting a 2.60 GAA and .918 SV% in 28 games (14-8-4), but struggled in the Islanders season opener on Thursday, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in 5-4 overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Semyon Varlamov
Daccord led the Kraken onto the ice for warmups and will start Saturday in Minnesota.

Daccord served as the backup in the Kraken's season opener but will start Saturday in Minnesota. Fresh off of a five-year contract extension, Daccord will look to build off of a career-year in 2024. He was 19-18-11 with a 2.46 GAA and .916 SV% in 50 games with the Kraken. Seattle are +116 road underdogs.

Joey Daccord
Montembeault led the Canadiens onto the ice for warmups and will start Saturday vs. Ottawa.

Montembeault stopped all 48 shots that he faced in Canadiens' shutout win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. It was an outstanding start to the season for Montembeault, who was fourth in the NHL in QualityStart% (70.0%) a season ago. Tonight, he'll face the Senators as +139 home underdogs.

Sam Montembeault
Ullmark led the Senators onto the ice for warmups and will start Saturday in Montreal.

Ullmark stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Senators win over the Panthers on Thursday. He is expected to make a second straight start Saturday in Montreal, who are 1-1-0 in their first two games. The Senators are -155 road favourites.

Linus Ullmark
Stolarz led the Maple Leafs onto the ice for warmups and will start Saturday vs. the Penguins.

Stolarz allowed one goal on 27 shots in the Maple Leafs' 1-0 loss in Montreal on opening night. Despite the loss, it was a strong showing for Stolarz, who could see extra playing time while Joseph Woll is out with a lower-body injury. The Maple Leafs are -195 home favourites vs. the Penguins on Saturday.

Anthony Stolarz
Shesterkin led the Rangers onto the ice for warmups and will start vs. Utah.

Shesterkin stopped all 31 shots that he faced in the Rangers' shutout win over the Penguins on opening night. It was a perfect start to the season for Shesterkin, who had the worst statistical season of his career in 2023-24. Tonight he'll face the Utah Hockey Club as a -200 home favourite.

Igor Shesterkin
Saros will start Saturday in Detroit.

Saros missed the season opener with a lower-body injury but is expected to make his season debut on Saturday in Detroit. Saros, who has led the NHL in games played each of the last three seasons, was 13-9-3 with a 2.80 GAA and .909 SV% on the road last season. Nashville are -143 road favourites in Detroit.

Juuse Saros

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!