NHL Hockey Player News

McTavish (lower body) left Tuesday's game early due to injury and did not return.

McTavish scored a goal before exiting Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames with only 6:32 of ice time due to a lower-body injury. McTavish has goals in back-to-back games after being held without a point for 10 straight.

Mason McTavish
Vasilevskiy will start on Wednesday vs. Toronto.

On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Tatar will draw back into Seattle's lineup on Wednesday vs. Los Angeles.

Tatar has served the last four games as a healthy scratch but will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken. The Slovak forward has struggled this season and has zero points in his last six contests.

Tomas Tatar
Kuemper (undisclosed) left Wednesday's practice wincing and will be a game-time decision on Thursday vs. Pittsburgh.

Kuemper has only started one of the last 10 games for the Capitals but with an impending back-to-back against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes, he would likely see some action if he can suit up. The 33-year-old Kuemper has had a forgettable season, posting an ugly 3.32 GAA and .888 SV% in 33 games (13-13-3).

Darcy Kuemper
Brazeau (upper body) left Tuesday's game due to injury but is without an update on his status.

Brazeau played only 3:45 of time-on-ice before exiting Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators with an upper-body injury. Brazeau has been a lineup regular for the Bruins for the last several weeks and had five points (4G / 1A) in six games before his injury.

Justin Brazeau
Hanley (undisclosed) is day-to-day and will miss Thursday's game vs. Winnipeg.

Hanley exited Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks after playing only 3:44 time-on-ice due to an undisclosed injury and will not play on Thursday. Since joining the Flames before the trade deadline, Hanley has two points (1G / 1A), 15 blocks, and 12 hits in 10 games.

Joel Hanley
Primeau will start on Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.

The Canadiens have won four of their last five and will roll with Primeau in the crease for the third time in the last five games. Primeau has been excellent lately, allowing one or fewer goals in three of his last four (3-1-0), including saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Cayden Primeau
Pickard will start on Wednesday vs. Dallas.

After a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blue on Monday, the Oilers will turn to Pickard between the pipes on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Pickard has allowed two or fewer goals in three of his last four starts (3-1-0), including a 21-save performance (.955 SV%) in his last outing, a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Pickard and the Oilers enter action as +108 road underdogs against a Stars team they defeated 4-3 in February.

Calvin Pickard
Balinskis has been recalled from Charlotte (AHL) on Wednesday.

Balinskis started the season with the Panthers due to several injuries on the blueline but has spent most of the season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), scoring 21 points (3G / 18A) in 37 games. He had a four-game stint with the Panthers in mid-March, last playing on March 26th.

Uvis Balinskis
Niederreiter (lower body) is expected to miss at least a week after leaving Monday's contest due to injury.

Niederreiter received several stitches in his leg after Monday's 4-3 over the Los Angeles Kings and is expected to miss at least a few games recovering. The 31-year-old Niederreiter has struggled offensively lately, scoring zero points in his last 13 games.

Nino Niederreiter
Lyon will start on Friday vs. the Rangers.

The Red Wings continue their push for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference on Friday and will turn to Lyon between the pipes. Despite only recording one win in his last four (1-2-1), Lyon has played well lately, allowing two or fewer goals three times, including saving 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) in his most recent outing, an impressive 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Alex Lyon
Vasilevskiy was the first goalie off the ice at Tampa Bay's morning skate.

On the front end of a back-to-back, Tampa Bay will roll with Vasilevskiy between the pipes for the fourth straight game. Vasilevskiy has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five (3-2-0), but it was not enough in his last outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Tampa Bay enters action on Wednesday as a +106 road underdog against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

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!