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NHL Hockey Player News

Markstrom is in the starter's crease at New Jersey's morning skate.

Markstrom followed up a two-game winning streak by allowing four goals on 35 shots (.886 SV%) in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 35-year-old goalie has a 3.02 GAA and .889 SV% in his last eight games (4-4-0). He will likely return to the crease on Monday, with the Devils entering action as slight -113 road favorites against his former team, the Calgary Flames, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

Jacob Markstrom
Palat (illness) is expected to return vs. Anaheim on Monday.

Palat did not play in New Jersey's most recent game, but he practiced on Monday and is expected to be in the lineup against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. The 34-year-old Czech forward has struggled offensively this season, with only 10 points (4G / 6A) through 47 games.

Ondrej Palat
San Jose has acquired Kiefer Sherwood from Vancouver for Cole Clayton, a 2026 2nd round pick an a 2027 2nd round pick.

Sherwood has not played in over a week due to an undisclosed injury, and his first game with the San Jose Sharks likely won't be until after the Olympic Break. The 29-year-old hard-hitting Sherwood truly broke out last season, scoring 40 points (19G / 21A) and recording an absurd 462 hits in 78 games. He has continued the 2025-26 season on a similar pace, with 23 points (17G / 6A) and 210 hits through 44 games.

Kiefer Sherwood
Vancouver has acquired Cole Clayton, a 2026 2nd round pick an a 2027 2nd round pick from San Jose from Kiefer Sherwood.

Clayton is an undrafted defenseman that has never played an NHL game and will likely be an organizational depth blueliner for Vancouver, playing in Abbotsford (AHL). The 25-year-old Clayton had five points (2G / 3A) in 33 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) before the trade.

Cole Clayton
Knight will start vs. Winnipeg on Monday.

Knight has lost two straight (0-2-0), but given his team a chance to win in both outings, as he has most of the season, saving 53 of 58 combined shots (.914 SV%). The 24-year-old Knight has excelled in his first full season with a Blackhawks team that struggled defensively at times. He has a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV% in his last six games (3-2-1). The Blackhawks enter Monday's contest as +119 home underdogs against a Winnipeg Jets team that has points in five straight games (4-0-1).

Spencer Knight
Kreider (illness) is expected to return vs. New York on Monday.

Kreider has not played since a one-goal performance in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars, missing two games because of an illness, but will return to the lineup on Monday against his former team, the New York Rangers. The 34-year-old veteran has 25 points (15G / 10A) in 42 games this season.

Chris Kreider
Kesselring (undisclosed) will be out vs. Carolina on Monday.

Kesslering returned from a three-week absence due to an injury on Saturday and will head to the sidelines as he continues to acclimate to game speed. Jacob Bryson will draw into the lineup as Kesselring's replacement. Lindy Ruff stated after the game taht Kesselring had tweaked something and is a possibility to play on Tuesday.

Michael Kesselring
Kotkaniemi will be a healthy scratch vs. Buffalo on Monday.

With William Carrier returning from a lower-body injury, Kotkaniemi will be the odd-man out of the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Kotkaniemi has seen limited action this season, primarily on the fourth line, scoring seven points (2G / 5A) in 29 games.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Luukkonen will start in Carolina on Monday.

Luukkonen has been solid for the Sabres lately, but is coming off a performance where he struggled, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. That said, the 26-year-old Finnish goalie has helped his team record a point in seven of his last eight outings (6-1-1) while posting an impressive 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%. The Sabres enter Monday's contest as +166 road underdogs against a Carolina Hurricanes team that has outscored opponents 13-2 in its last two games (2-0-0).

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Helenius will make his NHL debut in Carolina on Monday.

Helenius was drafted 14th overall by Buffalo in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Finnish forward is in his second professional season and is set to make his NHL debut on Monday. He's had a solid season in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, scoring 30 points (9G / 21A) in 34 games.

Konsta Helenius
Sourdif (upper-body) has been activated from IR and has a chance to return vs. Colorado on Monday.

Sourdif has missed the past few games because of an upper-body injury suffered on January 11th, but he could return to the lineup on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 23-year-old Sourdif was on an impressive run before his injury, scoring 10 points (6G / 4A) in six games.

Justin Sourdif
Hellebuyck will start in Chicago on Monday.

Hellebuyck allowed three unanswered goals, four total on 37 shots (.892 SV%), on route to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in his most recent game. That said, by helping the Jets collect a point, he improved to 3-0-1 in his last four games, a noteworthy turnaround after going 0-6-4 in his previous 10. The 32-year-old Hellebucyk has not been his usual dominant self lately, posting a 3.12 GAA and .883 SV% in his last 14 games (3-6-5). The Jets enter Monday's contest as -132 home road favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has been outscored 12-4 in their last three games (0-3-0).

Connor Hellebuyck
Whitecloud is expected to make his Flames' debut vs. New Jersey on Monday.

Whitecloud spent the first eight years of his career with the Vegas Golden Knights, but will make his Calgary debut on Monday after a major trade over the weekend, where Rasmus Andersson was the major piece. The 29-year-old Whitecloud played exclusively as a bottom-four defenseman with Vegas. He recorded seven points (2G / 5A), 63 blocks, and 73 hits in 47 games this season.

Zach Whitecloud

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!