Line Change
Lammikko will be scratched Sunday vs. the Sabres.
Lammikko played in four straight games, recording two assists, but will be replaced by Jack Hughes, who will play for the first time since mid-November.
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NHL Hockey Player News
The Lightning have assigned Jakob Pelletier to Syracuse (AHL).
Pelletier was recalled ahead of Saturday's game vs. the Hurricanes but served as a reserve forward and did not play. Pelletier returns to the AHL, where he has 15 goals and 16 assists (31 points) in 24 games this season.
Goalie Start
Allen will start Sunday vs. the Sabres.
Gritsyuk (upper-body) is will return to the Devils lineup on Sunday.
Gritsyuk has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but will play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Gritsyuk, who has 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 17 games, will be one of three key forwards returning to the Devils' lineup on Sunday, with both Jack Hughes and Timo Meier also returning.
Meier (personal) is will return to the Devils lineup on Sunday.
Meier missed the last five games due to personal reasons, but will play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Meier, who has nine points (6G / 3A) in his last 10 games, will be one of three key forwards returning to the Devils' lineup on Sunday, with both Jack Hughes and Arseny Gritsyuk also returning.
Hughes (hand) is expected to play Sunday vs. the Sabres.
Hughes returned to the ice on Sunday morning and told reporters after the optional morning skate that he expects to play Sunday vs. Buffalo. Hughes has been out since November 12th after suffering a freak hand injury in a dinner incident. He rejoins the lineup with 20 points (10G / 10A) in 17 games this season.
Line Change
Erne will be a healthy scratch on Sunday.
Erne played 11:25 and scored a goal during Friday's win in Anaheim, but he'll be scratched Sunday vs. The Maple Leafs. Colin Blackwell will draw back into the Stars' lineup to take Erne's place in the bottom-6.
Werenski is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Werenski was in a lot of discomfort on Saturday and had to crawl to the bench to get off the ice. Luckily, tests reportedly revealed no broken bones and Werenski is considered day-to-day. It seems unlikely that he'll play Monday in Los Angeles, but he could be ready after the Christmas break, when the Blue Jackets take on the Islanders on Saturday (Dec.28).
Line Change
Blackwell will draw back into the Stars lineup on Sunday.
Blackwell was a healthy scratch in Anaheim on Friday, but he will replace Adam Erne in the lineup on Sunday. Blackwell has picked up seven points (2G / 5A) in 34 games this season.
Pelletier has been reassigned to Syracuse (AHL).
Goalie Start
Oettinger will start vs. Toronto on Sunday.
Evans (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve.
Jack Hughes (hand) was on the ice at an optional practice on Sunday.
Evans (lower-body) will not play in Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.
Evans suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday's game vs. the Penguins and did not travel to Pittsburgh for the second half of the home-and-home. With Evans out, Sammy Blais was recalled from Laval (AHL).
The Canadiens have recalled Sammy Blais from Laval (AHL).
Blais has been recalled from the AHL because Jake Evans suffered a lower-body injury and is not expected to play on Sunday. Blais has nine points (3G / 6A) in nine games since joining Laval after being waived by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kleven (lower-body) will not play on Sunday.
Kleven suffered a lower-body injury during Saturday's win over the Blackhawks and will miss Sunday's game against the Bruins. With Kleven out, look for Nikolas Matinpalo to draw back into the lineup.
Werenski left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Line Change
Helleson will be a healthy scratch vs. CBJ on Saturday.
Line Change
Zellweger will draw back into Anaheim's lineup vs. Columbus on Saturday.
Del Bel Belluz will draw back into Columbus' lineup vs. Anaheim on Saturday.
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.