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NHL Hockey Player News

Lyon is the first goalie off the ice at Buffalo's morning skate.

After a disappointing 0-3-0 start to the 2025-26 season, the Sabres have turned the script, going 4-1-2 in their last five, due in part to strong goaltending from Alex Lyon, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old Lyon has given his Sabres team a chance almost every night, posting a solid 2.77 GAA and .919 SV% in eight games (3-4-1). The Sabres enter Thursday's contest as -115 road favorites against a Bruins team that is 2-7-0 in their last nine.

Alex Lyon
Korpisalo will start vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Coming off a disappointing one-sided 7-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Bruins will change course on Thursday, turning to Korpisalo between the pipes against the Buffalo Sabres. The 31-year-old Korpisalo has seen a steady dose of action early in the 2025-26 season, but has failed to impress, posting a 3.62 GAA and .870 SV% in five games (2-3-0). The Bruins enter Thursday's contest as slight +104 home underdogs against a Sabres team with points in four straight games (2-0-2).

Joonas Korpisalo
Matinpalo will be a healthy scratch vs. Calgary on Thursday.

Jordan Spence will be inserted back into the Senators' lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Matinpalo to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 27-year-old Matinpalo is averaging 14:40 time-on-ice, recording seven blocks and 10 hits in seven games this season.

Nikolas Matinpalo
Lycksell will be a healthy scratch vs. Calgary on Thursday.

Kurtis MacDermid will draw back into Ottawa's lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, sending Lycksell to the sidelines as healthy scratch. The 26-year-old Lycksell is averaging 10:26 time-on-ice and has one goal in five games this season.

Olle Lycksell
Spence will draw back into Ottawa's lineup vs. Calgary on Thursday.

Nikolas Matinpalo will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing Spence to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 24-year-old Spence has been impressive offensively in his first season with the Senators, scoring four points (0G / 4A) in four games.

Jordan Spence
MacDermid will draw back into Ottawa's lineup vs. Calgary on Thursday.

Olle Lycksell will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Calgary Flames, allowing MacDermid to suit up for his fifth game of the season. The 31-year-old MacDermid is averaging 5:28 time-on-ice and has seven penalty minutes in four games.

Kurtis MacDermid
Lindholm (personal) is expected to draw back into Boston's lineup vs. Buffalo.

Lindholm has been in and out of the lineup with injuries lately. His absence from the morning skate on Thursday was concerning, but it was not injury-related, as he was away from the team to welcome the birth of his child. The 31-year-old Lindholm is averaging 16:04 time-on-ice and has one assist in four games this season.

Hampus Lindholm
Vladar will start vs. Nashville.

Samuel Ersson is battling an undisclosed injury, temporarily giving control of the Flyers' crease to Vladar. That said, Vladar has been outstanding this season, making his own case to be the team's undisputed starting netminder. The 28-year-old Czech goalie is boasting an impressive 1.81 GAA and .932 SV% through five games (3-2-0). The Flyers enter Thursday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Nashville Predators team that is being outscored 37-28 through 11 games this season (4-5-2).

Dan Vladar
Bussi was the first goalie off the ice at Carolina's morning skate.

With Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body) nearing an imminent return, Bussi's days with the Hurricanes are likely numbered, but he is expected to be between the pipes on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 27-year-old Bussi has been solid in his first exposure to NHL action this season, posting a 2.33 GAA and .911 SV% through his first three games (2-1-0). The Hurricanes enter Thursday's contest as sizable -211 home favorites against an Islanders team coming off an uninspired 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.

Brandon Bussi
Ullmark will start vs. Calgary on Thursday.

Ottawa leads the league with 41 goals this season, an impressive stat mitigated by the fact that they have allowed an Eastern Conference-worst 44 goals. Goaltending has been an issue for the Senators early in the 2025-26 season, highlighted by an ugly 3.44 GAA and .858 SV% that Ullmark is sporting through nine games (4-4-1). The Senators enter Thursday's contest as -158 home favorites against a league-worst Calgary Flames team (2-8-1) that is being outscored 39-24.

Linus Ullmark
Vasilevskiy is expected to start vs. Dallas on Thursday.

After a poor 1-4-2 start to the season, Tampa Bay has turned things around, winning three straight, and will likely turn to Vasilevskiy on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old Vasilevskiy has an uninspiring 2.86 GAA and .893 SV% in seven games (2-3-2), but has been significantly better lately, posting a 2.00 GAA and .916 SV% in his last four outings (2-1-1). Tampa Bay enters Thursday's contest as -147 home favorites against a Dallas Stars team also riding a three-game winning streak.

Andrei Vasilevskiy
Blais will make his Maple Leafs' debut on Wednesday in Columbus.

With William Nylander (lower body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Blais will make his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 71 points (27G / 44A) in 257 career games.

Sammy Blais

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!