NHL Hockey Player News

Kral spent 2023-24 with the Pelicans of Liiga after leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022-23 but has signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 AAV and will be returning to Pittsburgh. The 24-year-old defenseman had five goals and 37 points in 46 games with the Pelicans and brings two games of NHL experience to Pittsburgh.

Gruden appeared in a career-high 13 games played in 2023-24 and has signed a two-year, $1.550 Million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The 24-year-old centre was drafted by Ottawa in the fourth-round of the 2018 draft (95th overall) and has appeared in a total of 16 career NHL games played and has one goal, five PIMs and nine SOG.

Pittsburgh completed its third signing of the day on Tuesday by announcing that they have extended defensemen Jack St. Ivany to a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV). The 2018 fourth-round pick (112th overall) made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and had one assist, 11 SOG and two PIMs in 14 games played.

Wheeler hasn't played since February 15th but has worked his way back from a gruesome lower-body injury and could be an option for the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final. It doesn't appear as if Wheeler will be inserted into the Game 1 lineup, but he could slot into the Rangers' bottom-6 at some point in their series vs. the Panthers. The veteran winger had 21 points (9G / 12A) in 54 games this season before getting hurt.

After two seasons in Nashville, Ryan McDonagh will return to Tampa Bay where he spent five seasons after he was acquired on Tuesday alongside a 2024 4th round pick (EDM) from Nashville for a 2025 2nd round pick and a 2024 7th round pick. The 34-year-old veteran defensemen has appeared in 928 career games played across 14 NHL seasons and has 76 goals and 389 points during that span.

Miner was Colorado's 2019 seventh-round pick (202nd overall) and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old spent the 2023-24 season with 29 games played split between the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) and has had an +.910 SV in his first three years with Utah.

Skinner returned to the Oilers' crease for a crucial Game 6 win after backing up for their previous two games and stopped 14 of 15 shots in the team's victory and will start Game 7 on Monday in Vancouver. The 25-year-old is having a very up-and-down second playoff in Edmonton this season, with his 6-3-0 record, 2.97 GAA and .881 SV% in nine appearances. He will head to Vancouver for Game 7 on Monday, who are looking to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011.

Hakanpaa has not played since the first game of the Stars' opening-round matchup vs. Los Angeles due to an undisclosed injury and is still considered day-to-day after not practicing on Monday. The 32-year-old appeared in 64 games for Dallas during the regular season, with two goals, 12 points, 56 SOG, 33 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus.

Hintz missed the Stars' previous two playoff games due to an undisclosed injury but practiced on Monday and is considered day-to-day as the teams heads into the Western Conference final this week. The 27-year-old hopes to be back for Game 1 after putting up two goals, six points, 13 SOG and six PIMs in 11 games played before his injury.

Podkolzin appeared in the Canucks' previous two games but will head back to the press box as Sam Lafferty takes his spot in Vancouver's lineup for Game 7. The 22-year-old failed to pick up a point in his short two-game showing but had 10 PIMs, two SOG and +1 plus/minus while averaging just 8:31 TOI/GP.

Lafferty has been a healthy scratch for the Canucks' previous two contests but will draw back into the lineup for Vasily Podkolzin for Game 7 on Monday vs. Edmonton. The 29-year-old is in his first season with Vancouver but has struggled in the playoffs with no points, six SOG and a -1 plus/minus in 10 games played.

Mikheyev has missed the Canucks previous two games due to an undisclosed injury but will return for Game 7 on Monday vs. Edmonton. The 29-year-old has struggled during this year's postseason, failing to pick up a point to go along with his 11 SOG and -4 plus/minus in 10 games played prior to his injury.

Roobroeck was New York's 2023 sixth-round pick (178th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old centre just finished his third OHL season and second with the Oshawa Generals (OHL) and had 26 goals, and 72 points in 68 regular season games.

Chytil has appeared in one game (May 9th vs. CAR) since November 2nd, 2023 due to concussion problems and an illness but was a full participant in practice on Monday and has a high chance to return on Wednesday vs. Florida. The 24-year-old only appeared in 10 games during the regular season, but had six assists, 22 SOG and four PIMs.

Silovs had one of his worst starts of the 2024 playoffs in Game 6 as he allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a heartbreaking loss but will be given the chance for redemption as he takes the crease for Game 7 on Monday vs. Edmonton. The 23-year-old was thrust into the starting role after Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith both went down due to injury in the first round and has not looked back since, with his 5-4-0 record, .898 SV%, 2.89 GAA and 1 shutout in the playoffs. He will host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, who are expected to be firing the puck a lot after leading the NHL in SOG per game in the regular season (33.8).

Seney had yet another strong AHL campaign in 2023-24 with Rockford after putting up 23 goals and 63 points in 68 games played and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Chicago. The 28-year-old has been the definition of a AAAA player for Chicago as he's dominated the AHL for the past few years but cannot seem to put it together in the NHL with only one goal in 15 games in the last four seasons.

It was announced out of the blue on Sunday that Brock Boeser would miss the remainder of the 2023-24 postseason due to blood clots in his leg and is out indefinitely as he deals with the fluky ailment. The 27-year-old was having a sensational playoffs for Vancouver after a 40 goal, 73 point regular season as he had seven goals, five assists, and 27 SOG in 12 games played. The Canucks host Edmonton for Game 7 on Monday.