NHL Hockey Player News

Zadina had three goals, four assists, 51 SOG, 10 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 30 games with Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with San Jose ahead of the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old right-winger was surprisingly placed on mutual unconditional waivers last week which caused him to foregone $4.56 million in salary in order to leave Detroit. He had 28 goals and 68 points in 190 games for the Red Wings who selected him in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft (6th overall).

Cates had 13 goals, 25 assists, 107 SOG, 12 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 82 games with his first full season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract extension ($2,625,000 AAV) after reaching an agreement pre arbitration. The 24-year-old was Philadelphia's 2017 fifth-round pick (137th overall) and has 18 goals and 47 points across 98 career games.

Hoglander was the No.40 overall pick in 2019 and joined the Canucks in 2021. Since then, he's posted 54 points (26G / 28A) in 141 career NHL games. However, he spent most of last season in the AHL after struggling with the Canucks early in the year. The 22-year-old had 32 points (14G / 18A) in 45 AHL games and will look to crack the NHL lineup out of training camp this fall.

Fleury only appeared in 12 NHL games last season and 21 over his first two seasons with the Kraken. Fleury, who has two points (1G / 1A) in 62 career NHL appearances, will likely serve as the Kraken's No.7 defenseman again in 2024.

DeBrincat was reportedly seeking a long-term deal, which Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was not keen on giving out. The term was likely what held up the trade, which had long been rumoured to be happening. DeBrincat is now signed through the 2027 NHL season and is one of four forwards in Detroit with at least four years on their deals, joining Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher.

Sebrango was a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and split the 2023 season between Grand Rapids (AHL) and Toledo (ECHL). The 21-year-old was fairly deep on the Red Wings' defensive prospect depth chart, so it's not a huge loss for an organization that has invested a lot of draft capital in defensemen in recent years. During his time in the AHL, Sebrango had five goals and 13 assists (18 points) in 135 games over the last three seasons.

The Senators get an NHL-ready winger to help replace the loss of DeBrincat. Kubalik had a nice 202-23 season, scoring 20 goals with 25 assists (45 points) in 81 games for the Red Wings. However, Kubalik struggled with consistency. He posted 25 points (10G / 15A) in his first 25 games of the season but finished with just 20 points (10G / 10A) in his final 56 games. For now, Kubalik looks like a potential top-6 fit for the Senators but may best as a third-liner with Shane Pinto.

DeBrincat was an RFA that had made it known that he was not interested in re-signing with the Senators. After one season, where he scored 27 goals with 39 assists (66 points) in 82 games, DeBrincat was traded to his hometown team, where he immediately becomes their best goal-scorer and a crucial part of the Red Wings' rebuild. DeBrincat is a two-time 40-goal scorer and has averaged 38 goals and 38 assists (76 points) per 82-games over the last three seasons.

Thomas had five goals, three assists, and a eight PIMs through 13 injury filled games with Ontario (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV to stay in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old forward was Los Angeles 2018 second-round pick (51st overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Lind had 30 goals, 32 assists, 91 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 72 games with Coachella Valley (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with Seattle. The 24-year-old right-winger was a 2017 second-round pick for Vancouver (33rd overall) and has two goals and eight points across 30 career NHL games with both Vancouver and Seattle.

Lethemon had a 18-1-3 record, 1.99 GAA and .930 SV% with a the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) and has agreed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 AAV with Detroit. The 26-year-old netminder was originally signed as an undrafted Free Agent in 2020-21 after finishing four years at Michigan State University (NCAA) and has yet to make his NHL debut having jumped back and forth from the AHL and ECHL.

Smith failed to pick up a point through four games in 2022-23 with Arizona but had four PIMs and two SOG and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV. The 24-year-old centre was acquired as part of the trade that included Bryan Little's salary dump in 2022 and has two goals and two assists in 14 NHL games throughout his career.

Cristall had 29 goals, 56 assists, 50 PIMs and a +18 plus/minus through 54 games with Kelowna (WHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Washington. The 18-year-old left-winger was drafted in the second-round of the 2023 NHL draft (40th overall) and is expected to return to junior for the 2023-24 season.

Johnsson had three assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 13 games with both New Jersey and San Jose in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $800,000 AAV contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 28-year-old left-winger will be hoping for a resurgent season in the NHL after spending most of 2022-23 in the minors (AHL). He joins Pittsburgh with 48 goals and 116 points across 259 career NHL games with Toronto, New Jersey and San Jose across six seasons.

Hinostroza had two goals, nine assists, 38 SOG, six PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 26 games played with Buffalo in 2022-23 and has singed a one-year, $775,000 AAV contract with Pittsburgh. The 29-year-old centre will be joining his fifth NHL team and has 53 goals, 95 assists and 99 PIMs across 360 games played through eight season.

Borgan has three goals, 17 assists, 76 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 82 games played with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.4 million extension ($2,700,000 AAV) with Seattle. The 26-year-old defensemen broke out in 2022-23 after playing only 50 NHL games prior to the start of the season.

Bjornfot had an assist, 10 SOG, six PIMs and a +1 plus/miinus through 10 games with Los Angeles in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) with Los Angeles. The 22-year-old defenseman was Los Angeles first-round pick in 2019 (22nd overall) and has a goal, 15 points, 93 SOG and a 26 PIMs across 116 career NHL games through four season with the Kings.

Bellemare had four goals, nine assists, 51 SOG, 34 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 73 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23 and has been signed to a one-year, $775,000 AAV contract with Seattle. The 38-year-old French left-winger has 60 goals and 131 points across 660 career NHL games played.

Maillet had 22 goals, 31 assists, 18 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 66 games with Metallurg (KHL) in Russia and has signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 AAV. The 30-year-old centre was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2016-16 from the University of New Brunswick (USports) and has no points in two career NHL games played.

Keeper had a goal, five assists, and 35 PIMs across 35 games with Abbotsford (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two way deal worth $775,000 AAV with Montreal. The 27-year-old defenseman has played in two career NHL games but has yet to pick up a point or PIM.