NHL Hockey Player News

Hallander was originally a second-round pick of the Penguins but was traded to the Maple Leafs as a part of the Kasperi Kapanen trade last summer. With the Expansion Draft looming, the Penguins were likely to lose Jared McCann for nothing, so this trade at least brings Hallander back to the organization. The 21-year-old had 13 goals and 11 assists (24 points) in 51 game with Lulea HF (SHL) in 2021.

The Penguins were likely going to lose McCann for nothing in the Expansion Draft, so this trade brings Filip Hallander back to the organization after losing him in the Kasperi Kapanen trade. For the Maple Leafs, they will expose McCann and will likely lose him or Alexander Kerfoot. Either way, they are left with a third-line centre in the organization.

Dickinson is a pending RFA and the Stars were likely worried about losing him for nothing in the Expansion Draft, so they get a third-round pick in return by sending him to Vancouver. Dickinson has averaged 10 goals and 16 assists (26 points) per 82-games over the last three seasons. The Canucks have protected Dickinson in the Expansion Draft.

Claesson has bounced around the NHL in recent years, playing 112 games for five teams over the last four years. The Lightning need some cheap, depth contracts, so they re-signed Claesson to be a seventh/eighth defenseman on their roster.

Hill was a third-round pick in 2015 and has turned into a pretty solid NHL goalie. With Antti Raanta hurt almost all the time, Hill was given plenty of opportunities. In 2021-22, Hill was 9-9-1 with a 2.74 GAA and .913 SV% in 19 games. Overall, he is 19-21-4 with a 2.79 GAA and .909 SV% in his first 49 NHL games and will battle with Martin Jones for the No.1 job in San Jose.

Korenar just signed a one-year, $750K deal with the Sharks but was traded a few days later. Korenar was able to show what he could do at the NHL level in the latter stages of the season, going 3-5-0 with a 3.17 GAA and .899 SV% in 10 games. In Arizona, Korenar has a chance to be the backup in 2021-22, depending on what happens with the Expansion Draft and/or other trades.

Volkov was traded to the Ducks last March, finishing the 2021 season with seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 37 games between Tampa Bay and Anaheim. The 23-year-old is poised for a middle-6 spot with the Ducks to start 2021-22.

Woll was a third-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. The 23-year-old struggled in 2020-21, going 7-7-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .892 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies. Woll will almost certainly open the 2021-22 season in the AHL.

After three years in the NHL, Heiskanen ranks 33rd among blueliners with 95 points (28G / 67A) in 205 games. His raise will make him the sixth-highest paid defenseman (as of now) in 2021-22 with an $8.45M AAV cap-hit. Heiskanen is an absolute workhorse for the Stars, ranking ninth in the NHL in TOI/gm (24:58) last season.

Panik was dealt to Detroit as a part of the Anthony Mantha trade at least year's deadline and had one goal and three assists in 12 games with the Red Wings. Panik has two years remaining at $2.75M AAV but the Red Wings are eating 50 percent of the deal, so the Islanders have Panik at $1.375M AAV and gain $4.125M in cap space in this deal.

Leddy is entering the final year of a seven-year contract that carries a $5.5M AAV cap-hit. The 30-year-old is still a serviceable top-4 defenseman that will help bridge the gap to some of the Red Wings younger prospects who may still be a year away. Detroit will also look to flip him at next year's trade deadline to try and recoup some of the draft capital lost in this trade.

Maltsev was a fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2016 and appeared in 33 games with them in 2021. The 23-year-old winger had nine points (6G / 3A) with the Devils and has picked up 12 goals with 10 assists (22 points) in his first 50 AHL games. Given the depth of the Avalanche roster, Maltsev seems likely to start 2021-22 in the AHL.

Graves being dealt is a product of the Seattle Expansion Draft and New Jersey lands a solid top-4 defenseman that should fit in well with their emerging young blueline. Graves, who has two years left at $3.17M AAV, had two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 54 games with the Avalanche in 2021.

Gambrell was a second-round pick of the Sharks in 2016 and has turned into a decent bottom-6 option for them over the last two season. He has compiled 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 99 games over that stretch and will likely centre the third or fourth line when 2021-22 starts.

After a disappointing year in Boston, Ritchie landed in Calgary last year and had just eight points (4G / 4A) in 32 games but saw more regular playing time. However, hee will be a fringe roster player for the Flames entering the 2021-22 season.

Smith appeared in one game with the Predators last season, spending almost all of the season in Chicago (AHL), where he had five goals and five assists in 23 games. Look for Smith to report to the AHL to open the 2021-22 campaign.

Duclair signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last year and enjoyed a really nice season, posting 32 points (10G / 22A) in 43 games. It was good enough to earn him a three-year deal and a $1.3M AAV raise to be a member of the Panthers' top-9.