McLeod was the No.12 overall pick in 2016 and impressed in his first full NHL season in 2021. The 23-year-old centre scored nine goals with six assists (15 points) in 52 games. Combined with Miles Wood, the duo formed a strong bottom-6 line for the Devils and he will be a regular for them in that role again in 2021-22.
The Panthers claimed Forsling off of waivers from the Hurricanes in early January and posted career-highs in goals (5) and assists (12) in just 43 games in 2021. Forsling figures to be part of the regular blueline rotation for Florida in 2021-22.
Yandle had two years left on a seven-year contract that carried a $6.35M AAV cap-hit. Buying out his contract will save the Panthers just over $4.0M in cap-space in 2021-22, $958.3K in 2022-23 and cost them $1.242M in 2024 and 2025 (per PuckPedia). The 34-year-old defenseman has not missed a regular-season game since 2009 and sits second on the all-time Consecutive Games Played in NHL History list at 922 games.
Belzile had another strong AHL campaign in 2021, scoring four goals with 10 assists (14 points) in 17 games with Laval. He's an AHL veteran with just two games of NHL experience, so expect the 29-year-old to remain with Laval to start the 2021-22 season.
Blueger missed 13 games with an upper-body injury in the shortened 2021 season but still managed to tie his career-best of 22 points (7G / 15A). With Blueger re-signed, the Penguins only need to sign RFA Zach Aston-Reese to bring back one of the best bottom-6 lines in the NHL (Tanev - Blueger - Aston-Reese).
Carlo struggled with injuries during the 2021 campaign, missing 29 of the 56 games and finishing with just three goals and one assist. Still, he's an integral part of the Bruins' top-4 moving forward and they made a lengthy commitment to the 24-year-old.
Wells was a fifth-round pick of the Oilers in 2016 and went 0-4-1 with a 3.77 GAA and .878 SV% in seven AHL starts in 2021. Wells is an RFA but if he's tendered to his qualifying offer in the next week, the Hurricanes would then meet the exposure requirements for the Seattle Expansion Draft.
White was selected in the fourth-round (No. 97 overall) in 2015 but has appeared in just 11 NHL games since, including two in 2021. White spent most of the season with Binghamton (AHL), where he had one goal and six assists. Look for him to start the 2021-22 season in the AHL once again.
Miller broke his kneecap in 2019 and has battled other injuries in the years since, appearing in just 28 games in 2021. "Although my spirit for the game is there, unfortunately my body isn't,'' Miller wrote in his retirement announcement. He retires at the age of 33 with 71 points (13G / 58A) in 352 career games with the Bruins.
Carrick was traded to the Ducks in January and scored one goal with 11 assists (12 points) in 39 games with San Diego (AHL). The 27-year-old was re-signed along with his brother on Tuesday and the two are likely to start 2022 in the AHL.
In his first season in the Ducks' organization, Lettieri had 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points) in 22 AHL games. He was held pointless in five NHL games and will likely report to San Diego (AHL) to start the 2022 campaign.
Carrick split the 2021 campaign between the AHL and NHL, finishing with six points (2G / 4A) in 13 games with the Ducks. He finished sixth among San Diego (AHL) skaters in points-per-game, scoring 14 goals with 10 assists (24 points) in 27 games (0.889 Pts/gm).
Korenar started the 2021 season in the Czech Extraliga before moving to North America and splitting his season between the AHL and NHL. The 23-year-old went 5-1-2 with a 3.22 GAA and .898 SV% in eight AHL starts and 3-5-0 with a 3.17 GAA and .899 SV% in 10 games with the Sharks. Korenar will compete with Alexei Melnichuk for the Sharks' backup job in 2021-22.
The Wild signed Suter to a 13-year, $98M contract in 2012 and bought out the final four years on Tuesday. Suter will count against the Wild's cap until 2028-29, carrying a $2.372M cap-hit in 2021-22.
The Wild signed Parise to a 13-year, $98M contract in 2012 and bought out the final four years on Tuesday. Parise will count against the Wild's cap until 2028-29, carrying a $2.372M cap-hit in 2021-22.
Rinne spent all 15 years with the Nashville Predators, going 369-213-75 with a 2.43 GAA, .917 SV% and 60 shutouts. Rinne was a two-time All Star and won the Vezina Trophy in 2017-18. Rinne took a backseat to Juuse Saros in 2021, starting just 21 games and finishing the season at 10-12-1 with a 2.84 GAA and .907 SV%.
Soderlund was a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2017 and came to North America in 2020. In his first two seasons with Rockford (AHL), the 23-year-old centre has scored one goal with seven assists (eight points) in 52 games. Soderlund will most likely report to Bakersfield (AHL) in 2021-22.
Jones is entering the final year of a two-year deal that carries an $850K cap-hit. After showing flashes of a potential top-4 defenseman in 2020, Jones was in and out of the Oilers lineup in 2021, finishing the season with just four assists in 33 games. This deal sheds nearly $4.7M in cap-space for the Blackhawks and could be something that helps them pursue Caleb's brother, Seth, in the offseason.
Keith waived his no-trade clause to facilitate a deal to Edmonton, where he will replace Jones on the left-side of their blueline. Keith, who will turn 38-years-old in a few days, has two more years left on a contract that carries a $5.539M AAV cap-hit. The two-time Norris Trophy winner was last nominated for the award in 2017 and is coming off of a season where he scored four goals with 11 assists (15 points) in 54 games with Chicago. He brings a stabilizing veteran presence to the Oilers top-4 and a Championship pedigree to a team that has struggled in the postseason.
