NHL Hockey Player News

Alzner spent the first nine years of his NHL career in Washington after the Capitals made him the No.5 overall pick in 2007. Alzner is a solid two-way defenseman that is capable of playing heavy minutes against the other team’s best and posting modest offensive numbers. Alzner has not missed a game in seven seasons and has averaged three goals and 14 assists (17 points) per 82 games over that stretch. Alzner could see regular time next to Shea Weber as the Habs’ No.1 pairing.

After four and a half years in Philadelphia, Mason is on his way to Winnipeg. Like most goalies, he can be volatile from year to year and was 26-21-8 with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 58 games with the Flyers a season ago. With Ondrej Pavelec now in New York, Mason will likely share the crease with Connor Hellebuyck to start the 2017-18 season and they’ll go from there.

Kulikov broke into the NHL with a bang, but has struggled in recent years, culminating in him being traded to Buffalo last summer and him only posting five points (2G / 3A) in 47 games with the Sabres. Still only 26-years-old, the Jets obviously see something they like in the former No.14 overall pick (2009). Kulikov will be leaned on as a No.4/No.5 defenseman in Winnipeg, which should help him in the defensive aspect of the game.

Boyle was with the Lightning since the 2015 season before being dealt to the Maple Leafs at last year’s deadline. Boyle finished the campaign with 13 goals and 12 assists (25 points) in a combined 75 games, but just three assists in 21 games in Toronto. Boyle is a solid bottom-6 forward that is solid on the face-off dot, winning over 50 percent for his career.

Pavelec has been with the Jets’ organization since he was drafted No.41 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005. His game started to slip the last few years, leading to him starting the 2016-17 season in the AHL. He ended up making it to Winnipeg and appeared in eight games, going 4-4-0 with a 3.55 GAA and .888 SV%. Despite a few rough seasons in a row, the Rangers have had a lot of success with backups over the years, making it possible the Pavelec could be a serviceable handcuff to Henrik Lundqvist in 2017-18.

The Canucks let Ryan Miller walk in free agency, so Anders Nilsson has been brought in to serve as Jacob Markstrom’s backup. The 27-year-old netminder appeared in 26 games with the Sabres a season ago, going 10-10-4 with a 2.67 GAA and .923 SV%.

Johnson was brought into Calgary last season to be Brian Elliott’s backup, but ended playing a more important role than originally thought. Johnson went 18-15-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% in 36 games and will return to Buffalo to serve as the primary backup to Robin Lehner. The Sabres No.1 has had a tough time staying in the crease, so Johnson could be in line for 30-plus starts again in 2017-18.

Del Zotto is not the best defenseman in his own end, but posts solid offensive totals. The 27-year-old had six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 51 games last season and missed a total of 79 games due to injury over three years in Philadelphia. Del Zotto has had a hard time staying healthy, but can be a useful Fantasy piece when he’s on the ice.

After spending two years in Dallas, Sharp hit the open market and returns to Chicago on a value deal. Sharp’s production dropped off with the Stars, only scoring 28 goals in 124 games in two seasons. Back with the Blackhawks, he should see regular time in their top-6 with Marian Hossa sidelined for the season.

Girardi’s production started to slip in recent years, leading to the Rangers buying him out this spring. Girardi will likely play a lesser role in Tampa Bay, which will be better suited for the 33-year-old defenseman, who was leaned on heavily in New York. Girardi has failed to top 20 points in three of the last four seasons.

Elliott was acquired by the Flames last season to serve as their No.1 netminder after years of success in St. Louis. It didn’t go as planned with Elliott posting a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 49 starts, leading the Calgary trading for Mike Smith this offseason and letting Elliott walk. He heads to Philadelphia where he will likely share the crease with Michal Neuvirth.

Gagner, 27, resurrected his NHL career one a one-year deal in Columbus, scoring 18 goals with 32 assists (50 points) in 81 games. He did extensive damage on the power-play, scoring eight goals and 10 assists with the man-advantage. He will bring a much-needed scorer’s touch to the Canucks bottom-6.

After three tough years in Toronto, Bernier bounced back as John Gibson’s backup in Anaheim last season. Bernier was 21-7-4 with a 2.51 GAA and .915 SV% in 38 games with the Ducks and will serve as the oft-injured Semyon Varlamov’s backup this season.

Daley, 33, is a strong skater that will add some speed to the Red Wings’ blueline and help their power-play in 2017-18. Daley won’t put up crazy point totals, but dud score 16 goals in 2014-15 and is coming off of a season where he had 19 points (5G / 14A) in 56 games with the Penguins.

Sparks, 24, appeared in 17 NHL games with the Maple Leafs in 2015-16, but failed to make it past the AHL last season. Sparks went 21-9-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .922 SV% in 31 games with the Marlies and was 1-1-0 in two playoff starts.

After spending three and a half years in Columbus, McElhinney was traded to the Maple Leafs last season and went 6-7-0 with a 2.85 GAA and .914 SV% in 14 appearances. McElhinney will return to the Leafs where he will serve as the primary backup to Frederik Andersen.

Murphy was in the final season of a two-year contract that carried a $787.5K cap-hit and his buyout will save the Flames $687.5K against the cap this season. Murphy was recently acquired from the Hurricanes as a part of the Eddie Lack trade, but will now hit free agency on Saturday.

Bouma, 27, was set to enter his final season of a three-year deal that carried a $2.2M cap hit. Bouma’s buyout will save the Flames $1.53M against the cap in 2017-18. The hard-hitting winger had just seven points (3G / 4A) in 61 gams last season nd just 67 points (27G / 40A) in 304 career NHL games.

Stuart was entering his final season of a four-year deal that carried a $2.625M cap hit. Stuart’s buyout will save the Jets $1.2M against the cap next season. This was a longtime coming for Stuart, who suited up for just 42 games last season and has collected just three goals and four assists (seven points) in a combined 106 games over the last two seasons.

Hayes was entering the final year of a three-year deal that carried a $2.3M cap hit. His buyout will save the Bruins $1.73M against the cap this season and officially leaves the Bruins with zero pieces of their Tyler Seguin trade. After posting 29 points (13G / 16A) in 75 games in his first season in Boston, Hayes was terrible last season, recording just five points (2G / 3A) in 58 games.