NHL Hockey Player News

Hedman is heading into his final year of a five-year, $20 million dollar deal, but was extended through the 2024-25 season. The former second overall pick is coming off of another great season, where he scored double-digit goals (10) for the third straight season and posted 40-plus points (47) for the second time in his career. He has developed into one of the top defensemen in the NHL and now he is getting paid like one.

Irwin, 28, was a player with 153 games of NHL experience heading into last season, but he was never able to maintain a roster spot with the Bruins, spending 64 games with Providence (AHL). During his season with Providence, Irwin collected 30 points (5G / 25A) but will likely start 2016-17 with Milwaukee (AHL).

Bennett’s rights were acquired from the Penguins at the NHL draft and the Devils were successful in signing him to a one-year, “show me” contract. Bennett is a former first round pick, who has had a terrible time trying to stay healthy during his NHL career. He missed 49 games last year and 33 the year prior, but has shown flashes of a potential top-6 forward when he has managed to be on the ice.

Grabner, 28, is a former 30-goal scorer (34 in 2010-11) but has struggled for the last four seasons, especially in Toronto in 2015-16, where he tallied 18 points (9G / 9A) in 80 games. The Rangers top-6 is pretty much set in stone, so Grabner will bring some speed to their bottom-6 as he hopes to regain his scoring touch.

Marchessault, 25, split his 2015-16 campaign between the NHL and AHL. The 5-foot-9 forward had nine points (6G / 3A) in 11 games with Syracuse and 18 points (7G / 11A) in 45 games with the Lightning. Marchessault will fight for a spot on the Panthers’ opening night roster in training camp this Fall.

Sceviour, 27, has been with the Stars since he was drafted 112th overall in 2007. During that time he has amassed 62 points (28G / 34A) in 170 career NHL games and he’ll bring that experience to the Panthers’ bottom-6 in 2016-17.

Merrill, 24, has spent the last three years with the Devils and with this signing will be with them for at least two more seasons. He is coming off of a disappointing year, having totalled just five points (1G / 4A) in 47 games, giving him 30 points (5G / 25A) in 165 career NHL games.

Zatkoff, 29, was originally drafted by the Kings back in 2006, but never made it to the NHL despite appearing in 114 games with the Kings AHL affiliate. He spent the last four years with the Penguins organization, where he appeared in 35 NHL games and 86 AHL contests. He is 16-14-3 with a 2.66 GAA and .915 SV% in his NHL career and now returns to the team that drafted him ready to serve as Jonathan Quick’s backup.

Hamhuis, 33, was heavily rumoured to the Stars at last season’s trade deadline, but he really wanted to stay in Vancouver and finish out the season. He had 13 points (3G / 10A) in 58 games with the Canucks and now lands in Dallas after all. The big loser in this signing is the Canucks, who lose him for nothing. The Stars lost both Kris Russell and Jason Demers in free agency, so Hamhuis comes in and fills that second-pairing defenseman void.

Radulov, 29, is mercurial character to say the least. He has not appeared in the NHL since 2011-12, when he abruptly left the Predators for the KHL. He spent the last five years in Russia, including the last four with CSKA Moscow. He had 23 goals and 42 assists (65 points) in 53 games last year and totalled 238 points (78G / 160A) in 181 games over that four-year span. He is a firecracker, but if he acts like a team player in Montreal, they may have just struck gold. There’s no denying the high-risk of this move though.

Matthias, 28, split his time between the Maple Leafs and the Avalanche last year. He had 17 points (6G / 11A) in 51 games with Toronto before being traded to Colorado, where he added an additional 11 points (6G / 5A) in 20 games. The Jets are relatively thin upfront, so Matthias could land himself a top-6 gig.

Fiddler, 36, is in the twilight of his NHL career, but is coming off of a decent offensive season for a 4th line centre—he had 12 goals and 10 assists (22 points) in 82 games with the Stars and should be expected to be between 20-30 points again in 2016-17 with the Devils.

Hutton, 30, has been a solid backup in Nashville for the last three years and now moves to St. Louis where he will serve as Jake Allen’s No. 2. He was 7-5-3 with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV% in 17 games with the Predators last season and carries a career 2.56 GAA and .910 SV%.

Clendening, 23, split his time between the Penguins and Oilers organizations last year. He had one goal and six assists in 29 NHL games and three assists in six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). He was signed to add some organizational depth to the Rangers blueline. He’ll be given a chance to crack the opening night roster in training camp, but will likely start in the AHL.

Schlemko, 29, has turned into one of the NHL’s most underrated and under-appreciated defensemen, but the Sharks finally showed him some love, signing him to a four-year deal worth $2.1 million annually. He is coming off of a six goals and 13 assists (19 points) in 67 games with the Devils.

Dahlbeck, 24, spent the majority of 2015-16 with the Coyotes, where he collected eight points (2G / 6A) in 71 games. The former third round pick (79th overall in 2011) has just 12 career points (3G / 9A) in 94 games between Arizona and Chicago.

Weise, 27, spent his time with the Canadiens and Blackhawks in 2015-16, totalling 14 goals and 13 assists (27 points) in 71 games. He struggled in a smaller role after being acquired by the Blackhawks, picking up just a single assist in 15 games. He is a solid top-9 forward who can play physically as well as pack a bit of an offensive punch for the Flyers in 2016-17.

Liles, 35, racked up six assists in 17 games with the Bruins after he was brought in from Carolina at the Trade Deadline. Liles is a solid offensive-defenseman who brings some offensive-punch and experience to the Bruins’ third-pairing. Overall, he had six goals and 15 assists (21 points) in 81 games last year.

Allen, 25, was 26-15-3 with a 2.35 GAA and .920 SV% in 44 games while splitting time with Brian Elliott in the Blues crease last season. With Elliott now in Calgary, the crease is all Allen’s and he should be an excellent fantasy option behind a strong Blues squad. Allen will get a chance to start around 60 games and he enters 2016-17 with a career 2.34 GAA and .915 SV%.

Lorito, 25, was an undrafted forward who played his first full pro season with Albany (AHL) last season. The 5-foot-9, 170 lbs. winger produced at a high rate, collecting 18 goals and 36 assists (54 points) in 71 games. He will likely start the 2016-17 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.