Chelios, 26, has not played in an NHL games since turning pro in 2013-14. Chelios has posted strong numbers with Charlotte (AHL) over the last two seasons, scoring 11 goals and 52 assists (63 points) in a combined 149 games.
Brown spent the majority of 2016-17 with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), where he had 12 goals and 16 assists (28 points) in 66 games. The 25-year-old also skated in 14 NHL games and has now recorded two points (1G / 1A) in 28 career NHL games.
Alt, 25, was a second round pick (No.53) in 2010 but has appeared in just one NHL game since. The 6-foot-4, 201 lbs. defenseman had 11 points (1G / 10A) in 40 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) a season ago.
Connolly set a new career-high in goals in his first season with the Capitals, scoring 15 goals with eight assists (23 points) in 66 games. Connolly always has strong underlying numbers, but rarely sees enough ice-time to be a big factor offensively.
Methot is a solid depth defeseman, but has limited offensive upside. In 2016-17, the 32-year-old had 12 assists in 68 games and has not topped 20 points in the last three seasons. Methot joins a Stars’ blueline that is crowded with young defensemen.
Olofsson spent the majority of last year in Iowa (AHL), where he amassed 24 points (6G / 18A) in 59 games. Olofosson has good size (6-foot-3 / 197 lbs) and his offensive game is improving, making him an up-and-coming two-way defenseman. This is a one-year deal and with the Wild cutting ties with Christian Folin, Olofsson will likely be in Minnesota from Day 1 this year.
After years of failing to land a permanent in Detroit, Jurco was acquired by the Blackhawks for a third round pick in February and posted just one goal in 13 games. Jurco has been over a point-per-game player at the AHL level in his last three seasons there, but can’t seem to land a solid NHL role.
Forsberg was acquired from Columbus as a part of the Panarin-Saad trade last week and was a restricted free agent. The 24-year-old was 27-17-2 with a 2.28 GAA, .926 SV% and four shutouts in 51 games with Cleveland (AHL) last season. With Scott Darling now in Carolina, Forsberg is expected to be Corey Crawford’s backup this season. However, the Swedish netminder has an ugly 4.02 GAA and .879 SV% in just 10 career NHL games.
Fedun, 29, split his 2016-17 season between the AHL and NHL, so he gets another two-way deal. Fedun had seven assists in 27 games with the Sabres and added 23 points (5G / 18A) in 29 games with Rochester. Fedun will likely start the 2017-18 season in the AHL or as the Sabres’ No.7 defenseman.
After spending two years in Switzerland, Pyatt returned to the NHL last year and registered 23 points (9G / 14A) while appearing in all 82 games for the Senators. The 30-year-old also added two goals in 14 playoff games and is signed with the Senators through the 2018-19 season.
It seems like forever ago that Kassian was selected No.13 overall and after a few tough seasons and stops in Buffalo, Vancouver and Montreal, Kassian seems to have found a home in Edmonton. In his second season with the Oilers, the power-forward had 23 points (7G / 17A) in 79 games and added three more goals in 13 playoff games.
Shortly after they announced that they will be buying out goalie Antti Niemi, the Stars used some of that cap-space to lock up Lindell for the next two years. The 23-year-old defenseman had 18 points (6G / 12A) in 73 games in his first full NHL season—a year after he had 42 points (14G / 28A) in 73 AHL games. He has a healthy amount of offensive upside and should factor into fantasy circles in 2017-18.
Gourde, 25, had eight points (6G / 2A) in 20 games with the Lightning this season and had 48 points (22G / 26A) in 56 games while with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL). Gourde’s new deal is a one-way deal, so the undersized winger will likely start the year in Tampa Bay.
After acquiring Ben Bishop from the Kings, the Stars were going to move or buyout Niemi or Kari Lehtonen. Niemi was set to enter the final year of his contract that carried a $4.5M cap-hit, but the buyout will cost the Stars $1.5M against the cap for the next two seasons. The veteran netminder struggled a season ago, posting a 3.30 GAA and .892 SV% in 37 games.
Sustr registered three goals and 11 assists (14 points) while averaging 17:35 TOI/GM in 80 games this season. The towering defenseman is a solid third-pairing defenseman who isn’t asked to do too much and will be around in Tampa Bay for at least another season.
Carrick, 22, was a fourth round pick in 2012 and never made it to the NHL in 2016-17. The Canadian blueliner had 16 points (4G / 12A) in 57 games with Charlotte (AHL) and will have a tough time cracking a talented blueline in Carolina.
At 30-years-old Ryan came out of nowhere in 2016-17. After being in Europe for four years, Ryan signed with the Hurricanes in 2015-16 and posted 55 points (23G / 32A) in 70 AHL games. He enjoyed more AHL success early last year before being called up and registering 29 points (11G / 18A) in 67 NHL games. Ryan carries strong possession numbers and should be a quality depth centre for the Hurricanes in 2017-18.
Holzer has been a serviceable seventh defenseman for the Ducks for the last two seasons, posting a combined 10 points (2G / 8A) in a total of 61 games. Holzer won’t make any fantasy splash as he doesn’t see regular playing time on a talented Ducks’ blueline.
Hamonic’s name has been swirling on trade fronts for over a year, but the Islanders finally pulled the trigger on the draft floor on Saturday. Hamonic dealt with some injuries in 2016-17, but posted 14 points (3G / 11A) in the 49 games he was able to dress for. Hamonic has good size (6-foot-2/205lbs) and is a solid two-way defenseman who is both physical in his own end while possessing a big point shot at the other. The Flames are following the Predators’ model by stacking their blueline as Hamonic joins Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton and TJ Brodie as the Flames’ big-4.
Andreoff enjoyed moderate success in 2015-16, posting 10 points (8G / 2A) in 60 games with the Kings, but struggled to find regular playing time in 2016-17, failing to score a goal while posting two assists in 36 contests. Andreoff is a serviceable fourth-line centre as he won 59.4% of the 69 faceoffs he took a season ago.
