Fresh off his first career Stanley Cup victory, Nick Cousins has signed a one-year, $800,000 contract to go to the Ottawa Senators. The 31-year-old is impressively entering his 11th NHL season with his seventh different team. In 2023-24, he had seven goals, 15 points, 64 PIMs and 111 SOG in 69 games played with Florida.
According to Latvian General Manager Rudolfs Kalvitis, Arturs Silovs has knee inflammation from overuse during last season and overtraining during the offseason but is expected to be ready to go for Vancouver's training camp. The 23-year-old netminder signed a two-year, $1.7 million contract in the offseason after posting 5-5-0 record in last year's playoffs to go along with his 2.91 GAA and .898 SV% after only appearing in four regular season games in the regular season.
Los Angeles added to its goaltending depth on Sunday after they signed 23-year-old goaltender Erik Portillo to a three-year, entry-level contract. The towering 6'6" netminder was Buffalo's 2019 3rd-round pick (67th overall) and spent 2023-24 dominating the AHL with Ontario, with his 24-11-3 record, 2.50 GAA and .918 SV%.
Burke was acquired by San Jose alongside Yaroslav Askarov, and a 2025 3rd-round pick from Nashville for Magnus Chrona, David Edstrom and a 2025 1st-round pick (VGK - Top 10 protected). Burke is an undrafted rookie who signed in the offseason after a successful season with Atlanta (ECHL) after four years of junior hockey in Sarnia (OHL). The 21-year-old center had five goals, 15 points and 32 PIMs in 2023-24 with Atlanta and is expected to be a depth player for the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) after this trade.
Chrona was acquired by the Predators alongside David Edstrom and a 2025 1st-round pick (VGK - Top 10 protected) from San Jose for Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke and a 2025 3rd-round pick on Friday. The 23-year-old goaltender made his NHL debut in 2023-24 but struggled behind a weak San Jose team with a 1-6-1 record, 4.71 GAA and .859 SV%. He is expected to be the Predators' third goaltender behind Juuse Saros and Scott Wedgewood.
Edstrom was acquired by Nashville alongside Magnus Chrona, and a 2025 1st-round pick (Top 10 protected) from San Jose for Yaroslav Askarov, Nolan Burke and a 2025 3rd-round pick on Friday. The 19-year-old Swedish center was drafted in the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Draft (32nd overall) and has spent his last two seasons in the SHL with Frolunda HC. In 2023-24, he had seven goals and 19 points in 44 games with the Swedish club.
Nearly an hour after being acquired in a large trade with San Jose, Yaroslav Askarov has signed a two-year, $4 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) that will kick in after the 2024-25 season once his $925,000 contract comes to an end. The 22-year-old goaltender was Nashville's 2020 1st-round pick (11th overall) and had a strong 30-13-1 record, 2.39 GAA and .911 SV% with Milwaukee (AHL) last season.
The Askarov trade sweepstakes finally ended on Friday as San Jose acquired the goaltender alongside Nolan Burke and a 2025 3rd-round pick from Nashville for David Edstrom, a 2025 1st-round pick (VGK- Top 10 protected) and Magnus Chrona. The 22-year-old goaltender was Nashville's 2020 1st-round pick (11th overall) and had an impressive 30-13-1 record, 2.39 GAA and .911 SV% with Milwaukee (AHL) last season.
Hours after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in a one-for-one deal for Brayden Yager, Rutger McGroarty has signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and had excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with the Michigan Wolverines.
When Rutger McGroarty announced he would be returning to Michigan (NCAA) this upcoming April he handcuffed Winnipeg which has led to them trading his rights to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager. Yager was Pittsburgh's 2023 1st round pick (14th overall) and has already signed his three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old is expected to return to Moose Jaw for the 2024-25 season where he had 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games played in 2023-24.
McGroarty had announced in April that he was planning on returning to Michigan (NCAA) for the 2024-25 season but has been dealt from Winnipeg to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager and is now expected to sign his entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and has excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with Michigan.
Toronto added to its forward depth on Wednesday as they signed 24-year-old undrafted forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 6'0" centre has appeared in seven NHL games for the Maple Leafs in the last three seasons but spent the vast majority of his time with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) since joining from Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2021-22. Steeves had an impressive AHL campaign in 2023-24 with 27 goals, 57 points and 26 PIMs in 65 games played.
Weeks after signing fellow 2021 1st-round pick (5th overall) Kent Johnson, Columbus has also agreed to signed Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV). The 21-year-old was drafted 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and has faced his share of up-and downs since joining the NHL as an 18-year-old in 2021-22. In 77 games in 2023-24 he had 13 goals, 32 points, 46 PIMs and 157 SOG while averaging 16:07 TOI/GP.
Seattle has locked up 2022-23 Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers to a seven-year, $49.98 million contract extension ($7,140,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 21-year-old centre was Seattle's inaugural draft pick when he went 2nd overall in 2021 from the University of Michigan (NCAA). In 77 games in 2023-24, the 6'2" American had 15 goals, 37 points, 133 SOG and a -11 plus/minus.
Johansen did not play a game after being traded to Philadelphia at last year's trade deadline and it is believed his contract is being terminated by Philadelphia for hip injury-related reasons. The 32-year-old was set to have a cap hit of $4 million for the 2024-25 season and will have up to 60 days to appeal the Flyers decision if he desires. In 63 games with Colorado in 2023-24 the 32-year-old had 13 goals, 23 points, 34 PIMs and 78 SOG.
Edmonton and St.Louis continued to make news on Tuesday as they made a minor deal involving Paul Fischer and a 2028 3rd-round pick heading from St. Louis to Edmonton for future considerations. The 19-year-old Fischer was St. Louis' 2023 5th-round pick (138th overall) and had spent his freshman season with the University of Notre Dame (NCAA) where he had two goals and 16 points in 34 games played.
The Edmonton Oilers will not match St. Louis' offer sheet to restricted free agent Philip Broberg which means the 23-year-old has signed a two-year, $9.16 million contract with the Blues. Due to the signing, Edmonton has been compensated a 2025 2nd-round pick. In 12 games with Edmonton in 2023-24, Broberg had two assists, six SOG, and a -3 plus/minus while averaging only 11:37 TOI/GP.
Alongside Philip Broberg, Edmonton has decided to not match the two-year, $4.58 million offer sheet St.Louis presented to Dylan Holloway and will therefore lose the 22-year-old forward for a 2025 3rd-round pick. Holloway was Edmonton's 2020 1st round pick (14th overall) and had six goals, nine points and 29 PIMs in 38 games played in 2023-24.
Patrik Laine's offseason saga comes to an end after he was traded to Montreal on Monday alongside a 2026 2nd-round pick for Jordan Harris. Harris heads to Columbus after three strong seasons in Montreal and has eight goals and 32 points in 131 career games played. The 24-year-old was Montreal's 2018 3rd-round pick (71st overall).
Laine's well-documented time in Columbus has come to an end after he was traded to Montreal alongside a 2026 3rd-round pick for Jordan Harris. The 26-year-old only appeared in 18 games in 2023-24 after a clavicle injury and trip to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program took his season from him. The 26-year-old has not surpassed 60 points since 2019-20 and is far from his 19-year-old self who had 44 goals and 70 points in 82 games played. He is expected to join Montreal's top-six for the start of the 2024-25 season.
