NHL Hockey Player News

Hunt will remain a member of the Minnesota Wild for a fourth NHL season after it was announced Sunday that the 24-year-old had signed a one-year extension worth $900,000 AAV. Hunt should play a key role providing Minnesota's defence with some depth after appearing in 32 regular season games and 5 playoff games for the Wild last season.

Gustafsson has been unable to establish himself as a full-time NHLer and will hope a change of scenery, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins, can inspire some confidence and more consistent play. The 26-year-old forward has played 149 career NHL games, all with the Winnipeg Jets, but he spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 32 points (10G / 22A) in 48 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Blomqvist has impressed at the AHL level the past few seasons and has earned himself a two-year contract extension with the Penguins' organization. The 24-year-old Swedish goalie, a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, posted a 2.40 GAA and .913 SV% in 26 games (16-5-4) last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).

Silovs made his mark with Pittsburgh last season, including an impressive, albeit short, playoff stint, proving he can handle an increased workload in the crease, earning himself a one-year extension worth $2.8 million. The 25-year-old Latvian goalie posted a 3.07 GAA and .887 SV% last season in 39 games (19-12-8) with Pittsburgh. With the offseason departure of Stuart Skinner, Silovs will have a chance to earn an even larger workload between the pipes in 2026-27.

Chinakhov was drafted 21st overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft but never lived up to expectations with the team. The Penguins made a deal to acquire Chinakhov from Columbus in December of last year; he immediately thrived with his new team. The 25-year-old Russian forward played 48 games with Pittsburgh, scoring 36 points (18G / 18A), earning himself a sizeable three-year contract extension.

With the recent offer-sheet signing by Leo Carlsson, Anaheim is on high alert and has decided to bypass another looming threat by signing Mintyukov to a massive, five-year, $36 million contract ($7.2M AAV). The 22-year-old Russian defenseman, about to enter his fourth NHL season, recorded 22 points (8G / 14A), 112 blocks, and 39 hits in 73 games in the 2025-26 season with Anaheim.

Stastney split the 2025-26 season, starting it with the Nashville Predators, the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, before joining the Edmonton Oilers. The 26-year-old American defenseman made a lasting impact in his brief stint with the Oilers, earning a one-year contract extension worth $1.525 million. He played 36 games in 2025-26 with the Oilers, averaging 16:02 time on ice and recording 1 goal and 38 blocks.

After two incredibly impressive seasons with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), Jacob MacDonald has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Washington Capitals. The 33-year-old joins his fourth NHL organization after appearing in 135 career NHL games, picking up 10 goals and 27 points. The defensemen will be expected to be a key part Hershey (AHL) after scoring 31 goals just two seasons ago with the Eagles.

Stillman spent the 2025-26 season with the Canucks' organization, where he spent the entire season in the AHL. The 23-year-old winger had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 24 games with Abbotsford. He'll almost certainly start the 2026-27 season in Grand Rapids (AHL).

Tverberg will remain a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for a fourth straight season after the forward signed a one-year, two-way contract on Sunday. The 24-year-old was Toronto's 2020 7th round pick (213th overall) and appeared in two games with the Maple Leafs last season after putting up 15 goals and 36 points with the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

Colorado has added to their minor league defensive depth on Sunday after they announced they had signed Christian Wolanin to a one-year, two-way contract. The 31-year-old journeyman defender joins his 7th NHL organization after spending 2025-26 with Providence (AHL), where he had seven goals and 31 points in 53 games played. He last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in 2022-23.