
NHL Hockey Player News


Korczak had a big role on the Vegas Golden Knights' blueline in the 2025-26 season, playing a career-high 78 games and scoring 16 points (3G / 13A). The 25-year-old Korczak is entering the first year of a four-year contract worth $13 million ($3.25M AAV).

Wotherspoon had a breakout 2025-26 season, playing predominantly alongside Erik Karlsson in Pittsburgh, recording 30 points (3G / 27A) and a +17 plus/minus in 80 games. The 28-year-old defenseman spent his first six professional seasons playing exclusively in the AHL before making his NHL debut in 2022-23 with the New York Islanders.

Philp is an undrafted forward that made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers. The 27-year-old was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes midseason in 2025-26, but he only suited up in two games, spending most of his campaign in the AHL, recording 17 points (8G / 9A) in 29 games with the Chicago Wolves.

Masters was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft that has yet to play an NHL game. The 23-year-old defenseman spent the 2025-26 season in the ECHL, where he recorded three assists in 10 games with the Wichita Thunder.

Berggren was acquired mid-season in 2025-26 by the Blues off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings and made enough of an impact with his new team to earn a one-year contract extension. The 25-year-old Swedish forward, the 33rd-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 36 games with the Blues last season.

Cossa was drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and was at times considered the team's goalie of the future after excelling at the AHL level. That said, he was buried until some strong goaltending depth in the organization and will ultimately get a shot with the Utah Mammoth after being acquired in a trade for a first-round pick last week. The 23-year-old goalie had a solid 2.33 GAA and .915 SV% last season in 39 games (26-8-4) with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Grundstrom was a reliable bottom-six forward for the Flyers in the 2025-26 season, earning himself a one-year contract extension. The 28-year-old Swedish forward averaged 11:51 time-on-ice and scored 13 points (9G / 4A) in 47 games last season.

Steeves is an undrafted forward who has yet to play an NHL game and will add some organizational depth to the New Jersey Devils. The 24-year-old had a solid 2025-26 season in the AHL, recording 45 points (23G / 22A) and 100 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Boqvist has been a solid bottom-six forward in recent seasons and will add his talents to the New Jersey Devils in 2026-27. The 27-year-old Swedish forward averaged 11:50 time-on-ice and recorded 13 points (4G / 9A) last season in 73 games with the Florida Panthers. Boqvist has a Devils' draft pick, 36th overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and spent four seasons with the team between 2019 and 2023.

Rodrigues has been a reliable bottom-six forward for the Panthers the past few seasons, moving up the lineup when needed, but will get a fresh start in 2026-27, joining the New Jersey Devils. The 32-year-old forward has scored over 30 points in each of his past five seasons, including a 31-point campaign (11G / 20A) in 2025-26 in 69 games with the Panthers.

Crookshank has spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL and will add some organizational depth to the Florida Panthers' forward group. The 26-year-old scored 36 points (24G / 12A) last season in 60 games with the Utica Comets (AHL).

The Panthers entered the postseason with neither of their goaltenders from the previous season under contract. Now, after acquiring Akira Schmid from the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, they completed their goaltending tandem on Tuesday by acquiring Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils. The 36-year-old Markstrom has struggled with consistency throughout his career and is coming off an unencouraging 2025-26 season, during which he posted a pedestrian 3.07 GAA and .883 SV% in 44 appearances (23-19-1). That said, he will be joining a stronger defensive Florida Panthers team and hopes to return to the form he has had in previous seasons.

Drouin has one year left on his deal that carries a $4.0M cap-hit. According to PuckPedia, Drouin's buy-out will carry a $1.33M cap-hit for 2027 and 2028. Drouin, who had just one goal and two assists (three points) in nine games with the Blues after being acquired in the Brayden Schenn trade, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.

The Panthers entered the postseason with neither of their goaltenders from the previous season under contract, looking to revamp the position, and Schmid was their first acquisition. The 26-year-old Schmid spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Vegas Golden Knights, earning a career-high 34 starts due to numerous injuries above him on the team's goaltending depth chart. That said, he was serviceable when called upon, posting a 2.59 GAA and .893 SV% with a 16-10-6 record.

Avon is an undrafted forward that has spent the past three seasons playing in the AHL. The 22-year-old saw some success in 2025-26 in his first season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring 24 points (10G / 14A) in 45 games.

St. Ivany has split time between the AHL and NHL the past few seasons. He was on track to get a larger look with Pittsburgh in the NHL in 2025-26, but his season was derailed by injuries, playing just 20 games and recording seven assists. The 26-year-old defenseman will likely be vying for a position on Winnipeg's opening-night roster in the 2026-27 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.

DeSimone has battled for NHL playing time throughout his career and finally became a regular fixture on the blueline for the Utah Mammoth in 2025-26, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 31-year-old defenseman scored eight points (2G / 6A) last season in 40 games.

NHL Player News: Your Ultimate Source for Hockey Player News
Who are the top NHL players to watch this season?
What are the latest updates on NHL player suspensions or disciplinary actions?
How are NHL player performances impacting fantasy hockey?
Which NHL players are having breakout or comeback seasons?
How often is NHL player news updated?
What types of information does NHL player news cover?
Are there specific sources for reliable NHL player updates?
How does NHL player news impact betting lines?
DFO’s Specialized News Categories
- NHL Player Injury Updates and Recovery Timelines – See all the latest NHL player injury updates, timelines for their return, and impact made on each team.
- NHL Waiver Wire Moves and Implications – Check out all the latest moves made on the NHL waiver wire and their implications on the teams involved.
- NHL Latest Line Combination Changes – Bringing you every line combination from across all 32 NHL teams, check out the latest NHL line combination changes made ahead of their next tilt.
- NHL Player Signings and Contract Details – Your go-to spot during NHL free agency, check out the latest NHL player signings and contract details today.
- NHL Roster Changes and Transactions – Looking to see what the latest moves made by your favourite team were? Then check out the latest NHL roster changes and transactions here on DFO.