NHL Hockey Player News

When the 2025-26 season ended, so did Alex Ovechkin's contract, and there was some uncertainty surrounding his future. That said, the 40-year-old goal scorer will continue his NHL career for at least one more season, signing a one-year contract with the only team he has ever known, the Washington Capitals, who drafted him 1st overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Ovechkin remained productive last season, scoring 64 points (32G / 32A) in 82 games. The Capitals have had a busy offseason, bolstering their offence, which could allow them to be more situational and less reliant on Ovechkin in 2026-27.

Middleton has spent the past five seasons with the Minnesota Wild, but will have a change of scenery to start the 2026-27 season as he heads to the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-old defenseman averaged 17:30 time-on-ice, recording 16 points (2G / 14A), 87 hits, and 117 blocks in 75 games last season.

After spending the first six seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a steady shutdown defenseman, Maata has struggled to find a permanent home and will join his seventh team in the last eight seasons. That said, the 31-year-old Finnish defenseman remains a reliable bottom-pairing defenseman. Last season, he averaged 17:13 time on ice, scoring 15 points (2G/3A) in 43 games split between the Calgary Flames and the Utah Mammoth.

Coleman's name circulated in rumours before last season's trade deadline, and his departure from Calgary came to fruition early in the offseason, in a trade to the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Texas native has established himself as a heavy-hitting and intimidating middle-six forward who should fit seamlessly into a gritty Minnesota Wild team. In 2025-26, Coleman averaged 17:20 time-on-ice, recording 35 points (20G / 15A) and 152 hits.

Felhaber spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he had 15 goals and 16 assists (31 points) in 63 games. Expected him to play with the San Jose Barracuda this season.

Barre-Boulet spent almost all of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he was second in the league with 70 points (26G / 44A) in 70 games. Expect him to start 2026-27 in the AHL, but could be one of the first forwards called-up to the Sharks when injuries hit.

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired John Carlson's rights from the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the offseason, but he decided to test the open marketing, ultimately opting two sign a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Darren Raddysh's departure from Tampa Bay, Carlson could be an option to fill the void on the team's top powerplay unit. The 36-year-old Carlson had a terrific 2025-26 season, split between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks, scoring 60 points (14G / 46A) in 71 games.

Heinola was drafted 20th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The Jets decided to move on from the 24-year-old defenseman, resulting in a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Heinola spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he scored 21 points (3G / 18A) in 44 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Lavoie, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, has not been able to earn an extended look at the NHL level, but hopes to build momentum after a tremendous 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward scored 56 points (30G / 26A) last season in 45 games with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).

Gatcomb is no stranger to the NHL, with 16 points (11G / 5A) in 88 career games, and will provide solid organizational depth for the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old forward played a career-high 49 games with the New York Islanders last season, scoring seven points (3G / 4A).

Fleming is an undrafted 23-year-old who has spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. The defenseman had 14 points (4G / 10A) last season in 60 games with Henderson.

Demek was a fourth-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old Slovak forward has played significant minutes professionally in North America, but had a decent 2024-25 season with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL), scoring 19 points (6G / 13A) in 31 games.

Kiviranta will rejoin the Dallas Stars, the team he began his NHL career with, on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old Finnish forward spent the past three seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, including a career-best 2024-25 season, in which he scored 23 points (16G / 7A) in 79 games.

Fitzgerald has exclusively played in the AHL the past three seasons as a serviceable shutdown defenseman. The 29-year-old scored 23 points (4G / 19A) in 2025-26 in 71 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).

After spending the past five seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, helping them win a Stanley Cup in 2025-26, Andersen will join his fourth team, the Edmonton Oilers. The 36-year-old veteran goalie is one of the winningest goalies in modern history, with a consistent 2.59 GAA and .913 SV% over 552 career games (324-149-58). That said, he has battled injuries in recent years and is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 3.05 GAA and .874 SV% in 35 games (16-14-5).

Jones, the 24th-overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has split time between the NHL and AHL in recent seasons, but impressed with the Oilers in 2025-26, earning a one-year contract extension. The 28-year-old forward scored five points (3G / 2A) last season in 21 games with the Oilers.