NHL Hockey Player News

The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Colton White to add some organizational depth to their blueline. The 29-year-old White has 107 games of NHL experience, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. In 2025-26, he scored seven points (1G / 6A) in 30 games with the Utica Comets (AHL).

Alex Petrovic departed the Dallas Stars earlier this offseason to join the Florida Panthers, creating an opening in Dallas for a depth defenseman, that has now been filled by Burroughs. The 30-year-old Burroughs is not stranger to the NHL, with 201 game of experience, but he has not played a game in the league since the 2024-25 season.

Barron was drafted 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. While he hasn't lived up to his first-round billing, Barron has become a serviceable bottom-pair defenseman in the NHL. The 24-year-old scored nine points (0G / 9A) in a career-high 52 games last season with the Nashville Predators.

Nemec was acquired from New Jersey in late June for a bundle of early round draft picks and has now agreed to stay in Calgary for the next five seasons after signing a five-year contract worth $7.25 million AAV ($36.25M total). The 22-year-old former 2nd overall pick (2022 NHL Draft) is entering his fourth NHL season after putting up career highs in nearly all categories last year with 11 goals, 26 points, 26 PIMs and 101 SOG in 68 games played.

Malek was drafted 100th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has yet to play an NHL game, but has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract after a serviceable first season at the AHL level. In 31 games last season (13-14-3), Malek posted a 2.75 GAA and .895 SV% with the Utica Comets (AHL).

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. Steeves was part of the trade that sent Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers earlier this offseason.

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.

With Carolina losing Frederik Andersen to free agency, the Hurricanes were in need of goaltending depth and have signed Zachary Sawchenko to a one-year, two-way contract. The 28-year-old net-minder last appeared in the NHL with San Jose in 2021-22 (7 appearances), but spent last season in Cleveland (AHL), where he had a 14-10-3 record, 3.05 GAA and .880 SV%.

The Dallas Stars, facing salary-cap issues, feared an offer sheet they couldn't match and ultimately dealt Bourque to the Nashville Predators moments before free agency opened on July 1st. The 24-year-old Bourque, the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, has quickly committed to his new team, signing a lucrative six-year contract worth $33 million ($5.5M AAV). In the 2025-26 season, Bourque averaged 15:29 time-on-ice and scored a career-high 41 points (20G / 21A) in 82 games.