NHL Hockey Player News

The New Jersey Devils put pressure on the Utah Mammoth last week when Barrett Hayton signed their offer sheet, but Utah has ultimately matched it, keeping Hayton for the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old forward, the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has shown flashes of the acumen that made him a high-end prospect, but he has yet to translate that into consistent play at the NHL level. Last season, Hayton averaged 15:07 time-on-ice and scored 25 points (10G / 15A) in 67 games with Utah.

Schmidt, drafted 96th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has bounced around teams over the past year and has yet to earn himself a shot at the NHL level. The 23-year-old defenseman scored three assists in the 2025-26 season in 48 AHL games split between the Syracuse Crunch, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Iowa Wild.

Hinds, a third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut with the team last season, drawing into six games. That said, the 23-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 19 points (5G / 14A) in 62 games with the San Diego Gulls.

Cormier was a third-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He suited up in two games for the Golden Knights in the 2023-24 season but has otherwise played exclusively in the AHL. The 24-year-old defenseman scored 47 points (8G / 39A) last season in 49 games with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).

Commesso was drafted 46th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has drawn into a handful of games for the team over the past two seasons. That said, the 23-year-old goalie spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he posted a serviceable 3.08 GAA and .901 SV% in 37 games (13-20-2) with the Rockford IceHogs.

Trudeau was a fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but never suited up for the team at the NHL level. The 23-year-old defenseman spent the 2025-26 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL), where he scored 20 points (8G / 12A) in 68 games.

Michaels, an undrafted forward, will look to make his professional hockey debut in 2026-27 after signing a two-year, two-way contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The 24-year-old spent the 2025-26 season with Western Michigan University, where he scored 26 points (13G / 13A) in 39 games.

Giroux decided to test the open market after four seasons with the Ottawa Senators, but has ultimately opted to re-sign with the team. The 38-year-old forward, entering his 20th NHL season, has remained productive offensively despite seeing a diminished role. In the 2025-26 season, Giroux averaged 16:18 time-on-ice, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2008-09, but still managed a solid 49-point (14G / 35A) campaign in 82 games.

Quillan, an undrafted forward, is the latest Maple Leafs' offseason signing to complement their organizational depth. The 24-year-old has played 24 career NHL games, but spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he tallied 36 points (14G / 22A) in 40 games with the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

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.