NHL Hockey Player News

Struble has appeared in 56 NHL games in each of the last two seasons, most recently posting 13 points (2G / 11A), 124 hits and 54 blocks in 2024-25. Struble became a reliable partner for rookie Lane Hutson, posting a 60.7 xG% together, the best of any Canadiens' pairing. Entering 2025-26, Struble will likely be in the mix to be the No.6 defenseman, and his strong play alongside Hutson last season should give him the upper hand.

Conor Timmins and Buffalo avoided arbitration on Sunday after agreeing to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million AAV ($4.4M total). The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired in late June in a trade that saw Connor Clifton go the other way to Pittsburgh. He appeared in 68 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in 2024-25, picking up three goals, 15 points and a +11 plus/minus.

Gushchin was acquired from the San Jose Sharks via trade on Friday and immediately signed a new deal with the Avalanche. Gushchin will be a fringe roster player with a chance to make the NHL out of training camp this fall.

Springfield (AHL) will bring back one of their best scorers from the 2024-25 season after St. Louis announced on Saturday it had signed Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old last appeared with the Blues in 2023-24 but still had a successful seaosn in the minors with Springfield last year, putting up 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games played.

Gushchin, 23, was a third-round pick (No.76 overall) in 2020 and has appeared in 18 NHL games since, scoring two goals with three assists (five points). He spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he was second on the San Jose Barracuda in goals (28) and third in points (51) in 56 games. He'll likely make a push for an NHL roster spot in training camp.

Olausson, 22, was a first round pick (No.28 overall) in 2021 and has appeared in just four NHL games since then. In 2024-25, he spent most of the season in AHL, where he had 11 goals and 15 assists (26 points) in 61 games. He'll likely see some NHL action at some point during the 2025-26 season, but will likely start the year back in the AHL.

New York and Maxim Tsyplakov avoided arbitration on Friday after they announced a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million ($2.25 million AAV) for the Russian forward. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut last season after signing out of the KHL and succeeded in his first taste of the big leagues with 10 goals, 35 points, and 39 PIMs in 77 games played. He is expected to take on a bigger role in his second season with the Islanders in 2025-26.

Blake still has a season left in his Entry Level Contract, but has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $5.625 AAV ($45M total) due to the new CBA rules that limit contracts to seven years starting in September. Blake had a standout rookie season in 2024-25, finishing ninth in Calder Trophy voting after putting up 17 goals, 34 points and a +10 plus/minus in 80 games played.

After four seasons in San Jose's organization, Thomas Bordeleau has jumped ship and signed a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey on Thursday. The 23-year-old forward was San Jose's 2020 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and, despite only appearing in one game with the Sharks in 2024-25, has six goals and 18 points in 44 games total with San Jose since joining in 2021-22. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Utica (AHL) after putting up 14 goals and 38 points in 59 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) last year.

Czata was selected in the second round (No.56 overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old centre spent the 2024-25 season with the Niagara IceDogs, where he was fourth on the team with 55 points (21G / 34A) in 68 games. He's expected to return to the OHL for the start of the 2025-26 season.

After making his NHL debut in 2024-25 with Carolina, Ryan Suzuki has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes to come back to Chicago (AHL) for a sixth season. The 24-year-old was Carolina's 2019 1st round pick (28th overall) and he had 12 goals and 59 points in 69 games with Chicago last season. He is expected to return to the Wolves for the start of the 2025-26 season but will provide Carolina with depth throughout the year.

Carolina will bring Ronan Seeley back for a fourth season in the organization after the 22-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract extension. The stay-at-home defensemen enjoyed a strong season in 2024-25 with Chicago (AHL), picking up three goals, 10 points and a -6 plus/minus in 69 games played. He is expected to spend 2025-26 back in Chicago.

Vilardi will avoid arbitration and cash in after the 25-year-old agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($45M total) with Winnipeg on Friday. The Canadian right-winger is entering his seventh NHL season after posting career highs in almost all major categories last season, including goals (27), assists (34), points (61), SOG (130), and PPP (25). He is expected to return to his role on the Jets' top line and powerplay for the 2025-26 season.

Helleson and Anaheim avoided arbitration on Friday after they agreed to a two-year, $2.2 million extension ($1.1 million AAV). The 24-year-old is entering his second full season with Anaheim after an impressive rookie campaign in 2024-25, during which he scored four goals, tallied 13 points, and accumulated 47 penalty minutes in 56 games played. He is expected to be a key part in Anaheim's defensive core this upcoming season.