NHL Hockey Player News

Stevens was a fifth-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last three years in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward had six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 27 games with Utica last year. Look for Stevens to start the 2021-22 season in the AHL once again.

Smith only played in eight games between the AHL and NHL in 2021. The 27-year-old had three assists in five games with the Lightning but sat out as a healthy scratch most of the time. With some key bottom-6 players hitting the free agent market, Smith could have a spot on the roster to start the 2021-22 season.

Sherwood split his 2020-21 campaign between the AHL and NHL. Sherwood played as a point-per-game player with 16 points (10G / 6A) in 16 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) but struggled to find the same level of offence with the Avalanche. Depending on what the Avlanahce do with their $20.26M in cap-space, Sherwood could have a spot on the NHL roster to start 2021-22 season.

Blichfeld spent most of the 2020-21 season in the AHL, where he led the Barracuda with 12 goals and 10 assists (22 points) in 25 games. Blichfeld was a seventh-round pick in 2016 but is trending towards being an NHLer in 2021-22.

Balcers was claimed off of waivers from the Senators in January and went on to score eight goals and nine assists (17 points) in 41 games with San Jose. Balcers showed he was capable of playing in the Sharks' top-6 at times in 2021 but is probably best suited to play on their third-line.

Goodrow won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning but they did not have the cap-space to keep him around for the future. He was acquired by the Rangers for a seventh-round pick on July 19th and signed a six-year extension a few days later. He brings very little offensively but will be a huge part of the Rangers' bottom-6 and penalty kill.

The Red Wings acquired Nedeljkovic from the Hurricanes and immediately signed him to a two-year contract. Nedeljkovic led the NHL in GAA and SV% in 2020-21 and helps solidify the Red Wings' crease moving forward and gives them a young goalie to build around.

Smith struggled in 2020 but the Oilers brought him back for 2021 and he flourished. At age-38, Smith went 21-6-2 with a 2.31 GAA and .923 SV% in 32 games and will head into 2021-22 as the Oilers' No.1 starting goalie with a more certain future after signing a two-year contract.

Rasmussen played almost the entire 2020-21 NHL season in the NHL, scoring three goals with nine assists (12 points) in 40 games. The former No.9 overall pick (2017) made serious strides this season and will look to be an important part of the Red Wings' middle-6 in 2021-22.

Driedger's selection in the Expansion Draft was the worst kept secret of the process. The 27-year-old has been outstanding over the last two seasons, leading the NHL in GAA (2.07) and SV% (.931) while going 21-8-4 in 34 starts. Driedger will get a shot to be a No.1 for the first time in his career with Vitek Vanecek serving as his backup.

Larsson was a UFA but was selected by the Kraken in the Expansion Draft and promptly signed to a four-year deal with a $4.0M AAV cap-hit. In his five seasons with the Oilers, Larsson averaged four goals, 13 assists, 256 hits and 159 blocked shots per 82 games. He doesn't bring a lot of offence to the Kraken but will be a steady part of their top-4 in their first year.

Oleksiak found a comfort zone on a pairing with Miro Heiskanen in Dallas but was selected in the Expansion Draft and signed to a five-year deal with a $4.6M AAV cap-hit. Oleksiak brings a little offence, scoring nine goals with 15 assists (24 points) in 125 games over the last two seasons. However, it's the physicality that the 6-foot-6, 255 lbs. blueliner brings that Kraken fans will love--Oleksiak ranks sixth among defensemen in hits (301) over the last two seasons.

Cramarossa split his 2021 season between the NHL and AHL. He finished with one assist in four games with the Wild and two goals and one assist in eight games with Iowa (AHL). The 28-year-old has bounced around the league quite a bit since turning pro in 2013 but will stick with the Wild for another two seasons.

Claesson has bounced around the NHL in recent years, playing 112 games for five teams over the last four years. The Lightning need some cheap, depth contracts, so they re-signed Claesson to be a seventh/eighth defenseman on their roster.

Volkov was traded to the Ducks last March, finishing the 2021 season with seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 37 games between Tampa Bay and Anaheim. The 23-year-old is poised for a middle-6 spot with the Ducks to start 2021-22.

Woll was a third-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. The 23-year-old struggled in 2020-21, going 7-7-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .892 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies. Woll will almost certainly open the 2021-22 season in the AHL.

After three years in the NHL, Heiskanen ranks 33rd among blueliners with 95 points (28G / 67A) in 205 games. His raise will make him the sixth-highest paid defenseman (as of now) in 2021-22 with an $8.45M AAV cap-hit. Heiskanen is an absolute workhorse for the Stars, ranking ninth in the NHL in TOI/gm (24:58) last season.