NHL Hockey Player News

Sellgren, 20, was selected in the sixth-round (No.166 overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft and just wrapped up his first season in the Swedish Elite League, where he accumulated three goals and 12 assists (15 points) in 52 games with Lulea HF.

Abols, 23, was originally selected in the seventh-round of the 2016 draft by the Canucks before spending the last two season in the Swedish Elite League. The Latvian centre had 18 goals and eight assists (26 points) in 45 games with Orebro HK this past season.

Norris was a first-round pick of the Sharks in 2017 and was traded to Ottawa as a part of the Erik Karlsson trade. The 20-year-old had 10 goals and nine assists (19 points) in 17 games at the University of Michigan this season. He also added three goals and three assists in seven games while representing the United States at the Wold Juniors.

Ouellet’s deal is worth $700K at the NHL-level but the 25-year-old played just 19 games with Montreal last season. Ouellet spent most of the year with Laval (AHL), where he posted seven goals and 21 assists (28 points) in 47 AHL games.

In his first season with Montreal, Kulak split his season between the AHL and NHL. The 25-year-old had 11 points (3G / 8A) in 19 games with Laval before adding 17 points (6G / 11A) in 57 games with Montreal. Kulak figures to be a part of the Habs blueline plans to start the 2019-20 season.

Brossoit signed with the Jets as a free agent last summer after spending the first four seasons of his career in Edmonton. Brossoit turned in a superb season as Connor Hellebuyck’s backup, going 13-6-2 with a 2.52 GAA, .925 SV% and one shutout in 19 starts and two relief appearances. Brossoit proved he is a capable backup option and will remain with Winnipeg for another season.

Nygard, 26, is an undrafted free-agent winger who has spent seven seasons with Farjestads BK Karlstad of the Swedish Elite League. This past season, Nygard led the team in goals (21) and was third in points (35) in 52 games.

In his first season in the Canadiens organization, Belzile let the Laval Rockets (AHL) in goals (19), assists (35) and points (54). The 27-year-old centre will start 2019-20 with Laval.

Francouz just finished his first full professional season in North America, going 27-20-1 with a 2.68 GAA and .918 SV% in 49 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). The 28-year-old Czech netminder also appeared in two games with the Avalanche, stopping 33 of the 35 shots (.943 SV%) he faced in 61 minutes of play. Francouz is expected to start the 2019-20 season with the Eagles.

Wedin, 26, is an undrafted free agent winger, who had 14 goals and 13 assists (27 points) in 32 games with Timra IK of the Swedish Elite League.

Gawanke, 19, was a fifth-round pick (No.136 overall) in 2017 and signed after his third season with Cape Breton (QMJHL), where he had 17 goals and 40 assists (57 points) in 62 games this season.

Ruhwedel split his 2019 campaign between the NHL and AHL. Ruhwedel had one goal and one assist in 18 games with the Penguins and five points (1G / 4A) in five AHL games. Ruhwedel figures to serve as the Penguins No.7 defenseman in 2019-20.

Nelson is coming off of a career-year, having scored 25 goals and 28 assists (53 points) in 82 games. Nelson has been extremely durable, missing just two games over the last five seasons and figures to continue as the Islanders’ No.2 centre heading into the 2019-20 campaign.

Rodrigue, 18, was picked in the second-round (No.62 overall) in 2018 and finished his third season with Drummondville (QMJHL) where he was 35-9-1 with a 2.43 GAA and .902 SV%.

Day, 24, just finished his first pro season with Bakersfield (AHL) where he led all Condors defensemen with 34 points (7G / 27A) in 64 games.

Rykov, 22, was originally selected in the fifth-round by the Devils in 2016 but was acquired by the Rangers on February 22nd, 2018. Rykov had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 47 games with Sochi HC of the KHL this season. Rykov represented Russia twice at the World Juniors, where he collected two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 14 games.

Pinho, 24, is a former sixth-round pick, who turned pro this season after four years at Providence College. Pinho had four goals and eight assists (12 points) in 73 games with Hershey (AHL).

Gersich, 22, is a former fifth-round pick who turned pro last season after three years at the University of North Dakota. Gersich had eight goals and 16 assists (24 points) in 66 games with Hershey (AHL) and had one assist in his first three NHL games.

Lindell, 24, has become a fantastic shutdown defenseman for Dallas after being selected in the third-round in 2012. Lindell has some offensive flair to his game as well, scoring 11 goals and 21 assists (32 points) in 82 games during the regular season. The Finnish defenseman had a great postseason, leading all Stars’ players in ice-time (26:58 TOI/gm) with four points (1G / 3A) and 34 blocked shots in 13 games. Lindell, John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen will be among the NHL’s best top-3 defensemen for the Stars for many years to come.

Merzlikins, 25, was selected by the Blue Jackets in the third-round back in 2014 but remained with Lugano in Switzerland, where he had a 2.44 GAA and .921 SV% in 43 games this season. Merzlikins represented Latvia at the World Championship, where he had a 2.78 GAA and .914 SV% in five games.