NHL Hockey Player News

Mrazek looked like the goalie of the future in Detroit during the 2016 season, when he was 27-16-6 with a 2.33 GAA and .921 SV%. In the two seasons since, Mrazek is tied with the second-worst SV% (.901) among qualified starters. The Flyers elected not to qualify the 26-year-old, so he lands in Carolina where he will battle with Scott Darling for playing time in the crease.

Brodziak, who was born in nearby St. Paul, Alberta returns to Edmonton, where he played from 2006 to 2009. The 34-year-old showed he still has some left in the tank last year, posting 33 points (10G / 23A) in 81 games with the Blues. He is a defensively-sound, hard-working centre who will play on the Oilers’ fourth line and help their penalty kill.

Hutton had an excellent 2018 season, going 17-7-3 with a 2.09 GAA, .931 SV% and three shutouts in 32 games with the Blues. Over the last three seasons, Hutton is tied for first in GAA (2.25) among goalies with at least 60 starts—posting a .922 SV%. Now with the Sabres, Hutton has the chance to become their No.1 netminder, but he will have to outplay Linus Ullmark.

Perron was originally drafted by the Blues and played for them from 2008-to-2013 and against in 2017. The 30-year-old returns to St. Louis after one year in Vegas, where he posted career-highs in assists (50) and points (66). Perron will find himself back in the Blues’ top-6, where he will likely play alongside Ryan O’Reilly.

Hickey was the No.4 overall pick in 2007 and has enjoyed moderate success during his first six seasons with the Islanders. Hickey is coming off of a career-year, picking up 25 points (5G / 20A) in 69 games. He is a very mobile, puck-moving defenseman who will be a key part of the Isles’ top-4.

Bozak is a No.2/No.3 line centre with some offensive ability. Bozak skates very well and is good on the face-off dot. The 32-year-old has scored 20-plus just once during his nine year career, but has registered 30-plus assists in three of the last five years. Bozak was likely going to be the Blues second-line centre, until they acquired Ryan O’Reilly from Buffalo—pushing him down the depth chart.

Cole has good size (6-foot-1, 219 lbs.) who is a mainly a shutdown defenseman. Despite not having high-end ability or seeing power-play time, Cole has had 20-plus points in back-to-back seasons. Cole’s signing in Colorado suggests that Conor Timmins may not be in the NHL in 2019.

Manning is a hard-nosed defenseman, who is coming off of his best year in the NHL. The 28-year-old had 19 points (7G / 12A) in 65 games with the Flyers and signs in Chicago where he will line-up as a third-pairing blueliner.

The veteran winger signed with the Lightning last year after nine years in Pittsburgh. Kunitz found himself in Tampa Bay’s bottom-6 and collected just 29 points (13G / 16A) in 82 games. He figures to have a similar role with the Blackhawks this season.

Polak is a big bruising defenseman, who chips in offensively on occasion. He had just 12 points (2G / 10A) in 54 games with the Maple Leafs last season and signs with the Stars where he projects to be their No.6/No.7 defenseman.

Nichushkin was drafted No.10 overall in 2013 and recorded 64 points (23G / 41A) in 166 career NHL games before leaving for the KHL. The 23-year-old had 27 goals and 24 assists (51 points) in 86 games with CSKA Moscow during his two years in Russia. Nichushkin returns to the NHL, where he projects to be a middle-6 winger.

Comeau is a big winger (6-foot-1, 202 lbs.) who is a strong penalty-killer that can chip in offensively. Comeau spent the last three seasons with the Avalanche, where he averaged 11 goals and 19 assists (30 points) per season.

Stastny elected not to re-sign with the Jets, who acquired him from St. Louis at last year’s deadline. Stastny finished the 2018 season with 16 goals and 37 assists (53 points) in 82 games. Stastny will line up as the Golden Knights’ second-line centre behind 2018 breakout star William Karlsson.

Ryan was a late-bloomer, spending three years in the WHL, four years at the University of Alberta, three years in Austria, one in Sweden and one in the AHL before making it to the NHL. Ryan had 15 goals and 23 assists (38 points) in 80 games with the Hurricanes. Ryan was top-10 in the NHL in face-off percentage last year and can also chip-in on the power-play. The 30-year-old has ties to Flames head coach Bill Peters, who was just let go in Carolina.

van Riemsdyk was originally selected No.2 overall by the Flyers in 2007 and spent the first three years of his career in Philadelphia. van Riemsdyk has been one of the most consistent producers in the NHL in recent years, averaging 31 goals and 28 assists (59 points) per 82 games over the last five seasons. JVR is expected to skate on the Flyers’ second line with Nolan Patrick and Jakub Voracek.

Halak had another tough season with the Islanders in 2018, going 20-26-6 with a 3.19 GAA and .908 SV% in 54 games. A change of scenery should help the 33-year-old netminder, who will serve as Tuukka Rask’s backup in 2019. Halak heads to Boston with a career 2.50 GAA and .916 SV% in 449 NHL games.

Vanek returns to the Red Wings after spending last year with the Canucks and Blue Jackets. In his first go-around with the Red Wings, Vanek had 38 points (15G / 23A) in 48 games before being traded to the Panthers. He is coming off of a year in which he had 24 goals and 32 assists (56 points) in 80 games. Vanek is a quality middle-6 scoring winger who will likely be dealt again at next year’s deadline.

Following a one-year stint with the Avalanche, Bernier signs with the Red Wings, where he will fight with Jimmy Howard for playing time. The 29-year-old had a solid season in Colorado, going 19-13-3 with a 2.85 GAA, .913 SV% and two shutouts in 37 games.

Seeler was a fifth-round pick (No.131 overall) in 2011 and made it to the NHL last season. After three years in the NCAA and a year and a half in the AHL, Seeler picked up four assists in 22 games with the Wild last year. The 25-year-old is expected to be on the Wild’s third pairing to start the 2019 season.

Reaves was picked up from Pittsburgh midseason last year, and picked up two assists in 21 games with Vegas. He became a key member of their fourth line and a fan favourite, which is why he is getting nearly three million per season.