NHL Signings & Free Agents

2018 was the most productive season of Carrick’s young career. The 24-year-old right-handed blueliner set career-highs in goals (4), assists (8) and points (12) while appearing in just 47 games for the Maple Leafs. Carrick’s signing suggests that the Maple Leafs won’t bring back Roman Polak and that Carrick will start the season as their third-pairing D-man on the right side.

Boucher has a great shot that helps him continue to post strong numbers in the AHL, but the NHL results still aren’t there. In 2018, the 24-year-old winger had 46 points (25G / 21A) in 45 games with Utica (AHL) but picked up just three goals and two assists in 20 games with Vancouver. He will continue to be a quality depth winger for the Canucks for at least one more season.

Benning is coming off of the best season of his young career, having scored is goals with 15 assists (21 points) in 73 games. The 24-year-old posted one of the best CorsiFor% (51.2) ratings among Oilers’ defensemen and graded out as the No.47 right-handed defenseman in the NHL according to Corsica Player Rankings—not bad for a third-pairing D-man.

Lindberg, who has one of the players acquired in the Derick Brassard trade last season, scored 10 goals with 13 assists (23 points) in 64 games with Chicago (AHL). Lindberg was a fourth-round pick (No.102 overall) in 2013 and has just two assists in six career NHL games (w/ TOR).

Grzelcyk, 24, became an integral part of the Bruins’ blueline in 2017-18 after spending the majority of his first pro season in the AHL. The 2012 third-round pick (No.85 overall) registered three goals and 12 assists (15 points) in 61 games with the Bruins. Grzelcyk will likely be a third-pairing defenseman on the left-side behind Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara next season.

Hayden, 23, was a third-round pick (No.74 overall) in 2013 and turned pro after his senior season at Yale University in 2017. Last year he split his season between the AHL and NHL—picking up 17 points (5G / 12A) in 24 games with Rockford and 13 points (4G / 9A) in 47 games with Chicago. Hayden is a physical winger with some skill who should be in Blackhawks’ bottom-6 this fall.

Hinostroza, 24, is a Chicago native who was drafted in the sixth round in 2012 and set career-highs in games (50), goals (7), assists (18) and points (25) with the Blackhawks last season. He also spent some time in Rockford (AHL) where he was near a point-per-game with 22 points (9G / 13A) in 23 games. Hinostroza projects to be a middle-6 forward to start the 2019 season.

Mazanec, 26, split last season between the KHL and the AHL—he was 4-15-2 with a 3.40 GAA and .900 SV% in 23 games with Brislava Slovan (KHL) and 11-6-1 with a 2.97 GAA and .905 SV% in Hartford (AHL). Mazanec is projected to be the Rangers’ backup right now, unless they sign Ondrej Pavelec or another netminder to a contract in free agency. The Czech netminder has posted a 2.97 GAA and .895 SV% in 31 career NHL games.

Jokiharju, 19, was a first-round pick of the Blackhawks (No.29 overall) in 2017 and is coming off of a 71-point (12G / 59A) campaign with the Portland Winterhawks (WHL). His 71 points ranked tied for third among defensemen in the WHL and represented a 0.45 point-per-game increase from his rookie season. Jokiharju will likely battle for a spot on the Blackhawks’ blueline this fall, but will likely end up back in Portland.

The Oilers had high hopes for Caggiula after signing him out of the University of North Dakota, where he scored 62 goals and 65 assists (127 points) in 162 games. Since then, the 23-year-old has scored just 20 goals with 18 assists (38 points) in 127 games with Edmonton. He’ll return to the Oilers where he figures to stat the 2018-19 season on the third line.

After starting the 2017-18 season with the Blues, Paajarvi was claimed off of waivers by the Senators mid-season and finished with eight points (6G / 2A) in 35 games with Ottawa. Paajarvi figures to be among the Senators’ top-12 forwards when the 2018-19 season rolls around.

Sieloff, 24, had one goal and nine assists (10 points) in 58 games with Belleville (AHL) last season. The former second-round pick (No.42 overall in 2012) has not made a big impact on the NHL level, but he has scored a goal in each of his two NHL games. As a player who has never topped 12 points in an OHL or AHL season, Sieloff likely won’t have any fantasy impact if he ever becomes a full-time NHLer.

Following a disastrous start to the 2017-18 season with the Penguins and Panthers, Niemi settled in in Montreal. The veteran netminder went 7-5-4 with a 2.46 GAA, .929 SV% and one shutout in 17 starts and two relief appearances with the Canadiens. He will likely be back as the Habs’ primary backup behind Carey Price next season.

Mittelstadt, 19, was the Sabres’ first-round pick (No.8 overall) in 2017 and will turn pro after just one year at the University of Minnesota. Mittelstadt finished his freshman campaign with 11 goals and 19 assists (30 points) in 34 games. He is expected to report to the Sabres and should make his NHL debut down the stretch.

Greenway, 21, was a second round pick (No.50 overall) in 2015 and is set to join the Wild after finishing up his junior year at Boston University. Greenway is an absolute monster, standing in at 6-foot-5, 230 lbs. and is coming off of a year in which he scored 13 goals with 22 assists (35 points) in 36 games. He could jump right into the Minnesota lineup and could be an important addition for them in the postseason.

Gersich, 21, was a fifth round pick in 2014 and has finished his junior year at the University of North Dakota, where he had 13 goals and 16 assists (29 points) in 40 games. He is expected to join the Capitals right away.