NHL Hockey Player News

Witkowski, 27, is a Michigan native that is headed home after spending the first five years of his professional career with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Witkowski is capable of playing on the blueline or on the wing and adds some size and toughness to the Red Wings’ depth chart. Witkowski has just four assists and 58 PIMS in 54 career NHL games.

Williams was in Carolina from 2004 until his was traded to Los Angeles midway through the 2009 season. Since then, he has posted 20-plus goals in four of seven full 82-game seasons, while posting 40-plus points in six of seven. Williams helps add depth and playoff experience to the wing of a young Carolina team that has playoff aspirations in 2017-18.

Pouliot had 33 goals and 37 assists (70 points) in 113 games in his first two seasons in Edmonton, but struggled a year ago leading to a buyout. The 30-year-old winger goes from being overpaid to potentially one of the best value contracts in 2017-18 free agency. Pouliot will likely play on the second or third line behind Evander Kane and is capable of posting a 20-20 season if he can stay healthy.

Bonino had one of the best seasons of his career 2016-17, posting 18 goals and 19 assists (37 points) in 80 games and added an additional seven points (4G / 3A) in 21 playoff games to help the Penguins to their second Stanley Cup in a row. Bonino will fill the hole left by Mike Fisher’s expected departure and should serve as the Predators No.2/No.3 centre.

Alzner spent the first nine years of his NHL career in Washington after the Capitals made him the No.5 overall pick in 2007. Alzner is a solid two-way defenseman that is capable of playing heavy minutes against the other team’s best and posting modest offensive numbers. Alzner has not missed a game in seven seasons and has averaged three goals and 14 assists (17 points) per 82 games over that stretch. Alzner could see regular time next to Shea Weber as the Habs’ No.1 pairing.

After four and a half years in Philadelphia, Mason is on his way to Winnipeg. Like most goalies, he can be volatile from year to year and was 26-21-8 with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 58 games with the Flyers a season ago. With Ondrej Pavelec now in New York, Mason will likely share the crease with Connor Hellebuyck to start the 2017-18 season and they’ll go from there.

Kulikov broke into the NHL with a bang, but has struggled in recent years, culminating in him being traded to Buffalo last summer and him only posting five points (2G / 3A) in 47 games with the Sabres. Still only 26-years-old, the Jets obviously see something they like in the former No.14 overall pick (2009). Kulikov will be leaned on as a No.4/No.5 defenseman in Winnipeg, which should help him in the defensive aspect of the game.

Boyle was with the Lightning since the 2015 season before being dealt to the Maple Leafs at last year’s deadline. Boyle finished the campaign with 13 goals and 12 assists (25 points) in a combined 75 games, but just three assists in 21 games in Toronto. Boyle is a solid bottom-6 forward that is solid on the face-off dot, winning over 50 percent for his career.

Pavelec has been with the Jets’ organization since he was drafted No.41 overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005. His game started to slip the last few years, leading to him starting the 2016-17 season in the AHL. He ended up making it to Winnipeg and appeared in eight games, going 4-4-0 with a 3.55 GAA and .888 SV%. Despite a few rough seasons in a row, the Rangers have had a lot of success with backups over the years, making it possible the Pavelec could be a serviceable handcuff to Henrik Lundqvist in 2017-18.

The Canucks let Ryan Miller walk in free agency, so Anders Nilsson has been brought in to serve as Jacob Markstrom’s backup. The 27-year-old netminder appeared in 26 games with the Sabres a season ago, going 10-10-4 with a 2.67 GAA and .923 SV%.

Johnson was brought into Calgary last season to be Brian Elliott’s backup, but ended playing a more important role than originally thought. Johnson went 18-15-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% in 36 games and will return to Buffalo to serve as the primary backup to Robin Lehner. The Sabres No.1 has had a tough time staying in the crease, so Johnson could be in line for 30-plus starts again in 2017-18.

Del Zotto is not the best defenseman in his own end, but posts solid offensive totals. The 27-year-old had six goals and 12 assists (18 points) in 51 games last season and missed a total of 79 games due to injury over three years in Philadelphia. Del Zotto has had a hard time staying healthy, but can be a useful Fantasy piece when he’s on the ice.

After spending two years in Dallas, Sharp hit the open market and returns to Chicago on a value deal. Sharp’s production dropped off with the Stars, only scoring 28 goals in 124 games in two seasons. Back with the Blackhawks, he should see regular time in their top-6 with Marian Hossa sidelined for the season.

Girardi’s production started to slip in recent years, leading to the Rangers buying him out this spring. Girardi will likely play a lesser role in Tampa Bay, which will be better suited for the 33-year-old defenseman, who was leaned on heavily in New York. Girardi has failed to top 20 points in three of the last four seasons.

Elliott was acquired by the Flames last season to serve as their No.1 netminder after years of success in St. Louis. It didn’t go as planned with Elliott posting a 2.55 GAA and .910 SV% in 49 starts, leading the Calgary trading for Mike Smith this offseason and letting Elliott walk. He heads to Philadelphia where he will likely share the crease with Michal Neuvirth.

Gagner, 27, resurrected his NHL career one a one-year deal in Columbus, scoring 18 goals with 32 assists (50 points) in 81 games. He did extensive damage on the power-play, scoring eight goals and 10 assists with the man-advantage. He will bring a much-needed scorer’s touch to the Canucks bottom-6.

After three tough years in Toronto, Bernier bounced back as John Gibson’s backup in Anaheim last season. Bernier was 21-7-4 with a 2.51 GAA and .915 SV% in 38 games with the Ducks and will serve as the oft-injured Semyon Varlamov’s backup this season.

Daley, 33, is a strong skater that will add some speed to the Red Wings’ blueline and help their power-play in 2017-18. Daley won’t put up crazy point totals, but dud score 16 goals in 2014-15 and is coming off of a season where he had 19 points (5G / 14A) in 56 games with the Penguins.

Sparks, 24, appeared in 17 NHL games with the Maple Leafs in 2015-16, but failed to make it past the AHL last season. Sparks went 21-9-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .922 SV% in 31 games with the Marlies and was 1-1-0 in two playoff starts.

After spending three and a half years in Columbus, McElhinney was traded to the Maple Leafs last season and went 6-7-0 with a 2.85 GAA and .914 SV% in 14 appearances. McElhinney will return to the Leafs where he will serve as the primary backup to Frederik Andersen.