NHL Signings & Free Agents

Son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, Christian Thomas split the 2015-16 season between the Canadiens and Coyotes’ organizations. He had two assists in six NHL games and 10 goals, 11 assists (21 points) in 34 AHL games with St. John’s and Springfield (AHL). Expect him to start this year with Hershey.

Ruhwedel, 26, appeared in just one NHL game last year, spending the year with Rochester (AHL), collecting 26 points (10G / 16A) in 59 games. Ruhwedel has just two assists in 33 career NHL games. Expect him to start the 2016-17 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Montoya, 31, was one of the better backups and spot-start options in the NHL last season. He was 12-7-2 with a 2.18 GAA and .919 SV% in 25 games with the Panthers and now he will battle with Mike Condon to be Carey Price’s backup in 2016-17. Montoya carries a career .909 SV% in 110 starts.

Smith-Pelly, 24, was acquired by the Devils from Montreal at the trade deadline and played really well for New Jersey. Smith-Pelly had just 12 points (6G / 6A) in 46 games with the Habs before the trade, but collected 13 points (8G / 5A) in only 18 games following the trade. D.S.P could find himself on a top-line with Adam Henrique and the newest Devil Taylor Hall.

Falk, 27, has been a fringe NHLer for his entire career. The 6-foot-5, 224 lbs. defenseman split his 2015-16 season between Columbus and Lake Erie (AHL). He had four assists in 24 games with the Blue Jackets and nine points (2G / 7A) in 32 games with the Monsters. He will likely once again start the year in the AHL, but will be the first or second defenseman to get the call-up to the Sabres.

Tyutin, 32, has had some strong offensive years during his 12-year career, but he is coming off of his worst season, having recorded just three points (1G / 2A) in 61 games with the Blue Jackets. He was bought out by Columbus, but brings a lot of experience to a relatively young Avalanche blueline.

Colborne, 26, is coming off of his best season as a professional, having collected 19 goals and 25 assists (44 points) in 73 games with the Flames. The 6-foot-5, 221 lbs. forward brings a bunch of size as well as some offensive punch to the Avalanche, where he could land a top-6 gig.

Vasilevskiy, 21, was the 19th overall pick in 2012 and is ready for his first full NHL season in 2016-17. He was 11-10-0 with a 2.76 GAA and .910 SV% in 24 games with the Lightning and 7-4-1 with a 1.94 GAA and .935 SV% in 12 starts with Syracuse (AHL). Vasilevskiy enters the season as Ben Bishop’s backup, but he is the future of the Lightning’s net.

Wiercioch, 25, had just five assists in 52 games with the Senators last season. He appeared in 42-to-56 games in each of the last four seasons, averaging three goals and 12 assists per year. Wiercioch brings some depth to a thin Avalanche blueline.

Connolly, 24, had excellent AHL numbers in 2013-14, but has yet to really cash in at the NHL level. He had nine goals and 16 assists (25 points) in 71 games with the Bruins last season. Connolly has strong possession numbers and should fit in well with the Capitals as a bottom-6 forward.

Latta, 25, had 89 points in his final year in the OHL, but has been limited to a fourth line role during his NHL career. In 113 career games with the Capitals, he had just 17 points (4G / 13A). Latta will likely find himself in the exact same role in Los Angles this season.

Grebe, 28, had a terrible 2015-16 season that was hampered by injuries. He appeared in just 47 games and scored just three times with four assists. Despite the off-year, the Rangers still came calling and he will look to crack their bottom-6 in training camp.

Redmond, 27, split his time between the NHL and AHL in 2015-16, finishing the year with six points (2G / 4A) in 37 games with Colorado and seven points (3G / 4A) in 11 games with San Antonio (AHL). Redmond has offensive ability, but has yet to really produce at the NHL level—33 points (9G / 24A) in 114 career NHL games.

Stempniak’s tour around the NHL continues as he has now signed with his 10th NHL team and seventh in the last four seasons. Despite moving around frequently, his offensive ability has remained consistent. He is coming off of a great season, where he recorded 19 goals and 32 assists (51 points) in 82 games with the Devils (63) and the Bruins (19). Stempniak figures to play a top-6 role in Carolina.

Marchenko appeared in his first full NHL season in 2015-16, playing 66 games with the Red Wings and only four with Grand Rapids (AHL). He collected 11 points (2G / 9A) along the way, to give him a total of three goals and 10 assists (13 points) in 80 career NHL games. He is expected to be a part of the Red Wings’ blueline again in 2016-17.

Gustavsson, 31, appeared in 24 games with the Bruins last season, posting an 11-9-1 record, 2.72 GAA and .908 SV%. When he came to the NHL it was believed he had starter potential, but he has turned into a career backup and this season he will play behind Cam Talbot in Edmonton.

Johnson, 30, has moved around a tonne since being draft in 2006. After spending last year with the Sabres, Johnson has signed with the Flames, marking his sixth team in the last seven years. He was 22-16-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .920 SV% with Buffalo last season and joins Brian Elliott to form a brand new goaltending tandem in Calgary.

Hedman is heading into his final year of a five-year, $20 million dollar deal, but was extended through the 2024-25 season. The former second overall pick is coming off of another great season, where he scored double-digit goals (10) for the third straight season and posted 40-plus points (47) for the second time in his career. He has developed into one of the top defensemen in the NHL and now he is getting paid like one.

Irwin, 28, was a player with 153 games of NHL experience heading into last season, but he was never able to maintain a roster spot with the Bruins, spending 64 games with Providence (AHL). During his season with Providence, Irwin collected 30 points (5G / 25A) but will likely start 2016-17 with Milwaukee (AHL).

Bennett’s rights were acquired from the Penguins at the NHL draft and the Devils were successful in signing him to a one-year, “show me” contract. Bennett is a former first round pick, who has had a terrible time trying to stay healthy during his NHL career. He missed 49 games last year and 33 the year prior, but has shown flashes of a potential top-6 forward when he has managed to be on the ice.