NHL Hockey Player News

“Tim is a proven winner who we are pleased to have signed,” said Panthers GM Dave Tallon. “He is a fierce competitor who brings to our club a wealth of experience including a Stanley Cup Championship, two Vezina trophies and a Conn Smythe. Thomas sat out the lockout shortened season but in 2011-12 he was 35-19-1 with a 2.36 GAA and .920 SV%. He should become the Panthers starter which gives him some instant fantasy value, but his ceiling is limited.

Stepan, who was a restricted free agent, had been sitting out training camp as contract negotiations with the Rangers were ongoing. He led the Rangers in scoring last season with 26 assists, 44 points and a plus-25 rating in 48 games. Stepan, 23, has not missed a game in three seasons with the Rangers. He has 140 points on 56 goals and 84 assists in 212 games.

The Sabres selected the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Russian defenseman with the 16th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Zadorov, 18, has played in three exhibition games so far this season and recorded his first career goal in the game against Toronto on Sunday. “I think it’s great. It’s a big experience for me to play here in NHL exhibition games,” Zadorov told Sabres.com. “I’ve played three games and I think I did a pretty good job. I just want to try and make the team.”

It’s likely the Leafs blueline pairings are now set, with Franson expected to be reunited with Mark Fraser, a pairing that stuck all of last season. The 26-year-old set a career high scoring four goals with 25 assists (29 points) in 44 games last year.

Theodore was the 26th overall pick in the NHL draft last June. He has one assist in his first three preseason games with Anaheim during training camp. He played more than 22 minutes Sunday against Colorado, leading all Ducks in ice time. Theodore scored 50 points in 71 games with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds last season. He also played for Canada at the under-18 world championships.

Brunner was in Devils camp on a professional tryout but has obviously impressed them enough to earn a contract. The 27-year-old had 12 goals and 14 assists in 44 games in his first NHL season with the Red WIngs.

Raymond had been with the Leafs on a PTO. Raymond will likely see time on the Leafs 3rd line.

Morrow signed a one year deal. The 3rd/4th line designation likely means that Morrow's days as a 30-goal scorer are long over. Don't let the name attract you in any drafts.

Mueller, 18, was taken with the 18th overall selection in June's draft. The native of Switzerland was named his club's rookie of the year after totaling six goals and 31 points in 63 games with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League last season.

Nugent-Hopkins, 20, scored four goals and 24 points in 40 games last season before he was shut down in April to have season-ending shoulder surgery. As a rookie, the third-year NHLer recorded 18 goals and 52 points in 62 contests.

Bigras was selected with the 32nd (2nd Round) overall pick in this year's NHL Entry Draft. He led all Owen Sound defensemen with 38 points (8g/30a) while adding a +35 plus/minus rating in 68 games during the 2012-13 Ontario Hockey League season. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound defenseman ranked second on the team in plus/minus, was third in assists (tied) and fifth in points. He was rated by NHL Central Scouting as the sixth-best North American defenseman in its final rankings for the 2013 Draft.

Thomas, honored as the league's top goalie in 2009 and '11, will join the Panthers for Tuesday's practice. If Thomas earns a spot on the Panthers, Florida would have to find a place for Jacob Markstrom or Scott Clemmensen. Markstrom could stay up with the Panthers -- and even remain the starter.

Fucale was picked 36th overall at the NHL draft in June from the Memorial Cup champion Halifax Mooseheads, where he is expect to return after participating in the Canadiens training camp. The 18-year-old from Rosemere, Que., went 45-5-3 with the powerhouse Mooseheads last season and went 16-1 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

Cowen underwent surgery on Nov. 17 to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, which sidelined him until his return to action on April 16. He played seven regular-season NHL games in 2012-13, scoring one goal and registering 10 penalty minutes. Cowen also played in each of Ottawa’s 10 playoff games against the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording three assists and 21 penalty minutes.

Boll has spent his entire professional career with the Blue Jackets, registering 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points with 963 penalty minutes in 388 games.

Pietrangelo, 23, dressed in 47 games last season, leading the Blues’ defense with 24 points (five goals and 19 assists) while ranking 13th in ice time per game (25:06) among all National Hockey League (NHL) defensemen. Since his first full season in 2010, Pietrangelo is tied for sixth among all defensemen in points (118), ranks 10th in goals (28), tied for ninth in assists (90) and slots 15th in plus/minus (+34) while he became the youngest defenseman in Blues history to record back-to-back 40-plus point seasons in 2010-11 (43) and 2011-12 (51).

He played 47 games for the Jets last season, with no goals and 13 assists. He led Winnipeg in blocked shots (123).

Cleary had a reported three-year, $8.25 million offer on the table from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, but had a change of heart about accepting it.

Hodgson appeared in all 48 games in 2012-13, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. In parts of four NHL seasons, he has appeared in 139 games between the Sabres and Vancouver Canucks, tallying 77 points (35G and 42 A).