NHL Hockey Player News

Utah added to its defensive depth by adding 34-year-old Kevin Connauton to a two-year deal worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV) on Monday. The travelling defensemen last appeared in the NHL in 2021-22 with Philadelphia. In 2023-24, he was an assistant captain for Ontario (AHL) and had three goals and 18 points in 61 games played.

Matt Murray will remain a Toronto Maple Leaf after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract extension on Monday. The 30-year-old last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 with Toronto but made three appearances with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2023-24, putting up a 4.03 GAA and .846 SV%.

Heinen had to wait until a few weeks into the season to sign with Boston off a PTO in 2023-24 and has earned an early contract heading in 2024-25 after signing a two-year deal worth $4.5 million ($2.25M AAV) with Vancouver. The 28-year-old was a natural fit in Boston's lineup last season, with 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games played.

Vancouver added to its offensive depth on Monday as it signed Kiefer Sherwood to a two-year deal worth $3.0 million ($1.5M AAV). The 29-year-old is coming off his best statistical season in the NHL as he finished 2023-24 with 10 goals, 27 points, 41 PIMs and a +17 plus/minus.

Elias Petterson may have found his winger of the future as Vancouver signed left-winger Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal worth $38.5 million ($5.5M AAV). The 27-year-old had spent his first seven seasons in Boston and had 19 goals and 40 points in 80 games played in 2023-24.

Edmundson will join his fourth team in three years (TOR, WSH, MTL) after he signed a four-year deal worth $15.2 million ($3.8M AAV) on Monday. The 31-year-old defensive defensemen was acquired from Washington by Toronto at the trade deadline last season and he had one goal and six points in 53 games played.

Duhaime will join his third team in two seasons after Washington signed the bottom-six winger to a two-year deal worth $3.7 million ($1.85M AAV). The 27-year-old is in his fifth NHL season and had five goals and 13 points in 80 games between Minnesota and Colorado in 2023-24.

Carrier has spent the last seven seasons with Vegas but will pack his bags as he heads to Carolina on a six-year, $12.0 million ($2.0M AAV) deal. The 29-year-old had a down and injury-filled season in 2023-24, with only six goals and eight points in 39 games played.

Boston will add to its overall grit after signing towering defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year deal worth $30.0 million ($5.0M AAV). By joining the Bruins, the 29-year-old will join his sixth NHL team in the 12th year of his career after posting six goals, 20 points and 125 PIMs in 75 games between Calgary and Vancouver in 2023-24.

Columbus made their big splash on Monday by signing 29-year-old Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million ($5.5M AAV). The 11-year-old veteran is joining his fourth NHL team in Columbus after putting up his highest point production (59 Pts) since 2018-19 with both Montreal and Winnipeg in 2023-24.

After an injury-filled campaign in 2023-24 that consisted of 18 total games played, Viktor Arvidsson has decided to take his talents to Edmonton after signing a two-year deal worth $8.0 million ($4.0M AAV). The 31-year-old still managed an impressive six goals and 15 points despite only playing in 18 games in 2023-24 but has five 20+ goal seasons to his name over his 10-year career.

Perron will join his seventh NHL team in 18 seasons after he signed a two-year deal worth $8.0 million ($4.0M AAV). with Ottawa on Monday. The 36-year-old has been the definition of consistent over the last few seasons as he has surpassed 46+ points in eight straight seasons. In 2023-24, he had 17 goals, 47 points and 55 PIMs in 76 games played with Detroit.

Zucker spent 2023-24 between Arizona and Nashville but earned himself a one-year deal worth $5 million with the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old will join his fifth NHL team in his 14th season after putting up 14 goals, 32 points, and 81 PIMs in 69 games between the Coyotes and Predators.

Toronto solidified its crease on Monday by making its second goalie signing of the day by bringing in Anthony Stolarz to a two-year deal worth $5.0 million ($2.5M AAV). The 30-year-old netminder made a massively positive impression in his first year backing up in Florida, leading all back-ups by posting a 16-7-2 record, 2.03 GAA and .925 SV%.

Boston made one of the biggest free agent splashes on Monday as it signed forward Elias Lindholm to a seven-year deal worth $54.25 million ($7.75M AAV). The 29-year-old will join his third team in two seasons after a down year in 2023-24, with his 15 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and -14 plus/minus in 75 games played between Calgary and Vancouver.

Chicago completed their goaltending tandem on Monday as Laurent Brossoit joined Petr Mrazek in the Blackhawks' goaltending room after signing a two-year deal worth $6.6 million ($3.3M AAV). The 31-year-old solidified himself as one of the NHL's best backups after an incredibly successful first season in Winnipeg, with his 15-5-2 record, 2.00 GAA, .927 SV% and three shutouts.

Alec Martinez will join Chicago for his 16th NHL season after the veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Blackhawks on Monday. The three-time Stanley Cup Champion only managed to play in 55 games in 2023-24 due to injury, but still had four goals, 17 points, and 72 SOG while averaging 19:03 TOI/GP.

After six lacklustre seasons away from Winnipeg, Eric Comrie will return to the Jets on a one-year deal worth $825,000 to provide much-needed goaltending depth. The 28-year-old spent 2023-24 with Buffalo and struggled mightily in his 10 appearances, with his 2-7-0 record, 3.69 GAA and .874 SV%.

Arguably the biggest fish of the free agent market is off the board early on Monday as Steven Stamkos has signed a four-year deal worth $32.0 million ($8.0M AAV) with Nashville after 16 successful seasons in Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old brings a full trophy collection to the Predators as he's a two-time Cup winner, two-time Rocket Richard Winner and a two-time all-star. In 79 games played in 2023-24, he had 40 goals and 81 points alongside 262 SOG.

Nashville's massive first day of Free Agency continued Monday as Brady Skjei joined Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in joining the Predators after he signed a seven-year deal worth $49.0 million ($7.0M AAV). The 30-year-old spent his first nine NHL seasons between New York and Carolina and had a career year in 2023-24 with 13 goals, 47 points, 40 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 80 games played.