NHL Hockey Player News

Karlsson had an extremely successful 2023-24 with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL) picking up 23 goals and 60 points in 60 games played and has signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with Vancouver. The 24-year-old made his NHL debut last season, appearing in four games but failing to pick up a point.

McWard was originally signed by Vancouver out of Ohio State (NCAA) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract after a successful first season with Abbotsford (AHL). The 23-year-old defensemen has appeared in six NHL games across his two seasons with Vancouver, picking up one goal and no assists. In 57 games with Abbotsford in 2023-24, he had four goals and 17 points.

Mitchell was acquired by Boston last offseason in a deal that involved Taylor Hall going to Chicago and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Bruins. The 25-year-old defenseman has four goals and 18 points in 95 career NHL games played after appearing in 13 games for Boston in 2023-24.

Los Angeles has secured a key depth piece of their future for the next three years after signing Alex Turcotte to a three-year contract worth $2.325 million ($775K AAV). The 23-year-old winger is Los Angeles' 2019 first-round pick (5th overall) and has appeared in 32 NHL games in the last three seasons. In 2023-24 he achieved career highs in almost all statistical categories with one goal, four points, 14 SOG, and six PIMs in 20 games played.

Blumel completed his second season in North America with Texas (AHL) in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract to star with the Stars in 2024-25. The 24-year-old winger made his NHL debut and only NHL appearance in 2022-23 and had one goal in six games played. In 72 games with Texas (AHL) last season, he had 31 goals and 62 points.

After 13 goals and 58 points in 69 games with Syracuse (AHL) in 2023-24, Gage Goncalves has signed a one-year, two-way contract to stay with Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old centre was Tampa Bay's 2020 second-round pick (62nd overall) and made his NHL debut in 2023-24, failing to pick up a point in two games played.

Carolina added to its defensive depth over the weekend as they signed 24-year-old offensive defenseman Ty Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The puck-moving defenseman has 47 points in 123 career NHL games played but last appeared in the NHL with Pittsburgh all the way back in 2022-23. He spent all of 2023-24 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and had nine goals and 43 points in 63 games played.

Ottawa added to their organizational depth on Friday as they signed 23-year-old forward Jamieson Rees to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday. Rees had an odd 2023-24 season as he spent it with three separate AHL organizations (Springfield, Charlotte, Belleville) before settling in with the Senators. In 41 combined AHL games, he had no goals and eight points.

Columbus made their first re-signing of the offseason on Friday as they signed Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV). The 23-year-old took a massive step forward in 2023-24, with 16 goals, 29 points and 110 SOG in 53 games played.

Nedeljkovic had an impressive first season in Pittsburgh, mostly backing up Tristan Jarry all season before leading the Penguins' end-of-the-year playoff push and has earned himself a two-year, $5 million ($2,500,000 AAV) contract extension. The 28-year-old finished 2023-24 with a 18-7-7 record, 2.97 GAA and .902 SV% while appearing in 38 total games.

Matinpalo made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with a short four-game appearance and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Thursday. The 25-year-old defenseman moved to North America from Finland in 2023-24 and spent the majority of his season with Belleville (AHL), picking up four goals and 14 points in 67 games played during the regular season.

Guttman had four goals and eight points in 27 games with the Blackhawks in 2023-24 and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Thursday. The 25-year-old centre will be entering his third NHL season in 2024-25 and has eight goals, 14 points and nine PIMs in 41 career NHL contests.

Utah solidified their goaltending depth on Wednesday as they signed goaltender Matt Villalta to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The 25-year-old spent the majority of his 2023-24 with Tucson (AHL) but made his NHL debut for two games with Arizona, going 0-1-0 with a 4.17 GAA and .828 SV%.

Friedman appeared in 23 games for Vancouver in 2023-24 and signed a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Wednesday into the 2024-25 season. The 28-year-old with 88 career NHL games played to his name had no goals, one assist, 16 SOG and 21 PIMs in 23 games played with Vancouver last season.

MacLean made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and has earned himself a three-year, contract extension with the New York Islanders on Wednesday. The 25-year-old spent time in 2023-24 split between the Bridgeport Islanders (43 GP) and New York (32 GP) and had four goals and nine assists with the Islanders during his inaugural NHL season.

Guenette appeared in seven games for Ottawa in 2023-24 and signed a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday to remain with the Senators into the 2024-25 season. The 23-year-old was Ottawa's 2019 seventh-round pick (187th overall) and has appeared in eight total NHL games in his career and is without a point.

Ginning played 67 combined games between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley (AHL) in 2023-24 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract to remain with the Flyers. The 24-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut in 2022-23 and has one goal in 10 NHL games played. He is likely to take on a bigger role with the Flyers in 2024-25.

Fortier had 13 goals and 26 points in 62 games with Syracuse (AHL) in 2023-24 and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Tampa Bay on Monday. The 24-year-old winger made his NHL debut in 2021-22 and has appeared in 11 NHL games with one goal to his name.