NHL Signings & Free Agents

Gravel appeared in 109 NHL games from 2016-to-2020 but has played exclusively in the AHL for each of the last two seasons. The 30-year-old defenseman provides organizational depth on D but will likely spend most, if not all of 2022-23 in Milwaukee (AHL).

McKeown returned to North America for the 2021-22 season after playing with Skelleftea AIK (SHL) during the 2020-21 campaign. He had 20 points (3G / 17A) in 61 AHL games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL). Since being selected No.50 overall in 2014, McKeown has appeared in just 10 career NHL games.

Sherwood has had stints with the Ducks and Avalanche since turning pro in 2018, appearing in a combined 87 career NHL games, posting 18 points (7G / 11A). With the Predators he'll likely remain a fringe roster player that will excel during his time in the AHL--he was third in the league in goals (36) and sixth in points (75) in 2022.

Smith turned pro with the Predators in 2022, appearing in nine NHL games and 82 AHL games since. In 2022, he was third on Milwaukee (AHL) in goals (21) and fourth in points (41) in 59 games.

Gross, 27, was with the Avalanche last season, appearing in just one NHL game. He spent most of the season in the AHL, where he led alldefensemen with 65 points (10G / 55A) in 61 games. He has just four assists in 10 career NHL games and will likely report to Milwaukee (AHL) to open the 2022-23 season.

Limoges played the last season and a half with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) after finishing his four years at Penn St. University. In 2022, Limoges led the Gulls in goals (23) and points (40) in 62 games. He'll likely report to Manitoba (AHL).

Wolanin appeared in 30 NHL games with the Senators back in 2019 but has only played in a combined 30 games in the three years since, posting one goal and four assists with the Senators, Kings and Sabres. He spent most of last season in the AHL, where he had 18 points (1G / 17A) in 37 games with Ontario.

Hayden had just two goals and two assists in 55 games with the Sabres in 2022. In his six-year career, the 27-year-old has never played more than 54 games and has a career-high of four goals and 13 points. Heading to Seattle, he should fill out a fourth-line role for the Kraken but they have the flexibility to send him down with the two-way contract.

Capobianco was a third-round pick in 2015 and appeared in 59 NHL games with the Coyotes over the last five years. Most of those appearances came in 2022 when he had nine points (2G / 7A) in 45 games. He'll probably be a reserve defenseman for the Jets as Dylan Samberg and Ville Heinola are poised to become full-time NHLers in the very near future.

Klok comes over from the KHL, where he had 31 points (5G / 26A) in 44 games with Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik. There's not a ton of depth on the left-side of the Coyotes' blueline but he will likely start the season in the AHL and have to work his way up the depth chart.

Mete's Canadian tour continues as he started his career in Montreal, then was claimed off of waivers by Ottawa and now signs with Toronto. The 24-year-old will serve as a depth defenseman in Toronto and may not see regular playing time.

After one year in Minnesota, Benn signs with the Maple Leafs where he'll likely be deep on the depth chart. Benn filled a similar role with the Wild, only appearing in 39 games, scoring one goal with seven assists.

Jankowski was with the Sabres last season, scoring two goals with three assists in 19 games. He spent more time in the AHL, registering 27 points (10G / 17A) in 32 games for Rochester. Heading to Nashville, he may open the 2022-23 season with Milwaukee (AHL).

The Devils selected Nemec with the No.2 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old Slovakian defenseman had 26 points (1G / 25A) in 39 games with Nitra MHC (Slovak Extraliga) last season. He also represented Slovakia at the 2022 World Juniors (one assist in two games) and the 2022 Olympics (one assist in seven games).

Borgstrom was the No.23 overall pick in 2016 and was traded to Chicago in 2021. He never really carved out a large role with the Blackhawks, finishing the 2022 season with just seven points (4G / 3A) in 52 games. In Washington, he'll likely start the season with Hershey (AHL) but could be the first call-up when the Capitals are in need of a centre.

With Nicklas Backstrom recently undergoing hip surgery and expected to miss an extended period of time, the Capitals sign Strome to a one-year deal, presumably to be their No.2 centre in 2022-23. Strome excelled while playing up in the Blackhawks lineup last season but found himself near the bottom of the depth chart often as well. If he sticks on the second line with players like Anthony Mantha and T.J Oshie, Strome should be able to replicate the 22 goals and 26 assists (48 points) we saw from him a season ago.

Lankinen spent his first two NHL seasons in Chicago, where he was solid in 2021 but struggled in 2022. Last season he was 8-15-6 with a 3.50 GAA and .891 SV% in 32 games. Heading to Nashville, he'll battle with Connor Ingram for the backup role behind Juuse Saros.

Norris was an RFA and signed an eight-year deal that carries a $7.95M AAV cap-hit and a limited no-trade clause in the final four years. Norris is coming off of a breakout campaign, leading the Senators in goals (35) and third in points (55) in just 66 games. With the additions of Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux this offseason, Norris will have no shortage of talented wingers to play with next season.

McLaughlin spent four seasons with the Rockford IceHogs, finishing second on the team with 42 points (13G / 29A) in 55 games last season. He'll likely report to Springfield (AHL) for 2022-23.

Highmore played the last two seasons with the Canucks, posting 12 points (5G / 7A) in 46 games a season ago. Signing a two-way contract with the Blues suggests he'll start the 2022-23 season in Springfield (AHL).