Hammell was Seattle's 2023 5th-round pick (148th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday. The 20-year-old defenseman captained the Everett Silvertips (WHL) in 2024-25 and had 10 goals and 38 points in 59 games played.
Kirasanov was Los Angeles's 2021 3rd-round pick (84th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Kings after spending the last five seasons in the KHL. The 22-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to report to Ontario (AHL) for the start of this season. In 2024-25, he had three goals, seven points, and a +5 plus/minus in 34 games played with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).
Brown had missed Edmonton's previous two games with an undisclosed injury but announced Sunday he is good to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final after being a full participant in practice. The 31-year-old right-winger has taken a massive step forward this post-season with five goals, eight points and 21 SOG through 14 games before his injury.
Ilyin is Pittsburgh's 2023 5th-round pick (142nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Saturday. The 20-year-old Russian winger spent 2024-25 with Severstal (KHL) and had seven goals, 30 points and 14 PIMs in 64 games played.
San Jose announced Friday that Andrew Poturalski has been released from his professional contract as he attempts to sign in Europe and continue his career across the border. The 31-year-old winger appeared in three total games with San Jose in 2024-25 and picked up 1 assist, but spent the majority of the season with the Barracuda (AHL), where he excelled with 30 goals and 73 points in 59 games.
Smith is Utah's 2024 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract upon the completion of Moncton's Memorial Cup run. The 18-year-old center spent 2024-25 with Moncton (QMJHL) and had 20 goals, 39 points and 62 PIMs in 52 games played.
Nabokov was Colorado's 2024 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche. The 22-year-old Russian netminder has already been loaned back to Metallurg (KHL) for the 2025-26 season after posting a 23-17-6 record, .923 SV% and 2.22 GAA in 49 games played in 2024-25.
Grans only appeared in six games for the Philadelphia Flyers in his rookie season in 2024-25, picking up an assist and two PIMs and has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract worth $787,000 AAV. The 23-year-old defenseman was Los Angeles's 2020 2nd round pick (35th overall) and spent the majority of 2024-25 putting up eight goals and 23 points in 66 games played with Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Boqvist was acquired off waivers by Long Island in 2024-25 and has signed a one-year, $850,000 contract extension to remain with the Islanders for at least one more season. The 24-year-old mobile defenseman was once the 2018 8th overall pick but has struggled to find his footing, even playing forward at times for the Islanders last season. In 35 games combined between Florida and New York, he had four goals and 14 points while producing a -9 plus/minus.
After five successful seasons on Long Island, Kyle Palmieri has committed to two more after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV). The 34-year-old continued to play a crucial top-six role in 2024-25, picking up 24 goals, 48 points and 169 SOG in 82 games played. He is only 100 games away from reaching the illustrious 1000 games played mark.
Ekholm has yet to play in the postseason but will make his debut on Thursday in Game 5. The 34-year-old Ekholm had 33 points (9G / 24A) in 65 games this season and would be a massive boost on the Oilers blueline.
Bourque will slot in on Thursday as the Stars look to shake things up with their season on the line. Oskar Back will sit in his place.
Back will take a seat on Thursday as the Stars look to shake things up with their season on the line. Mavrik Bourque will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Stars will of course hand Oettinger the start for a do or die Game 5 against the Oilers on Thursday. Oettinger played well in Game 4 despite being tagged with a third consecutive defeat, stopping 29 of the 31 shots he faced in the 4-1 loss. The 26-year-old netminder has a 9-8-0 record in 17 games this post-season, posting a .908 SV% and a 2.72 GAA. Oettinger and the Stars enter action on Thursday at -130 on the money line.
Foerster was the 23rd overall pick of the Flyers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has 83 points (48G / 35A) in 166 career games with the team. The 23-year-old Foerster played a career-high 81 games last season and scored a career-high 43 points (25G / 18A).
With Mattias Ekholm (undisclosed) expected to make his 2024-25 postseason debut on Thursday for Game 5, Stecher will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 31-year-old Stecher is averaging 15:57 time-on-ice and has zero points through six games this postseason.
Ekholm has yet to play in the postseason but will likely make his debut on Thursday in Game 5. The 34-year-old Ekholm had 33 points (9G / 24A) in 65 games this season and would be a massive boost on the Oilers blueline.
Utah acquired DeSimone via waivers and he made an impact with the club, securing a one-year contract extension. The 30-year-old defenseman had six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with Utah this season.
Mukhamadulin played a career-high 30 games with the Sharks this season and will return to the club in 2025-26. The 23-year-old defenseman had nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games this season.
