Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain at Toronto's Prospect Showdown last week and will not be ready for training camp. It is tough news for the 20-year-old center who is now without a timetable to return after originally having a shot to crack Toronto's opening-day roster. Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.
Toronto added to its forward depth on Wednesday as they signed 24-year-old undrafted forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 6'0" centre has appeared in seven NHL games for the Maple Leafs in the last three seasons but spent the vast majority of his time with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) since joining from Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2021-22. Steeves had an impressive AHL campaign in 2023-24 with 27 goals, 57 points and 26 PIMs in 65 games played.
Patrik Laine's offseason saga comes to an end after he was traded to Montreal on Monday alongside a 2026 2nd-round pick for Jordan Harris. Harris heads to Columbus after three strong seasons in Montreal and has eight goals and 32 points in 131 career games played. The 24-year-old was Montreal's 2018 3rd-round pick (71st overall).
The Sabres and Jokiharju avoid arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. Jokiharju will be a UFA when the contract is up next July. The 25-year-old blueliner is coming off of the best offensive season of his career, posting a career-best 20 points (3G / 17A) in 74 games. Expect him to be the Sabres' No.4 or No.5 defenseman this year, depending on the status of Matias Samuelsson.
The Flames signed Jonathan Aspirot to a one-year, two-way contract. Aspirot spent 2024 with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), posting 33 points (6G / 27A) in 66 games. The 25-year-old undrafted defenseman will likely start 2025 with the Wranglers.
Minnesota continued their depth signings on Tuesday by bringing in Cleveland's (AHL) captain last season Brendan Gaunce to a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old has appeared in 177 career NHL games since 2015-16 and has 13 goals and 28 points during that span. In 2023-24 he spent 24 games with Columbus (4 Pts) and the remainder of the season with Cleveland (AHL) where he had 19 goals and 39 points in 46 games played.
Sweezey spent the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL with Cleveland but has earned himself a two-year deal worth $1.55 million (775K AAV). The 28-year-old defensemen's last and only NHL appearance came in the form of nine games with Columbus in 2022-23. In 2023-24, he had a goal and four points in 57 games with Cleveland (AHL).
After three seasons as Vegas' third goalie, Jiri Patera has signed a two-year, two-way contract with Vancouver. The 25-year-old netminder appeared in six games in 2023-24 with the Golden Knights, posting a 1-3-1 record, 3.98 GAA and .893 SV%.
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.
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.
Jeannot's tenure in Tampa Bay is over after one and a half seasons after he was dealt to Los Angeles for a 2024 4th Round Pick and a 2025 2nd Round Pick on Saturday. The 27-year-old scrappy winger will join his third NHL team after putting up seven goals, 14 points, 75 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus in 55 games with Tampa Bay in 2023-24.
Mittelstadt was flipped for Bowen Byram on March 6th and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 18 games with the Avalanche following the deal. He looked much better in the postseason, where he had nine points (3G / 6A) in 11 games. The 25-year-old should continue to serve as the Avalanche's No.2 centre behind Nathan MacKinnon in the 2024-25 season and has back-to-back 55-plus point seasons.
Kastelic is a big (6-2, 210 lbs), rugged forward who will fit into the Bruins' bottom-6 in 2024-25. During the 2023-24 season, Kastelic had 10 points (5G / 5A), 126 hits and 31 blocked shots in 63 games with the Senators.
