Benson was Buffalo's 2023 1st-round pick (13th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract Friday. The 18-year-old forward had 36 goals, 62 assists, 49 PIMs and a +68 plus/minus through 60 games with Winnipeg (WHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to Wenatchee (WHL) for the 2023-24 season.
Geertsen had four goals, four assists, 136 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 61 games with Utica (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $1.55 Million ($775,000 AAV). The 28-year-old defenseman has played in 25 career NHL games, failing to pick up a point but picking up 77 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus.
Villalta was a third-round pick of the Kings in 2017 and played for their AHL team for the last four seasons. In 2023, Villalta went 12-8-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .910 SV% in 22 games with Ontario (AHL). Villalta will likely start the 2023-24 season in the AHL, as he sits behind Karel Vejmelka, Connor Ingram and Ivan Prosvetov (RFA) on the depth chart.
Lyon was one of the best stories of the 2022-23 season as his late season heroics helped will Florida into one of the final playoff positions and has signed a two-year, $900,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old travelling netminder had his most successful season to date in 2022-23, going 9-4-2 with a .914 SV% and 2.89 GAA.
Zucker has been with the Penguins for the last three seasons since being dealt from Minnesota win 2020. Injuries plagued him in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh, but he missed just four games last year, scoring 27 goals with 21 assists (48 points) in 78 games. With the Coyotes, Zucker will provide some much-needed offensive punch to their top-6 and looks primed to be traded to a contender at the 2024 Trade Deadline.
Sheary had 15 goals, 22 assists, 154 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 82 games with Washington in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year deal worth $6.0 million ($2.0M AAV) with Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season with his fourth different team, having scooped 252 points (120G/132A) through 531 career games played.
Quinn had 14 goals, 23 assists, 126 SOG, 15 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus through 75 games in 2022-23 but will miss a good portion of the beginning of the 2023-24 season as he recovers from Achilles Surgery (4-6 Month recovery). It is a tough blow for the 21-year-old right-winger who was expected to take on a larger role in his second full season in Buffalo. He was the Sabres 2020 1st Round draft pick (8th overall).
Quinn suffered an Achilles tendon injury during training and underwent successful surgery on Wednesday. Quinn will miss the start of the 2023-24 season but could be back by early November.
Meyer had an assist, 17 SOG, six PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 14 games with Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old right-winger has played in two seasons for the Blue Jackets, picking up a goal and four points across 27 total NHL games played.
Johnson was selected in the first round (No.31 overall) of the 2019 NHL draft, and signs his ELC after his senior season at the University of Minnesota. The 21-year-old defenseman had 18 points (4G / 14A) in 40 games this season, and figures to start the 2023-24 season with Rochester (AHL).
Georgiev allowed three goals on 43 shots (.930 SV%) as he dropped Game 4 in a 3-2 overtime loss to Seattle his last time out but will take the pipes yet again Wednesday for Game 5 in Colorado. The 27-year-old has been solid in his first season as a starter in the playoffs, brandishing a 2-2-0 record, 2.99 GAA and .908 SV%. He will hope to get Colorado back in the win column as they host Seattle, who was forth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).
Georgiev allowed four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%) but still picked up his second-straight victory as he propelled Colorado to a 2-1 series lead after a 6-4 win in his previous start. The 27-year-old has been shaky this post-season compared to his strong regular season, with his 2-1-0 record, 2.02 GAA and .898 SV%. He will look to pick up a third consecutive victory over Seattle Monday, who finished the regular season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).
Georgiev stopped 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a winning effort to tie Colorado's opening series 1-1 as they beat Seattle 3-2 on Thursday. The 27-year-old has carrier his strong regular season play right into the post-season as he is 1-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .915 SV%. He will hope to keep the Avalanche in the win column as they take on Seattle on the road, who was fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52) during the regular season.
Lyon stopped 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%) to even up the Panthers' opening series with a 6-3 win over Boston in Game 3. The 30-year-old journeyman had an exceptional end to the 2022-23 season as he propelled Florida into the playoffs with his 9-4-2 record, 2.89 GAA and .914 SV%. He will hope for more positive results in Game 3 vs. Boston, who closed out the regular season second in the NHL in goals per game (3.67) and ninth in shots per game (33.0).
Georgiev stopped 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) but took the hard loss as he was downed 3-1 by the Seattle Kraken in Game 1 Tuesday. The 27-year-old was incredible in his first season in Colorado, ranking second all-time in single-season franchise wins with a 40-16-6 record, .919 SV% and 2.53 GAA. He will hope for better results in Game 2 vs. Seattle, who finished the 2022-23 season fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).
