Fresh off of helping Florida win its first Stanley Cup, 33-year-old Dmitry Kulikov has signed a four-year contract extension worth $4.6 million ($1.15M AAV). The veteran defensemen just completed his 15th NHL season and had a goal, 20 points, 63 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 76 games played.
Reinhart absolutely exploded in his contract year, scoring 57 goals, 24 more than his previous career high. He also added 37 assists, to give him 94 points, 12 more than his previous career high. Reinhart was also very strong during the Panthers run to the Stanley Cup, posting 16 points (10G / 6A) in 24 games and scored the Stanley Cup winning goal. Look for him to remain on a line with Aleksander Barkov for the foreseeable future.
Petrovic only appeared in one game for Dallas in 2023-24 but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Stars next season. The 32-year-old spent his majority of 2023-24 with the Texas Stars (AHL) and had five goals and 22 points in 70 games played.
Lafferty just finished a two-year deal, which he originally signed with the Blackhawks before being traded to Toronto and then to Vancouver. He is a pending UFA, so the Blackhawks have a small window to try and get him under contract before he hits the open market. The 29-year-old centre had career-highs in goals (13) and points (24) during the 2023-24 season.
New Jersey made the first big splash of the offseason on Wednesday as they traded 23-year-old Kevin Bahl and their 2025 1st-round pick for goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames. Calgary will retain 31.25% of Markstrom's salary as an add-on in the deal, and a nice cherry on top for New Jersey. In 48 games played in 2023-24 with the Flames, Markstrom was 23-23-2 with a 2.78 GAA AND a .905 SV%.
Ottawa opened up its inaugural Spring Members Summit by announcing that they had signed 24-year-old Angus Crookshank to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 on Wednesday. The left-winger was Ottawa's 2018 fifth-round pick and made his NHL debut in 2023-24, picking up two goals and three points across a short 13-game showing.
Barkov left Game 2 in the second period after a high hit from Leon Draisaitl and had some positive news and signs on Wednesday as he returned to Florida's practice in full. The 28-year-old centre has been the definition of lock-down this offseason and is producing on both ends with his six goals and 19 points in 19 games played. He is expected to be a full go for Game 3 on Thursday in Edmonton.
Barkov left Game 2 in the second period after a high hit from Leon Draisaitl and had some positive news from his head coach Paul Maurice on Tuesday. Maurice announced that the Panthers' captain was progressing and the team will be taking a day-to-day approach as they head into Game 3 on Thursday. A further update should be provided on Wednesday as the team partakes in their regular off-day practices.
Barkov was taken out midway through the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals after a high hit from Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl with an upper-body injury and did not return to finish the game. Head Coach Paul Maurice could not provide any updates in his post-game press conference for the Panthers' captain. Florida's next game is Thursday and we expect more updates to trickle out as the Panthers return to practice in the upcoming days.
Lafferty has been a healthy scratch for the Canucks' previous two contests but will draw back into the lineup for Vasily Podkolzin for Game 7 on Monday vs. Edmonton. The 29-year-old is in his first season with Vancouver but has struggled in the playoffs with no points, six SOG and a -1 plus/minus in 10 games played.
Lafferty has been held scoreless through the first 10 games of the playoffs and is expected to be replaced by Vasily Podkolzin in Vancouver's lineup for Game 5 vs. Edmonton. The 29-year-old Lafferty was a mainstay in Vancouver's lineup during the regular season, with 13 goals and 24 points in 79 games played.
Marchand has missed Boston's previous two games due to an upper-body injury and has a high chance to suit up for Game 6 on Friday after being a full participant in practice on Thursday. The 36-year-old Bruins' captain has led by example in this year's playoffs, with three goals, 10 points, 19 SOG and 16 PIMs in 10 games played before his injury.
Marchand had to leave Game 3 after taking a high hit from Sam Bennett and will miss Game 4 due to an undisclosed injury. The Bruins' captain has been sensational in the playoffs so far, with three goals, 10 points, 19 SOG, and 16 PIMs in 10 games played. Danton Heinen is expected to take his spot in the Bruins' lineup.
