Rittich being loaned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL signifies that the Los Angeles Kings will begin their 2023-24 campaign with Cam Talbot and Phoenix Copley as their goaltending tandem. Rittch had a phenomenal preseason with the Kings, posting a 1.17 GAA and a .960 SV% in three appearances (2-0-0), and will be eager to get back to the NHL level if Copley falters early on.
Heineman was fighting for a final spot on Montreal's opening night roster but unfortunately has been informed Monday that he will be returned to Laval (AHL) on loan for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 21-year-old winger was drafted by Montreal in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (43rd overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut. He returns to Laval where he had seven goals, two assists, six PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus in a short, yet impressive 11-game debut in 2022-23.
Romanov was originally expected to miss a portion of training camp as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery but is now "100 percent" to start training camp. The 23-year-old defencemen is coming off his first season in Long Island after recording two goals, 20 assists, 43 PIMs, and a +13 plus/minus through 76 games played. The bruising defensemen is expected to be a key piece of the Islanders' third defensive pair this season.
George was drafted by the Islanders in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (98th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with New York. The 19-year-old defenseman is expected to return to the London Knights for the 2023-24 season where he had seven goals, 22 points, 14 PIMs and a +23 plus/minus through 54 games played in 2022-23.
Lou Lamoriello announced Monday that Alexander Romanov may not be ready for the start of camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The 23-year-old defencemen is coming off his first season in Long Island after recording two goals, 20 assists, 43 PIMs, and a +13 plus/minus through 76 games played. The islanders will be hoping to have him back for the start of the regular season at the latest.
DeAngelo cleared waivers a week ago after scoring 11 goals, 31 assists, 174 SOG, 73 PIMs and a -27 plus/minus with Philadelphia in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $1,675,000 contract with Carolina. The 27-year-old defensemen returns to the Hurricane's where he spent one incredibly productive season in 2021-22 (10G/51Pts in 64 GP). In the last two seasons, DeAngelo is 27th among defensemen in points (93 in 134 GP) across the entire NHL making this a very well priced signing for the Hurricanes.
Highmore had 19 goals, 42 assists, 34 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 68 games in 2022-23 with Springfield (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Otttawa. The 27-year-old centre brings 139 career NHL games of experience to the Senators, where he picked up 12 goals and 27 points to go along with 165 SOG.
Gauthier had nine goals, five assists, six PIMs and a -6 plus/minus through 57 games with both Ottawa and the New York Rangers in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $1.575 million contract ($787,500 AAV) with the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old was Carolina's 2016 first-round pick (21st overall) and has picked up 14 goals and 18 assists across 153 games played in his career.
Rittich was 9-8-1 with a 2.67 GAA and .901 SV% in 2022-23 as Nashville's backup goaltender and has signed a one-year deal worth $875,000 AAV with Los Angeles. The 30-year-old towering netminder will be joining his fifth team in four years and brings a record of 79-51-21 with a .904 SV% and 2.87 GAA to the Kings this season.
Varlamov was 11-9-2 with a 2.70 GAA and .913 SV% backing up the New York Islanders in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year contract extension worth $11.0 million ($2.75M AAV). The 35-year-old netminder has amassed a career record of 272-22-64 with a 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% throughout his 15 year NHL career.
Mayfield had six goals, 18 assists, 119 SOG, 83 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 82 games with the New York Islanders in 2022-23 and has signed a seven-year contract extension worth $24.5 million ($3.5M AAV). The 30-year-old defenseman has 25 goals, 111 points and 395 PIMs across 428 career NHL games and nine seasons all with the Islanders.
Sorokin finished second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2022-23 with his 31-22-7 record, 2.34 GAA and .924 SV% and has signed an eight-year contract worth $66.0 million ($8.25M AAV) with the Islanders. The 27-year-old goaltender is entering his fourth season in New York and holds an impressive career 2.34 GAA, 924 SV% and 70-46-18 record.
Engvall had 17 goals, 13 assists, 131 SOG, 31 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 76 games played in 2022-23 with both Toronto and the New York Islanders and has signed a seven-year contract extension worth $21.0 million ($3.0M AAV) with New York. The 27-year-old left-winger was acquired by the Islanders for. 2024 third-round pick at the Trade deadline in 2022-23.
Drouin had two goals, 27 assists, 69 SOG, 18 PIMs and a -18 plus/minus through 58 games with Montreal in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 with Colorado. The 28-year-old left-winger joins his third NHL team and is reacquainted with his old junior lineman in superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Through 485 career games played, he has 77 goals, 204 assists, and 94 power play points.
Liukas was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft and signs after his second full season in the Liiga. The 20-year-old winger scored 14 goals and nine assists (23 points) in 58 games with HPK Hameenlinna in 2023. He also represented Finland at the 2023 World Juniors, posting just two assists in six games.
MacLean turned pro in 2021 and has spent the last three seasons in Bridgeport (AHL). In 2023, the 24-year-old scored 11 goals with 16 assists (27 points) in 67 games.
The Islanders selected Maggio in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old winger led the OHL in goals (54) and points (111) during the 2023 season. Expect him to open the 2023-24 season with Bridgeport (AHL).
