Karlsson worked out off-ice on Monday and is "going through the process" according to head coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins have said previously that they expect Erik Karlsson to be ready for the season opener, but he's running out of time to join his teammates fro practice.
Dewar will miss training camp after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery and could start the season on IR. With Dewar missing training camp, it seems unlikely that he'll be available for the first game of the regular season. This could potentially open the door for Easton Cowan to be on the opening night roster.
Tomasino was a first-rounder in 2019 but has yet to become a full-time NHLer with the Predators. Last year, he once again split his campaign between the NHL and AHL, recording 20 points (7G / 13A) in 41 games with Nashville. During his time in Milwaukee (AHL), he had 18 points (11G / 7A) in 22 games. Following the additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in the offseason, Tomasino is going to be battling for a bottom-6 spot in the lineup in training camp.
Toronto announced Wednesday that center Connor Dewar is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp due to a shoulder injury. The extent of Dewar's ailment has yet to be announced but the 25-year-old will hope to be ready when Toronto starts their season on October 9th vs. Montreal. Dewar was acquired by Toronto from Minnesota at last year's trade deadline and finished the season with a career-high 11 goals, 19 points, and 28 PIMs in 74 games played.
Crosby's lifelong connection to the number 87 continued on Monday as the 37-year-old signed a two-year extension worth $8.7 million with Pittsburgh. "Sid the Kid" will once again take a team-friendly contract after coming off one of his most impressive seasons in years in 2023-24, with 42 goals, 94 points and 278 SOG in 82 games played. Crosby is entering his 20th NHL season and is 10th all-time in career points (1596); only 45 points from Joe Sakic and the 9th slot.
Hours after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in a one-for-one deal for Brayden Yager, Rutger McGroarty has signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and had excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with the Michigan Wolverines.
McGroarty had announced in April that he was planning on returning to Michigan (NCAA) for the 2024-25 season but has been dealt from Winnipeg to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager and is now expected to sign his entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and has excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with Michigan.
Murashov is Pittsburgh's 2022 4th round pick (118th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Russian netminder spent the majority of 2023-24 with Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) and had an impressive 2.03 GAA and .930 SV%. He is expected to start 2024-25 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) as he adjusts to North American hockey.
In a bit of an early blow for Montreal, forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard announced Friday that he had successfully underwent surgery for his leg and is expected to miss at least the first four months of the 2024-25 season. The 25-year-old winger set career highs in games played (45) and assists (8) in 2023-24 but had a down year overall with only 10 total points and a -2 plus/minus.
Toronto and Connor Dewar have settled after arbitration on a one-year, $1.18 million contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old forward was acquired by the Maple Leafs' at last year's trade deadline from Minnesota and had 11 goals, 19 points, 28 PIMs and 77 SOG in 74 games between the Maple Leafs and Wild.
Brunicke was a second-round pick (No.44 overall) in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old right-shot blueliner played for the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) during the 2024 season, scoring 10 goals with 11 assists (21 points) in 49 games.
Jones spent 2023-24 with the Colorado Avalanche and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles on Friday. The 27-year-old defensemen is the younger brother of Columbus' Seth Jones and added five assists in 25 games to his 14 goals and 55 career points that he has amassed over five seasons prior to 2023-24.
After five seasons in Long Island, Sebastian Aho has signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old appeared in 58 games in 2023-24, picking up two goals, nine points and 12 PIMs.
Bemstrom will return to Pittsburgh after a successful first-half season with the Penguins and has signed a one-year extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade from Columbus early on in 2023-24 and had eight goals, 16 points and 12 PIMs in 56 games played between Columbus and Pittsburgh.
After six seasons in Los Angeles, Blake Lizotte has joined the Pittsburgh Penguins on a two-year deal worth $3.7 million ($1.85M AAV). The 26-year-old had a down year in 2023-24, with seven goals, 15 points, 20 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus in 62 games played.
Pittsburgh added some grit on Monday by signing 27-year-old Bokondji Imama to a one-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old appeared in six games with Ottawa in 2023-24, but failed to pick up a point while adding seven PIMs and averaging 5:25 TOI/GP.
Shea made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with the Penguins and has earned himself a one-year, contract extension worth $775,000 to stay in Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old has yet to pick up an assist in his 31 NHL games played, but has a goal, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Heinen had to wait until a few weeks into the season to sign with Boston off a PTO in 2023-24 and has earned an early contract heading in 2024-25 after signing a two-year deal worth $4.5 million ($2.25M AAV) with Vancouver. The 28-year-old was a natural fit in Boston's lineup last season, with 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games played.
Mantha will join his third team in two seasons as he signed a one-year deal worth $3,500,000 with the Calgary Flames on Monday. The 29-year-old spent 2023-24 with both Washington and Vegas and had 23 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and 113 SOG in 74 games played.
