Patterson was Vancouver's 2024 5th round pick (125th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old forward is expected to return to the OHL for the 2025-26 season, starting a new chapter with Niagara (OHL) after spending last season in Barrie (OHL) with 25 goals and 59 points in 64 games played.
A long summer of trade rumours has ended for Marco Rossi on Friday after Minnesota announced they had signed the forward to a three-year contract extension worth $5 million AAV ($15M total). The 23-year-old was Minnesota's 2020 1st-round pick (9th overall) and took a massive step forward in 2024-25, posting career highs in goals (24), assists (36), points (60), plus/minus (+3) and PPP (16) across 82 games played. He is expected to continue developing in Minnesota's top six and be a key contributor in 2025-26.
Kravtsov will return to North America for a second stint and another shot at the NHL after Vancouver announced Tuesday they had signed the 25-year-old Russian to a one-year, two-way contract. The big-bodied winger is a former 9th overall pick (2018 draft) but has spent the last two seasons in the KHL after an unsuccessful first turn in the NHL with New York and Vancouver. He impressed in Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) in 2024-25, with 27 goals and 58 points in 66 games played. He will battle for a bottom-six role in training camp.
Vancouver has signed their 2025 1st-round pick in Braeden Cootes after the 18-year-old forward signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The Alberta native spent 2024-25 captaining the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) and had 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games played. He will attempt to secure a position on the Canucks for the upcoming season but is expected to eventually return to Seattle for the majority of 2025-26.
After 40 wins in the last two seasons with Abbotsford (AHL), Nikita Tolopilo has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Vancouver. The 25-year-old undrafted Belarusian netminder made his NHL debut in 2024-25 but struggled in just two appearances, with a .885 SV% and 2.15 GAA. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Abbotsford and will likely have to battle with Arturs Silovs for the starting position yet again.
New York added to it's offensive depth down the wing on Thursday after signing three-year NHL veteran Trey Fix-Wolansky to a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Hartford (AHL) after putting up 26 goals and 60 points in 65 games with Cleveland (AHL) in 2024-25.
After four successful seasons in Cleveland (AHL), Cole Clayton will join his second NHL organization after signing a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose. The 25-year-old defenseman appeared in 63 games with Cleveland last season, picking up a goal, 15 points and 37 PIMs. He will start 2025-26 with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL).
