Harkins, the 47th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, has established himself as a reliable bottom-six forward. The 29-year-old scored eight points (3G / 5A) last season in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks.
Kralovic, the 90th overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract. The 20-year-old Slovak defenseman has yet to play a professional game in the North America, but he had an impressive 2025-26 season in Slovakia, scoring 31 points (6G / 25A) in 52 games for Bratislava Slovan.
Foote, the 27th overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, has not been able to make the full-time jump to the NHL level but has provided solid organizational depth wherever he goes. The 25-year-old forward scored one goal last season in 12 games with the Florida Panthers.
Thrun has 123 games of NHL experience under his belt, but was limited to just four games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 23 points (5G / 18A) in 55 games with the Toronto Marlies.
Lombardi was a fourth-round pick, 113th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old has yet to play an NHL game and has spent the entirety of the past three seasons in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 2025-26, he scored 42 points (16G / 26A) in 47 games.
Benn's production has dipped in recent seasons, but he still adds solid value on a league-minimum contract for a Dallas Stars team facing salary cap adversity. The soon-to-be 37-year-old forward averaged a career-low 13:17 time-on-ice in 2025-26, but still managed a serviceable 36-point campaign (15G / 21A) while playing 60 games.
Toronto has added significant forward depth this offseason, with Lettieri adding to the growing list of capable forwards that can flourish in a bottom-six role. The 31-year-old forward spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 42 points (14G / 28A) in 55 games with the Toronto Marlies.
Hlavaj was buried behind some strong organizational goaltending depth for the Minnesota Wild and hopes to get a bigger chance to showcase his talents in Toronto, likely in the AHL with the Marlies. The 25-year-old Slovak goalie had modest numbers player for a poor Iowa (AHL) team last season, posting a 3.28 GAA and .887 SV% in 22 games (7-11-4), but made a name for himself while representing Slovakia at the Winter Olympics.
Skinner made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Blues, but has otherwise exclusively played in the AHL. The 25-year-old defenseman, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, scored 19 points (7G / 12A) last season with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).
Primarily an AHL player, Kirkland appeared in at least 20 games for the Calgary Flames the past two seasons and will add some depth for the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old forward scored two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games with the Flames last season.
Less than a week after being drafted 2nd overall by the San Jose Sharks, Stenberg has been rewarded with a three-year, entry-level contract. The 18-year-old Swedish forward is coming off a 33 point season (11G / 22A) in 43 games with Frolunda HC (SweHL).
Dobes' role has increased over the past two seasons for the Canadiens, culminating in a solid 2025-26 campaign, in which he posted a serviceable 2.78 GAA and .901 SV% in 43 appearances (29-10-4). That said, the 25-year-old Czech goalie made his real mark in the playoffs, guiding his team to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 19 games (9-10). Dobes is expected to share the Canadiens' crease this season with Jacob Fowler.
Keyser is an undrafted goalie that have bounced between the AHL and ECHL in recent seasons. The 27-year-old posted a solid 2.09 GAA and .922 SV% last season in 15 games (9-4-1) with the Colorado Eagles. He will provide some organization depth in 2026-27 for the San Jose Sharks.
Merilainen faces some heavy competition for playing time in Ottawa this season as the team heads into 2026-27 with Linus Ullmark and Sam Ersson both under contract and ahead of him on the depth chart. The 23-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick of the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, struggled in limited NHL action last season, posting a 3.51 GAA and .860 SV5 in 20 appearances (8-10-1).
McDonough, a seventh-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is coming off an impressive 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (23G / 21A) in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 26-year-old forward played six NHL games in 2022-23, but has exclusively played in the AHL since.
Gudbranson battled injuries for most of the 2025-26 season, but his veteran presence will return to the Blue Jackets blueline in 2026-27 after signing a one-year contract extension. The 34-year-old averaged 17:46 time-on-ice, recording three points (1G / 2A), 64 blocks, and 45 hits in 37 games last season.
After a couple of successful seasons with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, Shabanov made his NHL debut in 2025-26 and struggled to find his footing. Regularly a healthy scratch, the talented 25-year-old forward was limited to just 44 games (5G / 13A) while averaging 13:41 time-on-ice. The Minnesota Wild hope that Shabanov can find his scoring touch and gel alongside countryman Kirill Kaprizov in 2026-27.
An NHL veteran of 226 games, Leason spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 44 points (14G / 30A) in 56 games with the Hershey Bears. The 27-year-old forward will likely provided similar organization depth for a young and exciting Sharks team.
Cholowski, the 20th-overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, once viewed as a potential powerplay quarterback, has fallen into more of a depth organizational piece in recent seasons. The 28-year-old defenseman played 17 games last season with the New Jersey Devils, recording two assists.
