NHL Hockey Player News

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.

McWard has only played nine NHL games in his career, but provided solid organizational depth on the blueline for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The undrafted 25-year-old defenseman spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 27 points (6G / 21A) in 63 games with the Bridgeport Islanders.

Rybinski has yet to play an NHL game but has become an effective contributor in recent seasons in the AHL, which is likely what the Toronto Maple Leafs hope he can bring to their organization. The 25-year-old forward scored 30 points (10G / 20A) last season in 59 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL).

When the 2025-26 season ended, so did Alex Ovechkin's contract, and there was some uncertainty surrounding his future. That said, the 40-year-old goal scorer will continue his NHL career for at least one more season, signing a one-year contract with the only team he has ever known, the Washington Capitals, who drafted him 1st overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Ovechkin remained productive last season, scoring 64 points (32G / 32A) in 82 games. The Capitals have had a busy offseason, bolstering their offence, which could allow them to be more situational and less reliant on Ovechkin in 2026-27.

Middleton has spent the past five seasons with the Minnesota Wild, but will have a change of scenery to start the 2026-27 season as he heads to the Calgary Flames. The 31-year-old defenseman averaged 17:30 time-on-ice, recording 16 points (2G / 14A), 87 hits, and 117 blocks in 75 games last season.

After spending the first six seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a steady shutdown defenseman, Maata has struggled to find a permanent home and will join his seventh team in the last eight seasons. That said, the 31-year-old Finnish defenseman remains a reliable bottom-pairing defenseman. Last season, he averaged 17:13 time on ice, scoring 15 points (2G/3A) in 43 games split between the Calgary Flames and the Utah Mammoth.

Coleman's name circulated in rumours before last season's trade deadline, and his departure from Calgary came to fruition early in the offseason, in a trade to the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Texas native has established himself as a heavy-hitting and intimidating middle-six forward who should fit seamlessly into a gritty Minnesota Wild team. In 2025-26, Coleman averaged 17:20 time-on-ice, recording 35 points (20G / 15A) and 152 hits.

Felhaber spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he had 15 goals and 16 assists (31 points) in 63 games. Expected him to play with the San Jose Barracuda this season.

Barre-Boulet spent almost all of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he was second in the league with 70 points (26G / 44A) in 70 games. Expect him to start 2026-27 in the AHL, but could be one of the first forwards called-up to the Sharks when injuries hit.

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired John Carlson's rights from the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the offseason, but he decided to test the open marketing, ultimately opting two sign a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Darren Raddysh's departure from Tampa Bay, Carlson could be an option to fill the void on the team's top powerplay unit. The 36-year-old Carlson had a terrific 2025-26 season, split between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks, scoring 60 points (14G / 46A) in 71 games.

Heinola was drafted 20th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The Jets decided to move on from the 24-year-old defenseman, resulting in a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Heinola spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he scored 21 points (3G / 18A) in 44 games with the Manitoba Moose.

Lavoie, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, has not been able to earn an extended look at the NHL level, but hopes to build momentum after a tremendous 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward scored 56 points (30G / 26A) last season in 45 games with the Henderson Silver Knights (AHL).

Gatcomb is no stranger to the NHL, with 16 points (11G / 5A) in 88 career games, and will provide solid organizational depth for the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old forward played a career-high 49 games with the New York Islanders last season, scoring seven points (3G / 4A).

Fleming is an undrafted 23-year-old who has spent most of the past two seasons in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. The defenseman had 14 points (4G / 10A) last season in 60 games with Henderson.