NHL Hockey Player News

Back spent the entire 2024 season in Texas (AHL), where he tallied seven goals and 29 assists (36 points). The 2018 third-round pick will likely start the 2025 season in the AHL again.

McCartney was drafted in the seventh round in 2020 and has appeared in just two career NHL games since. The 22-year-old winger spent the entire 2024 season in the AHL, where he scored six goals with 16 assists (22 points) in 46 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.

Koch signed with the Coyotes last June after an eight-year career overseas, playing in Czechia, and Slovakia. The 27-year-old defenseman appeared in one NHL game during the 2024 season, but racked up 15 points (1G / 14A) in 63 AHL games. He figures to start the 2025 season in the AHL.

Walman carries a $3.4 million cap hit for the next two seasons and was traded alongside Tampa Bay's 2024 2nd-round pick from Detroit in what appears to be a cap dump situation. The 28-year-old set the hockey world ablaze with his "Gritty" celebration and had a solid 2023-24 season despite the trade, with 12 goals, 21 points, 108 SOG, 44 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus in 63 games played.

Gibson was the Red Wings' 2023 2nd-round pick (42nd overall) but has been traded to Nashville for Jesse Kiiskinen and a 2024 2nd-round pick. The 19-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL) and had 12 goals and 44 points in 68 games in 2023-24.

Kiiskinen was Nashville's 2023 third-round pic (68th overall) and has been dealt to Detroit alongside a 2024 second-round pick for Andrew Gibson. Kiiskinen is an 18-year-old right-winger who has spent his entire playing career in Finland and had four goals, and 10 points in 38 games with Pelicans (Liiga).

Kolyachonok had a goal and four points in five total games played in 2023-24 with Arizona and signed a two-year contract extension on Monday. The 23-year-old was originally drafted by Florida in 2019 in the 2nd round (52nd overall) and has seven points in 39 total NHL games played across three seasons.

Norris had successful shoulder surgery in March, but Senators GM Steve Staios expects him to be ready for training camp in the fall. Norris has appeared in just 58 games over the last two seasons, posting 18 goals and 15 assists (33 points).

In his fourth full season with the Jets, DeMelo finished with a career-high 31 points (3G / 28A) in 82 games. The 31-year-old has now posted 100-plus hits and blocked shots in three consecutive years and is a key part of the Jets' penalty kill.

Mittelstadt was flipped for Bowen Byram on March 6th and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 18 games with the Avalanche following the deal. He looked much better in the postseason, where he had nine points (3G / 6A) in 11 games. The 25-year-old should continue to serve as the Avalanche's No.2 centre behind Nathan MacKinnon in the 2024-25 season and has back-to-back 55-plus point seasons.

Bongiovanni was traded to the Senators for future considerations on March 15th and finished with 10 points (8G / 2A) in 14 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL). In total, he had 16 goals and nine assists (25 points) in 48 AHL games last year. He should start the 2024-25 season in the AHL.

Bussi finished his third professional season at 23-10-5 with a 2.67 GAA, .913 SV% and one shutout in 41 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL). Bussi figured to become Jeremy Swayman's backup next season following the Linus Ullmark trade, but with Joonas Korpisalo coming the other way, he may have to continue waiting. The two-way contract will allow the Bruins to have that flexibility.

Kastelic is a big (6-2, 210 lbs), rugged forward who will fit into the Bruins' bottom-6 in 2024-25. During the 2023-24 season, Kastelic had 10 points (5G / 5A), 126 hits and 31 blocked shots in 63 games with the Senators.

Korpisalo signed a five-year deal with a $4.0M AAV last July 1st but struggled to live up to his cap-hit in his first year with the Senators. The 29-year-old net minder went 21-26-4 with a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV% in 55 games (49 starts) and gets moved to Boston, where he'll serve as the backup to Jeremy Swayman if he isn't traded again or bought-out. The Senators retained 25 percent ($1.0M AAV) of Korpisalo's contract.

Ullmark is headed into the final year of his contract that carries a $5.0M AAV cap-hit. Ullmark enjoyed tremendous success in his three years in Boston, including a Vezina Trophy and William Jennings Trophy in 2023. He went 88-26-10 with. A 2.28 GAA and .924 SV% in 130 games with the Bruins while splitting time with Jeremy Swayman. In Ottawa, he becomes the unquestioned No.1 net minder and should set a career-high in games played in 2024-25.

Skinner allowed one goal on 21 shots in the Oilers' Game 6 win over the Panthers. After dropping the first three games of the series, Skinner has gone 3-0 while only giving up five goals on 86 shots (.942 SV%) in the last three games. He's now 14-8 with a .901 SV% in 22 playoff games.

Fagemo was originally drafted by the Kings but was claimed off waivers by the Predators last October before being re-claimed by the Kings five weeks later. He spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, where he tallied 62 points (43G / 19A) in 50 games. Through four professional seasons in North America, Fagemo has just four points (3G / 1A) in 21 career NHL games.

Desimone was claimed off waivers by the Devils in January and had two points (1G / 1A) in 11 NHL games with the Devils. Prior to being waived, he had five points (1G / 4A) in 23 games with the Flames. Expect Desimone to be a sixth or seventh defenseman for the Devils in 2024-25.

Pettersen was acquired from Calgary in a one-for-one deal in March 2024 and signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 to stay with Dallas on Monday. The 24-year-old forward has yet to make his NHL debut but had 11 goals and 38 points in 64 games played between Calgary (AHL) and Texas (AHL) last season.