Woll was a third-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. The 23-year-old struggled in 2020-21, going 7-7-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .892 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies. Woll will almost certainly open the 2021-22 season in the AHL.
After three years in the NHL, Heiskanen ranks 33rd among blueliners with 95 points (28G / 67A) in 205 games. His raise will make him the sixth-highest paid defenseman (as of now) in 2021-22 with an $8.45M AAV cap-hit. Heiskanen is an absolute workhorse for the Stars, ranking ninth in the NHL in TOI/gm (24:58) last season.
Panik was dealt to Detroit as a part of the Anthony Mantha trade at least year's deadline and had one goal and three assists in 12 games with the Red Wings. Panik has two years remaining at $2.75M AAV but the Red Wings are eating 50 percent of the deal, so the Islanders have Panik at $1.375M AAV and gain $4.125M in cap space in this deal.
Leddy is entering the final year of a seven-year contract that carries a $5.5M AAV cap-hit. The 30-year-old is still a serviceable top-4 defenseman that will help bridge the gap to some of the Red Wings younger prospects who may still be a year away. Detroit will also look to flip him at next year's trade deadline to try and recoup some of the draft capital lost in this trade.
Maltsev was a fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2016 and appeared in 33 games with them in 2021. The 23-year-old winger had nine points (6G / 3A) with the Devils and has picked up 12 goals with 10 assists (22 points) in his first 50 AHL games. Given the depth of the Avalanche roster, Maltsev seems likely to start 2021-22 in the AHL.
Graves being dealt is a product of the Seattle Expansion Draft and New Jersey lands a solid top-4 defenseman that should fit in well with their emerging young blueline. Graves, who has two years left at $3.17M AAV, had two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 54 games with the Avalanche in 2021.
Gambrell was a second-round pick of the Sharks in 2016 and has turned into a decent bottom-6 option for them over the last two season. He has compiled 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 99 games over that stretch and will likely centre the third or fourth line when 2021-22 starts.
After a disappointing year in Boston, Ritchie landed in Calgary last year and had just eight points (4G / 4A) in 32 games but saw more regular playing time. However, hee will be a fringe roster player for the Flames entering the 2021-22 season.
Smith appeared in one game with the Predators last season, spending almost all of the season in Chicago (AHL), where he had five goals and five assists in 23 games. Look for Smith to report to the AHL to open the 2021-22 campaign.
Duclair signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last year and enjoyed a really nice season, posting 32 points (10G / 22A) in 43 games. It was good enough to earn him a three-year deal and a $1.3M AAV raise to be a member of the Panthers' top-9.
McLeod was the No.12 overall pick in 2016 and impressed in his first full NHL season in 2021. The 23-year-old centre scored nine goals with six assists (15 points) in 52 games. Combined with Miles Wood, the duo formed a strong bottom-6 line for the Devils and he will be a regular for them in that role again in 2021-22.
The Panthers claimed Forsling off of waivers from the Hurricanes in early January and posted career-highs in goals (5) and assists (12) in just 43 games in 2021. Forsling figures to be part of the regular blueline rotation for Florida in 2021-22.
Yandle had two years left on a seven-year contract that carried a $6.35M AAV cap-hit. Buying out his contract will save the Panthers just over $4.0M in cap-space in 2021-22, $958.3K in 2022-23 and cost them $1.242M in 2024 and 2025 (per PuckPedia). The 34-year-old defenseman has not missed a regular-season game since 2009 and sits second on the all-time Consecutive Games Played in NHL History list at 922 games.
Belzile had another strong AHL campaign in 2021, scoring four goals with 10 assists (14 points) in 17 games with Laval. He's an AHL veteran with just two games of NHL experience, so expect the 29-year-old to remain with Laval to start the 2021-22 season.
Blueger missed 13 games with an upper-body injury in the shortened 2021 season but still managed to tie his career-best of 22 points (7G / 15A). With Blueger re-signed, the Penguins only need to sign RFA Zach Aston-Reese to bring back one of the best bottom-6 lines in the NHL (Tanev - Blueger - Aston-Reese).
Carlo struggled with injuries during the 2021 campaign, missing 29 of the 56 games and finishing with just three goals and one assist. Still, he's an integral part of the Bruins' top-4 moving forward and they made a lengthy commitment to the 24-year-old.
Wells was a fifth-round pick of the Oilers in 2016 and went 0-4-1 with a 3.77 GAA and .878 SV% in seven AHL starts in 2021. Wells is an RFA but if he's tendered to his qualifying offer in the next week, the Hurricanes would then meet the exposure requirements for the Seattle Expansion Draft.
