Petrovic only appeared in one game for Dallas in 2023-24 but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Stars next season. The 32-year-old spent his majority of 2023-24 with the Texas Stars (AHL) and had five goals and 22 points in 70 games played.
Atkinson was about to enter the seventh year of of seven-year, $41.25 million ($5,875,000 AAV) but has been bought out by Philadelphia and will enter free agency come July 1st. The 35-year-old winger had a down year in 2023-24, with his 13 goals, 28 points, 175 SOG and -22 plus/minus through 70 games played.
Clague appeared in three games for the Sabres in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 on Friday. The 26-year-old defensemen is in his fifth NHL season and has two goals, and 21 points in 94 career NHL games played.
Saros is entering the final year of a four-year deal that carries a $5.0M AAV cap-hit. When he can officially sign this contract extension on Monday, he'll have the sixth-highest AAV among goalies for the 2025-26 season, but likely the seventh or eighth after Igor Shesterkin and Jeremy Swayman get their new deals. The 28-year-old is coming off one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, going 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SV%. While it was the third-straight season he's won 30-plus games, Saros was 36th out of 54 qualified goalies in GSAx/60 (-0.050). With the massive new deal, the Predators are obviously banking that 2024 was just a one-off.
Mangiapane had a breakout campaign in 2022, scoring 35 goals with 55 points, earning him a three-year contract with a $5.8M AAV cap-hit. He failed to find that same success in 2023 and 2024, combining for less goals (31) and 52 assists (83 points) in 157 games. Entering the final year of that deal, the Capitals are banking on another big contract year season from the 28-year-old winger.
Myers finished a five-year contract that carried a $6.0M AAV cap-hit and signs a three-year extension at half the cap-hit. In 2023-24, Myers had his highest point total (29) since 2019 and had 100-plus blocked shots and hits for then second time in his 15-year career. Next season he should continue to be a top-4 option and among the team-leaders in PK/TOI.
Burroughs went from a sixth/seventh defenseman with the Canucks in 2023 to a top-4 option with the Sharks. He averaged 19:09 TOI/gm and picked up eight points (2G / 6A) while finishing with the fifth-worst plus/minus (-42) in the NHL. With the Kings, he'll likely go back to being a sixth/seventh defenseman.
Grundstrom appeared in 50 games during the 2023-24 season, scoring eight goals with four assists (12 points). Grundstrom has always been a fringe roster player for the Kings but should earn a more permanent role with the Sharks. His last three seasons have been very similar, he's averaged 54 games, 10 goals and six assists (16 points).
Joshua just finished a two-year deal with the Canucks and re-ups for four years at $3.25M AAV. Joshua is coming off of a career-best 18 goals and 32 points in 63 games. He should continue to operate as a middle-6 winger at 5v5 and an important part of the Canucks' penalty kill next season.
Highmore spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, where he had 31 points (9G / 22A) in 43 games. During his brief time in the NHL, he had two assists in seven games, giving him 29 points (12G / 17A) in 146 career NHL games with the Blackhawks, Canucks, Blues and Senators.
Mikheyev is heading into the third-year of a four-year deal that carries a $4.75M AAV cap-hit. As a part of the trade, the Canucks are retaining 15% of that remaining term. The 29-year-old winger is coming off of one of the most productions seasons of his career, he had 31 points (11G / 20A) while appearing in a career-high 78 games. He should fit into the Blackhawks' middle-6 in 2025.
Lafferty just finished a two-year deal, which he originally signed with the Blackhawks before being traded to Toronto and then to Vancouver. He is a pending UFA, so the Blackhawks have a small window to try and get him under contract before he hits the open market. The 29-year-old centre had career-highs in goals (13) and points (24) during the 2023-24 season.
Blueger appeared in 68 games for the Canucks in 2023-24, tying his career-best with 28 points (6G / 22A). He found chemistry on the third line with Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua, so expect him to fill a similar bottom-6 role and an important penalty killer next season.
Crowd favourite Liam "Spicy Tuna" O'Brien will be returning to Utah after the team announced on Wednesday that they have signed him to a three-year, $3 million contract extension ($1,000,000 AAV). The 29-year-old bruising forward completed his third straight 100+ PIM season in 2023-24 and had five goals, 14 points, 72 SOG and 153 PIMs in 75 games played.
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).
