NHL Hockey Player News

Los Angeles has secured a key depth piece of their future for the next three years after signing Alex Turcotte to a three-year contract worth $2.325 million ($775K AAV). The 23-year-old winger is Los Angeles' 2019 first-round pick (5th overall) and has appeared in 32 NHL games in the last three seasons. In 2023-24 he achieved career highs in almost all statistical categories with one goal, four points, 14 SOG, and six PIMs in 20 games played.

Blumel completed his second season in North America with Texas (AHL) in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract to star with the Stars in 2024-25. The 24-year-old winger made his NHL debut and only NHL appearance in 2022-23 and had one goal in six games played. In 72 games with Texas (AHL) last season, he had 31 goals and 62 points.

After 13 goals and 58 points in 69 games with Syracuse (AHL) in 2023-24, Gage Goncalves has signed a one-year, two-way contract to stay with Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old centre was Tampa Bay's 2020 second-round pick (62nd overall) and made his NHL debut in 2023-24, failing to pick up a point in two games played.

Carolina added to its defensive depth over the weekend as they signed 24-year-old offensive defenseman Ty Smith to a one-year, two-way contract. The puck-moving defenseman has 47 points in 123 career NHL games played but last appeared in the NHL with Pittsburgh all the way back in 2022-23. He spent all of 2023-24 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) and had nine goals and 43 points in 63 games played.

With Egor Afanasyev looking for a way out of Nashville if he didn't get more ice time next season, San Jose jumped all over the rumours and acquired the 23-year-old towering left-winger in a one-for-one trade for right-winger Ozzy Wieblatt. Wiesblatt was San Jose's 2020 first-round pick (31st overall) and spent the 2023-24 season with both San Jose (AHL) and Milwaukee (AHL). In his second AHL season since making the jump from the WHL, he had only four goals and 17 points combined in 50 games played.

Nashville made a minor prospect deal on Sunday as they traded Egor Afanasyev to San Jose for right-winger Ozzy Wiesblatt. The Predators had their hands tied with Afanasyev as he had informed them that he expected to play in the NHL full-time next season or he would be heading back to his native country of Russia. The 23-year-old left-winger has appeared in 19 NHL games with the Predators in the last two seasons and has one goal, no assists and a -8 plus/minus.

Ottawa added to their organizational depth on Friday as they signed 23-year-old forward Jamieson Rees to a one-year, two-way contract on Friday. Rees had an odd 2023-24 season as he spent it with three separate AHL organizations (Springfield, Charlotte, Belleville) before settling in with the Senators. In 41 combined AHL games, he had no goals and eight points.

Columbus made their first re-signing of the offseason on Friday as they signed Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2,100,000 AAV). The 23-year-old took a massive step forward in 2023-24, with 16 goals, 29 points and 110 SOG in 53 games played.

Cogliano announced Friday that Colorado had offered for him to return for an 18th NHL season but the 37-year-old felt it was his time to hang up the skates as he retired after 17 seasons and 1294 NHL games. In his final NHL season in 2023-24 with Colorado he had six goals and 19 points to add to his 190 career goals and 464 career points. Cogliano is one of eight players in NHL history to have an Iron Man streak of 800+ games.

Minnesota completed a minor move on Friday as Adam Beckman has been moved to New Jersey for Graeme Clarke. Clarke is a 23-year-old right-winger who was New Jersey's 2019 third-round pick (80th overall) and made his NHL debut in 2023-24, failing to pick up a point in three games played.

New Jersey made another offseason move on Friday as they traded forward Adam Beckman for defenseman Graeme Clarke with the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old has appeared in 23 games sparsely across three seasons with Minnesota and had no goals, three assists, 14 PIMs and 26 shots on goal.

Nedeljkovic had an impressive first season in Pittsburgh, mostly backing up Tristan Jarry all season before leading the Penguins' end-of-the-year playoff push and has earned himself a two-year, $5 million ($2,500,000 AAV) contract extension. The 28-year-old finished 2023-24 with a 18-7-7 record, 2.97 GAA and .902 SV% while appearing in 38 total games.

Matinpalo made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with a short four-game appearance and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Thursday. The 25-year-old defenseman moved to North America from Finland in 2023-24 and spent the majority of his season with Belleville (AHL), picking up four goals and 14 points in 67 games played during the regular season.

Cousins hasn't played in nearly a month as his last appearance came on May 26th vs. the New York Rangers but he is expected to draw back into the Panthers' lineup on Friday for Game 6 in Edmonton. The 30-year-old scrappy winger had 15 points in 69 regular season games but has failed to produce in the playoffs, with no goals, one assist, 20 PIMs and eight SOG in 11 games played.

Okposo took a late penalty in Game 5 and seems to be the odd man out of Florida's lineup for Game 6 on Friday after line rushes in practice on Thursday had Nick Cousins replacing the veteran on the fourth line. The 36-year-old Okposo came to Florida at the trade deadline after captaining the Buffalo Sabres and has just two assists, 10 PIMs and 16 SOG in 16 playoff games.

Guttman had four goals and eight points in 27 games with the Blackhawks in 2023-24 and signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Thursday. The 25-year-old centre will be entering his third NHL season in 2024-25 and has eight goals, 14 points and nine PIMs in 41 career NHL contests.