NHL Hockey Player News

Smallman was a fifth-round pick in 2015 and has yet to appear in an NHL game. He spent the last two years in the Avalanche organization, where he had 25 goals and 22 assists (47 points) in 114 combined AHL games. He'll start 2025 in Hershey (AHL).

Groulx was a second-round pick of the Ducks in 2018 and appeared in 68 games with them over the last three seasons. Last year, he was a fringe NHLer, playing in 45 of the 82 games and picked up just two assists. Given the depth in New York, expect Groulx to start 2025 in Hartford (AHL).

Fitzgerald was a third-round pick of the Sabres in 2016 and was claimed off waivers by the Panthers in 2023 and played just four NHL games with the club. He spent all of last year in the AHL, collecting 21 points (4G / 17A) in 69 games. He'll almost certainly start 2025 in the AHL.

Agozzino has consistently put up points at the AHL level but has just 12 points in 51 career NHL games with the Avalanche, Ducks, Penguins, Senators and Sharks. In 2024, Agozzino was seventh in the AHL with 64 points (26G / 38A) in 72 games. Expect him to open the season in the AHL once again.

Schueneman spent the entire 2024 season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL), scoring four goals with 18 assists (22 points) in 64 games. Expect him to report to Springfield (AHL) to start the 2025 season.

Gaudette spent the 2024 season in the Blues organization, where he played two NHL games and 67 AHL games. During his time with Springfield (AHL), he led the AHL with 44 goals and was third in points (71). He'll likely start the year in Belleville (AHL).

After scoring a career-best 28 goals in 2023, Olofsson fell out of favour in Buffalo in 2024, playing just 51 games. Olofsson's two-way game needs refining, but he is a solid middle-6 scoring winger who can also help out on the power play. After Vegas lost Marchessault, Stephenson, Amadio, Mantha, and Carrier, they needed some cheap upside on the wing.

Brannstrom is the type of cheap, sneaky good addition the Avalanche need to make given their salary cap situation. Brannstrom was the No.15 overall pick in 2017 and a huge part of the return for Mark Stone but was not qualified by the Senators this past weekend. Branstrom is coming off a career-best 20 points (3G / 17A) in 76 games and should find a home on Colorado's third-pair.

Lilleberg came over from Sweden last season and split his time between the AHL and NHL. During his time with the Lightning, the 23-year-old defenseman had five assists and a minus-15 rating in 37 games. Expect Lilleberg to be in a battle with Nick Perbix to be the Lightning's No.6 defenseman in 2024-25.

Roos spent two years with the Blackhawks organization after coming from Sweden in 2023. The 25-year-old defenseman appeared in just 21 NHL games during that time, scoring one goal with two assists. The Senators blueline is pretty much set in stone, so expect Roos to start the 2024-25 season in Belleville (AHL).

After turning pro in 2019, following his senior year at Yale University, Snively spent the last six years in the Capitals' organization. During that time, he's scored six goals with five assists (11 points) in 27 NHL games, playing primarily in the AHL. Expect him to start the 2024-25 season with Grand Rapids (AHL).

Reimer played with the Red Wings last year, going 11-8-2 with a 3.11 GAA and .904 SV% in 25 games (20 starts). The Sabres will be Reimer's sixth team in his 15-year career, and he allows the Sabres to send Devon Levi to the AHL if they choose, as Reimer would serve as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's backup. If Levi remains with the Sabres, Reimer could be in the mix for starts as the team's No.3 option.

Hedman's eight-year deal that he signed in 2016 will come to an end after the 2024-25 season, so he re-ups at almost the same number ($8.0M AAV) through the 2028-29 season. In 2024, his age 33 season, Hedman posted the second-highest point total of his career, scoring 13 goals with 63 assists (76 points) in 78 games.

After three seasons in Vegas, Kaedan Korczak will remain a Golden Knight after signing a two-year contract extension worth $1.65 million ($825K AAV). The 23-year-old took a step forward in 2023-24, picking up a goal, nine points and a +12 plus/minus while only appearing in 26 games (career-high).

After a breakout season in 2023-24 which saw Pavel Dorofeyev achieve career highs in games played (47), goals (13), and assists (11), the 23-year-old has earned himself a two-year contract worth $3.67 million ($1.835M AAV). Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft (79th overall), Dorofeyev has appeared in 67 games for Vegas in three seasons, amassing 20 goals and 33 points.

Abbotsford (AHL) gained a new forward on Tuesday after Vancouver signed Nathan Smith to a one-year, two-way deal. The 25-year-old spent the entire 2023-24 in the AHL with Tucson, picking up 12 goals and 31 points but has four points (2G/2A) and 14 career NHL games to his name.

Tampa's defensive depth got a little bit deeper on Tuesday with the addition of Steven Santini on a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old has 23 points (5G/18A) in 123 career NHL games since making his debut in 2015-16.

Tampa Bay has poached one of Laval's assistant captains last season as it signed Tobie Bisson to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The undrafted 27-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but had nine goals and 27 points in 69 games with Laval (AHL) in 2023-24.

Journeyman Derrick Pouliot will join his eighth different organization in eight years after he agreed to sign a one-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 30-year-old appeared in five games for Dallas in 2023-24 but has eight goals and 54 points in 226 career NHL games.

San Jose added to their defensive depth on Tuesday as they signed Lucas Carlsson to a two-year, two-way deal. The 26-year-old will likely begin the season with the Barracuda (AHL) after appearing in two NHL games for Florida in 2023-24. In 60 career NHL games, he has three goals, 11 points and 14 PIMs across four separate seasons.