Sogaard spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, but injuries at the NHL level allowed him to play six games with the Senators. He went 1-3-0 with an ugly 4.05 GAA and .859 SV% in those appearances. He's now 10-10-3 with a 3.44 GAA and .884 SV% in 27 career NHL games with Ottawa. Expect Sogaard to serve as the Senators' No.3 goalie entering 2024-25.
Coe was a fourth-round pick in 2020 and has spent his first few years as a pro in the AHL. Most recently, he had 12 goals and five assists (17 points) in 57 games for the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) in 2024. Expect him to start the 2024-25 season in the AHL.
The Islanders selected Pulkkinen with the No.54 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old blueliner spent most of 2024 in Finland's top league, posting eight points (2G / 6A) in 29 games with JYP Jyväskylä.
Nesterenko was a fringe roster player for the Ducks in 2024, spending most of the year developing in the AHL. The 2019 sixth-round pick had 37 points (16G / 21A) in 70 games with San Diego (AHL) and had one goal in three games with the Ducks. Nesterenko should make a push for a roster spot out of training camp this fall.
LaCombe turned pro in 2023 following his senior year at the University of Minnesota. He was a full-time NHLer in 2024, appearing in 71 games for the Ducks, collecting two goals and 15 assists (17 points). The 23-year-old should be a key part of the Ducks' blueline again in 2024-25.
Dallas selected Hemming with the No.29 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old winger spent the 2024 season with TPS Turku (Liiga), where he had seven goals and four assists (11 points) in 40 games. He also represented Finland at the 2024 World Juniors, posting two assists in seven games.
Restricted free agent Ville Heinola has come to an agreement with the Jets and will avoid arbitration after signing a two-year, contract $1.6 million extension ($800,000 AAV) with Winnipeg. The 23-year-old was Winnipeg's 2019 1st round pick (20th overall) and has a goal and 11 points in 35 career NHL games across four injury filled seasons.
After a breakout season in 2023-24 which saw Byfield put up career highs with 55 points (20G/35A) in 80 games played, the 21-year-old has earned himself a five-year, $31.25 million extension ($6,250,000) with Los Angeles. Byfield was Los Angeles 2020 1st round pick (2nd overall) and has 88 points (28G/60A) in 179 career NHL games played.
Robertson has yet to make his NHL debut but has spent three successful seasons on Hartford's (AHL) blueline and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with New York on Monday.The 23-year-old was New York's 2019 2nd round pick (49th overall) and had four goals and 21 points in 68 games played in 2023-24 with Hartford.
Badinka was a second-round pick (No.34 overall) in this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old blueliner played for Malmo (SHL) during the 2024 season, posting four points (1G / 3A) and a minus-9 rating in 33 games.
Ryan was a seventh-round pick back in 2012 and spent seven seasons in the AHL/NHL after turning pro following his senior season at Cornell University. Since 2022, Ryan has been in Sweden playing for Malmo (SHL), where he combined for 17 goals and 47 assists (64 points) in 156 games. Ryan returns to the Hurricanes' organization, where he played four NHL gamers in 2021.
Saarinen was a third-round pick (No.88 overall) in this year's NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4 netminder spent most of the 2024 season with HPK in the Finnish U20 league, were he was 14-5-0 with a. 2.41 GAA, .917 SV% and two shutouts. In two games in the top Finnish league (Liiga), he was 1-0-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .909 SV%.
Schneider has become a reliable second/third-pairing defenseman for the Rangers of the last two seasons, appearing in all but one game while posting 10 goals and 27 assists (37 points) and a plus-8 rating. Following the completion of his entry-level contract, his $2.2M AAV cap-hit represents a $1.275M AAV raise for Schneider.
Greaves spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, going 30-12-4 with a. 2.93 GAA and .910 SV%. He also impressed during a nine-game stint with the Blue Jackets, where he was 3-6-0 with a 3.49 GAA and .908 SV%. Greaves should open the 2024-25 season in the AHL.
Ruhwedel was acquired by the Rangers from Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline but only appeared in five games and still earned himself a one-year contract extension. The 34-year-old is entering his 13th NHL season and had a goal and four points in 52 games between Pittsburgh and New York in 2023-24.
Coghlan spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL, where he was tied for the league-lead among defensemen with 16 goals and his 41 points was tied for 11th and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Winnipeg. Coghlan provides the Jets with additional blueline depth and comes to them with 106 career NHL games between the Golden Knights and Hurricanes. Coghlan figures to be in a competitive battle with Logan Stanley, Ville Heinola and Colin Miller for playing time on the Jets' third pair in 2024-25.
Boston signed a pair of AHL defenders on Friday as it announced Michael Callahan has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Bruins. The 24-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance after spending the previous two seasons with Providence (AHL) after joining from Providence College (NCAA) in 2021-22. In 70 games in 2023-24 he had four goals and 17 points.
Boston added to its defensive depth on Friday by signing defensemen Alec Regula to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Regula was acquired by Boston from Chicago as part of the deal which saw Taylor Hall head to the Blackhawks in the 2023-24 offseason and had four goals and 26 points with Providence (AHL) last season.
Brandsegg-Nygard was Detroit's 2024 1st round pick (15th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. The 18-year-old right-winger spent 2023-24 with Mora IK (HA) and had eight goals and 18 ponts in 41 games played.
Walker appeared in only four games with Minnesota in 2023-24 but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the team. The 25-year-old has only a goal and two points in 13 career games across two seasons but will be hoping to find himself in Minnesota's lineup more often than not in 2024-25 in a bottom-six role.
