Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain at Toronto's Prospect Showdown last week and will not be ready for training camp. It is tough news for the 20-year-old center who is now without a timetable to return after originally having a shot to crack Toronto's opening-day roster. Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.
After a long offseason discussion period Oliver Wahlstrom will remain in New York after signing a one-year, $1 million contract extension with the Islanders. The 24-year-old right-winger had an incredibly down 2023-24 season, appearing in his least amount of games (32) in the passed four seasons and only putting up two goals, six points, eight PIMs and 41 SOG.
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.
The Sabres and Jokiharju avoid arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. Jokiharju will be a UFA when the contract is up next July. The 25-year-old blueliner is coming off of the best offensive season of his career, posting a career-best 20 points (3G / 17A) in 74 games. Expect him to be the Sabres' No.4 or No.5 defenseman this year, depending on the status of Matias Samuelsson.
Sweezey spent the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL with Cleveland but has earned himself a two-year deal worth $1.55 million (775K AAV). The 28-year-old defensemen's last and only NHL appearance came in the form of nine games with Columbus in 2022-23. In 2023-24, he had a goal and four points in 57 games with Cleveland (AHL).
Tufte only appeared in five NHL games with Colorado in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year, $775,000 deal with Boston on Monday. The 26-year-old left-winger spent most of his season last year with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and had 23 goals and 45 points in 67 games played.
After three seasons in San Jose, Jeffrey Viel will join Boston for some offensive depth after signing a two-year deal worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV). The 27-year-old spent the majority of 2023-24 with San Jose's AHL affiliate in the Barracuda, but appeared in four games with the Sharks, failing to pick up a point while averaging 9:10 TOI/GP.
Boston added to its offensive depth on Monday by signing Cole Koepke to a one-year, two-way contract through the 2024-25 season. The 26-year-old has appeared in 26 games between the last two seasons with Tampa Bay but had no goals, two assists, and nine SOG in nine games with the Lightning in 2023-24.
Boston will add to its overall grit after signing towering defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year deal worth $30.0 million ($5.0M AAV). By joining the Bruins, the 29-year-old will join his sixth NHL team in the 12th year of his career after posting six goals, 20 points and 125 PIMs in 75 games between Calgary and Vancouver in 2023-24.
Boston made one of the biggest free agent splashes on Monday as it signed forward Elias Lindholm to a seven-year deal worth $54.25 million ($7.75M AAV). The 29-year-old will join his third team in two seasons after a down year in 2023-24, with his 15 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and -14 plus/minus in 75 games played between Calgary and Vancouver.
Mittelstadt was flipped for Bowen Byram on March 6th and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 18 games with the Avalanche following the deal. He looked much better in the postseason, where he had nine points (3G / 6A) in 11 games. The 25-year-old should continue to serve as the Avalanche's No.2 centre behind Nathan MacKinnon in the 2024-25 season and has back-to-back 55-plus point seasons.
Bussi finished his third professional season at 23-10-5 with a 2.67 GAA, .913 SV% and one shutout in 41 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL). Bussi figured to become Jeremy Swayman's backup next season following the Linus Ullmark trade, but with Joonas Korpisalo coming the other way, he may have to continue waiting. The two-way contract will allow the Bruins to have that flexibility.
Kastelic is a big (6-2, 210 lbs), rugged forward who will fit into the Bruins' bottom-6 in 2024-25. During the 2023-24 season, Kastelic had 10 points (5G / 5A), 126 hits and 31 blocked shots in 63 games with the Senators.
Korpisalo signed a five-year deal with a $4.0M AAV last July 1st but struggled to live up to his cap-hit in his first year with the Senators. The 29-year-old net minder went 21-26-4 with a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV% in 55 games (49 starts) and gets moved to Boston, where he'll serve as the backup to Jeremy Swayman if he isn't traded again or bought-out. The Senators retained 25 percent ($1.0M AAV) of Korpisalo's contract.
Mitchell was acquired by Boston last offseason in a deal that involved Taylor Hall going to Chicago and has now signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Bruins. The 25-year-old defenseman has four goals and 18 points in 95 career NHL games played after appearing in 13 games for Boston in 2023-24.
Swayman allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Bruins loss to the Panthers in Game 4. After posting a .950 SV% in six games in Round 1, Swayman has served up a .904 SV% in the first four games vs. the Panthers. Overall, he's 5-5 with a .930 SV% and leads the postseason with 11.6 Goals Saved Above Expected.
Swayman allowed three goals on 41 shots in the Bruins loss to the Panthers in Game 4. After posting a .950 SV% in six games in Round 1, Swayman has served up a .904 SV% in the first four games vs. the Panthers. Overall, he's 5-5 with a .930 SV% and leads the postseason with 11.6 Goals Saved Above Expected.
