Byram missed Monday's practice with an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day. The 24-year-old will hope to be ready for opening night after completing all 82 games played in 2024-25 for the first time in his five-year career. The former 4th overall pick (2019) is expected to play a huge part in Buffalo's defence again in 2025-26, after putting up seven goals and a career-high 38 points last season.
Slaggert will be absent from Chicago's preseason activities for a few days after it was announced the 23-year-old was day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The left-winger is looking to crack the Blackhawks' roster out of training camp after appearing in 33 games last season and putting up two goals and six points.
Greenway underwent surgery in July after a setback in his recovery from the injury that limited him to just 34 games in 2024-25. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said he anticipates Greenway will be cleared to resume practicing around the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. Expect Greenway to miss the season opener on October 9th.
Just hours before training camp, Chicago has locked up a key defensive piece by signing former 3rd-round pick (81st overall) Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million AAV ($3.4M total). Kaiser took a huge step forward in 2024-25, setting career highs in almost all categories, including goals (4), points (8) , games played (57) and SOG (66). The 23-year-old is expected to play another pivotal role on Chicago's defence as the Blackhawks enter 2025-26 and he takes another step forward alongside his young teammates.
Greenway had an apparent setback from his 2nd mid-body surgery in July and is not expected to be ready for Buffalo's training camp that begins on Thursday. The 28-year-old only appeared in 34 games in 2024-25 due to the same mid-body injury and is hopeful to be ready for the start of the regular season. Greenway has only surpassed 67 games in one of his eight NHL seasons.
Knight was acquired by the Blackhawks in March and has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $5.83 AAV ($17.49M total). The 24-year-old was once one of the brightest goaltending prospects in hockey, but struggled to catch on during his four years in Florida. After being traded to Chicago, he posted a .896 SV%, 3.18 GAA and a 5-8-2 record.
After just 56 total NHL games played, Chicago has locked up Frank Nazar for the next eight seasons after signing the 21-year-old to a seven-year contract worth $6.59 million AAV ($46.13M total) on Thursday. Nazar was Chicago's 2022 1st round pick (13th overall) and opened some eyes with nine points in his final eight games to end last season and close his rookie campaign out with 26 points in 53 games played. He is expected to center Chicago's second line and remain on their top power play as we head into the 2025-26 season.
Berezhnoy is a 22-year-old undrafted goaltender who spent last season playing 27 games in the VHL with Omskie Krylia and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg and has earned himself a two-year, entry-level contract with Chicago on Thursday. The towering Russian netminder is expected to report to Rockford (AHL) for the upcoming 2024-25 season after posting a .928 SV% in the VHL last season.
Frondell was the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $975,000 AAV with Chicago on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Swedish forward is expected to return to Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) for the 2025-26 season despite the new contract. In 2024-25, he put up 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games last season in Sweden.
Despite being the talk of much trade speculation, Buffalo and Bowen Byram will avoid arbitration after they agreed on a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension ($6,250,000 AAV) on Monday. The 24-year-old is entering his 6th NHL season after completing all 82 regular season games for the first time in his career in 2024-25, putting up seven goals, 38 points and a +11 plus/minus.
Edmonton's top-six has a new weapon after the Oilers signed Andrew Mangiapane to a two-year deal worth $3.6M AAV ($7.2M total). The 29-year-old left-winger spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with inter-provincial rival Calgary before joining Washington in 2024-25. During his first season with the Capitals, he had 14 goals, 28 points and 24 PIMs in 81 games played.
New York will continue to add to its long list of signings on Tuesday after bringing in veteran defensemen Derrick Pouliot to a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV). Pouliot is known to be both effective and durable during his time in the AHL, posting 99 points in the last two seasons across 134 games played.
