Hours after being acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in a one-for-one deal for Brayden Yager, Rutger McGroarty has signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and had excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with the Michigan Wolverines.
McGroarty had announced in April that he was planning on returning to Michigan (NCAA) for the 2024-25 season but has been dealt from Winnipeg to Pittsburgh for Brayden Yager and is now expected to sign his entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was Winnipeg's 2022 1st-round pick (14th overall) and has excelled at the NCAA level, with 16 goals and 52 points in only 36 games played in 2023-24 with Michigan.
Murashov is Pittsburgh's 2022 4th round pick (118th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Russian netminder spent the majority of 2023-24 with Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) and had an impressive 2.03 GAA and .930 SV%. He is expected to start 2024-25 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) as he adjusts to North American hockey.
In a bit of an early blow for Montreal, forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard announced Friday that he had successfully underwent surgery for his leg and is expected to miss at least the first four months of the 2024-25 season. The 25-year-old winger set career highs in games played (45) and assists (8) in 2023-24 but had a down year overall with only 10 total points and a -2 plus/minus.
Toronto and Connor Dewar have settled after arbitration on a one-year, $1.18 million contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old forward was acquired by the Maple Leafs' at last year's trade deadline from Minnesota and had 11 goals, 19 points, 28 PIMs and 77 SOG in 74 games between the Maple Leafs and Wild.
Brunicke was a second-round pick (No.44 overall) in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old right-shot blueliner played for the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) during the 2024 season, scoring 10 goals with 11 assists (21 points) in 49 games.
Silovs was Vancouver's playoff saviour in 2023-24 after both of their top two goalies went down and he has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million ($850,000 AAV). The 23-year-old Latvian also appeared in four games during the regular season for Vancouver, going 3-0-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .881 SV%. He is expected to be the Canucks' back up goaltender for the 2024-25 campaign.
Jones spent 2023-24 with the Colorado Avalanche and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles on Friday. The 27-year-old defensemen is the younger brother of Columbus' Seth Jones and added five assists in 25 games to his 14 goals and 55 career points that he has amassed over five seasons prior to 2023-24.
After five seasons in Long Island, Sebastian Aho has signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old appeared in 58 games in 2023-24, picking up two goals, nine points and 12 PIMs.
Bemstrom will return to Pittsburgh after a successful first-half season with the Penguins and has signed a one-year extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade from Columbus early on in 2023-24 and had eight goals, 16 points and 12 PIMs in 56 games played between Columbus and Pittsburgh.
After six seasons in Los Angeles, Blake Lizotte has joined the Pittsburgh Penguins on a two-year deal worth $3.7 million ($1.85M AAV). The 26-year-old had a down year in 2023-24, with seven goals, 15 points, 20 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus in 62 games played.
Pittsburgh added some grit on Monday by signing 27-year-old Bokondji Imama to a one-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old appeared in six games with Ottawa in 2023-24, but failed to pick up a point while adding seven PIMs and averaging 5:25 TOI/GP.
Shea made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with the Penguins and has earned himself a one-year, contract extension worth $775,000 to stay in Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old has yet to pick up an assist in his 31 NHL games played, but has a goal, six PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Dallas replaced Chris Tanev quickly on Monday by signing Matt Dumba to a two-year contract worth $7.5 million ($3,750,000 AAV). The 29-year-old appeared in 76 games between Arizona and Tampa Bay in 2023-24 and had four goals, 12 points, 88 PIMs and a -18 plus/minus.
Heinen had to wait until a few weeks into the season to sign with Boston off a PTO in 2023-24 and has earned an early contract heading in 2024-25 after signing a two-year deal worth $4.5 million ($2.25M AAV) with Vancouver. The 28-year-old was a natural fit in Boston's lineup last season, with 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games played.
Mantha will join his third team in two seasons as he signed a one-year deal worth $3,500,000 with the Calgary Flames on Monday. The 29-year-old spent 2023-24 with both Washington and Vegas and had 23 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and 113 SOG in 74 games played.
Pittsburgh completed its third signing of the day on Tuesday by announcing that they have extended defensemen Jack St. Ivany to a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV). The 2018 fourth-round pick (112th overall) made his NHL debut in 2023-24 and had one assist, 11 SOG and two PIMs in 14 games played.
Silovs had one of his worst starts of the 2024 playoffs in Game 6 as he allowed five goals on 27 shots (.815 SV%) in a heartbreaking loss but will be given the chance for redemption as he takes the crease for Game 7 on Monday vs. Edmonton. The 23-year-old was thrust into the starting role after Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith both went down due to injury in the first round and has not looked back since, with his 5-4-0 record, .898 SV%, 2.89 GAA and 1 shutout in the playoffs. He will host the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, who are expected to be firing the puck a lot after leading the NHL in SOG per game in the regular season (33.8).
