Mike Matheson Will Miss Season Opener

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson (lower body) has been ruled out of the team's season opener on Tuesday. According to head coach Mike Sullivan, it's a nagging issue, so the 27-year-old likely won't miss a lot of action but it's still a blow for the team with multiple players already sidelined. Sidney Crosby (wrist), Evgeni […]

Seattle Starts Season With Five Players On COVID-19 List

The Seattle Kraken could be very short-handed for their first-ever regular season game on Tuesday at Vegas as five players find themselves on the COVID-19 list. Calle Jarnkrok has already been ruled out for the contest, and Marcus Johansson, Jared McCann, Joonas Donskoi and Jamie Oleksiak could join him on the sidelines. Alex Wennberg is […]

Mark Giordano Named First Captain For Kraken

The Seattle Kraken named defenseman Mark Giordano as the franchise's first ever captain on Monday. The 38-year-old, who had spent his entire 15-year NHL career in Calgary prior to getting selected by the Kraken in the expansion draft over the offseason, is expected to debut on the team's top defensive pair (alongside Adam Larsson) on […]

Erik Gustafsson Signs With Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year, $800k contract on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who was previously on a PTO with the New York Islanders, will begin his second stint in Chicago - the organization in which he posted his career-best 60-point season back in 2018-2019. Gustafsson will likely play on the […]

Olli Juolevi Traded To Florida

The Florida Panthers acquired defenseman Olli Juolevi from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Noah Juulsen and Juho Lammikko on Sunday. The 23-year-old, who the Canucks selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, had battled injuries with the club and failed to lock down a regular role on the team's blue […]

Quinn Hughes Locked Up For Six Years

The Vancouver Canucks officially signed defenseman Quinn Hughes to a six-year, $47.1 million contract ($7.85 million average annual value) on Sunday. The 21-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, should join the Canucks in training camp for the first time this week. One of the league's most promising offensive blueliners, Hughes logged 41 points (three […]

Duncan Keith Skates With Oilers For First Time

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Duncan Keith joined his team for training camp for the first time on Friday. The 38-year-old had been out after serving a mandatory two-week quarantine following his Covid vaccination. Keith, who is expected to jump into the Oilers' top-four defenseman group, was acquired from the Hawks via trade over the offseason. The […]

Ty Smith Dealing With Injury In Camp

New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith will be out for a number of days due to an undisclosed injury. The 21-year-old, who is expected to take another step forward in his second NHL season, has yet to play a preseason game. Smith collected 23 points (two goals, 21 assists) while averaging 20:07 of ice time […]

Jani Hakanpaa Expected To Be Ready For Opener

Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa suffered a broken pinkie in a preseason game this week but is expected to return to full health ahead of his team's season-opening game on October 14. The 29-year-old, who signed with the Stars as an unrestricted free-agent this past summer, is expected to be a regular on the team's […]

Sami Vatanen Inks One-Year Deal In Switzerland

Defenseman Sami Vatanen signed a contract to join Geneve-Servette of the National League in Switzerland for the 2021-2022 season on Monday. The 30-year-old rearguard, who was a staple in the Ducks' top-four defensive group just a few years ago, played in 39 games last season with the New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars. Over the […]

Shea Weber Not Expected To Suit Up This Year

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber is not expected to be fully healthy and able to play games for his team this season. The 36-year-old, who was battling a myriad of injuries during the Habs' run to the Stanley Cup Final last season, registered 19 points (six goals, 13 assists), 11 power-play points, 104 shots, 68 […]

Erik Gustafsson Joins Islanders On Professional Tryout

Defenseman Erik Gustafsson has signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) to join the New York Islanders in training camp this week. The 29-year-old, who logged 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in split time with the Flyers and Canadiens last season, will presumably attempt to secure a spot on the Isles' third defensive pairing. Gustafsson […]

Rasmus Dahlin Signs Three-Year Contract With Buffalo

Rasmus Dahlin will be in training camp for the Buffalo Sabres after signing a three-year deal Wednesday morning. The defenseman signed for an AAV of $6 million. He is just 21-years old but under Don Granato has made strides despite COVID last season. Dahlin began to average close to 25 minutes average time on ice […]

Jake Gardiner Set To Miss Entire 2021-2022 Season

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner will most likely miss the entirety of the 2021-2022 campaign due to upcoming hip and back surgeries. The 31-year-old played just 26 regular-season games for the Canes last season - posting eight assists, a minus-one rating and 23 shots on goal while averaging 16:03 of time-on-ice. Signed to a four-year, […]

Colton Parayko Re-signs With Blues

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Colton Parayko to an eight-year contract extension. The deal totals $52 million, which will pay him $6.5 million per year. The huge hard-hitting Parayko scored two goals and 12 points in 32 games played this year. He is known as one of the best defensemen in the NHL, […]

Connor Murphy Inks Four-Year Extension With Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks have re-upped with defenseman Connor Murphy on four-year, $17.6 million contract extension ($4.4 million average annual value) on Tuesday. With one year remaining on his current contract, Murphy's new deal will kick in at the start of the 2022-2023 campaign. The 28-year-old posted 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) to go along […]

Neal Pionk Inks Four-Year Contract With Jets

The Winnipeg Jets made sure their most offensively-talented blueliner stayed in Manitoba on Wednesday, signing defenseman Neal Pionk to a four-year, $23.5 million contract ($5.875 million average annual value). Following a trade from the New York Rangers (in exchange for defenseman Jacob Trouba) two summers ago, Pionk has blossomed into one of the Jets' most-valued […]

Darnell Nurse Signs Eight Year Extension with Edmonton Oilers

Darnell Nurse is now under contract for the next nine seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton defenseman inked an eight-year extension on Friday worth $9.25 million AAV over eight seasons. Nurse enjoyed an excellent season where he racked up 16 goals and 36 points in just 56 games. He shot a career-high 10.4% and […]

Adam Pelech Locks Down Long-Term Extension

The New York Islanders have announced an agreement with defenseman Adam Pelech to keep one of the team's core players on Long Island for the next eight seasons. Pelech's pay-day comes in the form of a $46 million contract ($5.75 million average annual value). The 26-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, has developed into […]

Victor Mete Re-Signs With Senators

Restricted free agent Victor Mete has signed a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. It is a one-way deal with a $1.2 million AAV. The contract is a significant bump in pay for him, as he was earning $735,000 last year. He is a two-way defenseman with a good hockey IQ. Mete scored one goal […]

Dante Fabbro Inks Two-Year-Deal On Thursday

The Nashville Predators re-signed defenseman Dante Fabbro to a two-year, $4.8 million ($2.4 average annual value) contract on Thursday. The 23-year-old was previously a restricted free agent and was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing on August 20th. Playing in just his second full NHL season in 2020-2021, Fabbro posted 12 points (two goals, […]

Ryan Murray Signs With Avalanche

Defenseman Ryan Murray signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. The deal carries a $2 million AAV and is a one-way deal. The second-overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft had 14 points but failed to find the back of the net this year with the New Jersey Devils. Murray is […]

Zach Werenski Gets Long-Term Extension from Columbus Blue Jackets

Zach Werenski signed a six-year extension late on Thursday night with Columbus. This keeps him as a member of the Blue Jackets until 2028. The defenseman is one of the last players left over from the first John Davidson era. Columbus had a high priority in securing Werenski after they traded Seth Jones to the […]

Will Butcher Traded to the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday

Will Butcher did not figure much into the New Jersey Devils' plans this upcoming season and was moved on Wednesday to the Buffalo Sabres. New Jersey also gave Buffalo a 2022 fifth-round draft pick for future considerations. Butcher has one year left and $3.733 million on his current deal. The defenseman's production had steadily slipped […]

Ethan Bear Traded To Hurricanes

Defenseman Ethan Bear was flipped from the Edmonton Oilers to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in exchange for forward Warren Foegele. The 24-year-old defender took a step back in his development in 2020-21 when he scored just two goals and recorded eight points in 43 contests while averaging just under 18 minutes of ice time […]

Keith Yandle Signs With Flyers On Wednesday

The Philadelphia Flyers added veteran defenseman Keith Yandle, signing him to a one-year $900,000 contract Wednesday. Yandle spent the last five years in South Florida with the Panthers. His point production dropped significantly in 2021, as he recorded three goals and 24 helpers. In the 2019-2020 season, Yandle registered 45 points in 69 regular-season contests. […]

David Savard Nabs Four-Year Contract with Montreal Canadiens

David Savard will call the Montreal Canadiens home for the next four seasons. The veteran defenseman signed a deal on Wednesday that will pay him $3.5 million AAV. Though this contract offers no-trade protection, the deal gives Savard a $500,000 bonus for the final year. The middle years pay Savard $4.2 million while the first […]

Ryan Suter Lands With Dallas On Wednesday

The Dallas Stars inked free-agent defenseman Ryan Suter to a four-year, $14.6 million deal ($3.65 average annual value) on Wednesday. The 36-year-old, who recently had the final four years of his contract bought out by the Minnesota Wild, will join a formidable top-four defenseman group in Dallas and will most likely start the season playing […]

Alex Goligoski Signs Contract With Minnesota

The Minnesota Wild signed veteran defenseman Alex Goligoski on Wednesday. The contract is a one-year deal with a $5-million AAV and a no-trade clause. As a result, the Grand Rapids, Minnesota native, will get the opportunity to play in his home-state for the upcoming season. Goligoski compiled three goals and 19 assists in 56 contests […]

Alec Martinez Scores Three-Year Extension With Vegas

The Vegas Golden Knights paid a steep price to retain Alec Martinez's services for three more years. The 34-year-old defenseman's new contract will carry a $5.25 million AAV. It only became possible after the club flipped veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, a fan-favorite and Vezina Trophy winner, to the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday. That move freed up […]