NHL Hockey Player News

Pickard has seen significant NHL exposure the past three seasons, but organizational moves by the Edmonton Oilers made him expendable, ultimately resulting in a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Pickard has a 2.95 GAA and .901 SV% in 191 career NHL games (74-77-14). He should start the year at the NHL level with Minnesota, filling in for Filip Gustavsson, who is expected to be sidelined for the first couple of months of the 2026-27 season.

Dube has not played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season, but could get a shot after signing a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old scored 37 points (20G / 17A) last season in 46 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).

Scwindt was a third-round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has begun to make his presence felt at the NHL level over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old forward scored seven points (5G / 2A) last season in 29 games with the Florida Panthers.

Woo was a second-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play an NHL game, and will join his third team in the last two seasons. The 25-year-old defenseman scored 10 points (2G / 8A) in 43 combined AHL games between the Abbotsford Canucks and the San Jose Barracuda.

After trading Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, the Devils' crease is uncertain heading into the 2026-27 season as they now have Jake Allen and Nico Daws under contract. The 25-year-old Daws has spent most of the past few seasons in the AHL, but has a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% in 55 career NHL appearances (24-24-1).

Nick Jensen has become a reliable bottom-four defenseman in recent seasons, earning interest around the league that ultimately materialized into a two-year, $4.5 million contract ($2.25M AAV) with the Anaheim Ducks. The 35-year-old Jensen averaged 17:01 time-on-ice, recording 17 points (4G / 13A) last season in 61 games with the Ottawa Senators.

Desharnais, a towering 6'7 defenseman, had an impressive 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, earning himself a sizeable four-year contract with the Washington Capitals worth $16.8 million ($4.2M AAV). The 30-year-old defenseman averaged 18:11 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A) and 103 hits in 53 games.

For five seasons between 2021 and 2025, Bjorkstrand averaged 54.4 points per 82 games. That said, in the 2025-26 season, his first full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 31-year-old forward battled some adversity, scoring just 32 points (12G / 20A) and recording a -14 plus/minus in 80 games. The Rangers hope Bjorkstrand can return to the scoring consistency he had with the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Holl spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, playing 41 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), but played nine games with the St. Louis Blues after being acquired at the trade deadline. The 34-year-old will provide some extra depth for an already deep Washington Capitals blueline.

Tufte, the 25th overall pick of the Dallas Stars in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has seen success at the AHL level the past few seasons, but hasn't been able to turn that into an extended NHL look. The 28-year-old forward scored 56 points (32G / 24A) in 64 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL).

Del Gaizo, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, played a career-high 46 games with the Nashville Predators in the 2024-25 season. That said, the 26-year-old defenseman spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 27 points (9G / 18A) in 63 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

After success in the KHL, Kuzmenko broke into the NHL as a 26-year-old rookie in 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks, putting together a tremendous 74-point season (39G / 35A) in 81 games. That said, the 30-year-old Kuzmenko has struggled with consistency since then, failing to earn his coaches' trust. Last season, he was regularly a healthy scratch, but scored 25 points (13G / 12A) in 52 games with the Los Angeles Kings.

Kahkonen saw extensive NHL looks between 2020 and 2024, but has played exclusively in the AHL over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old goalie posted a 2.73 GAA and .895 SV% last season in 38 games (21-9-7) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

Brodzinski has been a career journeyman, bouncing between the NHL and AHL, but he earned himself significant playing time the past three seasons with the New York Rangers. The 33-year-old forward scored 16 points (6G / 10A) last season in 55 games.

After spending five seasons exclusively at the NHL level, Aston-Reese has bounced between the AHL and the NHL over the past few seasons. The undrafted 31-year-old forward scored five points (1G / 4A) last season in 27 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Copley is an undrafted goalie who has been serviceable in limited NHL action over his career, but has primarily provided teams with organizational depth, playing primarily in the AHL. The 34-year-old posted a 2.59 GAA and .901 SV% last season in 33 games (21-11-1) with the Ontario Reign (AHL).

Bezeau is an undrafted forward who has never played an NHL game and has spent most of his professional career in the AHL. The 24-year-old scored seven points (5G / 2A) last season in 24 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).

Fix-Wolansky has been solid at the AHL level for the last half-decade, but he has yet to have a prolonged look at the NHL level to translate his talents. The 27-year-old forward spent the 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 55 points (31G / 24A) in 72 games.

Blueger has been an effective, defensively sound, bottom-six forward over the past several seasons and should help the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2026-27, especially with the penalty kill. The 31-year-old Latvian forward scored 17 points (9G / 8A) last season in 35 games with the Vancouver Canucks.

Caulfied, a fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to play an NHL game, but has been a reliable presence at the AHL level. The 25-year-old forward spent the 2025-26 season with the San Diego Gulls (AHL), scoring 38 points (17G / 21A) in 71 games.