Trudeau was a fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, but never suited up for the team at the NHL level. The 23-year-old defenseman spent the 2025-26 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL), where he scored 20 points (8G / 12A) in 68 games.
Cholowski, the 20th-overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, once viewed as a potential powerplay quarterback, has fallen into more of a depth organizational piece in recent seasons. The 28-year-old defenseman played 17 games last season with the New Jersey Devils, recording two assists.
Gawdin has seen limited NHL action since his professional debut in 2018-19, appearing in just 13 total games. The 29-year-old forward scored 51 points (16G / 35A) last season in 71 games with the Ontario Reign (AHL).
The New York Rangers acquired Marcus Pettersson in a trade, reuniting him with head coach Mike Sullivan, who coached him for seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old defenseman recorded 18 points (3G / 15A) and a -19 plus/minus last season in 82 games with the Vancouver Canucks.
Beaudoin was drafted 24th overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old has yet to play at the professional level but is coming off a solid final OHL season, scoring 88 points (33G / 55A) in 54 games with the Barrie Colts.
Durzi has been a high-pedigree, talented defenseman who has been buried behind teams with strong defensive depth, preventing him from showing his full potential. He had 41 points (9G / 32A) in 76 games as a 25-year-old in the 2023-24 season. He recorded 27 points (5G / 22A) and a -12 plus/minus last season in 60 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.
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).
Veleno was a first-round pick, 30th overall, of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but he has failed to live up to that billing, settling into a bottom-six defensive role. The 26-year-old Montreal native spent the 2025-26 season with his hometown Canadiens, scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 61 games.
Korpisalo has spent the previous two seasons as a serviceable backup for the Boston Bruins, but he will head to the New York Rangers in the 2026-27 season to serve as Igor Shesterkin's backup. The 32-year-old Korpisalo posted a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% last season in 31 appearances (14-9-6).
Moments after being acquired from the Golden Knights for the No.26 overall pick, the No.92 overall pick, and a conditional 2028 first-round pick, Pavel Dorofeyev signed a seven-year contract worth $11.0M AAV ($77.0M total). The 25-year-old is coming off a career season where he posted career highs in goals (37), assists (27), points (64), PPG (20) and PPP (30) across 82 games played.
New York secured their top-six forward of the future on Friday after the team announced they had acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights for the No.26 overall pick, the No.92 overall pick, and a conditional 2028 first-round pick. Moments after the trade New York announced they had signed Dorofeyev to a seven-year contract worth $11.0M AAV ($77.0M total). The 25-year-old is coming off a career season where he posted career highs in goals (37), assists (27), points (64), PPG (20) and PPP (30) across 82 games played.
Trudeau's time in Montreal is done after four minor league seasons with Laval (AHL) after the 23-year-old defensemen was traded to New York for Brett Berard on Friday. Trudeau was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft (113th overall) and put up a combined 90 points across four seasons in the AHL. He is expected to compete for one of New York's final defensive spots out of training camp.
After 36 appearances with Hartford (AHL) in 2025-26, Dylan Garand has earned himself a two-year contract extension to remain with the Rangers. The 24-year-old will be given a chance to compete for New York's back up role after an impressive three game appearance last season where he posted a 2-0-1 record with a 1.62 GAA and .948 SV%>
Oliver Kapanen is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday in Game Three, allowing Veleno to re-enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno is averaging 9:40 time-on-ice, recording 15 hits and one assist in six games this postseason.
It's unclear if Veleno is out with an undisclosed injury or is simply a healthy scratch. Veleno has zero goals and one assist in six games this post-season. Oliver Kapanen will draw into the lineup in his place.
Brendan Gallagher will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Veleno to enter the lineup. The 26-year-old Veleno has not played in nearly three weeks. He had five points (2G / 3A) in 61 games this season.
Utah's Head Coach Andre Tourigny insisted there were several game-time decisions heading into Friday's Game Six. He did not mention Mikhail Sergachev or Sean Durzi by name, but they were notably absent from the team's morning skate, suggesting their status may be uncertain. The 27-year-old Durzi is averaging 17:07 time-on-ice and has two assists through five games this postseason.
