Harkins, the 47th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, has established himself as a reliable bottom-six forward. The 29-year-old scored eight points (3G / 5A) last season in 44 games with the Anaheim Ducks.
Kralovic, the 90th overall pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract. The 20-year-old Slovak defenseman has yet to play a professional game in the North America, but he had an impressive 2025-26 season in Slovakia, scoring 31 points (6G / 25A) in 52 games for Bratislava Slovan.
The Carolina Hurricanes acquired John Carlson's rights from the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the offseason, but he decided to test the open marketing, ultimately opting two sign a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Darren Raddysh's departure from Tampa Bay, Carlson could be an option to fill the void on the team's top powerplay unit. The 36-year-old Carlson had a terrific 2025-26 season, split between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks, scoring 60 points (14G / 46A) in 71 games.
With the departure of Brandon Halverson, Tampa Bay added some depth to its goaltending position by signing Sogaard, who could serve as a backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy. The 25-year-old Danish goalie spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, posting a 3.69 GAA and .874 SV% in 27 games (7-13-4) with the Belleville Senators.
Callahan played five games last season with the Boston Bruins, but has spent most of his career at the AHL level. The 26-year-old defenseman scored 16 points (2G / 14A) last season in 56 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL).
With the departure of Brandon Halverson, Tampa Bay shored up its organizational depth in the crease, signing goalie Olivie Rodrigue to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old posted a 3.20 GAA and .891 SV% in 10 games (4-3-1) last season with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL).
With the signing of UFA Sergei Bobrovsky, Dennis Hildeby became expendable for the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in a trade sending him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Hildeby had an impact at the NHL level last season, posting a 2.86 GAA and .912 SV% in 20 appearances with the Maple Leafs (5-7-4).
Viel has played only 99 career NHL games but had an impact with the Ducks last season, primarily in a fourth-line role, earning himself a five-year contract worth $12.5 million ($2.5M AAV) with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old forward was especially effective in the postseason with the Ducks, recording four points (2G / 2A) and 17 penalty minutes in 12 games.
Carolina will make an early attempt to get a first bid at coveted free agent defensemen John Carlson after it was announced mid draft Saturday that the Hurricanes had acquired the rights to Carlson from Anaheim for Kyle Masters and the 192nd pick in the 2026 draft. At the moment, the 36-year-old had not committed to the Hurricanes but would make a massive addition if he were to sign with the Stanley Cup Champions. He is entering his 18th NHL season after putting up 14 goals and 60 points in 71 games last season.
Fresh off of a Memorial Cup victory with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL), Pridham's rights have been acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 20-year-old forward was a third-round pick, 92nd overall, of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He scored 90 points (46G / 44A) this season in 65 games with Kitchener.
Tampa Bay announced Friday that they have signed their 2025 4th round pick (108th overall) to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 20-year-old Finnish forward enjoyed an impressive third season with Tappara of Liiga in 2025-26, picking up 25 goals, 77 points and a +24 plus/minus in 59 games played.
Abruzzese was a fourth-round pick, 124th overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and has not yet been able to make the leap to the NHL level. The 26-year-old forward has played exclusively in the AHL since the 2022-23 season. He scored 51 points (15G / 36A) in 2025-26 in 56 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).
Groshev was drafted in the third round, 85th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old forward has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL, but made his NHL debut this season, recording one assist in two games with Tampa Bay.
Harkins has not played since Game Three, but will re-enter the lineup in a must-win Game Six against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old bottom-six forward is averaging 10:46 time-on-ice, recording one goal and 10 hits through two games this postseason.
Last week, Vasilevskiy was named one of the three finalists for the Vezina trophy, but had yet to display his Vezina-calibre form this postseason. That said, his talent was on full display in a must-win Game Six, saving all 30 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens. He has a 2.20 GAA and .905 SV% in six games this postseason (3-3). Tampa Bay enters Game Seven as a -161 home favourite.
