Just hours before training camp, Chicago has locked up a key defensive piece by signing former 3rd-round pick (81st overall) Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million AAV ($3.4M total). Kaiser took a huge step forward in 2024-25, setting career highs in almost all categories, including goals (4), points (8) , games played (57) and SOG (66). The 23-year-old is expected to play another pivotal role on Chicago's defence as the Blackhawks enter 2025-26 and he takes another step forward alongside his young teammates.

Calgary's captain will return for an 18th season with the Flames after Mikael Backlund signed a two-year extension worth $3.25M AAV ($6.5 million total) on Wednesday. The 36-year-old remained a steady nightly presence in Calgary's lineup last season, with 15 goals, 32 points and 175 SOG in 76 games played while averaging 18:44 TOI/GP.

Greenway had an apparent setback from his 2nd mid-body surgery in July and is not expected to be ready for Buffalo's training camp that begins on Thursday. The 28-year-old only appeared in 34 games in 2024-25 due to the same mid-body injury and is hopeful to be ready for the start of the regular season. Greenway has only surpassed 67 games in one of his eight NHL seasons.

Walker came out of nowhere to score three goals and four points in seven playoff games last season and has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $887,500 AAV ($1.775M total). The 31-year-old Great Britain native is entering his ninth NHL season after setting career highs last season in assists (8), points (16), PIMs (63) and SOG (72).

Colorado's list of training camp injuries continued to grow on Wednesday after they announced Sam Girard is expected to miss part of training camp and is a possibility to return for opening night with a lower-body injury. The 27-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season after putting up three goals, 24 points, and 95 SOG in 73 games played last season. If he is unable to go by the start of the season, Keaton Middleton is expected to fill his role for the time being.

Colorado announced Wednesday that starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will be out week-to-week as he nurses a lower-body injury. The Avalanche are expecting their starter to be ready around the start of the regular season and will lean on Scott Wedgewood in the meantime. If Blackwood is forced to miss any time, it will be a massive loss for the Avalanche after he posted a 22-12-3 record, alongside a 2.33 GAA and .913 SV% last season after being acquired from San Jose.

Bill Zito surprised Panthers' fans on Wednesday when he announced 33-year-old Tomas Nosek would be out long-term to start the 2025-26 season after suffering a significant knee injury while training during the offseason. Nosek is entering his 11th NHL season after winning his first Stanley Cup with Florida last season in a complementary role, which saw him put up a goal and nine points in 59 games played.

Paul is expected to miss the start of the season after successfully undergoing surgery on Friday on an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old will have to wait to start his 11th NHL campaign as he is expected to return in November at the earliest. Tampa will miss his presence early only after he had 22 goals, 41 points and 141 SOG in 76 games played last season.

After two forgettable seasons in Philadelphia, Ivan Fedotov will head to Columbus to occupy their third goaltender role after the Blue Jackets traded a 2026 6th-round pick for the goalie on Sunday. The 28-year-old towering netminder (6'7") struggled in his second season in Philadelphia, posting an ugly 3.15 GAA, .880 SV% alongside his 6-13-4 record.

Knight was acquired by the Blackhawks in March and has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $5.83 AAV ($17.49M total). The 24-year-old was once one of the brightest goaltending prospects in hockey, but struggled to catch on during his four years in Florida. After being traded to Chicago, he posted a .896 SV%, 3.18 GAA and a 5-8-2 record.

Suseyev was St.Louis's 2023 7th round pick and will head to North America for the first time after signing a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 20-year-old winger will be glad to stick with one team in 2025-26, as he is expected to start the season with Springfield (AHL) after playing for five separate teams across three professional leagues (KHL, VHL, MHL) last season.

Carbonneau was St. Louis' 2025 1st round pick (19th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blues on Wednesday. The Quebec native skyrocketed up draft boards last season after an impressive 46-goal, 89-point campaign with Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) in 62 games played. The 18-year-old will look to crack the Blues' roster out of training camp, but is expected to spend the majority of the season back in junior for a third year.

St. Louis announced Wednesday that 22-year-old forward Zach Dean will be away from his team indefinitely as he receives care from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The 2021 1st round pick (30th overall) appeared in only 11 games for Springfield (AHL) in 2024-25 due to a lower-body injury.

Misa was the 2nd overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with San Jose on Wednesday. The 18-year-old is expected to compete for a spot on the Sharks' opening night roster after an impressive 62-goal, 134-point campaign with Saginaw (OHL) across 65 games last season.

Sebrango made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season with Ottawa, appearing in two games and earning a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old defenseman is expected to start 2025-26 in Belleville (AHL), where he had eight goals, 20 points and 79 PIMs in 50 games played last season.

Price and his $10.5 million contract have been acquired by the San Jose Sharks on Friday, alongside a 2026 5th-round pick for defenseman Gannon Laroque. This move is nothing more than a salary dump for Montreal and allows San Jose to stay even more above the cap floor than they already were, in case of trades down the line. Price played his last NHL game on April 29th, 2022 and is not expected to ever return from a significant knee injury.

Montreal shed Carey Price's $10.5 million contract alongside a 2026 5th round pick and acquired a 22-year-old Gannon Laroque from San Jose. Laroque was San Jose's 2021 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and spent his first pro season injured, playing only 18 total games between San Jose (AHL) and Wichita (ECHL) last season. He is expected to report to Laval for the 2025-26 campaign.

After six points in 36 games with Edmonton in 2024-25, Derek Ryan has called it a career after 10 NHL seasons. The 38-year-old broke into the NHL in 2015-16 with Carolina as an undrafted free agent and managed to amass 82 goals and 209 points in 606 career games played. Across his 10 NHL seasons, he played for three different organizations (EDM, CGY, CAR).