Dobson had a breakout 70-point campaign in 2023-24, but followed that up with just 39 points (10G / 29A) in 71 games last season. Some of that can be attributed to the Islanders' power-play dipping from 19th (20.4%) to 31st (12.6%), resulting in 12 fewer power-play assists. In Montreal, he'll be a huge minute eater, but a bounce-back fantasy season could be tougher to come by because of Lane Hutson. Obviously, they could end up together on the top PP unit, but he's now got significantly more competition for PP time, even if it wasn't always fruitful in New York.

Lagesson provides nothing more than organization depth for the Red Wings. He spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 23 games with Grand Rapids. He's got 107 career NHL games, including seven with the Red Wings last season, so Detroit will call on him in a pinch.

Tavares takes a massive pay-cut to stay with his hometown team. Even at age-34, Tavares looked every bit of No.2 centre in 2024-25, posting 38 goals with 36 assists (74 points) in 74 games. He'll once again settle in behind Auston Matthews on the centre depth chart in 2025-26 and will likely be a 30-30 player for the third time in four years.

Frederic was acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline but only appeared in one regular season game due to injury. He obviously made an impression on the organization during their postseason run, where he had four points (1G / 3A), 22 SOG and 85 hits in 22 games. The eight-year deal helped keep Frederic's AAV down, but it's a lot of term for a player that was on-pace for just 21 points last season.

Sourdif was a third-round pick (No.87 overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft, who has appeared in just four NHL games since. In 2024-25, he spent most of the season in Charlotte (AHL), where he had 34 points (16G / 18A) in 43 games. Sourdif will likely battle for a bottom-6 role with the Capitals in training camp.

Rybinski is coming off his third and most successful AHL season with Hershey and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Washington. The 24-year-old forward was the Capitals' 2019 5th-round pick (136th overall) and is expected to spend 2025-26 back with Hershey, where he had 10 goals and 35 points in 60 games last season.

Minnesota made a minor trade on Thursday after acquiring winger Cameron Butler from Columbus for forward Brendan Gaunce. Butler is a 23-year-old undrafted right-winger who made his only NHL appearance in 2023-24 with the Blue Jackets. He struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, only scoring two goals and three points in 37 games played.

Columbus acquired a depth forward on Thursday after trading for Branden Gaunce from Minnesota for AHL forward Cameron Butler. Gaunce, 31, spent most of 2024-25 as a healthy scratch for the Wild, which led to him only putting up an assist and a -4 plus/minus in 12 games played. He returns to familiar territory in Columbus, where he spent three seasons between 2021-2024 and had 12 points in 59 games played.

Florida acquired its new backup goaltender for the upcoming 2025-26 season on Thursday after picking up Daniil Tarasov from Columbus for a 2025 5th-round pick (160th overall). The 26-year-old, whose dad has ties back in Russia with Sergei Bobrovsky, struggled in 2024-25 with the Blue Jackets, posting an ugly 7-10-2 record alongside his 3.54 GAA and .881 SV%.

After 1323 games played and 19 seasons in San Jose, it appears Marc-Edouard Vlasic's time as a Shark will come to an end after it was announced on Thursday that the team planned on waiving the veteran for the purpose of a contract buyout. The 38-year-old was set to start the final season of an eight-year, $56 million contract ($8 million AAV). He appeared in 27 games in 2024-25, picking up a goal, and three points to go along with a -10 plus/minus.

Minnesota has shed $2.1 million in salary after trading Frederick Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a 2025 4th-round pick (102nd overall) on Thursday. The 32-year-old center spent four seasons in Minnesota, most recently putting up 18 goals and 37 points after appearing in all 82 games played in 2024-25. He is expected to take a bottom-six role with Seattle in the 2025-26 season.

After a successful second campaign with Grand Rapids (AHL), Antti Tuomisto has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Detroit. The 24-year-old defenseman was Detroit's 2019 2nd-round pick (35th overall) and had three goals, 27 points and 54 PIMs in 67 games in 2024-25 with Grand Rapids (AHL).

After a successful first campaign in North America with both Chicago (AHL) and Carolina, Juha Jaaska has earned himself a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($755,000 AAV) to remain with the Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Finnish forward made his NHL debut last season and had four assists and nine PIMs in 18 games played.

Dallas' captain will return for a 17th season with the organization after it was announced Thursday that the Stars had agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with Jamie Benn. The contract is full of bonuses, which could reach as high as $4 million AAV if all are achieved by the end of the season. In 80 games in 2024-25, the 35-year-old veteran had 15 goals, 49 points and 70 PIMs while holding down a bottom-six role.

Minutes after being acquired by Utah, JJ Peterka was announced to a 5-year extension worth $7.7M AAV ($38.5M total). The 23-year-old right-winger has made consistent 18-point jumps in each of his first three NHL seasons, finishing 2024-25 with 27 goals, 68 points and 173 SOG in 77 GP after 50 points in 82 games the year before. He is expected to take a top-six role in Utah in the upcoming season.

Two days before the NHL Draft, Buffalo has moved on from 23-year-old JJ Peterka by acquiring Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring on Wednesday night. Kesselring will join his third organization after being drafted by Edmonton in the sixth round of the 2018 draft (164th overall) and debuting with Arizona in 2022-23. The 25-year-old has the potential to be a top-four defenseman as shown by his seven goals, 29 points, 89 PIMs and 150 SOG in 82 GP with Utah in 2024-25.

After just 62 games with Utah and Arizona, Josh Doan has been acquired alongside Michael Kesselring by Buffalo for JJ Peterka on Wednesday. The 23-year-old right-winger was Arizona's 2021 2nd-round pick (37th overall) and made an impressive debut in 2023-24 with five goals and nine points in his first 11 games played. He struggled to find the same offensive spark last year, but still put up seven goals, 19 points and 88 SOG in 51 games played in his sophomore campaign.

With rumours circulating all week that Buffalo was looking to move a few key players, Utah swooped in late Thursday by acquiring the rights to JJ Peterka for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring. Minutes after the trade, Utah announced they had signed Peterka to a 5-year extension worth $7.7M AAV ($38.5M total). The 23-year-old right-winger has made consistent 18-point jumps in each of his first three NHL seasons, finishing 2024-25 with 27 goals, 68 points and 173 SOG in 77 GP after 50 points in 82 games the year before.

Vegas will keep a veteran presence around after they signed forward Reilly Smith to a one-year, $2 million contract extension on Wednesday. The 34-year-old was acquired at last season's trade deadline from New York and put up three goals, 11 points and a +11 plus/minus in 21 games after returning to Vegas.

The Oilers did not retain any of Kane's $5.125 cap hit, giving them some much-needed cap space to work with this offseason. Kane missed all of the 2024-25 regular season but was solid in the Oilers' postseason run to the Stanley Cup Final, posting 12 points (6G / 6A), 47 SOG and 95 Hits in 21 games. He'll now get a chance to suit up for his hometown team, his fifth NHL franchise of his career.