Ruhwedel was acquired by the Rangers from Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline but only appeared in five games and still earned himself a one-year contract extension. The 34-year-old is entering his 13th NHL season and had a goal and four points in 52 games between Pittsburgh and New York in 2023-24.
Coghlan spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL, where he was tied for the league-lead among defensemen with 16 goals and his 41 points was tied for 11th and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Winnipeg. Coghlan provides the Jets with additional blueline depth and comes to them with 106 career NHL games between the Golden Knights and Hurricanes. Coghlan figures to be in a competitive battle with Logan Stanley, Ville Heinola and Colin Miller for playing time on the Jets' third pair in 2024-25.
Boston signed a pair of AHL defenders on Friday as it announced Michael Callahan has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Bruins. The 24-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance after spending the previous two seasons with Providence (AHL) after joining from Providence College (NCAA) in 2021-22. In 70 games in 2023-24 he had four goals and 17 points.
Boston added to its defensive depth on Friday by signing defensemen Alec Regula to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Regula was acquired by Boston from Chicago as part of the deal which saw Taylor Hall head to the Blackhawks in the 2023-24 offseason and had four goals and 26 points with Providence (AHL) last season.
Brandsegg-Nygard was Detroit's 2024 1st round pick (15th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. The 18-year-old right-winger spent 2023-24 with Mora IK (HA) and had eight goals and 18 ponts in 41 games played.
Walker appeared in only four games with Minnesota in 2023-24 but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the team. The 25-year-old has only a goal and two points in 13 career games across two seasons but will be hoping to find himself in Minnesota's lineup more often than not in 2024-25 in a bottom-six role.
Iginla was the Utah Hockey Club's first ever draft pick when he was selected in the 1st round of the 2024 Draft (6th overall) and has signed his three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday. The 17-year-old right-winger is the son of Calgary legend Jerome Iginla and earned his high draft position by putting up 47 goals, and 84 points in 64 games played with Kelowna (WHL) in 2023-24.
Moser's rights were acquired by Tampa Bay two Saturday's ago in the massive blockbuster trade which saw Mikhail Sergachev head to Utah and the 24-year-old has signed a two-year, $6.75 million contract extension ($3.375 million AAV) with the Lightning on Thursday. The left-handed defensemen finsihed his third NHL season in 2023-24 with Arizona and had five goals, 26 points, 77 SOG and 35 PIMs in 80 games played.
Emberson picked up 10 points (1G/9A) in 30 games as a rookie for San Jose in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year, $950,000 contract extension on Thursday. The 24-year-old was originally Arizona's 2018 3rd-round pick (73rd overall) and was traded to New York where he was eventually waived to begin the 2023-24 season before being claimed by San Jose.
Muggli was a second-round pick (No.52 overall) in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman spent the 2024 season with Zug EV (Switzerland) where he had 12 points (3G / 9A) in 42 games.
St.Louis added a strong veteran presence on Wenesday as it added 39-year-old Ryan Suter on a one-year, $775,000 deal. The grizzled defensemen played in all 82 games with Dallas in 2023-24, picking up two goals, 17 points, and a +14 plus/minus while still avergaing 18:56 TOI/GP. Suter currently ranks first amongst active players in games played (1444) as he enters his 20th NHL season with his fourth team.
Dickinson was selected No.11 overall in this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old blueliner had an outstanding season with the London Knights, finishing fourth among defensemen with 70 points (18G/ 52A) in 68 games.
Christiansen spent most of the 2024 season in the AHL, but did appear in 12 games with the Blue Jackets, tallying two assists. During his time in Cleveland (AHL), the 24-year-old blueliner had 13 goals and 33 assists (46 points) in 62 games. He'll likely start 2024-25 in Cleveland.
Duda was the No.36 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman came over from Russia last year and played at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he had seven points (2G / 5A) in 12 games.
Utah acquired Sokolov from the Senators last Wednesday and inked him to a one-year, two-way deal. Sokolov will likely start the 2024-25 season in the AHL but figures to be one of the first call-ups to the big club. The 24-year-old winger had 21 goals and 25 assists (46 points) in 71 AHL games a season ago.
Raska appeared in five games with Minnesota in 2023-24 but failed to pick up a point and still earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Wild. The 22-year-old right-winger is still without a point in 13 career NHL games across three seasons but had three goals and seven points in 56 games played between Iowa (AHL) and San Jose (AHL) in 2023-24.
Hayton enjoyed a second-half breakout in 2023, putting high expectations on him entering 2024. A slow start and an injury limited him to just 10 points (3G / 7A) in 33 games, but he'll be an integral part of the Coyotes' top-9 in the 2024-25 season. He's previously shown outstanding chemistry with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, so he could be the favourite to win the top-line job out of camp, which would make him a post-hype breakout candidate this season.