Hughes spent the first five years of his career in the Bruins' organization after being a sixth-round pick in 2015. He's only appeared in two NHL games since, but led Providence (AHL) in scoring with 45 points (14G / 31A) in 59 games last season.
Poganski was a fourth-round pick of the Blues in 2014 but spent 2022 with the Jets, going pointless in 16 NHL games and posting 30 points (9G / 21A) in 49 AHL games. Poganski will likely start the 2022-23 season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL).
Poturalski led the AHL with 101 points (28G / 73A) in 71 games a season ago but only appeared in two NHL games with the Hurricanes. The 28-year-old has been great in the AHL but has yet to make a splash at the NHL-level. Given the Kraken's depth issues at forward, Poturalski could finally get a real NHL shot at some point in 2022-23.
Zadorov is a huge (6-6, 235), physical defenseman, who had 22 points (4G / 18A) in 74 games with the Flames a season ago. The 27-year-old led Flames' defensemen in hits (181) and could take on a larger penalty killing role in 2022-23 with Erik Gudbranson now in Columbus.
Caggiula has not played a lot of hockey in the last two years, appearing in just 56 games with the Coyotes and Sabres, tallying five goals and 10 assists (15 points). He'll probably serve a similar role as a fringe roster player for the Penguins in 2022-23.
Staal spent the last two seasons in Detroit, where he had 26 points (6G / 20A) in 127 games. He led Red Wings' defensemen in PK TOI/gm (2:09) and hits (152) during those seasons. In Florida, he'll likely battle with Lucas Carlsson for playing time.
Hutchinson provides the Golden Knights a little more goaltending depth with NHL experience. In 2022 he spent most of the season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, where he was 11-10-4 with a 3.23 GAA and .899 SV%. He is 55-55-15 with a 2.79 GAA and .905 SV% in 137 career NHL appearances.
Froese is a veteran forward who has spent the vast majority of his career in the AHL. Since turning pro in 2012, he's appeared in 400 AHL games versus 116 NHL games. In 2022 he spent the whole year in Stockton (AHL), scoring 20 goals with 17 assists (37 points) in 55 games. He'll most likely start 2022-23 with Henderson (AHL).
Rempal was with the Canucks organization in 2022, appearing in just one NHL game. However, he was terrific in the AHL, finishing tied for fifth in goals (33) and eighth in points (69) in 55 games. He'll likely report to Henderson (AHL) but will be a cheap option for the Golden Knights when they run into injuries.
Rondbjerg nearly split his time evenly between the NHL and AHL in 2022. With the Golden Knights he played almost exclusively on the fourth line, posting six points (2G / 4A) in 30 games while averaging just 10:01 TOI/gm. Entering 2022-23, Rondbjerg will likely be vying for one of the final roster spots on the Golden Knights' opening night roster.
Howden was originally not qualified by the Golden Knights but ended up signing a one-year deal to stay with the team. Howden, who was a first-round pick in 2016, has never lived up to the offensive potential he flashed in the WHL. He's played almost exclusively as a fourth-line centre and will likely continue to do so in 2022-23.
Smith has been with the Golden Knights since the beginning but his production has being to slip recently. He posted a career-high 60 points in 2018 and career-best 27 goals in 2020, however he has just 30 goals and 33 assists (63 points) in his last 109 games combined over the last two seasons. He'll still be a top-6 player for the Golden Knights in 2022-23 and has some bounce-back potential if his on-ice SH% comes back up to double-digits.
Fleury was the No.7 overall pick in 2014, was traded to Anaheim in 2021 and claimed in the expansion draft by Seattle later that year. He had two goals and two assists (four points) in 36 games with the Kraken in 2021-22. The Lightning lost Ryan McDonagh and Jan Rutta this offseason, so bringing in Ian Cole and Fleury on cheap contracts will help try and replace those two.
Winterton was a third-round pick of the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 190 lbs. centre had 20 goals with 26 assists (46 points) in 37 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) this season. He also excelled in the playoffs, finishing 10th with 19 points (7G / 12A) in 18 games as Hamilton won the Championship.
Melanson was a fifth-round pick of the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old winger finished second on Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) in gold (35) and third in points (56) in 54 games in 2022.
Gillies appeared in 20 NHL games a season ago, going 3-10-2 with a 3.70 GAA and .887 SV% with the Blues (1 game) and Devils (19 games). In Arizona he will battle with Ivan Prosvetov for playing time behind Karel Vejmelka.
Johansson broke into the NHL with the Capitals in 2011 and played with them until 2017. He returned to the team at the trade deadline last season, posting six points (3G / 3A) in 18 games. The 31-year-old will likely serve as a third-liner for them in 2022-23 but he's capable of playing in the top-6 if needed.
Stenlund appeared in 32 games with the Blue Jackets in 2021 but only played three in 2022. He spent most of the season with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL), where he had eight goals and 17 assists (25 points) in 42 games. The two-way contract suggests he'll start 2022-23 with Manitoba (AHL).
Di Giuseppe has been in and out of the NHL since 2014, appearing in a total of 201 NHL games and 269 AHL games over that span. In 2022, the 28-year-old spent the whole season in the AHL, posting 36 points (12G / 24A) in 42 games with Abbotsford (AHL).
Gaudreau spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Flames and is coming off of the best season of his career. He set career-higher in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115) in 82 games. Gaudreau played almost exclusively with Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk, which was one of the best lines in the NHL. In Columbus, he won't have the same quality of linemates, so replicating his 115-point season is going to be next to impossible. Still, he should elevate the games of someone like Patrik Laine and should have no trouble getting to 30-plus goals and 50-plus assists.
