Claesson has bounced around the NHL in recent years, playing 112 games for five teams over the last four years. The Lightning need some cheap, depth contracts, so they re-signed Claesson to be a seventh/eighth defenseman on their roster.
Volkov was traded to the Ducks last March, finishing the 2021 season with seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 37 games between Tampa Bay and Anaheim. The 23-year-old is poised for a middle-6 spot with the Ducks to start 2021-22.
Woll was a third-round pick in 2016 and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. The 23-year-old struggled in 2020-21, going 7-7-0 with a 3.54 GAA and .892 SV% in 15 games with the Marlies. Woll will almost certainly open the 2021-22 season in the AHL.
After three years in the NHL, Heiskanen ranks 33rd among blueliners with 95 points (28G / 67A) in 205 games. His raise will make him the sixth-highest paid defenseman (as of now) in 2021-22 with an $8.45M AAV cap-hit. Heiskanen is an absolute workhorse for the Stars, ranking ninth in the NHL in TOI/gm (24:58) last season.
Gambrell was a second-round pick of the Sharks in 2016 and has turned into a decent bottom-6 option for them over the last two season. He has compiled 10 goals and 13 assists (23 points) in 99 games over that stretch and will likely centre the third or fourth line when 2021-22 starts.
After a disappointing year in Boston, Ritchie landed in Calgary last year and had just eight points (4G / 4A) in 32 games but saw more regular playing time. However, hee will be a fringe roster player for the Flames entering the 2021-22 season.
Smith appeared in one game with the Predators last season, spending almost all of the season in Chicago (AHL), where he had five goals and five assists in 23 games. Look for Smith to report to the AHL to open the 2021-22 campaign.
Duclair signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last year and enjoyed a really nice season, posting 32 points (10G / 22A) in 43 games. It was good enough to earn him a three-year deal and a $1.3M AAV raise to be a member of the Panthers' top-9.
McLeod was the No.12 overall pick in 2016 and impressed in his first full NHL season in 2021. The 23-year-old centre scored nine goals with six assists (15 points) in 52 games. Combined with Miles Wood, the duo formed a strong bottom-6 line for the Devils and he will be a regular for them in that role again in 2021-22.
The Panthers claimed Forsling off of waivers from the Hurricanes in early January and posted career-highs in goals (5) and assists (12) in just 43 games in 2021. Forsling figures to be part of the regular blueline rotation for Florida in 2021-22.
Belzile had another strong AHL campaign in 2021, scoring four goals with 10 assists (14 points) in 17 games with Laval. He's an AHL veteran with just two games of NHL experience, so expect the 29-year-old to remain with Laval to start the 2021-22 season.
Blueger missed 13 games with an upper-body injury in the shortened 2021 season but still managed to tie his career-best of 22 points (7G / 15A). With Blueger re-signed, the Penguins only need to sign RFA Zach Aston-Reese to bring back one of the best bottom-6 lines in the NHL (Tanev - Blueger - Aston-Reese).
Carlo struggled with injuries during the 2021 campaign, missing 29 of the 56 games and finishing with just three goals and one assist. Still, he's an integral part of the Bruins' top-4 moving forward and they made a lengthy commitment to the 24-year-old.
White was selected in the fourth-round (No. 97 overall) in 2015 but has appeared in just 11 NHL games since, including two in 2021. White spent most of the season with Binghamton (AHL), where he had one goal and six assists. Look for him to start the 2021-22 season in the AHL once again.
Carrick was traded to the Ducks in January and scored one goal with 11 assists (12 points) in 39 games with San Diego (AHL). The 27-year-old was re-signed along with his brother on Tuesday and the two are likely to start 2022 in the AHL.
In his first season in the Ducks' organization, Lettieri had 14 goals and 12 assists (26 points) in 22 AHL games. He was held pointless in five NHL games and will likely report to San Diego (AHL) to start the 2022 campaign.
Carrick split the 2021 campaign between the AHL and NHL, finishing with six points (2G / 4A) in 13 games with the Ducks. He finished sixth among San Diego (AHL) skaters in points-per-game, scoring 14 goals with 10 assists (24 points) in 27 games (0.889 Pts/gm).
