The Panthers selected Jansson in the fourth-round (No.125 overall) in 2022. The 21-year-old defenseman spent the 2024-25 season in the SHL, where he scored one goal with three assists (four points) in 50 games with Lulea HF. Expect him to report to Charlotte (AHL) if he makes the move to North America in 2025-26.
Brown spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he had 46 points (17G / 29A) in 56 games for Providence. During his time in the NHL, he had just one assist in 15 games. Expect him to be a fringe NHLer in 2025-26 as well.
Gritsyuk was a fifth-round pick in 2019 and will join the Devils organization in 2025-26 after five seasons in the KHL. Gritsyuk had a career-high 44 points (17G / 27A) in 49 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season.
Matinpalo is an undrafted 26-year-old defenseman that played a career-high 41 games with Ottawa this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A). He appeared in all six playoff games for Ottawa this postseason as well.
Regula was the 67th overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has only played 22 career NHL Games. The 24-year-old defenseman spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, scoring 26 points (4G / 22A) in 55 games with the Providence Bruins.
Parssinen split the 2024-25 campaign between the Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Rangers, but made a lasting impact in his final stop, securing a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension in New York. The 23-year-old forward had five points (2G / 3A) in 11 games with New York and has 53 points (20G / 33A) in 137 career contests.
Cranley was a sixth-round pick, 163rd overall, of the Blues in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie spent most of the 2024-25 season in the ECHL, posting a 2.71 GAA and .896 SV% in 23 games with the Florida Everblades (11-9-3).
The Hurricanes acquired Hall in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks midseason and was a effective player in a secondary role with the club. The 33-year-old Hall scored 18 points (9G / 9A) in 31 games with the Hurricanes. He had 28 points (11G / 17A) in 56 games with the Blackhawks over the previous two seasons. The former Hart trophy winner has been a solid offensive contributor through one round of the 2024-25 playoffs as well, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in five games.
Stauber is an undrafted goalie that has spent most of the previous three seasons in the AHL with several short stints in the NHL. The 26-year-old netminder posted a 3.14 GAA and .892 SV% in six appearances (2-1-1) with the Utah Hockey Club this season.
Hallander was a second-round pick, 54th overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old spent the previous two seasons playing for Timra IK in the Swedish Hockey League, scoring a combined 89 points (40G / 49A) in 102 games.
Mercer is an undrafted goalie out that has spent the previous five seasons playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL. The 21-year-old had an excellent 2024-25 season, posting a 2.53 GAA and .925 SV% in 46 games (27-15-4) with Drummondville.
Trineyev was a fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons in Hershey (AHL) after coming over from the KHL. In 2024-25, Trineyev had 14 goals and eight assists (22 points) in 62 games.
Pionk has tied a career-high with 10 goals this season and has been rewarded with a six-year, $42-million contract extension ($7.0M AAV). The 29-year-old defenseman has tallied 216 points (37G / 179A) in 435 games over six season with Winnipeg. He recently returned from a month-long absence due to injury and has picked up where he left off, with two points (1G / 1A) in three games.
In his seventh season with the Capitals, Dowd has scored a career-high 27 points (14G / 13A) in 81 games and has been rewarded with a two-year, $6-million contract extension. The 34-year-old Dowd has 176 points (84G / 92A)) in 581 career games.
Iafallo has become a utility option for the Jets, playing anywhere from the first to fourth line. In 2024-25, he's scored 15 goals with 16 assists (31 points) in 81 games, surpassing his 27 points from his first season with the Jets.
