Aston-Reese has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jackets, recording 11 points (4G / 7A), 32 blocks, and 94 hits in 42 games. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL but has solidified himself a spot with the Blue Jackets.
In his second full NHL season, Greig is averaging a career-high 15:27 time-on-ice, recording 12 points (6G / 6A) in 37 games. The 22-year-old forward was the 28th overall pick of the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Ferguson officially signed with Minnesota on a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday and will remain with the Wild organization for the remainder of 2024-25. The 26-year-old has spent the season between the Iowa Wild (AHL) and Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL). Ferguson has two career NHL starts to his name and has picked up a victory alongside his .940 SV%.
In only 39 games this season, Kastelic has already matched a career-high with 11 points (4G / 7A) and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension. The bruting 6-4 forward is second in the NHL with 151 hits.
Myers has only played 11 games this season but has been a bruting force when in the lineup, racking up 29 hits. The 28-year-old towering 6'5 defenseman is averaging 17:08 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) this season.
Middleton was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has been a product of the Avalanche since the 2020-21 season but had only played three NHL games before this season. In 10 games this season, the 26-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:31 time-on-ice and has zero points, 10 blocks, and 14 hits. He signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV).
Back has impressed in a fourth-line role in his first NHL season and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. The 24-year-old forward has nine points (1G / 8A) in 31 games with Dallas this season.
Becher was a third-round pick, 80th overall, of the Red Wings in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Czech forward has three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.
Blackwood was acquired in a trade from the San Jose Sharks nearly three weeks ago and has been excellent since his debut with Colorado. Blackwood has a 2.03 GAA and .931 SV%, earning himself a five-year contract extension after only four games with the Avalanche (3-1-0). The 28-year-old netminder has a 3.05 GAA and .905 SV% in 219 career games (84-92-25), primarily while playing for non-playoff teams in New Jersey and San Jose.
Clattenburg was a fifth-round pick, 160th overall, of the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 18 points (10G / 8A) in 22 games with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) this season.
He becomes the first Chinese-born player in history to sign an NHL contract. The 18-year-old winger was a fourth-round pick, 109th overall, of the Jets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He has 43 points (23 / 20A) in 29 games with the Niagara IceDogs (OHL) this season.
Pachal is averaging 14:31 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A), 27 penalty minutes, 34 blocks, and 72 hits in 31 games this season, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 25-year-old defenseman has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 93 career NHL games.
Gaucher is an undrafted 23-year-old out of Longueui, Quebec. He has spent the last three seasons bouncing between the ECHL and AHL, but has played well with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) this season, scoring 15 points (10G / 5A) in 23 games.
Marrelli was a third-round pick, 86th overall, of the Blue Jackets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Toronto native is in his fourth OHL season with the Oshawa Generals, including scoring 40 points (14G / 26A) in 30 games this season.
Shesterkin's $11.5 million AAV makes him the highest paid goaltender in NHL history. The 28-year-old Shesterkin won the Vezina trophy in the 2021-22 season and has a 2.48 GAA and .920 SV% across 231 career games (143-68-18). Considered by many to be the best goalie in the NHL, Shesterkin has struggled lately, uncharacteristically allowing three or more goals in seven of his last nine (2-7-0), posting an ugly .882 SV%.
Tokarski has been stellar with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) this season season, posting a 1.61 GAA and .933 SV% in five games (4-1-0). The 35-year-old NHL journeyman has played 80 career NHL games (23-34-12), posting a 3.15 GAA and .902 SV%.
LaBate was the 101st overall pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played 13 games with the Canucks, scoring zero points, in the 2016-17 season, but has exclusively been an AHL player since. The 31-year-old LaBate has four points (1G / 3A) in five games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) this season.
