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.
Pickard has appeared in 116 career NHL games with five different teams since 2015, going 35-54-19 with a 3.03 GAA and .903 SV%. In 2022, he spent most of the year in the AHL, going 21-16-5 with a 2.58 GAA and .918 SV% with Grand Rapids. He'll likely replace Stuart Skinner in Bakersfield.
McKegg has had a difficult time sticking in the NHL throughout his career, often times alternating between the AHL and NHL throughout the season. In 2022 he spent almost the entire season with the Rangers, scoring two goals with three assists (five points) in 43 games. Signing a two-way contract with the Oilers suggests he may be destined to start 2022-23 in Bakersfield.
Rafferty played the entire 2021-22 season in the AHL, scoring four goals with 20 assists (24 points) in 65 games with San Diego. He's only played in three career NHL games and will almost certainly start 2022-23 in the AHL.
Hellberg joined the Red Wings late in the 2022 season after finishing his season in the KHL with Sochi HC. He only played in one game with Detroit, allowing three goals on 23 shots in a win over the Devils. In Seattle, hell be No.4 on the depth chart behind Philipp Grubauer, Martin Jones and Chris Driedger.
Froden came to North America in 2022 after spending his entire pro career in Sweden. The 27-year-old spent most of the season in the AHL, collecting 16 points and 18 assists (34 points) in 49 games with Providence. He should have a better shot at cracking the NHL roster full-time with Seattle than he did with Boston.
Priskie had a solid 2022 season with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL), posting eight goals with 23 assists (31 points) in 54 games. The 26-year-old showcased his offensive game in four years at Quinnipiac University and will look crack the NHL with the Sabres in 2022-23.
Davies appeared in six games with Nashville in 2022 but spent most of his time in Milwaukee (AHL). He had six goals and 25 assists (31 points) in 54 AHL games and will likely report to Rochester (AHL) to start 2022-23.
Clague was a second-round pick in 2016 and has appeared in 58 NHL games since turning pro in 2019. Last year, he was claimed off of waivers by the Canadiens and had two goals and eight assists (10 points) in 36 combined games with Los Angeles and Montreal. He'll be a fringe roster player for the Sabres in 2022-23.
Lucchini was an undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech who has played in the AHL for the last four years. He was tied for the team-lead in goals (20) and led the Belleville in points (51) in 2021-22. Expect him to remain with Belleville to open 2022-23.
Rubins spent the first four years of his career with the Maple Leafs but moves to their Ontario rival on a one-year deal with the Senators. He played in his first three career NHL games a season ago but will likely be an AHL player in 2022-23. He had 11 points (1G / 10A) in 58 games with the Toronto Marlies last year.
