Appleton has yet to appear in the preseason for Winnipeg after sustaining a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day for the time being. The 27-year-old scored five goals, 11 assists, had eight PIMs, 71 SOG and a +2 plus/minus through 41 games with the Jets in 2022-23. He is entering his seventh NHL season and is expected to be a crucial part of the Jets' bottom-six.
Mitchell had a goal, seven assists, 25 SOG, eight PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 35 games with Chicago in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $775,000 AAV contract as a pre-arbitration agreement with Boston. The 24-year-old defenseman had his rights acquired by the Bruins as a part of the deal that saw Taylor Hall head to Chicago. He has four goals and 16 points across 82 career NHL games played.
DeBrincat was reportedly seeking a long-term deal, which Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was not keen on giving out. The term was likely what held up the trade, which had long been rumoured to be happening. DeBrincat is now signed through the 2027 NHL season and is one of four forwards in Detroit with at least four years on their deals, joining Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher.
DeBrincat was an RFA that had made it known that he was not interested in re-signing with the Senators. After one season, where he scored 27 goals with 39 assists (66 points) in 82 games, DeBrincat was traded to his hometown team, where he immediately becomes their best goal-scorer and a crucial part of the Red Wings' rebuild. DeBrincat is a two-time 40-goal scorer and has averaged 38 goals and 38 assists (76 points) per 82-games over the last three seasons.
Harmonic had six goals, 15 assists, 136 SOG, 71 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 75 games with Ottawa in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract extension ($1.1M AAV). The 32-year-old defenseman has played in 793 career NHL games, picking up 50 goals and 229 points across his 13 year career thus far.
Leonard spent most of the 2023 season in the AHL, finishing second on the Milwaukee Admirals in points (44), third in goals (17) and fourth in assists (27). With Arizona, he should battle for a roster spot in training camp, but seems destined to start the year in the AHL due to his two-way contract.
Lagesson had 10 goals, 22 assists, 46 PIMs and a +14 plus/minus through 65 games last season with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and will join Toronto on a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 27-year-old defenseman failed to see any NHL playing time in 2022-23 but still brings 60 games of experience as well as seven career assists to the Maple Leafs.
Gustafsson had seven goals, 35 assists, 122 SOG, 23 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 70 games with both Washington and Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $825,000 with the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old offensively-minded defenseman brings 39 goals and 191 points across 379 career NHL games to the Rangers.
Compher had 17 goals, 35 assists, 154 SOG, 33 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus through 82 games with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a five-year contract worth $25.5 million ($5.1M AAV) with Detroit. The 28-year-old left-winger joins the Red Wings after seven successful seasons in Colorado that included a Stanley Cup win, 88 goals and 194 points in 423 career NHL games.
Holl had two goals, 16 assists, 60 SOG, 39 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus through 80 games with Toronto in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year contract worth $10.2 million ($3.4M AAV) in Detroit. The 31-year-old undrafted defenseman joined the Maple Leafs in 2017-18 and has scored 11 goals and 82 points with a +58 plus/minus in 285 career NHL games since.
Talbot was 17-14-2 with a 2.93 GAA and .898 SV% through 36 games with Ottawa in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $1.0 million with the Los Angeles Kings. The 36-year-old netminder will be joining his seventh NHL team and brings a career record of 413-218-36 with a .914 SV% and 2.65 GAA to Los Angeles.
Pressed up against the cap, the Bruins needed some forwards on a reasonable cap-hit and get van Riemsdyk on a very team-friendly, $1.0M AAV deal. van Riemsdyk has spent the last five seasons in Philadelphia, where he had 99 goals and 99 assists (198 points) in 331 games. At age 34, he's probably not the 30-30 threat he was earlier in his career, but he's a solid middle-6 winger who will be a great net-front presence on the power play and should have no problem banging home 20-plus goals on a talented Bruins' roster.
Bernard-Docker split his time between the NHL and AHL during the 2023 season. While in Ottawa, the 23-year-old defenseman had one assist, 22 shots and 23 hits in 19 games. He figures to be in the mix for regular playing time during the 2023-24 season.
Mitchell had a goal, seven assists, 25 SOG, eight PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 35 games with Chicago in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded to Boston alongside Alec Regula for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. The 24-year-old has appeared in 82 games across three seasons with Chicago, collecting four goals and 16 points.
Kane had 21 goals, 36 assists, 227 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -22 plus/minus through 73 games with Chicago and New York in 2022-23 but will now miss roughly 4-6 months after have a hip resurfacing on Thursday. The 34-year-old was set to be an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2023-24 but claims he wants to play for "a long time".
Edvinsson had two goals, 40 SOG, 12 PIMs and a -7 plus/minus across nine games in his first showing with the Detroit Red Wings this season but will now be forced to miss 4-6 months as he recovers from left shoulder surgery. The 20-year-old was Detroit's 2021 first-round pick (6th overall) and will hope to have an update as we return for the 2023-24 season.
Gustafsson made his playoff debut in Game 7 vs. Tampa Bay as the Maple Leafs dressed seven defensemen but will head back to the press box for Game 1 in the second round vs. Florida on Tuesday. The 31-year-old had seven goals, 35 assists, 122 SOG, 23 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 70 games between Toronto and Washington during the regular season.
