Gaudette played a career-high 81 games last season and scored a career-high 19 goals with the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old has split most of his career alternating between the AHL and NHL and will hope to continue a trend from last year, playing as an NHL regular in the 2025-26 season.
After not playing professional hockey for over a year due to injuries, Klingberg signed with the Edmonton Oilers late in the 2024-25 campaign. He recorded four points (1G / 3A) in 11 games with the Oilers and four points (1G / 3A) in 19 postseason games. The 32-year-old Klingberg isn't far removed from being one of the league's elite powerplay quarterbacks. He scored a career-high 67 points (8G / 59A) in 82 games with the Dallas Stars in the 2017-18 season.
After five seasons in Chicago, Philipp Kurashev has joined the San Jose Sharks on a one-year, $1.2 million contract. The 25-year-old Swish center broke out in 2023-24 with 18 goals and 54 points but regressed to his career norms in 2024-25 with only seven goals and 14 points in 51 games played.
Fresh off a successful 2nd full campaign that saw him post career highs in goals (17), assists (41), points (58), and SOG (151), William Eklund has earned himself a three-year, $16.8 million extension ($5,600,000 AAV) to remain with San Jose. The 22-year-old was San Jose's 2021 1st round pick (7th overall) and has produced admirably since making his NHL debut in 2021-22. He is expected to return to his regular top-six and top power-play role for the 2025-26 season.
San Jose shored up their minor league goaltending on Sunday after signing Gariel Carriere to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old undrafted goaltender appeared in 47 games combined between the AHL and ECHL last season and will hope to remain with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) this upcoming season.
Klingberg was a healthy scratch for Games 4 and 5 but he will replace Troy Stecher in the lineup for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. In his 18 postseason games, Klingberg has one goal and three assists (four points).
Mukhamadulin played a career-high 30 games with the Sharks this season and will return to the club in 2025-26. The 23-year-old defenseman had nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games this season.
Skinner has not played since Game 1 in the first round of the playoffs but will draw back into the lineup due to a Zach Hyman (upper body) injury. The 33-year-old Skinner had 29 points (16G / 13A) in 72 games with the Oilers this season.
Afanasyev was acquired from Nashville mid-season in 2024-25 in exchange for Ozzy Wiesblatt and has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with San Jose, worth $800,000. The 24-year-old Russian winger was once a 2019 2nd-round pick (45th overall) but spent 2024-25 with CSKA Moskva (KHL) where he picked up seven assists and 21 points in 53 games played.
With Evander Kane (abdominal surgery) returning to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday, Jeff Skinner will be a healthy scratch. The 32-year-old Skinner played his first career playoff game in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Kings, recording one assist and -2 plus/minus in 11:12 time-on-ice.
Klingberg has not played since March 27th and has only played 11 games this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A), but will return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Klingberg has only played 11 playoff games in the previous five seasons but has been a proven performer, scoring 39 points (8G / 31A) in 63 career contests. Josh Brown will exit Edmonton's lineup to accommodate Klingberg's return.
Klingberg has not played since March 27th and has only played 11 games this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A), but could return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Klingberg has only played 11 playoff games in the previous five seasons but has been a proven performer, scoring 39 points (8G / 31A) in 63 career contests.
The Penguins will conclude their third consecutive season without playoff hockey, turning to Nedeljovkic between the pipes on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Nedeljkovic played well in his most recent outing but did not receive ample goal support, saving 28 of 30 shots (.933 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.16 GAA and .894 SV% in 37 appearances this season (13-15-5). The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as -101 home underdogs against a Capitals team that is 2-3-0 in their last five games.
Ostapchuk has been sidelined since suffering an injury on Sunday and is not likely to play in the Sharks' season finale but is hopeful to be ready for the AHL playoffs. The 21-year-old Ostapchuk is averaging 9:25 time-on-ice and has four points (1G / 3A) in 56 games this season.
Thompson has been sidelined since suffering an injury on Sunday and is not likely to play in the Sharks' season finale but is hopeful to be ready for the AHL playoffs. The 23-year-old Thompson is averaging 15:47 time-on-ice and has 10 points (4G / 6A) in 31 games this season.
