August 5, 2025
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer signed a three-year entry-level contract Monday. The top pick of this year's draft reiterated his desire to start his NHL career in the upcoming season. "Feels amazing," Schaefer said. "Obviously, it's something I've wanted to do my whole life and to do it your first year -- there's still a lot of work, but that was my dream and I want to play in the NHL this season. I wanted to really badly. I know there's going to be a lot of hard work that comes with it, but I think I'm ready." Schaefer is still only 17 and could be sent back to the OHL next season. If he sticks with the Islanders, Schaefer is likely to play a significant role on the blue line, as not getting enough action would hurt his development.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
August 2, 2025
Forward Jakub Lauko has left the NHL to sign with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. He was an unrestricted free agent after the Boston Bruins did not give him a qualifying offer. 101 of his 139 NHL appearances have come with the Bruins. Lauko started the 2024-25 with the Minnesota Wild before returning to Beantown in March. He registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 119 hits in 56 contests with the two teams. Lauku is only 25 years old and may return to the National Hockey League in the future. He's looking to develop his offensive game back home. "I play hard and energetic. I believe I'm good defensively, but I also want to wake up offensively and contribute to the team in that regard," Lauko said, per the team's press release via Google Translate.
--Taavi PailkSource: NESN
August 2, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson has signed a one-year, $1.825 million contract for next season. He was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing on Sunday. Robertson was the only unsigned restricted free agent remaining among the 11 players who filed for salary arbitration. Times have been difficult for Robertson in Toronto, as the Pasadena-born forward has not found a consistent role on the team. Last season, he played in only three of the Maple Leafs' 13 playoff games, scoring one goal and two points. During the regular season, Robertson recorded 22 points (15 goals, seven assists) in 69 games. Without a regular top-six spot, Robertson isn't a very appealing fantasy option.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
August 2, 2025
Los Angeles Kings winger Alex Laferriere inked a three-year, $12.3 million contract with the team on Saturday. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent after having completed his entry-level contract. Laferriere has produced promising performances with the Kings and is coming off a strong sophomore campaign. The American forward finished last term with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 77 games and was third on the team with 124 hits. Laferriere's prospects in the league as a power forward appear bright, and his fantasy value is likely to increase further in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 31, 2025
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid is approaching the final year of an eight-year, $100 million contract and could become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. However, the superstar forward is not expected to leave the team. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman hopes to agree to an extension with him soon. "(McDavid is) a huge part of everything we do here, and so I don't have a timeline update, but I do expect to have some conversations with them soon and hopefully get that wrapped up," Bowman told CHED 880's Bob Stauffer. Bowman also mentioned that he's had "really good conversations" with McDavid's agent, Judd Moldaver. McDavid has crushed it in the National Hockey League since his very first season. He has tallied 1,082 points (361 goals, 721 assists) in 712 career regular-season games, reaching 100 points in five consecutive campaigns.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 31, 2025
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi has inked a new two-year, $1.625 million contract with the club. The young netminder was Buffalo's last restricted free agent. Levi is a highly-regarded goalie prospect, but he had a tough time in the NHL last season. In nine outings, Levi compiled a 2-7-0 record, allowing over four goals per game (4.12) with a lowly .872 save percentage. He didn't see any action in the big league after January. Levi's play in the AHL was much better, as the 23-year-old posted a 25-13-4 record, a 2.20 goals-against average, and a .919 save percentage with the Rochester Americans. Next season, Levi will battle with Alex Lyon for the backup position behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 31, 2025
Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil has signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension that will start with the 2026-27 season. Pospisil could have become a restricted free agent after the upcoming campaign. Calgary picked Pospisil in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and he has been a regular on the team for the past two seasons. In 2024-25, Pospisil scored 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 81 games and tied New York Rangers forward Will Cuylle for the third-most hits in the league with 301. Pospisil's physicality certainly makes him valuable in some fantasy leagues, but he isn't a must-have player.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 30, 2025
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (shoulder) will be fully healthy for the start of training camp. In a conversation with Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald, McAvoy indicated that he would have even been ready to play in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Bruins had extended their season. McAvoy missed the final two months of last term due to a shoulder infection he sustained during the 4 Nations Face-Off. The American blue-liner finished his eighth NHL campaign with 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists), 98 shots, 81 blocks, and 89 hits in 50 games. McAvoy does it all for the Bruins and is poised for another productive fantasy season in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: Steve Conroy
July 30, 2025
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg has agreed to a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension. Samberg was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing later today, but the two sides managed to avoid it. On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Samberg set his contract value in arbitration at $6 million, while the Jets were looking to get him for $2.5 million. The agreed deal gives Samberg's contract an average annual value of $5.75 million. While Samberg doesn't do much from a fantasy perspective, he has developed into a highly reliable blue-liner in Winnipeg. Last season, Samberg finished seventh in the NHL with a plus-34 rating, earning 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) and blocking 154 shots in 60 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: Murat Ates
July 28, 2025
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble signed a two-year, $2.825 million contract on Monday. The 23-year-old restricted free agent had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Aug. 3 before reaching a new deal with the Canadiens, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. Struble has just finished his second NHL campaign, registering 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) and 124 hits in 56 appearances. While the American blue-liner brings physicality to the Canadiens lineup, he needs to improve in other areas to lock down a regular spot in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 28, 2025
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins has agreed to a two-year, $4.4 million deal with his new team. The 26-year-old was a restricted free agent and scheduled for salary arbitration. Timmins is a fresh face in Buffalo after the Sabres picked him up in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the draft. Last season, Timmins made 68 appearances between the Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists), 69 shots, and 90 blocks with a plus-11 rating. He's been an effective player for teams but doesn't have enough in his game to make a difference in fantasy hockey.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 27, 2025
Minnesota Wild defenseman Zeev Buium wants to be a significant contributor on the team next season. "I do think that there is an opportunity for me to step in and be a player on the team," Buium told NHL.com. "And for me, I don't just want to be a guy who's out there -- [I want to] help this team win. So yeah, I'm going to do whatever I can to do that." The 19-year-old made his NHL debut last season, skating in four postseason games. While playing for the University of Denver, he was named the NCHC Player of the Year and the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year. Buium was a scoring machine with Denver over two seasons, notching 98 points (14 goals, 74 assists) in 83 games. It might take some time before Buium can produce consistent offense at the NHL level, but he certainly has all the tools to become a major asset for the Wild.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 27, 2025
Winger Conor Sheary has signed a professional tryout contract with the New York Rangers. He hopes to earn a new NHL deal in training camp after mutually terminating his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sheary was two years into a three-year, $6 million pact, but he clearly wasn't happy with his situation in the organization, having spent most of last season in the minors. The 33-year-old notched 20 goals and 61 points in 59 AHL outings with the Syracuse Crunch. In the NHL, Sheary went scoreless in five appearances. Early in his career, Sheary became a two-time Stanley Cup champion in Pittsburgh under Mike Sullivan, and the two will now work together again in New York. This could give Sheary a new lease of life.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mollie Walker
July 27, 2025
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom has signed a two-year, $5.5 million extension, avoiding salary arbitration. He came off a two-year, $1.925 million deal this summer. Soderblom has become a regular in the Blackhawks crease over the last couple of years, finishing with a 10-18-7 record in 33 starts last term. It was a tough campaign for the 25-year-old Swede on a struggling team, as Soderblom recorded a 3.18 goals-against average with a .898 save percentage and went the entire season without a shutout. Next season, Soderblom will compete with Spencer Knight for playing time, and the Blackhawks are expected to face another difficult year.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 25, 2025
New York Rangers winger Brett Berard revealed that he played most of last season with a shoulder injury. The 22-year-old tore his labrum in November during his fourth career game. Berard finished the season with 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 35 games. Additionally, he scored 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 30 AHL contests. However, due to the injury, Berard was unable to represent Team USA at the World Championship. Next season, the Rangers might give Berard a more prominent role, and he expects to be at 100 percent when training camp starts.
--Taavi PailkSource: Mollie Walker
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