NHL Player News

Gaunce was acquired by Columbus from Minnesota on Thursday in exchange for Cameron Butler.

Gaunce had an assist, four PIM, 11 shots, 18 hits and seven blocks in 12 regular-season appearances with Minnesota in 2024-25. He also recorded 15 goals, 29 points and 20 PIM in 39 regular-season outings with AHL Iowa. The 31-year-old will be competing for a bottom-six spot with the Blue Jackets during training camp, but it wouldn't be surprising if he started the season in the minors.

Gregor won't receive a qualifying offer from San Jose, which means he'll become an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, Curtis Pashelka of The San Jose Mercury News reports Thursday.

Gregor had four goals, seven points, 28 PIM, 60 shots and 94 hits in 52 appearances between Ottawa and San Jose in 2024-25. The Sharks would have needed to present him with a qualifying offer of $892,500 for 2025-26 to retain his rights and make him a restricted free agent. Gregor would have also had arbitration rights. The 26-year-old has a decent shot of remaining in the NHL next season as a bottom-six forward.

Gaudreau was dealt to Seattle from Minnesota on Thursday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2025, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Gaudreau registered 18 goals, 19 assists and 110 shots on goal across 82 regular-season games for the Wild in 2024-25. The 32-year-old led Minnesota in faceoff draws with 1,097, winning 529 (48.2 winning percentage). He will center one of the bottom two lines with the Kraken, likely the fourth unit, with Matty Beniers, Chandler Stephenson and Shane Wright ahead of him on the depth chart.

Edstrom (lower body) signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract with the Rangers on Monday.

Edstrom earned five goals, four assists, 40 shots on net, 34 blocked shots and 94 hits across 51 appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. He sustained a lower-body injury against Boston on Feb. 1 and missed the final 31 games of the year. However, he should be ready for the beginning of training camp after having surgery to address the issue. Edstrom could occupy a bottom-six role with the Rangers going into the 2025-26 campaign.

Anaheim acquired Poehling, the No. 45 pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and a 2026 fourth-round selection from Philadelphia on Monday in exchange for Trevor Zegras, per Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

Poehling produced 12 goals, 31 points, 71 shots on net and 79 blocked shots over 68 regular-season appearances with the Flyers in 2024-25. The 26-year-old forward will probably occupy a bottom-six role as a member of the Ducks in the 2025-26 campaign.

Zegras was traded to the Flyers from the Ducks on Monday in exchange for Ryan Poehling, the No. 45 pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and a 2026 fourth-round pick, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports.

Zegras was mentioned in trade rumors in the second half of the 2024-25 season, but he ultimately remained with Anaheim. However, he'll now don a new sweater for the first time since being drafted with the No. 9 pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old racked up 12 goals, 20 assists, 50 hits and 27 blocked shots while averaging 17:02 of ice time over 57 appearances with the Ducks last year.

Veleno was acquired by Seattle from Chicago on Saturday in exchange for Andre Burakovsky, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports.

Veleno's time in Chicago was brief after being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline in March. The 25-year-old had three goals and seven points in 18 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, giving him eight goals and nine assists across 56 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. He should be a bottom-six forward, at best, in Seattle.

Bourque signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with Dallas on Friday, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

Bourque managed to play in 73 regular-season games during his rookie campaign in 2024-25, scoring 11 goals and adding 14 assists. He was selected in the opening round, 30th overall, in 2020 and is likely to be a middle-six forward for the Stars next season. Bourque was a healthy scratch on 15 occasions during the playoffs and was held off the scoresheet in the three games he managed to see action in.

Stienburg inked a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado on Friday, according to Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports.

Stienburg played eight games during the regular season with the Avalanche but was unable to hit the scoresheet. Stienburg played only five games with AHL Colorado in 2024-25, scoring once and adding two assists. He will battle for a bottom-six spot with Colorado during training camp.

Nugent-Hopkins played with a broken hand during the final four games of the Stanley Cup Finals, Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic reported Thursday.

Connor McDavid made the announcement during his season-ending press conference. Nugent-Hopkins managed to play in the remaining four games after suffering the injury during Game 2 versus Florida on June 6. Nugent-Hopkins is expected to be 100 percent for the start of training camp in September.