NHL Player News

Fensore signed a one-year, two-way contract with Carolina on Wednesday.

Fensore appeared in just two NHL games last year in which he generated five shots, three hits and two PIM while being held off the scoresheet. The Boston University product was significantly more productive in the minors with nine goals and 23 helpers in 67 regular-season tilts with AHL Chicago. While the 2019 third-round pick could see a little more action with the Canes this year, he figures once again to spend the bulk of his minutes in the minors.

Mrtka agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with Buffalo on Tuesday.

Mrtka was selected by the organization with the ninth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old blueliner should get a look during training camp this fall, but he figures to play the bulk of his minutes in juniors with WHL Seattle. With the Thunderbirds last year, the Czech native notched three goals and 32 helpers in 43 regular-season contests before adding another trio of helpers in six playoff appearances.

Byram signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Sabres on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.

Byram had been involved in plenty of trade and offer-sheet speculation recently, but the previously restricted free agent is now tied into Buffalo through 2026-27. The No. 4 overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft had a career year in 2024-25, generating seven goals, 38 points, 116 blocked shots and a plus-11 rating over 82 games. The 24-year-old blueliner also set a new high-water mark in average ice time (22:42), and his role could continue to grow if he receives top-pairing minutes alongside Rasmus Dahlin in 2025-26.

Mitchell inked a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Islanders on Monday, according to PuckPedia.

This is a two-way deal for Mitchell, who is likely to spend most, if not all, of the 2025-26 campaign with AHL Bridgeport. The 25-year-old defenseman accounted for four goals, 13 points, 101 PIM and a minus-22 rating over 65 appearances in the minors last season.

Thompson signed a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose on Monday.

Thompson contributed four goals, 10 points, 41 shots on net and 54 blocked shots across 31 appearances with the Sharks in 2024-25. He also had three goals and 14 points in 27 outings with AHL San Jose during the 2024-25 regular season. The Sharks added veteran blueliners Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg and Nick Leddy in the offseason, which could lead to the 23-year-old Thompson starting the 2025-26 campaign in the minors.

Bayreuther agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with Carolina on Friday.

Bayreuther hasn't appeared in an NHL game since 2022-23 when he was with the Blue Jackets. That season, the 31-year-old blueliner notched two goals and 12 helpers in 51 tilts while averaging 15:57 of ice time. It certainly seemed like the New Hampshire native was close to becoming a full-time NHL option, but instead spent last year playing overseas with Lausanne HC, notching five goals and 18 helpers in 52 regular-season contests. At this point, if Bayreuther logs any NHL minutes, it will probably be the result of an injury among the Hurricanes' defensive group.

Thrun was traded to the Maple Leafs from the Sharks on Thursday in exchange for Ryan Reaves.

This is a bit of an odd trade on the surface for the Sharks, and one that may not benefit Thrun on an individual level. San Jose's offseason acquisitions of John Klingberg, Nick Leddy and Dmitry Orlov brought a more veteran group of defenders into the mix, which may have left Thrun without a regular role in 2025-26. That said, he's no lock to play with his new team, and he almost certainly won't be in the power-play mix immediately with Toronto. Thrun had 12 points in 60 appearances in 2024-25, and if he can't win a job in training camp, he may have to spend part of the year with AHL Toronto.

Manson signed a two-year, $7.9 million contract extension with the Avalanche on Thursday, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. His new deal runs through the 2027-28 campaign.

Manson has one season remaining on his four-year, $18 million contract, so his new agreement won't start right away. He's taking a bit of a cut in pay, but Manson will celebrate his 34th birthday Oct. 7, so the Avalanche are locking him up late into his career. Manson had a goal, 15 points, 28 PIM, 65 shots, 105 hits and 59 blocks in 48 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. He has appeared in at least 70 regular-season games in just one of the last six seasons, which is a significant concern, but Manson does offer plenty of grit from the blue line when healthy.

Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick were acquired by Pittsburgh from Dallas on Thursday in exchange for Vladislav Kolyachonok.

Dumba had a goal, 10 points, 60 PIM, 57 shots, 70 hits and 60 blocks in 63 regular-season appearances with Dallas in 2024-25. He's entering the second campaign of a two-year, $7.5 million contract, so Pittsburgh is receiving the draft pick as compensation for allowing Dallas to free up some much-needed cap space with this trade. Dumba used to be a top-pairing defenseman, and he recorded at least 20 points in seven straight campaigns from 2015-16 through 2021-22. However, he's fallen substantially in recent years, averaging just 15:18 of ice time last season and spending the entire 2025 playoffs as a healthy scratch. Dumba is celebrating his 31st birthday July 25, so a comeback isn't completely out of the question, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him start the season as part of Pittsburgh's third pairing unless the Penguins make further moves to their blue line over the summer.

Kolyachonok was traded to the Stars from the Penguins on Thursday in exchange for Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick.

Kolyachonok began the 2024-25 campaign with Utah and joined Pittsburgh after being waived in February. In total, he made 35 regular-season appearances between the two clubs, logging two goals, five assists, 31 blocked shots, 27 hits and 10 PIM while averaging 13:01 of ice time. He'll presumably have a chance to compete for an Opening Night roster spot with his new club during training camp, but he could have to spend some time in the minors.