NHL Player News

Romanov signed an eight-year, $50 million contract with the Islanders on Monday.

Romanov's deal will make him the highest-paid blueliner on New York's roster, coming in just ahead of veteran Ryan Pulock. In terms of fantasy value, Romanov won't impress offensively, having failed to reach the 25-point mark at any point in his five-year NHL career, but he can produce in banger formats. The 25-year-old Russian dished out 147 hits while adding 165 blocks in just 64 regular-season games last year and should continue to produce in those categories.

Joseph (upper body) won't receive a qualifying offer from Pittsburgh ahead of Monday's deadline, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.

Joseph missed the final 20 games of the 2024-25 regular season due to injury. Before getting hurt, he produced three assists, 42 shots on goal, 36 blocked shots and 36 hits over 47 appearances between Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The 25-year-old blueliner will be an unrestricted free agent.

Malinski signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with Colorado on Monday, per PuckPedia.

Malinski generated five goals, 15 points, 115 shots on net, 107 blocked shots and 57 hits across 76 games during the 2024-25 regular season. He could enter the 2025-26 campaign on Colorado's third pairing but proved capable of handling top-four minutes last campaign when injuries piled up.

Jokiharju agreed to terms on a three-year, $9 million contract with Boston on Monday.

Jokiharju was poised to hit free agency Tuesday but instead has tied himself to the Bruins for three more seasons. With Boston last year, the 26-year-old blueliner appeared in 18 regular-season contests in which he generated zero goals, four assists and 15 shots while averaging 21:22 of ice time after posting six points in 42 games with the Sabres prior to the trade deadline.

The Golden Knights traded for Lauzon (lower body) and Colton Sissons (lower body) from the Predators on Sunday in exchange for Nicolas Hague and a conditional 2027 third-round selection, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.

Lauzon missed the last 44 games of the season in 2024-25 due to his lower-body injury, but Vegas trading for him could signal that the 28-year-old blueliner will be ready for the 2025-26 campaign. In his 28 appearances with the Preds, Lauzon notched just one assist, 37 PIM, 127 hits, 34 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating. The 28-year-old is only two years removed from recording 388 hits, so he should provide a physical presence in a bottom-four role with Vegas when he's healthy. The Quebec native will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.

Hague signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Predators after being acquired in a trade from the Golden Knights on Sunday in exchange for Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) and Colton Sissons (lower body), according to Darren Dreger of TSN. The Predators also received a conditional 2027 third-round pick in the trade.

General manager Barry Trotz is clearly trying to send a message to his locker room that this past season was unacceptable by sending away two players and acquiring Hague in the process. The 26-year-old Hague logged five goals, 12 points, 82 hits, 74 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating over 68 regular-season appearances with Vegas in 2024-25. The left-shot blueliner played mostly in a bottom-pairing role with the Golden Knights, but he'll almost certainly be a top-four piece with the Predators in 2025-26 and beyond.

Rathbone signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract with the Sabres on Sunday, per PuckPedia.

Rathbone made 63 regular-season appearances with AHL Rochester in 2024-25, registering six goals, 23 points, 51 PIM and a plus-9 rating. The 26-year-old blueliner will most likely continue to provide organizational depth for the Americans next season. His last NHL appearance came with Vancouver in 2022-23.

Callahan signed a one-year, two-way contract with Boston on Sunday.

Callahan had one goal and nine points in 45 regular-season appearances with AHL Providence in 2024-25 before adding two assists in eight playoff outings. The 25-year-old defenseman also registered one goal, nine shots on net, eight hits and 12 blocked shots in 17 NHL games for Boston during the 2024-25 regular season. Callahan will probably spend most of the 2025-26 campaign in the minors.

Fabbro signed a four-year, $16.5 million contract extension with Columbus on Sunday.

Fabbro was a pending unrestricted free agent after completing his one-year, $2.5 million contract, but he will remain with the Blue Jackets. After being claimed off waivers from Nashville on Nov. 10, he compiled nine goals, 26 points, 82 shots on net, 66 hits and 136 blocked shots in 62 regular-season games for Columbus. Fabbro will probably be back on the top pairing alongside Zach Werenski in the 2025-26 campaign.

Brodin underwent surgery "a few weeks ago" and is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.

Brodin was limited to 50 regular-season appearances, picking up 20 points, 71 shots on net and 104 blocked shots. The 31-year-old's absence at the start of the campaign could lead to a larger role out of the gate for Zeev Buium. Brodin has missed at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons, so any fantasy manager interested in drafting him this fall should expect him to miss time.