NHL Player News

Johnson was acquired by Colorado from Philadelphia on Friday in exchange for Givani Smith, per RDS.ca.

Johnson has a goal, three points, 11 PIM, 40 hits and 14 blocks in 22 outings with the Flyers this season. He probably will spend most of his time with Colorado as a healthy scratch unless the Avalanche need help due to injuries. Still, the 36-year-old should be a positive presence in the locker room, especially because he has a long history with the franchise. Johnson logged 717 regular-season games with the Avalanche before parting ways as an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

Brannstrom was flipped to the Sabres from the Rangers for Nicolas Aube-Kubel on Friday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.

Brannstrom was previously acquired by New York as part of the J.T. Miller deal but never appeared in an NHL game for the Rangers. His stint with AHL Hartford was decent, recording four points in six minor-league games for the Wolf Pack. Given the depth on the blue line in Buffalo, even with the departure of Henri Jokiharju, Brannstrom will likely stay in the minors for the time being.

Bichsel was recalled from AHL Texas on Friday.

Bichsel was sent down by the Stars in a paper move earlier Friday, and he'll officially rejoin the NHL club after spending less than a day in the minors. Over 20 appearances with Dallas this year, he's racked up two goals, three assists, 83 hits and 12 blocked shots while averaging 14:54 of ice time.

Soderstrom's rights were traded to Chicago from Utah on Friday in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick, Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reports.

Soderstrom has been playing overseas this season, but his NHL rights will be on the move as part of a transaction that also sent Shea Weber's contract and Aku Raty to Chicago. Soderstrom has made 47 appearances with Brynas IF of the SHL this year, and he's logged nine goals and 27 assists.

Weber's (ankle) contract, Victor Soderstrom and Aku Raty have been shipped to Chicago from Utah on Friday in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, per Cole Bagley of KSL Sports.

Weber hasn't played since the 2020-21 campaign and isn't expected to play again, but his 14-year, $110 million contract runs through 2025-26. This is the third time his contract has been moved since his final game -- Montreal traded it to Vegas in 2022, and the Golden Knights sent it to Arizona (now Utah) in 2023.

Vaakanainen inked a two-year, $3.1 million contract extension Friday.

The 26-year-old defenseman was selected No. 18 overall by the Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and was dealt from Anaheim to the Rangers on Dec. 6 in the Jacob Trouba trade. Vaakanainen has established himself with the Rangers and has two goals, seven assists and 26 blocked shots in 30 games with New York this season.

Del Mastro was reassigned to AHL Rockford on Friday, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The move is just a paper one as it makes Del Mastro eligible for the AHL playoffs. Del Mastro should be recalled ahead of Friday's game against Utah. He has a pair of goals and one assist in 12 NHL games this season.

Mateychuk was sent to AHL Cleveland on Friday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.

Mateychuk will almost certainly be called back up by the Blue Jackets shortly after Friday's trade deadline, but this transaction will make him eligible for the AHL playoffs. The 20-year-old has made 25 appearances in the NHL this year, logging three goals, two assists, 39 blocked shots, 12 hits and 12 PIM while averaging 18:16 of ice time.

Heiskanen (knee) was put on long-term injured reserve Friday, per PuckPedia.

Heiskanen was injured Jan. 28 in Vegas and underwent subsequent surgery on his knee. He was considered month-to-month at the time of his surgery. Heiskanen has five goals and 20 assists in 50 contests this season.

Burns scored a goal on three shots, blocked three shots and went plus-2 in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Bruins.

Burns ended his five-game point drought with the second-period tally. He's picked up four points over 11 outings since the start of February, but his ice time has dipped slightly -- he's averaging 21:01 in that span compared to 21:23 per game this season. At 39 years old, he remains an effective defender, but his offense has taken another hit with just 22 points across 63 appearances in 2024-25.