NHL Player News

Stolarz signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension with Toronto on Sunday, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

Stolarz will carry a cap hit of $2.5 million for the 2025-26 campaign before getting a bump to $3.75 million through 2029-30. The 31-year-old netminder posted a 21-8-3 record with four shutouts, a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage across 34 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. With Joseph Woll (personal) away from the team for an indefinite period of time, Stolarz could get plenty of action out of the gate this year.

Dallas released Bibeau on Sunday from his professional tryout agreement.

Bibeau posted a 20-13-0 record with a 2.60 GAA and a .905 save percentage across 35 regular-season appearances for KooKoo of Finland's Liiga in 2024-25. After being cut from Dallas' training camp, the 31-year-old netminder could be an option for AHL Texas, or he might return to Europe for the 2025-26 campaign.

Miftakhov has been assigned to AHL Chicago on Sunday, Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site reports.

Miftakhov is back in North America on a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes after spending the past three years in the KHL. The 25-year-old seems to be the fourth-string goaltender on the organization's depth chart, so he will likely spend the vast majority of the season with Chicago. He posted a 13-11-3 record, 2.18 GAA and .927 save percentage in 30 regular-season games with Ak Bars Kazan last year.

Commesso will defend the road net in Sunday's preseason game against Minnesota, per Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Commesso posted a record of 18-15-4 with four shutouts, a 2.54 GAA and a .911 save percentage in 39 appearances for AHL Rockford during the 2024-25 regular season. He will probably spend most, if not all, of this campaign in the minors.

Mandolese was released from his professional tryout and assigned to AHL Laval on Saturday.

Mandolese is one of four goalies going to Laval's camp, so it's possible he may end up playing somewhere else in 2025-26. The 25-year-old has not played at the NHL level since the 2022-23 campaign.

Levi was assigned to AHL Rochester on Saturday.

The Sabres made a big purge from their camp roster, sending 24 players to continue their preseason activities at the AHL level. Levi is among the most notable cuts, as it indicates the Sabres are leaning toward starting 2025-26 with Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev if Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) isn't ready by Opening Night. Levi figures to handle a starter's workload with Rochester this season as he looks to force his way into the Sabres' NHL plans sooner rather than later.

Kahkonen is expected to guard the road goal for Saturday's preseason game against Toronto, per the NHL media site.

Kahkonen had a 2.91 GAA and an .894 save percentage in 36 AHL regular-season appearances between Colorado, Manitoba and Charlotte in 2024-25. Kahkonen is projected to open the upcoming campaign in the minors.

Bibeau will start in goal on the road in Saturday's preseason game against the Avalanche, per the NHL media site.

This is Bibeau's second appearance of the preseason as he continues to try to earn a two-way deal while with the Stars on a tryout. He stopped all four shots he faced in his first outing of the exhibition slate. If he ends up with AHL Texas, Bibeau will compete with Remi Poirier and Ben Kraws for playing time.

Wedgewood is set to guard the home goal for Saturday's preseason game against Dallas, per DNVR Sports.

Wedgewood had a 14-6-2 record, 2.32 GAA and .908 save percentage in 24 regular-season appearances between Nashville and Colorado in 2024-25. Mackenzie Blackwood (lower body) might not be ready for the start of the regular season, which might result in Wedgewood opening the campaign as the starting goaltender. When both netminders are healthy, Wedgewood is likely to shift to the No. 2 role behind Blackwood.

Halverson will guard the home goal in Saturday's preseason game versus the Predators, Brooks Bratten of the Predators' official site reports.

Halverson will make his second appearance of the preseason. He previously stopped 20 of 22 shots over two periods against Nashville on Tuesday. The 29-year-old is still projected to begin the year at AHL Syracuse, which is where he spent the majority of 2024-25.