NHL Player News

Koivunen agreed to terms on an eight-year, $32 million contract with Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Considering Koivunen has logged just 47 career games in the NHL, the term on his new deal is somewhat surprising. The 23-year-old winger should be in the mix for an Opening Night roster spot heading into the 2026-27 campaign, but he could still end up in the minors at some point, making him a somewhat risky fantasy option.

Miftakhov signed a two-year contract with the KHL's Shanghai Dragons on Wednesday.

Miftakhov had a 3.25 GAA and an .888 save percentage in 28 regular-season outings with AHL Chicago in 2025-26. Although the 26-year-old hasn't played for Shanghai before, he has spent parts of five seasons in the KHL. Most recently, he posted a 2.18 GAA and a .927 save percentage in 30 regular-season appearances with KHL Kazan.

Hunt will hang up his skates and call it a career; he announced Tuesday.

Hunt spent last season with Sport Vaasa overseas, logging 25 points in 53 games for the Swedish club. Over his career, the 37-year-old forward saw action in 288 regular-season games for the Wild, Oilers, Golden Knights, Canucks, Avalanche, Blues and Predators. In those outings, Hunt racked up 26 goals and 60 assists.

Szuber signed a one-year, two-way contract with Montreal on Monday.

Szuber produced 11 goals, 27 points and 67 PIM across 65 regular-season appearances for AHL Tucson in 2025-26. The 23-year-old Szuber will probably begin the 2026-27 campaign with AHL Laval after the Canadiens acquired him from Utah on June 29 in exchange for Joshua Roy.

Nosek signed a contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga on Friday.

Nosek came up through Pardubice's system during his developmental years. That led to him playing in 514 career NHL regular-season games, earning 47 goals and 73 assists, as well as 17 points in 68 playoff contests. Nosek was a Stanley Cup champion in 2025 with the Panthers. While he'll continue playing in his native Czechia, the 33-year-old is unlikely to make his way back to the NHL in the future.

Graf signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract extension with the Sharks on Friday.

Graf was a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract. He reached an agreement with the Sharks two days after linemate Macklin Celebrini signed a long-term extension. Graf made a career-high 81 regular-season appearances with San Jose in 2025-26, logging 21 goals, 25 assists, 88 hits, 48 blocked shots and 12 PIM while averaging 16:27 of ice time per game.

Novak agreed to terms on a three-year, $13.95 million contract extension with Pittsburgh on Friday.

With his extension, Novak will be locked up with the Penguins through the 2029-30 season while carrying an annual cap hit of just $4.65 million. The 29-year-old winger was a little hot and cold last year, racking up 31 points in the first 56 games, but struggled after the Olympic break, managing just 13 points in the final 32 contests, including the playoffs. Additionally, Novak ended the year having scored just once in 22 outings during that stretch. Still, Novak is set to step into the second-line center role for the Penguins ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, though youngster Ben Kindel figures to be knocking on the door for a spot in the top six.

Pesce (lower body) is healthy and has been able to undergo his usual offseason training, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News reports Thursday.

Pesce is participating in the Shoulder Check Showcase, which further proves he's feeling healthy. The defenseman was limited to a career-low 37 games in 2025-26, posting just seven points with 45 shots on net and 80 blocked shots over 37 appearances. Pesce should fill a shutdown role in the Devils' top four to begin 2026-27, but he's now missed the 20-point mark in three straight years, so he doesn't carry much offensive upside.

White agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey on Thursday.

White failed to get into an NHL game last season, playing exclusively for AHL San Jose while logging 46 regular-season games and tallying 21 goals and 27 helpers. If the 2015 first-round pick can show that kind of offensive upside again in 2026-27, he should find himself on the short list of potential call-ups for the Devils this year.

Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks on Wednesday.

Celebrini's $18.8 million cap hit is projected to be the highest in the NHL, surpassing even Leo Carlsson's $18 million, which itself set a new standard for what young stars can expect to get paid when it was agreed upon July 3. However, Celebrini has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, so his new massive contract won't begin until the 2027-28 campaign. That leaves the door open for someone else to become the league's highest-paid player before Celebrini's deal takes effect. Regardless, the 20-year-old's upcoming paycheck is well deserved. After impressing with his 63 points as a rookie during the 2024-25 regular season, he broke out as a sophomore with 45 goals and 115 points in 82 regular-season appearances with the Sharks. Taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, his time among the NHL's elite is just getting started.