8th year defenseman Mike Matheson(8) just got rolling with new team, Montreal Canadiens after missing the early part of 2022/2023 with an abdominal muscle strain and scored a goal in his debut.
The 6’2″ 193 lbs. blue liner was traded from 2-year club, Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored a career NHL best 11 goals and 20 assists with a +12 rating in 74 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 7 playoff matchups.
He has played a bit of an eye popping 420 games in the big league.
Originally a 1st round pick in the 2012 draft by Florida Panthers (#23 overall), he played 3 years at Boston College Eagles and left after scoring a college career high 22 assists.
The 28-year old from Pointe-Claire, QC is likely to continue to putting up excellent points and remains signed through 2025/2026 on his 8-year deal.
With his contract up at the end of the current frame and him connecting for 4 goals and 11 assists in 24 games with a +12 rating, he is re-upped for another 5-year term for $6.M AAV to stay a Canadiens.
Minnesota State University Mavericks‘ freshman defenseman Luke Ashton(27) had a solid 1st season of 5 goals and 8 assists in 38 games with a +10 rating.
The mammoth 6’6″ 240 lbs. blue liner was a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 6th round pick of the 2024 NHL draft (#165 overall) after a 2nd, huge BCHL frame.
For his sophomore year, he decided to head into the transfer portal to play at Cornell University Big Red.
In 8 games, he has 3 assists with a +5 rating.
From North Vancouver, BC, maybe the 20-year old eyed something different for his actual studies.
12th year veteran, unrestricted free agent defenseman Brendan Smith(2) signs a new deal with Carolina Hurricanes for 2021/2022.
He’ll definitely help solidify the blue line for his new club.
The 6’2′ 200 lbs. d-man has a hefty 526 NHL games experience, scoring 29 goals and 81 assists.
Originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2007 draft (#27 overall), he played the first 7 years of his pro career in their system.
He’s almost oddly, quietly skated for New York Rangers the last four years and sort of no surprise he didn’t continue.
The 32-year old, former University Of Wisconsin Badgers, who put up a huge 15 goals and 37 assists in 42 Big10 games, has to be happy just playing and could split for some overseas looks before retiring.
Heading into 2022/2023, he records 4 goals and 4 assists in 65 games with a +6 rating, then adds 4 more points in 14 playoff contests.
His accountability gets him a new 2-year deal with New Jersey Devils worth $1.1M AAV and at the very least will help stabilize their blue line.
After 2 seasons with the same team, he moves to sign with Dallas Stars for 2024/2025.
He appears in only 32 games for 1 goal and 2 assists, which isn’t likely enough even for the now 36-year old, who signs a pto to hopefully join Columbus Blue Jackets for 2025/2026.
He plays 11 AHL games with affiliate Cleveland Monsters and is rewarded for his work with a 1-year contract.
Unrestricted 9th year free agent Derek Forbort(24) signs a three-year NHL deal with Boston Bruins through 2023/2024 for $3M AAV.
The big 6’4″ 219 lbs. blue liner skated for Winnipeg Jets, who signed him to a simple deal for a season.
A veteran of 331 games, the 29-year old has 8 goals and 57 assists with a +8 rating and blocks a tremendous amount of shots.
The former three year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ d-man and Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round, 2010, #15 overall pick is going to be a perfect fit with his new club.
He would have finished up 3 good years with the team from the East, but last year suffered some injuries that sidelined him for time, limiting his play to 35 games.
A free agent, he accepts a new 1-year deal with Vancouver Canucks for 2024/2025.
He appears in 54 games and scores 2 goals and 9 assists to re-sign to stay a Canucks for 2025/2026.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore defenseman Nate Benoit(22) enters the transfer portal to skate at his 3rd college, Long Island University Sharks for 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. blue liner was selected by Minnesota Wild in the 6th round of 2021 (#182 overall) after 2 particularly strong showings at high school.
From Bow, NH, the did 2 sessions of USHL before heading to University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
The 22-year has 2 assists in 11 games with a +1 rating on a team that could be better for him to sign an NHL entry level deal off of.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year center Jack Murtagh(18) committed to Boston University Terriers for 2025/2026 after scoring virtual point-per-game numbers last seaeson in juniors.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward from East Greenbush, NY became Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2025 draft (#40 overall).
He’s only 18-years old and already has 12 college games with 3 goals and 3 assists under his belt.
10th year defenseman Luke Witkowski(4) returns to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he played 16 regular season games, then 17 in the playoffs after a trade from Detroit Red Wings sent him to St. Louis Blues‘ system.
The sizable 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner doesn’t exactly score a lot of points in his 324 AHL games, but does have a nice +38 rating for accountability.
In 132 NHL games, the former Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#160 overall) has 2 goals and 11 assists.
He was a senior captain at Western Michigan University Broncos and 3-time lead guy for Syracuse Crunch.
The 32-year old from Holland, MI is likely smiling with each big contracts he still gets.
For 2023/2024, he has made the decision to try something completely new and heads to Finland to join Tappara and will play his games in Liiga.
Switzerland was good enough fun for the now 34-year old, but will elevate his game a little by signing in the SHL with Skelleftea AIK for 2024/2025.
He waits a minute after skating 25 regular season, then 11 in the playoffs to sign with rivals, Brynas IF for 2025/2026.
University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior, Finnish-born captain, center Joel Maata(21) took a college best 9 goals and 18 assists in 37 games with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract back home in Liiga with TPS.
He has become their assistant captain.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 years of USHL before college.
In 19 games with his new team, he has 5 goals and 4 assists.
He was an Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#222 overall), but was left unsigned.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year defenseman Charlie Tretheway(91) commits to Boston University Terriers for 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner had just 2 goals and 7 assists in 24 USHL games with a +16 rating.
From Ellicott City, MD, the 18-year old found himself to be a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2025 draft (#73 overall).
In 11 games, he has 1 assist with a -1 rating, but all that will improve.
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ freshman center Cole McKinney(11) already has 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games this season.
The 6′ 201 lbs. forward was more than a point-per-game scorer through his 2nd USNTDP season and did the same coming up with the Chicago Mission program.
From Chicago, IL, the 18-year old found himself to be a San Jose Sharks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2025 NHL draft (#53 overall).
