NHL Player News

Bemstrom will not be qualified by the Penguins on Monday, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Bemstrom saw action in 14 NHL games this past season in which he garnered just one assist, 13 shots and 12 hits while averaging 8:20 of ice time. Given his limited NHL opportunities last year, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see the Pens going in a different direction. The 26-year-old center will be free to sign with any NHL club when free agency opens Tuesday.

Ponomarev will not be given a qualifying offer from the Penguins, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports Monday.

Ponomarev already agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk (KHL), so he wasn't going to be playing for the franchise any time soon. It seems the Pens won't bother trying to retain his NHL rights that long, so if Ponomarev decides to return in the future, he will be able to sign with any NHL club.

Philp put pen to paper on a one-year, two-way contract with Edmonton on Monday.

Philp played in 15 regular-season contests for the Oilers this past year in which he notched two assists, 17 shots and 15 hits while averaging 9:05 of ice time. While the 26-year-old center was on the roster during the postseason, he never made an appearance in a playoff game. Look for Philp to spend the bulk of the upcoming campaign in the minors with AHL Bakersfield given his offensive limitations.

Beecher (undisclosed) penned a one-year, $900,000 contract with Boston on Monday.

Beecher recorded three goals and eight helpers in 78 regular-season games for the Bruins in 2024-25. With a new contract in hand, the 24-year-old center figures to be a fourth-line staple for the Bruins this season -- though he could move up if there are injury concerns at the center position. Despite offseason surgery for an undisclosed injury, Beecher is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Sissons (lower body) and Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) were obtained by the Golden Knights from the Predators on Sunday in exchange for Nicolas Hague and a conditional 2027 third-round draft pick, per Darren Dreger of TSN.

Sissons missed the last nine games of 2024-25 after banking seven goals, 21 points and 100 hits over 72 games with the Predators. With this move west, Sissons could unseat Cole Schwindt for the fourth-line center role, but the former may find it difficult to move up the depth chart, as Vegas has a deep top nine. Sissons will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign, so he should have plenty of motivation to prove his worth to his new club. Nashville agreed to retain 50 percent of Sissons' salary.

Geekie signed a six-year, $33 million contract extension with the Bruins on Sunday, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic.

The Bruins took care of an important piece of business by locking in Geekie to a long-term deal, as the 26-year-old would have been an offer-sheet candidate July 1 considering he was a restricted free agent. Geekie set career highs in goals (33), assists (24) and points (57) last season, and he'll continue to be an integral aspect of Boston's top six and No. 1 power-play unit going forward. However, the Manitoba native had a 22.0 percent conversion rate on 150 shots on goal in 2024-25, so fantasy managers will want to keep in mind that negative regression in that category should be expected in 2025-26.

Lauko will not be tendered a qualifying offer and will become an unrestricted free agent July 1, Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reports Sunday.

Lauko battled injuries but played 56 NHL games last season, scoring five goals and adding six assists. The 25-year-old, who was a pending restricted free agent, will now be free to sign with any team without penalty as an unrestricted free agent once free agency opens. His injury issues might scare some teams off, but he proved to be an effective player who brought speed and skill to the bottom six when he was in the lineup.

Khusnutdinov has signed a two-year, $1.85 million deal to remain with the Bruins, the team announced Sunday.

Khusnutdinov was traded to the Bruins at the trade deadline from the Wild, and he turned more ice time into almost the same amount of production in way fewer games. He had five points in 18 games with Boston after posting only seven points in 57 games with Minnesota. The 22-year-old's new contract is a one-way deal, meaning it's safe to say that he is in the driver's seat to earning a spot in Boston's bottom six.

Foudy signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Islanders, the team announced Sunday.

Foudy spent most of the 2024-25 season at AHL Bridgeport, where he had 20 goals and 25 assists in 70 games. He appeared in two games at the NHL level with the Islanders, but he averaged just 7:27 of ice time over the two. The 25-year-old will likely battle for a roster spot in training camp but will likely spend most of the season in the AHL again.

Veleno was placed on unconditional waivers Sunday to buy out the final season of his two-year, $4.55 million contract.

Seattle acquired Veleno from Chicago on June 21 in exchange for Andre Burakovsky. The 25-year-old Veleno had eight goals, 17 points, 75 shots on net and 139 hits across 74 regular-season appearances between Detroit and Chicago in 2024-25. Assuming he clears waivers, he will become an unrestricted free agent.