NHL Player News

Xhekaj signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with Montreal on Tuesday.

Xhekaj chipped in one goal, three assists and 40 shots on net while adding 116 PIM and 178 hits in 65 appearances during the 2025-26 regular season. He may not play regularly in the 2026-27 campaign, but he should be a good source of banger-league statistics whenever he is in the lineup.

Tippett (abdomen) has been cleared for the start of Flyers' training camp, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Tippett was held out of all four matchups during the Flyers' second-round playoff series against Carolina due to multiple injuries, including a sports hernia. The 27-year-old winger had a bounce-back regular season in 2025-26, posting 28 goals, 51 points, 220 shots on net, 166 hits and 50 blocked shots across 81 outings. Having been given the all-clear to participate in training camp, he'll likely return to a top-six role on the wing ahead of the 2026-27 season, where he holds solid fantasy value in most standard leagues.

Cates (foot) has been cleared for the start of Flyers' training camp, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Cates sustained his foot injury during Game 2 of Philadelphia's second-round playoff series, but was able to avoid needing surgery for it. The 27-year-old winger shared that his timetable for return would've been around one month, which gave him plenty of time to recover in the offseason. Cates had a career year in 2025-26, compiling 18 goals, 47 points, 132 shots on goal, 102 hits, 51 blocked shots and a plus-26 rating across 82 regular-season games. With his clearance for camp, he'll likely continue to center one of Philadelphia's top three lines for the 2026-27 campaign.

Grebenkin (upper body) aggravated his injury and could miss the start of Flyers' training camp, per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Grebenkin appears to have some lingering effects from the upper-body injury that kept him sidelined during the final stretch of Philadelphia's regular season and postseason run. Across 55 regular-season games, the 23-year-old winger contributed in a checking-line role, posting four goals, 14 points, 32 shots on net and 86 hits. If Grebenkin is set to miss the start of Flyers' training camp, he'll likely have to re-earn an everyday role amid the team's forward depth. His main competition for playing time will be Denver Barkey and Alex Bump.

Leonard inked an eight-year, $84 million contract with Washington on Tuesday, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.

Leonard becomes the latest young player with less than 100 games of NHL experience to sign an eight-year deal, following the likes of Noah Ostlund, Ville Koivunen and Zeev Buium. Despite his limited time in the NHL, the 21-year-old Leonard has proven productive, notching 20 goals and 25 assists in 75 regular-season games last year.

Batherson agreed to terms on an eight-year, $86 million contract extension with Ottawa on Tuesday.

Batherson grabbed the eight-year extension right before the new CBA kicked in Wednesday, which would have limited the length of his deal to just seven seasons. With the new deal in hand, the 28-year-old winger will be under contract through the 2034-35 campaign, at which point his $10.75 million cap hit might be considered fairly cheap. Batherson is coming off his first 30-plus goal campaign last year, having notched 33 tallies, including 13 with the man advantage, in 79 regular-season tilts. He should be able to push for that threshold again in 2026-27, especially with the two extra games.

Zadorov has moved past his knee injury and will be at the Bruins' training camp, which begins Wednesday, Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe reports.

Zadorov played through a torn MCL during the Bruins' first-round series loss against the Sabres last season. General manager Don Sweeney said Monday that the team is not dealing with any injuries, which suggests that Zadorov will have no restrictions when training camp begins. The left-shot blueliner will continue to be a steady source of physicality in 2026-27 while likely hovering around the 20-point mark.

Zary (undisclosed) has been cleared to participate in Calgary's training camp, per Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM.

Zary was held out of the Flames' season finale in April due to an undisclosed injury. The issue appeared to be minor, as he has been cleared for training camp, where he will battle for a role in the team's top six. In the 2025-26 campaign, the 24-year-old winger took a slight step back with 12 goals, 25 points, 110 shots on net and 45 hits across 74 outings. He offers higher upside than most of Calgary's wingers, but he'll have to earn his role with the Flames if he's to take a jump to fantasy relevance this season.

Kuznetsov (upper body) is healthy and will be present at training camp later this week, Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM reports Monday.

Kuznetsov missed the final three games of 2025-26 and 11 of the final 16 due to an upper-body injury. General manager Craig Conroy said Monday that every player with the exception of Jonathan Huberdeau (hip) is healthy ahead of this season, so the Flames' blue line is currently at full strength. Kuznetsov might have the inside track at starting on the left side of the team's third pairing, but he will have Joel Hanley to compete with for minutes in 2026-27.

Hanley (upper body) has been cleared to participate in Calgary's training camp, per Pat Steinberg of QR Calgary 770 AM.

Hanley sustained the injury in late March and ultimately missed the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Across 68 regular-season outings last season, he recorded seven assists, 43 shots on goal, 42 hits and 90 blocked shots. The 35-year-old blueliner is entering his third full season with the Flames and will compete for a depth role in the team's defensive core. As a left-shot defenseman, his main competition will be Yan Kuznetsov and Abram Wiebe.