NHL Player News

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.

Vilen inked a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey on Wednesday.

Vilen appeared in two regular-season games last year in which he posted one block and a plus-1 rating while averaging 15:28 of ice time. Even with a new contract in hand, the 23-year-old blueliner will be hard-pressed to break into the NHL full time next year. As such, he figures to be a relative non-factor in fantasy contests.

Hutchinson announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday.

After 11 seasons as a backstop across six different NHL organizations, Hutchinson has decided to hang up his goalie pads. The 36-year-old netminder compiled a 57-62-18 record, a 2.94 GAA, a .903 save percentage and six shutouts across 154 career appearances. The Barrie, Ontario native's best season came one province west in Manitoba with the Jets during the 2014-15 campaign, when he posted a 21-10-5 record, a 2.39 GAA and a .914 save percentage across 38 regular-season outings as a rookie. Hutchinson played a large role in the Jets reaching the playoffs that season, and Winnipeg fans will have the opportunity to watch him in the organization's alumni game in October.

Mangiapane (lower body) is expected to be ready for training camp ahead of the 2026-27 season, per TSN on Friday.

Mangiapane sat out the final two games of the 2025-26 regular season due to injury. Before finishing the year on the shelf, he had eight goals, 16 points, 58 shots on net and 65 hits across 62 appearances between Chicago and Edmonton. Mangiapane will compete for a bottom-six role with the Blackhawks during camp.

Buteyets signed a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL on Friday and was subsequently loaned to the Shanghai Dragons, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Buteyets will opt to continue his development in the KHL rather than battle for minutes with AHL San Diego. The Ducks retain his rights as an unsigned restricted free agent, but it's unclear if he'll ever prove himself enough to be a backup option at the NHL level.