As expected, it was a busy week in the NHL with a lot of roster activity heading toward training camp while unfortunately, a trio of alumni passed away as well. We’ll run down the active player news in our key stories.
Golden Knights Extend Two: Vegas has taken care of two of its pending free agents early. First, the team signed Braeden Bowman to a six-year, $20.4MM extension.
The 23-year-old made his NHL debut last season, notching 26 points in 54 games, securing a regular role in the lineup for the Golden Knights. Vegas is banking that he can handle a similar role for the foreseeable future and if he does, this will be a team-friendly pact.
Meanwhile, captain Mark Stone also inked a club-friendly deal, signing a two-year, $18MM extension. The 34-year-old tied his career high in points last season with 73, reaching the mark in just 60 games.
Between that and his strong two-way play, he’d have been able to secure a bigger deal on the open market next summer had he tested free agency. Instead, Stone takes a small cut money-wise as his current deal carries a $9.5MM cap charge.
Hanging Them Up: A pair of unrestricted free agents have decided to call it a career. First, blueliner John Klingberg announced his retirement at the age of 34.
He played in 700 games over parts of a dozen NHL seasons and finished up reasonably well, notching 27 points in 56 games with San Jose last season. A productive blueliner offensively, Klingberg potted 92 goals and 351 assists for his NHL career.
Meanwhile, goaltender Connor Ingram has also hung up his skates and will be returning to school. The 29-year-old started training camp in Utah last season and was eventually moved to Edmonton where he grabbed a hold of the starting role at times.
In between a pair of stints in the Player Assistance Program, Ingram posted a 3.01 GAA and a .901 SV% in 134 games over parts of five NHL seasons. His best came in 2023-24 when he made 48 starts and led the league in shutouts.
Kreider On The Move: Veteran winger Chris Kreider was in a pair of moves this week. With the Ducks needing to free up cap space and not wanting to part with assets to move a contract, they worked out an agreement to mutually terminate Kreider’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.
That deal had $4MM in salary and a $6.5MM cap charge. Two days later, he found his next team, signing a one-year deal with Montreal.
The agreement carries a $2.15MM salary plus $3.25MM in performance bonuses between games played ($2MM) and goals ($1.25MM). Kreider is coming off a 22-goal, 50-point season and will give the Canadiens a veteran winger who seems likely to slot in alongside sophomore winger Ivan Demidov in an effort to balance out their attack.
Seven For Minten: Recently, Bruins center Fraser Minten expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of signing a long-term extension. He got his wish, as the two sides agreed on a seven-year, $50.4MM extension that begins next season.
The 22-year-old was acquired from Toronto at the 2025 trade deadline along with a first-round pick for defenseman Brandon Carlo, a deal that has worked out extremely well for Boston. In his first full NHL campaign, Minten had 17 goals and 18 assists in 82 games while playing a responsible defensive game.
Viewed as a future core piece for the Bruins when they got him, this deal now cements that belief.
Clarity On Larkin: There will be no holdout from Red Wings center Dylan Larkin heading into training camp with his trade request not fulfilled. In statements from both him and the team, it was confirmed that the veteran will be at training camp and will speak with the new incoming leadership group (whenever they’re hired) about the future direction of the organization.
Meanwhile, the team indicated that they will enter the upcoming season without a captain (the role previously held by Larkin). Larkin had his fifth straight 30-plus-goal campaign in 2025-26 but requested a move early this offseason.
However, no team on his small list of teams he’d be willing to go to was able to put up a package to former GM Steve Yzerman’s liking while the file is now on hold until a new GM is in place.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect.