Victor Hedman, a defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning, recently signed a four-year contract extension worth $32 million to stay with the team until the 2028-29 season. The 33-year-old player had an impressive season last year, scoring 76 points in 78 games. Throughout his career, Hedman has achieved 156 goals and 572 assists, and has won two Stanley Cup championships. In addition to Hedman’s extension, the Lightning also extended Emil Martinsen Lilleberg’s contract for two years and signed Cam Atkinson as a free agent for a one-year deal worth $900,000.
Meanwhile, Pavel Buchnevich of the St. Louis Blues signed a six-year contract extension worth $48 million. Buchnevich, 29, had a successful season with 63 points in 80 games. The Blues also acquired forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars and received Mathieu Joseph and a 2025 third-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for future considerations. Defenseman Jake Middleton of the Minnesota Wild signed a four-year contract extension worth $17.4 million, and forward Victor Olofsson joined the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year deal worth $1,075,000.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed free agents Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers, and Cedric Pare to one-year deals. Mermis, 30, played 47 games for the Minnesota Wild last season, Myers, 27, played five games for Tampa Bay, and Pare, 25, has yet to make his NHL debut. The New York Rangers added Casey Fitzgerald and Bo Groulx as free agents, with Groulx playing for the Anaheim Ducks and Fitzgerald spending time in the AHL last season.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the Florida Panthers signed MacKenzie Entwistle to a one-year contract worth $775,000 and are reportedly bringing in Nate Schmidt on a one-year deal worth $800,000. The San Jose Sharks, who had the worst record in the NHL last season, signed Lucas Carlsson to a two-year contract and Jimmy Schuldt to a one-year deal.
As the NHL teams gear up for the new season, fans are eager to see how these roster changes and contract extensions will impact their favorite teams’ performance on the ice.