The Buffalo Sabres have signed Jason Zucker to a 2 year contract extension with a cap hit of $4.75 million.
Zucker, 33, has 18 goals and 26 goals in 54 games for the Sabres this season. He came to Buffalo in the off-season, signing a 1-year $5,000,000 then.
The Edmonton Oilers have acquired Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks for a conditional 1st round pick and Carl Berglund.
The 1st round pick will be the Oilers 2026 1st unless they trade that pick in another deal, in which case the Sharks will receive the Oilers unprotected 2027 1st.
The Sharks acquired Walman from the Red Wings last June. The Red Wings paid the Sharks a 2024 2nd round pick for taking on Walman’s contract.
Walman had 6 goals and 26 assists in 50 games with the Sharks this season.
Elliotte Friedman reports that trade talks between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes surrounding Mikko Rantanen are “headed down” the road.
It’s not known if an extension with the Stars is part of the deal, but Dave Pagnotta reported that Rantanen might be amenable to an extension with the Stars or the Florida Panthers.
Carolina preferred to sign Rantanen, but Rantanen’s camp made it clear this week that an extension with the club wasn’t in the works.
The return is unknown at this point, but one would have to believe that there is a significant roster piece going back to Carolina, who won’t be looking for a retool.
UPDATE: The trade is apparently agreed upon, pending Rantanen agreeing to an extension, which has not happened yet.
The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Brock Nelson and William Dufour from the New York Islanders in exchange for Calum Ritchie, Oliver Kylington a 2026 1st round pick and a 2028 conditional 3rd round pick.
The Islanders subsequently traded Oliver Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
The Islanders are retaining 50% of Nelson’s salary.
The 2026 1st round pick could end up being a 2027 1st round pick if conditions are not met.
It’s quite the haul for Nelson, who was one of the most sought after centers on the market. Ritchie was 21st in the Athletic’s top prospect list in February.
The Islanders reportedly offered Nelson a 3-year contract, but Nelson wanted a longer term deal.
The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Reilly Smith from the New York Rangers in exchange for Brendan Brisson and San Jose’s 2025 3rd round pick.
Smith, who won a Cup with Vegas in 2023, played with the Penguins and the Rangers, but never found the success he had in Vegas. The winger had 10 goals and 19 assists in 58 games for the Rangers.
The Rangers are retaining 50% of the $3.75 million of cap hit they’re carrying. Pittsburgh retained $1.25 million in their summer trade with the Rangers.
The Utah Hockey Club have re-signed Karel Vejmelka to a 5-year contract extension with a cap hit of $4.75 million.
Vejmelka, 28, is 16-16-4 with a 0.910 SV% this season.
Earlier tonight, Utah signed Ian Cole to a 1-year deal worth $2.8 million with $200,000 in potential bonuses and Alex Kerfoot to a 1 year deal worth $3 million.
The Nashville Predators have acquired Michael Bunting and a 4th round pick in 2026 from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Luke Schenn and Tommy Novak.
Michael Bunting is signed through next season at a cap hit of $4.5 million. Nashville will be his third team on his current 3-year contract, after being traded to Pittsburgh from Carolina last season in the Jake Guentzel trade.
Tommy Novak signed a 3 year deal with a cap hit of $3.5 million prior to last year’s trade deadline, but has struggled since signing his new deal, being a healthy scratch at times this year. Luke Schenn is signed through next season at a cap hit of $2.75 million.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for Mikey Eyssimont, Tampa Bay’s 1st round picks in 2026 and 2027, and Toronto’s 2025 2nd round pick. The Lightning will also receive a 5th round pick in 2026.
Bjorkstrand, 29, is signed for 1 more season at a cap hit of $5.4 million. He has 16 goals and 21 assists in 61 games this season.
Gourde, 33, will be a UFA after this season. He’s missed time due to injury but made his return to the Seattle lineup last night. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Tampa Bay will be carrying only $1.292 million of Gourde’s $5.167 million cap hit, as Seattle is retaining 50%, and Detroit is also retaining 25%.