NHL News

The St. Louis Blues have snapped up forward Dylan Holloway after the Edmonton Oilers elected against matching a two-year, $4.58 million offer sheet. Holloway, a former Hobey Baker Award finalist, moves on from Edmonton after making 89 appearances with the team. He skated in 38 games last term, posting six goals and nine points. Holloway added seven further points (five goals, two assists) in 25 playoff contests as the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006. The 22-year-old, who was selected 14th in the 2020 draft, didn't play a large role for the team, but he has shown good upside with productive AHL outings. Edmonton received a third-round pick as compensation from the Blues.

The St. Louis Blues officially signed defenseman Philip Broberg to a two-year contract on Tuesday. The 23-year-old moves to St. Louis after the Edmonton Oilers decided against matching the Blues' offer sheet. Broberg signed up for a total of $9.16 million, with the Oilers receiving a second-round draft pick as compensation. Broberg was a high draft pick back in 2019, going off the board at the eighth spot, but the Swedish blue-liner has struggled to make an impact in the NHL. However, after putting together a strong AHL campaign last term, Broberg showed off very good form during Edmonton's run to the Stanley Cup Finals. It could signify that he is ready to blossom as a player. Unfortunately, the team that drafted him won't be reaping the benefits.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman remains without a contract for next season, but he is confident that a new deal will eventually get sorted out. "There's a lot of confidence," Swayman said during a recent appearance on NESN. "I say that because I've treated it like business as usual this year. I've been a warrior, I've been working out with our guys, our staff, our players. And I know that there's something special building in this locker room this year. I can't be more excited about that." Swayman and the Bruins went through an arbitration process a year ago, which saw him handed a one-year, $3.475 million contract. He elected not to do so this summer. With Linus Ullmark departing to Ottawa, Swayman is expected to be Boston's undisputed No. 1 in 2024-25, boosting his fantasy value.

The Edmonton Oilers have added defenseman Ty Emberson to their blue line ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. The 24-year-old comes in from San Jose in a trade, which saw the Oilers give up veteran defenseman Cody Ceci and a third-round draft selection. Emberson had his rookie campaign last term, suiting up for 30 games with the Sharks. He scored one goal and dished out nine assists. The American rearguard averaged one shot on goal with 1.5 blocks and 3.1 hits. Emberson will be battling for a spot on the third defensive pairing in training camp.

The San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Cody Ceci from the Edmonton Oilers. The 11-year veteran was traded for fellow defenseman Ty Emberson and a 2025 third-round draft pick. Ceci spent three seasons in Edmonton, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024. He made 79 regular-season appearances last term, posting 25 points (five points, 20 assists) with 106 blocks and 91 hits. The 30-year-old has played an effective game on the Oilers' blue line, but the team decided to part ways with him to save money. Ceci's numbers could take a hit with the move to San Jose, as he's joining a team that's massively struggled in recent years.

The Edmonton Oilers have acquired winger Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round draft pick. The Russian forward switched clubs in Canada following 137 appearances with the Canucks. Podkolzin, who was a top-10 pick in 2019, hasn't been very impactful in the NHL, notching 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists). He went goalless in 19 games with two assists last term. The trade allows Podkolzin to reboot his career, but massive improvement will be needed from him for the 23-year-old to become fantasy-relevant.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have picked up defenseman Jordan Harris in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens. The 24-year-old blue-liner was sent to Ohio in exchange for Patrik Laine, with the Blue Jackets also receiving a 2026 second-round draft selection. After being named the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman in 2022, Harris made 131 appearances with the Canadiens, posting 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists). Last season, he had three goals and 11 assists in 56 games, adding 86 blocks on the defensive end. Harris averages close to 1.5 blocks per game for his career but is fairly limited offensively, making him a non-factor in fantasy hockey.

The Montreal Canadiens acquired forward Patrik Laine in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. The Blue Jackets received defenseman Jordan Harris and a second-round draft pick in the trade. The deal came to fruition shortly after the Blue Jackets' general manager, Don Waddell, announced that Laine didn't want to play for the team anymore. Laine's three-and-a-half-year stay in Columbus was massively disrupted by injuries. He made only 174 appearances as a Blue Jackets, scoring 64 goals and 138 points. Last season, Laine posted nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games. However, the 26-year-old was a point-per-game player just a couple of campaigns ago. This could be a good pickup for the Canadiens if Laine regains his top form.

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Taylor Hall (knee) is looking to produce a strong bounce-back year following an injury-hit 2023-24 campaign. "I'm really confident I'll be a solid contributor for the Blackhawks this year," Hall told Ben Pope of The Chicago Sun-Times. "What makes me say that is the hockey I've played and the preparation I've done this summer. ... I know I can be a difference-maker for our team." The former MVP was limited to only 10 appearances in his debut season with the Blackhawks. He suffered a shoulder injury in only the second game of the season and an ACL injury in November, which ended his campaign. Hall's fantasy stock has plummeted in recent years, but he aims to become a 30-goal scorer again and should be motivated by the fact that it's a contract year for him.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic (knee) is good to go for the start of next season. Steve Warne of The Hockey News has reported that Hamonic is healthy again after recovering from knee surgery. Hamonic underwent a "minor procedure" on his knee after the 2023-24 season ended. Hamonic missed most of the final stretch for the Senators, playing only once since the start of March. He finished the campaign with 48 appearances, notching six points (two goals, four assists). The veteran blue-liner is very limited offensively but has been a consistent source for hits and blocks throughout his career.

Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil (shoulder) appears to be fully healthy again, with Slovakia naming him on its roster for the upcoming 2026 Olympic Winter Games qualifiers. The qualifying tournament will be played Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 in Slovakia. Pospisil hurt his shoulder playing for his country in the 2024 World Championship. The 24-year-old had his rookie campaign in the NHL last season, collecting 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 63 outings. A slight improvement in productivity will be expected from Pospisil in a middle-six role in 2024-25.

Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder) has been labeled "a question mark" for the start of the season by head coach Jared Bednar. It was previously reported that Lehkonen was expected to be ready for training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery shortly after the team's 2023-24 season ended in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs versus the Dallas Stars. Lehkonen missed a big chunk of 2023-24 with a neck injury, making 45 regular-season appearances. He was productive when healthy, scoring 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists). Lehkonen's absence leaves a top-six spot open, with Miles Wood potentially having a chance to step up early next season.

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog (knee) is expected to make his long-awaited return to action early next season. "He's trying to make a return here sometime near the start of the season and if that goes well, it would be a really big boost for us," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Saturday. "So, that's something we're all a little anxious about, but really excited about as well. He hasn't played for us in two years." Landeskog last saw action in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, helping Colorado defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. The Avalanche captain was a point-per-game player before running into health issues and should still produce at a high level once he finds his feet following the lengthy absence.