Predators Sign Felix Nilsson To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team announcement, the Nashville Predators have signed forward Felix Nilsson to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Predators didn’t disclose the financial terms of the deal, but it will carry through the 2028-29 season.
Nilsson, 20, was drafted with the 43rd overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft by Nashville. He was coming off a solid season for Rögle BK’s under-20 team, scoring 19 goals and 41 points in 36 games with a +17 rating. Nilsson did appear in 18 games for Rögle BK in the SHL, though he went scoreless.
The Stockholm, Sweden native gradually became a full-time SHLer the next season. He established a relatively low bar, scoring one goal and three points in 41 games with a -5 rating. On the international scene, Nilsson registered one goal and eight points in 16 games for Team Sweden’s U19 & U20 teams.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Nilsson continued his evolution into a formidable top-six forward. He completed the season with five goals and 22 points in 40 games, finishing with a -3 rating, which showcased his above-average playmaking abilities. Playing for Team Sweden in the U20 IIHF World Junior Championship, the then 19-year-old recorded one goal and six points in seven games, helping Sweden reach the Bronze Medal game.
This season, it became apparent that Nilsson was ready to make the jump to North America. He recorded 14 goals and 40 points in 52 games, achieving a +18 rating. He tied for 18th in overall scoring while leading all under-21 players in points.
Unless the Predators make several subtractions to their forward corps this offseason, Nilsson will likely begin his professional career with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. The Admirals have been a solid team in recent history despite taking a step back this season.
Sabres Sign Jake Richard To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team announcement, the Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Jake Richard to a two-year, entry-level contract. The Sabres did not specify the financial terms of the deal.
Buffalo drafted Richard back in 2022 with the 170th overall selection of that summer’s draft. The 21-year-old was coming off a decent season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 18 goals and 48 points in 56 games with a +10 rating. Having already committed to the University of Connecticut by then, Richard spent one more year in the USHL, this time split between Muskegon and the Tri-City Storm, amassing 31 goals and 62 points in 57 games.
Despite a slow start to his college tenure throughout his rookie campaign, Richard became a key offensive contributor for the Huskies by his sophomore season. During that season, Richard set career-highs in nearly every category, finishing with 15 goals and 43 points in 34 games with a +26 rating. As a result, it was the best year in program history for the University of Connecticut, which reached the National Tournament for the first time; however, they were eliminated in the Regional Final by Penn State University.
Despite remaining a significant part of the team’s offense, Richard’s scoring decreased to 10 goals and 27 points in 38 games. The Huskies qualified for the National Tournament for the second consecutive year but were eliminated in the Regional Semifinal by Michigan State University. This match would be Richard’s final collegiate contest.
Given that he’s already spent three years in the NCAA, it would be reasonable for Richard to make the transition to the American Hockey League next year. Unless he tears it up in training camp, he’ll start the 2026-27 season with the Rochester Americans, who were bounced in the First Round of the Calder Cup playoffs by the Toronto Marlies.
Mammoth Sign Gregor Biber To Entry-Level Contract
According to a team announcement, the Utah Mammoth have signed defenseman Gregor Biber to an entry-level contract. Although they didn’t specify in their announcement, it will presumably be a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.
Biber, 19, was one of the first players to be drafted by the Mammoth since the franchise began ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. Utah selected the Krems, Austria native with the 98th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft out of Rögle BK’s under-20 team.
Unfortunately for the Mammoth, there’s very little to get excited about in Biber’s offensive profile. Since being drafted, he has primarily played in the SHL for Rögle BK, where he has scored three goals and recorded five points in a total of 88 games. In the postseason, it hasn’t been any better, going scoreless across 17 games the past two years.
Additionally, he has been a mainstay for Team Austria, playing at varying levels of international competition, including the IIHF World Championships. His offensive struggles have continued, with only three points in 30 international games since the 2023-24 season.
Still, what he lacks in offensive prowess he makes up for on the defensive side of the puck. Standing at 6’3″, 196lbs, Biber is a highly physical defender and has never had a plus/minus below zero throughout his time in the SHL. Especially as a younger player, that’s quality production against veteran competition.
Unless Utah’s management believes he needs more seasoning overseas, Biber will likely suit up for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners next season to test his mettle in North America. However, if he does stay with Rögle BK throughout the 2026-27 SHL regular season, Biber likely won’t make the jump to the North American circuit until the end of next season.
Sharks Sign Phillip Sinn To Entry-Level Contract
The San Jose Sharks have looked towards Germany to reinforce their blue line. Defenseman Phillip Sinn has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Sharks set to begin next season. Sinn spent last season with EHC Munchen of Germany’s DEL and played five games with Team Germany at the 2026 World Championships. Reports of NHL interest around Sinn was first reported by German hockey news source Eisblog.
Sinn, 22, is a true shutdown-defenseman. He scored just nine points across all levels of competition in the 2025-26 season, including three points in 35 games of his DEL season. Despite those low marks, Sinn stood out with a long reach and physical style that helped secure an otherwise offensively-leaning defense corps – led by former Carolina Hurricanes defender Ryan Murphy. Sinn was most productive in a seven-game assignment to Germany’s minor-pro league, where he recorded four assists.
The 6-foot-2 defender rose through the ranks of Austrian hockey and made his debut in the country’s top league in 2023. He finished his first pro season with seven points in 30 games with EC Salzburg and captained Team Germany at the 2024 World Junior Championships – where he scored four points in five games. Sinn has since built a tendency for very little scoring in top pro leagues, but near point-per-game scoring in minor-pro leagues, through trips in Austria and Germany. Those tenures include no scoring in 12 games in the Champions Hockey League, but two points in three games of Germany’s Deutschland Cup.
Sinn will bring another big body and shutdown ability to the Sharks defense corps. He could have a hope at one day filling the hard-working, shutdown role filled by Mario Ferraro in his final months in the Sharks lineup. That dream will be far off, though, as Sinn enters his North American career behind prospect Leo Sahlin Wallenius on the depth chart and almost certainly headed for a second-pair role in the AHL.
Sharks Sign Jimmy Huntington To One-Year Extension
The San Jose Sharks shared earlier today that forward Jimmy Huntington has been re-signed on a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms have not yet been reported, but as a two-way pact it automatically carries at least a league minimum $850k at the NHL level.
A veteran of the AHL, the 27-year-old joined the San Jose Barracuda this past season and put together his best campaign yet, recording 48 points in 71 games. The center was third in team scoring, producing alongside several skilled youngsters such as Filip Bystedt and Quentin Musty.
Undrafted out of the QMJHL, Huntington feasted alongside Alexis Lafrenière with the Rimouski Oceanic in 2018-19. Catching on with the Lightning organization after a 92-point season, he went on to make a two-year stop with the Milwaukee Admirals. The Laval, Quebec native moved on to the Hershey Bears for 2023-24, helping lead the Capitals affiliates to a Calder Cup title, with 14 points in 20 games during the run.
Since finding himself out west, Huntington’s efforts this season in San Jose helped the Barracuda rank 13th in the AHL, although they were sent home by the Henderson Silver Knights in the opening round. Still seeking his NHL debut, the 6’0″ lefty will aim to build off a strong season, continuing to bring a well-rounded two-way game to the Sharks organization.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Aku Raty
The Edmonton Oilers have already gotten involved in the overseas market. According to a team announcement, the Oilers have signed Aku Raty to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season worth $850K.
Raty, 24, began his professional career in 2019 when he was selected with the 151st overall pick of that summer’s draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He spent his post-draft season playing for the Finnish Liiga’s Kärpät, scoring two goals and seven points in 32 games with a +2 rating.
After posting a nearly identical scoring line for the 2020-21 campaign, Raty’s offensive presence began to grow in Finland’s professional circuit. Combining the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Raty registered 29 goals and 64 points in 109 games for Kärpät with a +30 rating. That output rightfully gave the Coyotes the confidence to bring him to North America to test his mettle in the AHL.
At first, he didn’t look out of place. Playing for the Tucson Roadrunners, Raty finished his first season with 15 goals and 44 points in 55 games with a +9 rating. It wasn’t enough to win any awards, but he didn’t finish second on the team in scoring behind Josh Doan.
Unfortunately, Raty took a significant step back during the 2024-25 campaign. He got off to a tough start with the Roadrunners, scoring four goals and 19 points in 50 games, leading to a mid-season trade to the Chicago Blackhawks organization, causing him to finish the year with the Rockford IceHogs.
After that difficult season, Raty took the opportunity to rejoin Kärpät last year, and it turned out to be a worthwhile endeavor. He enjoyed the best season of his professional career, scoring 20 goals and 57 points in 51 games with a +8 rating. Again, his strong offensive output wasn’t enough to lead the league in scoring, but he finished first on the team and seventh overall.
The Oilers frequently adjust their bottom six due to injuries or poor performance, which should create opportunities for Raty at the NHL level, assuming that trend continues. Should Raty get off to a hot start with AHL Bakersfield, if he doesn’t start the season on the NHL roster, the signing could give Edmonton more offensive firepower and energy at the bottom of their forward corps.
Lightning Re-Sign Scott Sabourin
Veteran Scott Sabourin will be sticking around in the Lightning’s organization for another year. The team announced today that they’ve signed the winger to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Financial terms were not disclosed but he’ll be guaranteed at least a $75K raise at the NHL level with that minimum salary moving up to $850K next season from $775K in 2025-26.
The 33-year-old joined Tampa Bay last summer on a one-year, two-way deal, one that worked out well for both sides. Sabourin played in 26 games with the Lightning this season, the second-highest NHL total of his career. He picked up a goal and four assists in those outings, along with 89 penalty minutes and 63 hits. That’s the type of physicality he’s been known for over his professional career, one that spans parts of 15 seasons.
Sabourin was on Tampa Bay’s roster for the playoffs and even got into a pair of games in the first round against Montreal, his first career NHL postseason action. For his career, he now has 73 career NHL appearances under his belt, collecting three goals, 10 assists, and 147 penalty minutes over parts of six seasons.
While he hasn’t been a big offensive producer in the NHL, Sabourin has been a reasonable producer in the minors. He played in 24 games with Syracuse this season, notching a respectable six goals and two assists. Prior to this season, Sabourin had at least 25 points in the minors in each of the last three years.
It’s likely that Tampa Bay envisions Sabourin filling the same role he did this season. For games where they expect things to get more physical, he’ll probably see time on the fourth line. Meanwhile, he can serve as a capable depth producer in Syracuse in between those outings, assuming he clears waivers to be eligible to be sent back to the Crunch.
Golden Knights Add Two More Black Aces
Last week, the Golden Knights recalled several players as their Black Ace recalls. Earlier this week, they decided to bring up two more to give them more depth up front. Per the AHL’s transactions log, Vegas recently promoted wingers Alexander Holtz and Trevor Connelly from AHL Henderson.
Holtz broke camp with Vegas this season and spent most of the year on the NHL roster. However, a lot of that time was spent as a healthy scratch. He got into 28 games with the Golden Knights overall, collecting three goals and six assists in 11:29 of playing time per night. It’s the second straight year that his usage and production have dropped, leading to him hitting waivers in early March.
After clearing, the 24-year-old was sent down to the Silver Knights and played a regular role down the stretch, notching nine points in 13 games. However, he wasn’t particularly productive in the postseason, being limited to one goal in six contests. Holtz has one year left on his contract with an AAV below the league minimum next season which could help his chances of staying on an NHL roster.
As for Connelly, he received a recall earlier in the postseason but didn’t wind up playing and is still looking to make his NHL debut. The 20-year-old is a rare first-round pick that Vegas has held onto and he had an impressive rookie year that saw him collect 49 points in 46 games during the season and six more in six playoff contests. He likely won’t be making his NHL debut in the playoffs but he and Holtz will get a chance to keep practicing for a little while longer.
Flames Sign Kirill Zarubin To Entry-Level Contract
The Calgary Flames have signed goaltender Kirill Zarubin to a three-year, entry-level contract per Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960. The 2024 third-round draft pick spent last season in the MHL, Russia’s junior league. He was named an MHL All-Star and finished the season with 26 wins and a .930 save percentage in 48 games played. Those marks ranked fourth and 13th among 81 goalies with more than 10 games played.
Calgary acquired the draft pick used to select Zarubin in the 2024 trade that sent Noah Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Flames used that pick to draft their fourth goaltender, and their third out of Russia, since 2020.
Zarubin brings long legs and a quickness in the crease. Those traits helped him stand out despite filling a split role through parts of the last three seasons with Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ilya Kanarsky. The duo backstopped an AKM Tula squad that made it to – but lost – the MHL semi-finals in all four seasons under their helm.
Zarubin will step onto a crowded Flames depth chart. Eight different goaltenders played games for Calgary’s AHL and ECHL affiliates last season. Zarubin will likely head to the latter to help ease his transition into the pro flight. His addition will provide more stability to Arsenii Sergeev as he moves into a full-time AHL role.
Metro Notes: Bennett, Fedotov, Hammers
Ray Bennett‘s time seeking a new coaching role didn’t take long. Moments after the New York Islanders announced that they had mutually parted ways with Bennett, the Washington Capitals announced they have hired him for the 2026-27 season.
Bennett was presumably hired to replace Kirk Muller, who departed the organization in late April. The 64-year-old coach has served as an assistant coach in the NHL for over 25 years, primarily focusing on power-play strategies with the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, and Islanders.
The Capitals’ work with a man advantage could certainly use a fresh perspective. Washington had a solid power play during the 2024-25 campaign, finishing 13th in the league with a 23.53% success rate. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the same prosperity this season, falling to 25th in the league with a 17.84% rate.
Additional notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- Despite being one win away from an Eastern Conference Final berth, the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters have lost some of their goaltending depth, likely for the remainder of the postseason. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, netminder Ivan Fedotov has returned overseas to deal with an undisclosed injury. Since he is an unrestricted free agent this summer and left the team during their pursuit of the Calder Cup, it seems likely that Fedotov does not intend to continue his professional career in North America. He may have already begun exploring opportunities overseas.
- The Islanders announced the name and logo of their new AHL affiliate in Hamilton, following the team’s move from Bridgeport, CT. The new AHL franchise will be named the Hamilton Hammers, reflecting the historical significance of the steel industry in the Ontario city.