Eyssimont was originally expected to be out until the middle of October, but he removed his non-contact jersey for Thursday's practice. Head coach Jon Cooper said that Eyssimont will need to get his conditioning up but it seems possible that he could be ready for the Lightning's season opener. He skated with Nick Paul and Conor Sheary in Thursday's practice session.
Lysell was "cut" from training camp on September 29th but GM Don Sweeney made it clear that day that Lysell could be called back up for Thursday or Saturday's preseason game. Lysell was first round pick in 2021 but has yet to appear in an NHL game. The 21-year-old had 50 points (15G / 35A) in 56 AHL games last year and should be in the mix for a middle-6 role in Boston this season.
Lindholm suffered an undisclosed injury on the first day of training camp and has yet to appear in a preseason game. His availability for Tuesday's game is a good sign that he'll be ready-to-go when the Bruins open their season on October 8th.
After playing 81 of 82 games in 2023-24, it appears Michael Eyssimont will miss some time in 2024-25 after it was announced he would not be ready for training camp due to a lower-body injury and is hoping to be ready by mid-October. The 28-year-old center is entering his third season in Tampa Bay and put up career highs in almost all categories last season with 11 goals, 25 points, 104 PIMs, and 149 SOG in 81 games played.
Minten suffered a high-ankle sprain at Toronto's Prospect Showdown last week and will not be ready for training camp. It is tough news for the 20-year-old center who is now without a timetable to return after originally having a shot to crack Toronto's opening-day roster. Minten appeared in four games with the Maple Leafs in 2023-24 before being returned to junior, but failed to pick up a point during his brief showing.
Toronto added to its forward depth on Wednesday as they signed 24-year-old undrafted forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 6'0" centre has appeared in seven NHL games for the Maple Leafs in the last three seasons but spent the vast majority of his time with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) since joining from Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2021-22. Steeves had an impressive AHL campaign in 2023-24 with 27 goals, 57 points and 26 PIMs in 65 games played.
Patrik Laine's offseason saga comes to an end after he was traded to Montreal on Monday alongside a 2026 2nd-round pick for Jordan Harris. Harris heads to Columbus after three strong seasons in Montreal and has eight goals and 32 points in 131 career games played. The 24-year-old was Montreal's 2018 3rd-round pick (71st overall).
Boston signed a pair of AHL defenders on Friday as it announced Michael Callahan has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Bruins. The 24-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance after spending the previous two seasons with Providence (AHL) after joining from Providence College (NCAA) in 2021-22. In 70 games in 2023-24 he had four goals and 17 points.
The Sabres and Jokiharju avoid arbitration by agreeing on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. Jokiharju will be a UFA when the contract is up next July. The 25-year-old blueliner is coming off of the best offensive season of his career, posting a career-best 20 points (3G / 17A) in 74 games. Expect him to be the Sabres' No.4 or No.5 defenseman this year, depending on the status of Matias Samuelsson.
The Flames signed Jonathan Aspirot to a one-year, two-way contract. Aspirot spent 2024 with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), posting 33 points (6G / 27A) in 66 games. The 25-year-old undrafted defenseman will likely start 2025 with the Wranglers.
Sweezey spent the entire 2023-24 season in the AHL with Cleveland but has earned himself a two-year deal worth $1.55 million (775K AAV). The 28-year-old defensemen's last and only NHL appearance came in the form of nine games with Columbus in 2022-23. In 2023-24, he had a goal and four points in 57 games with Cleveland (AHL).
Tufte only appeared in five NHL games with Colorado in 2023-24 and earned himself a one-year, $775,000 deal with Boston on Monday. The 26-year-old left-winger spent most of his season last year with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and had 23 goals and 45 points in 67 games played.
After three seasons in San Jose, Jeffrey Viel will join Boston for some offensive depth after signing a two-year deal worth $1.55 million ($775K AAV). The 27-year-old spent the majority of 2023-24 with San Jose's AHL affiliate in the Barracuda, but appeared in four games with the Sharks, failing to pick up a point while averaging 9:10 TOI/GP.
Boston will add to its overall grit after signing towering defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year deal worth $30.0 million ($5.0M AAV). By joining the Bruins, the 29-year-old will join his sixth NHL team in the 12th year of his career after posting six goals, 20 points and 125 PIMs in 75 games between Calgary and Vancouver in 2023-24.
After an injury-filled campaign in 2023-24 that consisted of 18 total games played, Viktor Arvidsson has decided to take his talents to Edmonton after signing a two-year deal worth $8.0 million ($4.0M AAV). The 31-year-old still managed an impressive six goals and 15 points despite only playing in 18 games in 2023-24 but has five 20+ goal seasons to his name over his 10-year career.
Boston made one of the biggest free agent splashes on Monday as it signed forward Elias Lindholm to a seven-year deal worth $54.25 million ($7.75M AAV). The 29-year-old will join his third team in two seasons after a down year in 2023-24, with his 15 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and -14 plus/minus in 75 games played between Calgary and Vancouver.
Jeannot's tenure in Tampa Bay is over after one and a half seasons after he was dealt to Los Angeles for a 2024 4th Round Pick and a 2025 2nd Round Pick on Saturday. The 27-year-old scrappy winger will join his third NHL team after putting up seven goals, 14 points, 75 PIMs and a -10 plus/minus in 55 games with Tampa Bay in 2023-24.
Mittelstadt was flipped for Bowen Byram on March 6th and had 10 points (4G / 6A) in 18 games with the Avalanche following the deal. He looked much better in the postseason, where he had nine points (3G / 6A) in 11 games. The 25-year-old should continue to serve as the Avalanche's No.2 centre behind Nathan MacKinnon in the 2024-25 season and has back-to-back 55-plus point seasons.
Kastelic is a big (6-2, 210 lbs), rugged forward who will fit into the Bruins' bottom-6 in 2024-25. During the 2023-24 season, Kastelic had 10 points (5G / 5A), 126 hits and 31 blocked shots in 63 games with the Senators.
Korpisalo signed a five-year deal with a $4.0M AAV last July 1st but struggled to live up to his cap-hit in his first year with the Senators. The 29-year-old net minder went 21-26-4 with a 3.27 GAA and .890 SV% in 55 games (49 starts) and gets moved to Boston, where he'll serve as the backup to Jeremy Swayman if he isn't traded again or bought-out. The Senators retained 25 percent ($1.0M AAV) of Korpisalo's contract.
