NHL News: Player Signings and Injury Updates

Player Signings

The Pittsburgh Penguins have extended forward Connor Dewar’s contract for two years, with a salary cap hit of $2.25 million.

The Utah Mammoth have signed forward Yegor Borikov, a 2025 4th round draft pick, to a three-year entry-level contract. This deal has a cap hit of $995,000 and an average annual value (AAV) of $967,000. The contract details include:

• Year 1: $850,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, $5,000 per game played bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.
• Year 2: $900,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.
• Year 3: $950,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.

The Washington Capitals have signed undrafted forward Theodor Niederbach, aged 24, to a one-year agreement. This contract carries a cap hit of $1.025 million and an AAV of $1.275 million. It includes a $922,500 NHL salary, $250,000 in ‘A’ performance bonuses, a $102,500 signing bonus, and $85,000 for minor league play.

The Capitals have also inked forward Petr Sikora, a 2024 6th round selection, to a three-year entry-level contract. This deal has a cap hit of $995,000 and an AAV of $967,000, with the following breakdown:

• Year 1: $850,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, $5,000 per game played bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.
• Year 2: $900,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.
• Year 3: $950,000 NHL salary, $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 in the minors.

Injury Notes

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin commented on a late-game injury sustained in Game 1, stating, “It hurt, but I’m not injured, I’ll say that.”

Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta participated in practice yesterday, while defensemen Josh Manson and Cale Makar did not.

This was Kiviranta’s first practice since the conclusion of Round 1. Coach Jared Bednar had previously described his status as day-to-day.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen suffered a torn MCL at the Olympics, which did not require surgery. General Manager Jim Nill expressed that he wished Rantanen had more time to recover before returning, adding, “I never really thought he was himself.”

The Stars have faced a lengthy list of injuries throughout the season, including:

• Oskar Bäck: wrist injury (October), missed 10 games; sprained shoulder (playoffs).
• Nathan Bastian: broken finger, underwent surgery; would have been available for the second round.
• Jamie Benn: punctured lung (camp); concussion (December).
• Lian Bichsel: fractured leg and ankle (regular season), missed 32 games; sprained shoulder (last game of playoffs), expected to be fine.
• Michael Bunting: groin injury, unavailable until playoffs.
• Matt Duchene: concussion, missed 25 games (regular season).
• Adam Erne: MCL sprain (December), missed 4-6 weeks.
• Radek Faksa: concussion (Olympics); serious foot laceration after being stepped on by a skate, requiring potential further surgery, also cut a ligament.
• Thomas Harley: broke foot (November), missed 12 games.
• Roope Hintz: illness (Olympics); double hamstring tear (first game back), re-injured close to returning.
• Arttu Hyry: high ankle sprain (playoffs), out for another 2-4 weeks.
• Nils Lundkvist: fractured leg and ankle (regular season); facial laceration (playoffs) causing a concussion, described as “very lucky.”
• Mikko Rantanen: tore MCL (Olympics), returned quickly but was not at full strength.
• Tyler Seguin: torn ACL (December).
• Ilya Lyubushkin: shoulder injury (regular season).
• Sam Steel: groin injury (regular season).
• Tyler Myers: groin injury (regular season).
• Miro Heiskanen: oblique tear (just before playoffs), not fully healthy; sprained ankle (playoffs).

Minnesota Wild coach Jon Hynes stated he has no updates on forward Joel Eriksson Ek or defenseman Jonas Brodin, as both players have not skated since sustaining their injuries. While Eriksson Ek’s availability for Saturday remains uncertain, Brodin is progressing, and the team is “optimistic” about his potential return to the lineup.

Player Signings

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year contract with a cap hit of $2.25 million.

The Utah Mammoth have signed forward Yegor Borikov, a 2025 4th round pick, to a three-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $995,000 and an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $967,000. The contract details for each year are as follows:

• Year 1: $850,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, a $5,000 games played bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.
• Year 2: $900,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.
• Year 3: $950,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.

The Washington Capitals have signed undrafted forward Theodor Niederbach, 24, to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1.025 million and an AAV of $1.275 million. This includes an NHL salary of $922,500, $250,000 in ‘A’ Performance Bonuses, a $102,500 signing bonus, and $85,000 for minor league play.

The Capitals have also signed forward Petr Sikora, their 2024 6th round pick, to a three-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $995,000 and an AAV of $967,000. The contract specifics are:

• Year 1: $850,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, a $5,000 games played bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.
• Year 2: $900,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.
• Year 3: $950,000 NHL salary, a $95,000 signing bonus, and $85,000 if playing in the minors.

Injury Notes

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin addressed the “injury” he sustained late in Game 1, stating, “It hurt, but I’m not injured, I’ll say that.”

Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta practiced yesterday, while defensemen Josh Manson and Cale Makar were absent.

This marked Kiviranta’s first on-ice session since the end of Round 1. Coach Jared Bednar had previously indicated Kiviranta was day-to-day.

Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen tore his MCL at the Olympics, but surgery was not required. GM Jim Nill commented that he wished Rantanen had more recovery time before returning, adding, “I never really thought he was himself.”

The Stars have dealt with a significant number of injuries this season, including:

• Oskar Bäck: Suffered a wrist injury in October, missing 10 games, and a sprained shoulder in the playoffs.
• Nathan Bastian: Broke a finger and had surgery, which would have made him available for the second round.
• Jamie Benn: Suffered a punctured lung in training camp and a concussion in December.
• Lian Bichsel: Fractured his leg and ankle during the regular season, missing 32 games. He also sustained a sprained shoulder in the final playoff game and is expected to be fine.
• Michael Bunting: Dealt with a groin injury, making him unavailable until the playoffs.
• Matt Duchene: Missed 25 regular season games due to a concussion.
• Adam Erne: Suffered an MCL sprain in December, sidelining him for 4-6 weeks.
• Radek Faksa: Had a concussion at the Olympics and later a severe foot laceration after being stepped on by a skate. This injury remains serious, and he may require further surgery, having also cut a ligament.
• Thomas Harley: Broke his foot in November, missing 12 games.
• Roope Hintz: Was sick during the Olympics and then suffered a double hamstring tear in his first game back. He was close to returning but re-injured himself.
• Arttu Hyry: Sustained a high ankle sprain in the playoffs and is expected to be out for another 2-4 weeks.
• Nils Lundkvist: Fractured his leg and ankle during the regular season and sustained a facial laceration in the playoffs that also resulted in a concussion. GM Nill called him a “very lucky man.”
• Mikko Rantanen: Tore his MCL at the Olympics and, despite returning quickly, was never fully himself again.
• Tyler Seguin: Suffered a torn ACL in December.
• Ilya Lyubushkin: Had a shoulder injury during the regular season.
• Sam Steel: Dealt with a groin injury during the regular season.
• Tyler Myers: Also experienced a groin injury during the regular season.
• Miro Heiskanen: Suffered an oblique tear just before the playoffs and was not fully healthy. He then sprained his ankle during the playoffs.

Minnesota Wild coach Jon Hynes provided no updates on forward Joel Eriksson Ek or defenseman Jonas Brodin, as neither has skated since their respective injuries. While Eriksson Ek’s availability for Saturday’s game is undecided, Brodin is progressing, and the team is “optimistic” about his potential return to the lineup.