Player Signings
The Pittsburgh Penguins have secured forward Connor Dewar with a two-year contract extension valued at $2.25 million against the salary cap.
The Utah Mammoth have signed forward Yegor Borikov, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal carries a cap hit of $995,000 and an average annual value (AAV) of $967,000. His contract details include varying NHL salaries, signing bonuses, and potential performance/games played bonuses across the three years, with provisions for minor league pay.
The Washington Capitals have added undrafted forward Theodor Niederbach on a one-year agreement. This contract has a cap hit of $1.025 million and an AAV of $1.275 million, including a base NHL salary, performance bonuses, a signing bonus, and minor league compensation.
Additionally, the Capitals have signed forward Petr Sikora, their 2024 sixth-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 a structure similar to Borikov’s contract, detailing NHL salaries, signing bonuses, games played bonuses, and minor league pay over the three years.
Injury Notes
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin addressed his late-game exit in Game 1, stating, “It hurt, but I’m not injured, I’ll say that.”
Colorado Avalanche forward Joel Kiviranta participated in practice, while defensemen Josh Manson and Cale Makar did not. Kiviranta’s practice session was his first since the conclusion of round one, and coach Jared Bednar had previously listed him as day-to-day.
Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen sustained a torn MCL during the Olympics. No surgery is required. General Manager Jim Nill expressed that Rantanen could have benefited from more recovery time before returning, adding that he “never really thought he was himself.”
The Dallas Stars have faced a significant number of injuries this season, including:
- Oskar Bäck: Wrist injury in October (missed 10 games), sprained shoulder in the playoffs.
- Nathan Bastian: Broken finger requiring surgery, would have been available for the second round.
- Jamie Benn: Punctured lung in training camp, concussion in December.
- Lian Bichsel: Fractured leg and ankle during the regular season (missed 32 games), sprained shoulder in the final playoff game (expected to be fine).
- Michael Bunting: Groin injury, unavailable until the playoffs.
- Matt Duchene: Concussion (missed 25 regular season games).
- Adam Erne: MCL sprain in December (missed 4-6 weeks).
- Radek Faksa: Concussion at the Olympics, followed by a severe foot laceration from a skate (still serious, potentially requiring further surgery, had cut a ligament).
- Thomas Harley: Broken foot in November (missed 12 games).
- Roope Hintz: Illness during the Olympics, followed by a double hamstring tear upon return, nearing a comeback before re-injury.
- Arttu Hyry: High ankle sprain in the playoffs (expected to be out for another 2-4 weeks).
- Nils Lundkvist: Fractured leg and ankle during the regular season, facial laceration in the playoffs (described as “very lucky man”), also sustained a concussion related to the facial injury.
- Mikko Rantanen: Tore MCL in the Olympics, returned quickly but was not at full strength.
- Tyler Seguin: Torn ACL in December.
- Ilya Lyubushkin: Shoulder injury during the regular season.
- Sam Steel: Groin injury during the regular season.
- Tyler Myers: Groin injury during the regular season.
- Miro Heiskanen: Oblique tear just before the playoffs (not fully healthy), sprained ankle during the playoffs.
Minnesota Wild coach Jon Hynes has no updates on forward Joel Eriksson Ek or defenseman Jonas Brodin, as neither has skated since sustaining their respective injuries. While Hynes did not confirm if Eriksson Ek would be available for Saturday’s game, he indicated that Brodin is progressing well, and there is optimism for his return to the lineup.
