The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward Cutter Gauthier to a three-year entry-level contract after his impressive performance at Boston College and in international tournaments, including leading the NCAA in goals and game-winning goals. Gauthier, a first-round pick by Philadelphia in the 2022 NHL Draft, has shown promise as a top prospect with his scoring ability and contributions to Team USA.
Forward prospect Frank Nazar is leaving Michigan early to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, forgoing the rest of his college eligibility. The 13th overall draft pick in 2022, Nazar had an impressive season at Michigan, producing 17 goals and 24 assists in 41 games as a sophomore. He is expected to be a major piece in the Blackhawks' rebuild and is projected to be a top-six center or wing for the team in the coming years.
The Minnesota Wild has signed forward Marat Khusnutdinov to a two-year, entry-level contract through the 2024-25 NHL season. The 21-year-old Russian forward, who was selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, has had success in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and has represented Russia in international competitions. Khusnutdinov will wear jersey No. 22 with the Wild.
The Boston Bruins have officially announced that Matthew Poitras will remain with the team after completing his ninth game in the NHL. Despite the opportunity to send him back to the OHL and preserve the first year of his entry-level contract, the Bruins have decided to keep him on the roster. Poitras has been impressive so far, with three goals and two assists in nine games, and will now serve as the third-line center with potential increased minutes on special teams units.
The Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Logan Cooley to a three-year entry-level contract. Cooley, who was the Coyotes' first-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, had an impressive season with the University of Minnesota, finishing as the team's leading scorer. He also represented the United States at the 2023 World Junior Championship, leading the team in scoring and helping them win the bronze medal. The Coyotes are excited about Cooley's potential and look forward to his contributions in the future.
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, to a three-year entry-level contract on his 18th birthday. Bedard, considered a potential generational talent, recently attended the Blackhawks' development camp and has already made an impact off the ice, with season-ticket sales soaring and Bedard jerseys selling in the thousands. The Blackhawks hope Bedard will have a similar impact on the ice as their No. 1 center in the upcoming season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed 18-year-old defense prospect Emil Pieniniemi to a three-year entry-level contract. Pieniniemi, the Penguins' third-round pick in this year's draft, impressed with his defensive skills in the Finnish U-20 circuit. While he still needs to grow into his 6-foot-2 frame, he has shown potential as a puck-moving defender. Pittsburgh is likely to loan him back to Karpat for the upcoming season, resulting in his contract sliding to start in 2024-25.
Adam Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 18-year-old center had an impressive freshman season at the University of Michigan, leading NCAA players in points and goals. Fantilli also won the Hobey Baker Award and helped Michigan reach the Frozen Four semifinals. He will join fellow Michigan alums in Columbus and has already made an impact on the international stage, winning gold at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Ryan Johnston to a two-year, entry-level contract. Johnston, who completed his senior college season at Minnesota, will report to the Sabres' AHL affiliate in Rochester. The 6-foot, 170-pound player was selected 31st in the 2019 draft and finished his college career with nine goals and 59 points in 143 career games. Both sides are hoping Johnston's age and college experience will enable him to make the jump to the NHL within the next two seasons.
Ryan Johnson, a defenseman from the University of Minnesota, has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Johnson was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2019 draft and will report directly to the Rochester Americans. He is the latest defense prospect to sign with the Sabres, joining Nikita Novikov and Vsevolod Komarov, and is expected to strengthen the team's organizational deficiency in defense.
Luke Hughes, the fourth-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils, joining his older brother Jack on the team. Although he will not play in the Devils' game against the Boston Bruins, Luke is expected to make his NHL debut soon. The quick signing allows Luke to learn the Devils' system and start working with his new teammates. The 19-year-old defenseman has been refining his game at Michigan and was named to the Big 10 All First-Team.
The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward Carter Mazur to a three-year entry-level contract, which will begin in 2023-24. Mazur, who was a third-round pick by the Red Wings in 2021, will report to Grand Rapids for the rest of this season on an amateur tryout. With his blend of scoring ability and physicality, Mazur projects as a real piece of the future for Detroit, which could use more of both of those elements.
The San Jose Sharks sent down William Eklund to the AHL, despite him being one of their top forwards, in order to prevent the official beginning of his three-year entry-level contract. This move could potentially backfire if Eklund becomes more expensive as he gets older and has a breakout season at 23 instead of 22. Additionally, the move could be seen as a way to potentially tank and secure a higher draft pick in 2023.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Devon Levi to a three-year, entry-level contract after his successful junior season at Northeastern University, where he led the NCAA with a .952 save percentage. Levi was also named Hockey East Player of the Year and won the Mike Richter Award as the best collegiate goaltender. The 21-year-old was a seventh-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2020 and was acquired by the Sabres in a trade last year. Levi has patiently developed his game and is now ready to take the next step in his career with the Sabres.
The Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Devon Levi to a three-year, entry-level contract. Levi could either join the NHL team immediately, sign an ATO with the Amerks, sign his entry-level contract beginning next season, or return to school. The most likely option is for Levi to sign his entry-level deal with the Sabres to start next season, then join the AHL’s Rochester Americans on an amateur tryout (ATO) for the rest of the current season.
