The offseason drags on as we approach the middle of July. Let’s play catch up on the latest trades and signings across the NHL.
The San Jose Sharks signed veteran forward Jeff Skinner to a one-year deal worth $3 million. Skinner, 33, produced 16 goals and 29 points in 72 regular season games with the Edmonton Oilers last season and appeared in his first five career playoff games, including the last three games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. Skinner has amassed 699 career points in 1,078 NHL games split between the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres and Oilers.
San Jose also acquired forward Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun. the 38-year-old Reaves has one year left on his current contract. Reaves appeared in just 35 games for the Maple Leafs last season, collecting two assists. Thurn scored twice and assisted on ten goals in 60 games for the Sharks in 2024-25.
One last Shark bite… Goaltender Jakub Skarek signed a one-year deal worth $775K with the Bay Area team. The 25-year-old had a 3.52 GAA and an .884 save percentage in 22 regular-season outings with AHL Bridgeport in 2024-25. He also appeared in two NHL games with the New York Islanders last season, posting a record of 0-1-0 with a 3.95 GAA and an .872 save percentage.
Defenseman Josh Manson signed a two-year contract extension and will remain with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2027-28 season. His new deal carries an average annual value of $3.95 million. Manson scored one goal and added 14 assists in 48 games last season.
The Dallas Stars traded Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a swap of defensemen with former Florida draft pick Vladislav Kolyachonok and a 2028 second-round pick going back the other way. Dumba, 30, had one goal and nine assists in 63 games last season. Kolyachonok played for both the Penguins and Utah Hockey Club in 2024-25, recording two goals and seven points in 35 games.
Dallas also re-signed forward Antonio Stranges to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K. The 23-year-old, who was taken in the fourth-round in 2020, appeared in 55 AHL games with the Texas Stars, producing 18 goals and 43 points.
Pittsburgh inked forward Benjamin Kindel to a three-year, entry-level contract. Kindel was selected in the first-round (11th overall) of the 2025 NHL draft after racking up 35 goals and 99 points for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.
The Vancouver Canucks signed its 2025 first-rounder Braeden Cootes to a three-year, entry-level contract. Playing in his second season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, Cootes, who was taken 15th overall, scored 26 goals and added 37 assists in 60 games. He put up 8 points in six postseason games.
Vancouver also inked goalie Aleksei Medvedev to a three-year, entry-level contract. Medvedev spent last season with the OHL London Knights. He appeared in 34 games, posting a 22-8-2 record with a 2.79 GAA, a .912 save percentage, and three shutouts, helping the Knights capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions and the Memorial Cup. Vancouver selected the 17-year-old in the second-round (47th overall) of the 2025 draft.
The Calgary Flames re-signed center Sam Morton to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K. Morton drew an assist in his NHL debut and appeared in 70 AHL games with the Calgary Wranglers last season, where he produced 20 goals and 25 assists.
Isaak Phillips re-upped with the Winnipeg Jets, signing a two-year, two-day worth $812,500. Phillips was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on January 15, in exchange for Dmitry Kuzmin. He had one goal in three games with the Blackhawks last season. He spent the majority of the season in the AHL, splitting time between the Rockford IceHogs and Manitoba Moose and finishing with 16 points in 67 games.
The Carolina Hurricanes signed veteran defenseman Gavin Bayreuther to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K. Bayreuther spent last season with Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League, producing five goals and 23 points in 52 games. The 31-year-old has 131 games of NHL experience.
Forward Michael Milne remained with the Minnesota Wild, inking a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K. Milne played in 70 AHL games for the Iowa Wild and put up 15 goals and 11 assists. He made his NHL debut on November 16, in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.