Player Signings
The Pittsburgh Penguins have extended forward Connor Dewar with a two-year contract, carrying a cap hit of $2.25 million.
The Utah Mammoth have signed Yegor Borikov, a forward and a 2025 fourth-round pick, to a three-year entry-level deal. The contract includes a $995,000 cap hit and an average annual value (AAV) of $967,000.
The Washington Capitals have secured the services of undrafted 24-year-old 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.
Additionally, the Capitals have signed Petr Sikora, a forward and a 2024 sixth-round pick, to a three-year entry-level contract. This deal has a cap hit of $995,000 and an AAV of $967,000.
Injury Notes
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin has indicated that his late-game issue in Game 1 was painful but clarified, “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 marked Kiviranta’s first practice since the conclusion of Round 1. Coach Jared Bednar had previously stated he was day-to-day.
Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen sustained a torn MCL at the Olympics, which will not require surgery. General Manager Jim Nill expressed that Rantanen could have benefited from more recovery time and noted, “I never really thought he was himself.”
A comprehensive list of Dallas Stars’ injuries from the current season includes:
- 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 okay.
- Michael Bunting – groin injury, unavailable until the playoffs.
- Matt Duchene – concussion, missed 25 games in the regular season.
- 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, possibly requiring more surgery, and a cut ligament.
- Thomas Harley – broken foot in November, missed 12 games.
- Roope Hintz – illness at the Olympics, then a double hamstring tear upon return, re-injured just as he was nearing full recovery.
- 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, deemed “very lucky,” also sustained a concussion related to the facial injury.
- Mikko Rantanen – torn MCL at 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, and a sprained ankle in the playoffs.
Minnesota Wild coach Jon Hynes provided no new updates on forward Joel Eriksson Ek or defenseman Jonas Brodin, both of whom have not skated since sustaining their injuries.
- Despite not having skated, Hynes did not confirm whether Eriksson Ek would be available for Saturday’s game. Brodin is showing progress, and there is optimism he might be able to play.