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Defenseman

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Sabres shore up blueline with Zellweger on three-year deal
sports11 days ago

Sabres shore up blueline with Zellweger on three-year deal

Buffalo signed 22-year-old defenseman Olen Zellweger to a three-year deal worth about $9 million after acquiring him from Anaheim, hoping he can grow into a top-four role alongside Dahlin and Power and possibly boost the power play after Bowen Byram’s departure; Zellweger posted 7 goals and 13 assists in his first full NHL season and 7 goals and 15 assists last year, with reduced ice time, making this a bridge deal while he remains a restricted free agent with arbitration rights when it expires.

via Pro Hockey Rumors|
#buffalo-sabres#contract-extension#defenseman
Rangers pick Alberts Smits at No. 5, betting on a polished, two-way defenseman
new-york-rangers-news13 days ago

Rangers pick Alberts Smits at No. 5, betting on a polished, two-way defenseman

The New York Rangers selected Alberts Smits with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, citing his experience facing pros in Liiga and the DEL and his well-rounded two-way game as the key reasons. Scouts praised his size, mobility, and puck-moving ability, and Lilley said Smits fit best on their board among several top defensemen. Smits is expected to sign an entry-level contract and report to training camp in September, with the club aiming to develop him within a deep, young defense corps and determine his NHL readiness based on camp outcomes and roster moves.

via Forever Blueshirts|
#alberts-smits#defenseman#new-york-rangers
Sharks swing up to 21 and nab defenseman Ryan Lin in the 2026 NHL Draft
sports14 days ago

Sharks swing up to 21 and nab defenseman Ryan Lin in the 2026 NHL Draft

The Sharks traded up from 27 to 21 to draft 18-year-old right-shot defenseman Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants with their third first-round pick, sending 27, 62 and 120 to the Flyers; Lin posted 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games last season as San Jose aims to bolster its blue line alongside Ivar Stenberg and Keaton Verhoeff.

via NBC Sports Bay Area & California|
#defenseman#nhl-draft-2026#ryan-lin
Rangers land Alberts Šmits at No. 5 to shore up defense
sports14 days ago

Rangers land Alberts Šmits at No. 5 to shore up defense

The New York Rangers used the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to select defenseman Alberts Smits, a tall, two-way left-shot prospect viewed as one of the most NHL-ready defensemen in the class. Smits has pro experience in Liiga and DEL and is expected to sign and report to training camp, while the team also via a draft-night trade acquired Pavel Dorofeyev to bolster the roster’s forward depth.

via New York Post|
#2026-nhl-draft#alberts-smits#defenseman
Kraken snag Chase Reid at No. 7, a surprise defense prospect
sports14 days ago

Kraken snag Chase Reid at No. 7, a surprise defense prospect

Seattle selected Chase Reid, a 6'3" right-shot defenseman from the Soo Greyhounds, with the 7th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft—a surprising choice as Seattle’s first-round defenseman. Reid led draft-eligible OHL defensemen in goals, points and points per game and is lauded for mobility, size and hockey sense. He’s committed to Michigan State and is projected to develop into a top-pairing, power-play contributor after further time in college and the AHL, potentially earning a future spot in Seattle's lineup.

via Sound Of Hockey|
#chase-reid#defenseman#michigan-state
Flyers land Brek Liske in Round 2, a promising two-way defenseman
sports14 days ago

Flyers land Brek Liske in Round 2, a promising two-way defenseman

Philadelphia selected Brek Liske, a 6'1" right-shot defenseman from the WHL's Everett Silvertips, 53rd overall in Round 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft, after trading back in Round 1 to add Maksim Sokolovskii and then taking goalie Martin Psohlavec at 62. Liske posted 24 points (7 goals, 17 assists) and a plus-36 in 52 regular-season games, plus 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) with a plus-25 in 18 playoff games. He describes himself as a two-way defenseman, and his Flyers-loving father Lonnie—who even has a Flyers-themed orange jeep—cheered loudly when the pick was announced.

via NBC Sports Philadelphia|
#brek-liske#defenseman#everett-silvertips
Leafs land Raddysh in sign-and-trade to bolster blue line
sports23 days ago

Leafs land Raddysh in sign-and-trade to bolster blue line

The Tampa Bay Lightning, unable to re-sign Darren Raddysh, traded the top-scoring defenseman to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade, sending a 2026 fifth-round pick back to Tampa and landing an eight-year contract for Raddysh at an $8.5 million AAV. The move returns Raddysh home to the Toronto area and gives Toronto a right-shot defenseman who posted a breakout 70-point season, while the Lightning must now replace his production.

via Tampa Bay Times|
#darren-raddysh#defenseman#sign-and-trade
Sharks take a calculated swing on Kesselring for defensive upside
sports23 days ago

Sharks take a calculated swing on Kesselring for defensive upside

San Jose acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 2026 No. 27 pick from Buffalo, sending San Jose’s 2026 No. 20 pick in return. The move is viewed as a high-upside gamble: Kesselring, a 6-foot-5, mobile blueliner, showed flashes of potential in recent seasons but has had inconsistent stretches. Scouts cite upside for a possible top-four role and improved defense, while acknowledging questions about consistency and how quickly he’ll become an everyday NHL player. Overall, it’s a meaningful upgrade over last year’s blueline, but not a cure-all for the Sharks’ defensive needs.

via NBC Sports Bay Area & California|
#defenseman#michael-kesselring#nhl
Sharks land Kesselring, move back in 2026 first-round order
sports24 days ago

Sharks land Kesselring, move back in 2026 first-round order

San Jose Sharks acquire defenseman Michael Kesselring from Buffalo Sabres, trading their No. 20 pick to Buffalo in exchange for the Sabres’ No. 27 pick and Kesselring. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-5 right-shot D had a down year in Buffalo (2 assists in 34 games) but showed promise with Utah in 2024-25, and now figures to compete for significant minutes on a Sharks blueline that includes Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson, with Kesselring and Mukhamadullin as RFAs. The deal effectively moves San Jose down seven spots in a draft where the No. 20 vs. No. 27 gap is valued at roughly a mid-second-round pick, making it a low-cost risk with potential upside.

via San Jose Hockey Now|
#buffalo-sabres#defenseman#michael-kesselring
Werenski Captures Norris Trophy, Jackets Make NHL History
sports1 month ago

Werenski Captures Norris Trophy, Jackets Make NHL History

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski was named the 2025-26 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, becoming the franchise’s first player to capture the NHL’s top defenseman award after posting 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games, leading blueliners in multi-point outings, even-strength goals and shots on goal, and ranking second in average ice time.

via NHL.com|
#columbus-blue-jackets#defenseman#james-norris-memorial-trophy
Capitals eye defensive shakeup as Hutson poised to join NHL lineup
sports4 months ago

Capitals eye defensive shakeup as Hutson poised to join NHL lineup

With the March 6 trade deadline near, the Washington Capitals reportedly plan to move on from veteran defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, potentially paving the way for top prospect Cole Hutson to join the NHL roster as soon as mid-March; Hutson could arrive from Boston University to bolster the defense, while TVR’s $3 million cap hit and looming free agency factor into the decision.

via RMNB|
#cole-hutson#defenseman#nhl-trade-deadline
Rangers Poised to Swap Soucy for Islanders in Rebuild Push
sports5 months ago

Rangers Poised to Swap Soucy for Islanders in Rebuild Push

The New York Rangers are nearing a trade to send defenseman Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders, with terms still being finalized and Soucy likely held out for roster management ahead of a game vs. Boston. The 6-foot-4 left-shot defender owns a $3.25 million cap hit and was acquired from Vancouver at the 2025 deadline; the Rangers are retooling after a disappointing season, while the Islanders—third in the Metro—would gain a left-side blueliner while Alexander Romanov recovers from shoulder surgery.

via The New York Times|
#carson-soucy#defenseman#new-york-islanders