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  • Headed to Switzerland
    Merela signed a one-year contract with SC Bern of Switzerland's National League on Monday, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

    Advice: Merela is eligible for restricted free agency in July, so Tampa Bay could retain his NHL rights by extending a qualifying offer. The 25-year-old forward produced one goal, 17 shots and 32 hits in 19 regular-season appearances with the Lightning during the 2023-24 campaign. Merela also registered 15 goals and 34 points across 55 regular-season outings for AHL Syracuse this past season before adding three goals in eight playoff contests. Rotowire.com Monday, 7:46 am
     
  • Inks two-way deal
    Laferriere signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blues on Sunday.

    Advice: Laferriere tallied seven goals and 25 points in 68 games with AHL Springfield last season. He has yet to make his NHL debut. The 23-year-old forward will continue serving as organizational depth. Rotowire.com Sunday, 1:28 pm
     
  • Deposits empty-netter
    Luostarinen scored an empty-net goal and added two hits in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Oilers in Game 1.

    Advice: Luostarinen has a goal and two assists over his last three games after finishing Saturday's win with an empty-netter. The 25-year-old forward continues to play on the Panthers' third line, so his scoring chances will likely remain limited. He's picked up a decent seven points with 24 shots on net, 53 hits, 20 PIM and a plus-2 rating over 18 playoff contests in that supporting role. Rotowire.com Saturday, 8:46 pm
     
  • Underwent surgery in April
    Drysdale underwent surgery in April to address a significant lower-body injury, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports.

    Advice: The exact nature of Drysdale's injury wasn't revealed, but general manager Daniel Briere suggested it was a lower-body issue. Drysdale is expected to be ready to play by the start of the 2024-24 season, but given the severity of the injury, fantasy managers will want to track his status through training camp. Rotowire.com Thursday, 4:02 pm
     
  • Secures two-year deal
    Thomas inked a two-year, $1.55 million contract with Los Angeles on Thursday.

    Advice: Thomas made his NHL debut this season, drawing into seven regular-season games for the Kings in which he recorded three goals on nine shots, one assist and eight hits while averaging just 8:44 of ice time. While he won't be a lock for an Opening Night roster spot, Thomas should certainly be in the mix heading into training camp in the fall. Rotowire.com Thursday, 10:05 am
     
  • Signs two-year extension
    Carlile signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Lightning on Thursday.

    Advice: Carlile played most of the 2023-24 season with AHL Syracuse, where the defenseman had seven goals and 27 points in 61 regular-season games. He made his NHL debut Jan. 4 versus Minnesota, blocking a pair of shots in 11:27 of ice time. Carlile will likely spend most, if not all, of the 2024-25 campaign in the minors. Rotowire.com Thursday, 8:52 am
     
  • Playing days likely over
    Pavelski said Tuesday that he won't play in 2024-25 and is likely to bring an end to his 18-year NHL career, Ryan S. Clark of ESPN.com reports. "This is it for me," Pavelski said.

    Advice: While Pavelski didn't say outright that he was retiring from professional hockey, he acknowledged in his postseason exit interviews that he had known for a while that the 2023-24 season would be his last in the NHL. The second-oldest player in the NHL this past season, Pavelski remained a productive source of offense for Dallas, notching 27 goals and 40 assists while playing in all 82 contests. Before joining Dallas as a free agent in 2019, Pavelski served as a longtime captain for San Jose and represented the club in two All-Star Games. He added two more All-Star appearances to his ledger during his five seasons in Dallas and finishes his career with 476 goals and 592 assists over 1,332 regular-season games. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 9:36 pm
     
  • Inks one-year deal
    Lee signed a one-year, two-way contract with Los Angeles on Wednesday.

    Advice: Lee had eight goals and 13 points in 36 regular-season contests with AHL Ontario in 2023-24. He also scored four markers in eight playoff outings with the minor-league squad. The 23-year-old was previously eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer after completing his two-year, entry-level deal. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 1:34 pm