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  • Re-ups with two-year deal
    Valimaki signed a two-year contract with Utah on Saturday.

    Advice: Per PuckPedia, the deal carries a $2 million cap hit. Valimaki took a step back on offense last season with 17 points over 68 contests, a year removed from a 34-point campaign. Part of the decrease can be explained by a reduced power-play role. Valimaki also improved from minus-10 in 2022-23 to plus-12 in 2023-24, showing improved defense. The 25-year-old is likely to fill a bottom-four role for Utah. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:07 pm
     
  • Acquired in deal
    New Jersey obtained Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick from Vegas on Saturday in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.

    Advice: Cotter collected seven goals, 25 points, 100 shots on net and 233 hits in 76 games during the 2023-24 campaign. He could occupy a bottom-six role with the Devils next season while seeing some power-play time. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:05 pm
     
  • Involved in trade
    Holtz was acquired by the Golden Knights from the Devils along with Akira Schmid on Saturday in exchange for Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick.

    Advice: Holtz provided 16 goals and 28 points in 82 contests with the Devils in 2023-24. The 22-year-old forward was selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and has the potential to make significant strides offensively. Holtz might start the 2024-25 campaign serving in a middle-six capacity. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:03 pm
     
  • Getting bought out
    The Sabres are buying out the remainder of Skinner's contract, GM Kevyn Adams told Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic on Saturday.

    Advice: Once the process is complete, Skinner will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Monday. He struggled last season with 46 points, including 24 goals, across 74 appearances. That's a sharp decline from 2022-23, when he finished with 35 markers and 82 points in 79 outings. Despite his recent drop in production, the 32-year-old is still capable of rebounding and being an impact forward in a top-six role. It wouldn't be surprising if he signs a one-year contract with a contender to re-establish his value before potentially getting a bigger payday in the summer of 2025. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:39 pm
     
  • Negotiating rights dealt
    Tanev's (ankle) negotiating rights were acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Stars on Saturday in exchange for Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

    Advice: Tanev is set to become an unrestricted free agent Monday, but this will give Toronto an exclusive window to negotiate a contract with him before that date. The 34-year-old defenseman is coming off a four-year, $18 million contract. He had two goals, 19 points, a plus-22 rating, 24 PIM, 45 hits and 207 blocked shots in 75 regular-season outings between Calgary and Dallas while averaging 19:41 of ice time in 2023-24. He was also leaned on heavily during the Stars' 2024 playoff run, averaging 22:17 while recording two assists, a plus-7 rating, six PIM, 30 hits and 73 blocks across 19 contests. The blueliner is recovering from a tendon injury, but he didn't miss any time during the postseason and will likely be fine for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:55 pm
     
  • Obtained in trade
    Dallas acquired Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round pick from Toronto on Saturday in exchange for the negotiation rights of Chris Tanev.

    Advice: Ellis, a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, earned four goals and 14 points in 36 games with AHL Toronto during the 2023-24 campaign. The 24-year-old forward doesn't have any NHL experience yet. Assuming he signs with the Stars, he will probably start next season in the minors. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:54 pm
     
  • Becomes Wild man in Draft Day trade
    Lauko has been traded to Minnesota from Boston in exchange for Vinni Lettieri, reports TSN.ca. The teams also exchanged 2024 fourth round picks.

    Advice: The 24-year-old Lauko spent 60 regular-season games with Boston in 2023-24, delivering two goals and eight assists along with 32 PIM. He got into two fights last season, both against the Wild. Lauko will vie for a bottom-six role in the land of lakes. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:04 am
     
  • Heads back to Boston in trade
    Lettieri has been acquired in trade by the Bruins from the Wild in exchange for Jakub Lauko, reports TSN.ca. The teams also exchanged 2024 fourth-round draft picks.

    Advice: Lettieri is a 29-year-old depth center who put up five goals and four assists in 46 regular-season games while averaging under 10 minutes a game with Minnesota in 2023-24. He has played 129 NHL games over the last six seasons, including one previous game with the Bruins in 2022-23. That season, Lettieri played 48 games with the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence, delivering 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists). Lettieri will vie for a role on the Bruins' fourth line in camp. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:57 am
     
  • Traded to Pittsburgh
    Hayes was traded to Pittsburgh from St. Louis for future considerations Saturday, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

    Advice: A second-round pick in 2025 goes with him, but it's the dreaded "future considerations" headed the other way in what's ostensibly a salary dump by the Blues. Hayes doesn't do much with the puck. He's not a fast skater, doesn't use his size and can't forecheck. But he can become a bottom-six pivot in Pittsburgh behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, as he won't be expected to provide offense. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:35 am