As the NHL offseason winds down, there’s a palpable build-up to the 77-day countdown until the Edmonton Oilers hit the ice for their season opener. In an otherwise quiet week for hockey transactions, there have been a few noteworthy developments across the league.

While this article won’t delve into the Edmonton Oilers’ controversial hiring of Stan Bowman, other significant news includes the Buffalo Sabres’ latest move. The team has secured goalkeeper Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on a five-year contract, setting his annual cap hit at $4.75 million.

Since being drafted 54th overall in 2017, Luukkonen stepped up as the Sabres’ primary netminder in the 2023-24 season, boasting a .910 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average over 54 games. Despite his efforts, the Sabres concluded the season with a 39-37-9 record, continuing their 13-season playoff drought.

Beyond player signings, the NHL is paving new paths for athletes transitioning out of active sports careers. The league recently introduced its inaugural “NHL Broadcast Training Camp,” a program designed to groom current and former players for broadcasting roles.

The camp saw participation from players like Erik Johnson and Garnet Hathaway from Philadelphia, along with Colorado’s Chris Wagner. Notables such as Devante Smith-Pelly and Michael Del Zotto, and even the long-retired Darius Kasparaitis, were part of the initiative, highlighting the NHL’s commitment to providing continual career support to its athletes.

In player signing news, the San Jose Sharks announced that defenseman Henry Thrun has signed a two-year extension with the franchise, carrying a $1 million annual cap hit. Thrun, who was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, joined the Sharks after concluding his collegiate stint with Harvard University.

Making a significant entry in the latter part of the 2022-23 season, Thrun quickly cemented his place on the team, contributing three goals and 11 points across 51 games. As the Sharks strive to reconstruct their lineup, securing young talents like Thrun is crucial to their long-term strategy.

Overall, as the new NHL season approaches, teams are fine-tuning their rosters in the hope of a competitive comeback, leveraging both seasoned players and promising newcomers.