Training camps are nearly here, and the shuffle has already started. Teams are trimming rookie-camp rosters, players are landing new deals, and a few prospects are heading back to junior for another season.
Buffalo was among the clubs making early moves, sending four players back to their junior teams for the 2026-27 campaign. The Sabres returned defenseman David Bedkowski (71st overall, 2025) to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, forward Dylan Dumont (188th overall, 2026) to the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, goaltender Samuel Meloche (116th overall, 2025) to the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs, and forward Domán Kristóf Szongoth (156th overall, 2026) to the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
On the AHL side, the Coachella Valley Firebirds added defenseman Aidan Fulp for 2026-27. The 26-year-old Western Michigan University alumnus began his pro career with the Bridgeport Islanders late in the 2022-23 season. Last year, he split time between the Rochester Americans and the Jacksonville Icemen, recording three assists in 21 games with a +2 rating for Rochester.
A familiar name is also heading to Sweden. Sami Niku, who spent time with the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens, has signed with Linköping HC of the SHL after the last three years in Switzerland’s National League. Niku’s standout pro season came with the Manitoba Moose in 2017-18, when he put up 16 goals and 54 points in 76 games after the Jets drafted him in 2015.
Petteri Lindbohm is making a move within Finland. The former St.
Louis Blues and Florida Panthers defenseman has signed with TPS in the Finnish Liiga after playing for HIFK since the 2023-24 season. Last season, Lindbohm scored three goals and eight points in 27 games and finished with a +10 rating.
Colorado also made a goaltending addition, signing Isaiah Saville. A University of Nebraska-Omaha product, Saville spent several seasons in the Vegas Golden Knights organization.
He spent much of last season with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the ECHL, going 11-13-3 with a .910 SV% and 2.67 GAA in 29 games. The Eagles did not say whether the contract is two-way, though he’ll likely spend more time in the ECHL next season.
The Kalamazoo Wings added another forward, announcing the signing of Adam Ingram for 2026-27. The 22-year-old was selected 82nd overall by Nashville in the 2022 NHL Draft but never signed with the Predators.
He played his college hockey at St. Cloud State University and wrapped up his senior year with three goals and 13 points in 25 games, along with a -3 rating.
Edmonton also cleared out part of its rookie camp roster. The Oilers released Weston Cameron, Olli Wahlroos, and Kyle Heger from their amateur tryout agreements, and they sent goaltender Ryan Cameron (212th overall, 2026) back to the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Can Stop Worrying About One Young Goalie
Samuel Jonsson has put an early end to any speculation about his next move, and that should be welcome news for an Oilers organization that has been keeping an eye on its young goaltending depth. The prospect said the chatter about him heading back to Sweden was never accurate, and he made it clear he is taking part in Oilers Rookie Camp with plans to spend this season in North America.
For Edmonton, that matters because Jonsson is part of a goalie pipeline where every chance to stay and compete counts. He said the battles among goalies in the system push him, and he also noted the game moves faster in North America than it does in Sweden, which only adds to the challenge as he settles into the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Why Oilers Made Their Most Controversial Bet Of The Offseason
The Oilers took one of the offseasons most scrutinized swings by signing Alex Formenton to a one-year contract, a move that immediately put the club under a harsh spotlight because of his connection to the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case. Formenton, who was acquitted, had split his recent hockey life between the Ottawa Senators and the Swiss league, where his production has been uneven enough to keep the conversation as much about his past as his game.
From Edmontons side, the bet is that there is still something useful on the ice worth chasing. The organization is looking past the noise and into a player profile that once made him appealing in Ottawa, hoping the speed and role-specific value can outweigh the controversy that has followed this signing from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Rookie Review Puts Their Next Skill Forward Under The Spotlight
The Oilers rookie-game review offered a useful reminder of how much of this group is built on different stages of development, with older players bringing some pro experience and younger ones still trying to show what might translate. Ike Howard, Josh Samanski, Viljami Marjala and David Lewandowski all came under the microscope, giving Edmonton a chance to sort out which names looked ready to push for more attention when training camp opens and roster decisions start getting real.
Howard drew particular notice for the way he handled himself in the game, and that is part of why the rookie discussion matters beyond a single September skatesheet. The next layer comes in the conversation the author plans to have with former Oilers player Shawn Belle about camp and team selection, which should help frame where these young skaters fit in a picture that is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]