Two key members of the University of Minnesota Duluth's back-to-back NCAA championship teams will begin the 2026-27 season with new NHL organizations after defenseman Scott Perunovich signed with the Los Angeles Kings and forward Riley Tufte reached a deal with the New Jersey Devils.
Both players agreed to one-year contracts worth $850,000 at the NHL level, although Perunovich's agreement is a two-way contract while Tufte signed a one-way deal.
Perunovich, 27, joins the Kings after producing the best offensive season of his professional career with the American Hockey League's Tucson Roadrunners. The Hibbing native established career highs with nine goals, 40 assists and 49 points in 64 games, leading all Tucson defensemen in scoring while finishing third among all AHL blueliners in points.
Originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft, Perunovich has appeared in 108 NHL regular-season games with the Blues and New York Islanders, recording two goals and 30 assists for 32 points. He has also contributed four assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The former Bulldogs standout remains one of the most accomplished defensemen in program history. During three seasons at Minnesota Duluth from 2017-20, Perunovich compiled 20 goals and 85 assists for 105 points in 115 games while helping lead the Bulldogs to consecutive NCAA national championships in 2018 and 2019.
His junior season culminated with the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player after leading all NCAA defensemen with 34 assists. Perunovich also earned National Collegiate Hockey Conference Best Offensive Defenseman and First Team All-NCHC honors in each of his three collegiate seasons.
Tufte, meanwhile, earned his first one-way NHL contract after a dominant season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound winger scored a career-high 32 goals while adding 24 assists for 56 points in 64 games. His 32 goals ranked fourth in the AHL, and his plus-28 rating finished 10th in the league.
The 28-year-old also appeared in four games with the Boston Bruins last season, scoring one goal.
Originally selected 25th overall by the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft, the Coon Rapids native has played 28 NHL games over five seasons with Dallas, Colorado and Boston, totaling three goals and one assist.
Tufte has built an impressive professional résumé in the AHL, recording 111 goals and 111 assists for 222 points in 395 career games with the Texas Stars, Colorado Eagles and Providence Bruins. He was selected to the 2023-24 AHL All-Star Game and has added 11 points in 24 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Before turning professional, Tufte played three seasons at Minnesota Duluth from 2016-19, totaling 34 goals and 30 assists for 64 points in 121 games. He was a physical presence on the Bulldogs teams that captured consecutive NCAA championships in 2018 and 2019.
Perunovich and Tufte also shared international success, representing the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, where Team USA earned the bronze medal.
Their signings continue Minnesota Duluth's long tradition of producing NHL talent, with both players seeking to establish larger roles at hockey's highest level after standout seasons in the American Hockey League.
