As NHL Free Agency officially begins, teams throughout the league are looking to improve their rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Many organizations completed significant business beforehand by extending contracts for crucial players.
- Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Carolina Hurricanes
- Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Brock Boeser
- Mitch Marner Traded to Vegas Golden Knights
- Maple Leafs Retain Tavares and Knies
- Florida Panthers Keep Core Together
- San Jose Sharks Acquire Dmitri Orlov
- Brent Burns Signs with Colorado Avalanche
- Winnipeg Jets Add Winger Gus Nyquist
- St. Louis Blues Sign Pius Suter
- Kaedan Korczak Extended by Vegas Golden Knights
- Detroit Red Wings Add Mason Appleton
- New Jersey Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass
- Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Anthony Mantha
- Edmonton Oilers Sign Andrew Mangiapane
- New York Rangers Re-Sign Will Cuylle
- San Jose Sharks Add Veteran Depth
- Anaheim Ducks Sign Mikael Granlund
- Buffalo Sabres Add Goaltender Alex Lyon
- Nashville Predators Add Nick Perbix
- New York Islanders Sign Jonathan Drouin
- Los Angeles Kings Make Defensive Additions
- Los Angeles Kings Add Corey Perry and Joel Armia
- Mammoth Sign Nate Schmidt After Playoff Performance
- St. Louis Blues Acquire Nick Bjugstad
- Seattle Kraken Sign Ryan Lindgren
- New York Rangers Sign Vladislav Gavrikov
- Philadelphia Flyers Add Goaltender Dan Vladar
- Philadelphia Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak
- Jake Allen Remains with New Jersey Devils
- Boston Bruins Acquire Viktor Arvidsson
- Vancouver Canucks Extend Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland
- Florida Panthers Re-Sign Aaron Ekblad
- Brad Marchand Signs Long-Term Extension with Panthers
- Sam Bennett Stays with Florida Panthers
- Evan Bouchard Signs Large Extension with Oilers
- Patrick Kane Returns to Detroit Red Wings
- Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Ivan Provorov to Large Contract
- John Tavares Re-Signs with Toronto Maple Leafs
- Jonathan Toews Set to Sign with Winnipeg Jets
- Matt Duchene Remains with Dallas Stars
- Colorado Avalanche Extend Brock Nelson
Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Carolina Hurricanes
After several days considering his options, former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers has made his decision. On Thursday, Ehlers signed a seven-year contract worth $51 million with the Carolina Hurricanes. After dedicating the first decade of his NHL career to the Jets, Ehlers will aim to help the Hurricanes advance past the conference finals. He was a highly sought-after player, signing a deal with an average annual value of $8.5 million. Known for his speed, Ehlers accumulated 49 goals and 75 assists over the past two seasons despite averaging under 16 minutes of ice time per game. Carolina hopes increased usage will help him reach new heights.
Vancouver Canucks Re-Sign Brock Boeser
The Vancouver Canucks also pulled off a significant re-signing surprise in free agency, extending forward Brock Boeser with a seven-year contract worth $7.25 million annually. With several core players now secured long-term, the team will focus its efforts on getting 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes signed to a contract extension.
Mitch Marner Traded to Vegas Golden Knights
Perhaps the most impactful move of the offseason occurred with the Vegas Golden Knights. Following a sign-and-trade agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs, star forward Mitch Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract ($12 million AAV), committing him to the desert for the foreseeable future. In exchange for Marner, the Maple Leafs received third-line center Nicolas Roy.
Maple Leafs Retain Tavares and Knies
On a positive note for the Maple Leafs, they successfully re-signed two key players. Captain John Tavares will remain in Toronto on a four-year deal worth just over $4 million per year. Young forward Matthew Knies also signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract before being eligible for restricted free agency.
Florida Panthers Keep Core Together
Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito continues to impress with his management skills. Facing potential free agency for Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers managed to secure all three for at least six additional years. Reports indicate each player accepted an annual salary discount to stay in Sunrise and pursue more championships.
San Jose Sharks Acquire Dmitri Orlov
Another defenseman formerly with the Hurricanes, Dmitri Orlov, is relocating. Despite struggling in the recent postseason, Orlov landed a two-year contract worth $13 million with the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have the salary cap flexibility to make such a signing, and Orlov is expected to provide veteran presence in a very young dressing room.
Brent Burns Signs with Colorado Avalanche
Even at age 40, veteran defenseman Brent Burns continues to be a dependable two-way player. After his tenure in Carolina, Burns joins the Colorado Avalanche on a one-year deal valued at $1 million plus incentives. Burns adds depth to the Avalanche`s defense corps behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews, though questions remain about his performance outside Carolina`s strong defensive system.
Winnipeg Jets Add Winger Gus Nyquist
Winnipeg has clearly focused on bringing in experienced players this summer. Following the signing of Jonathan Toews, the team has now added veteran winger Gus Nyquist on a one-year, $3.25 million contract. The 35-year-old`s performance dipped in 2024-25, but he is expected to contribute third-line minutes for the Jets.
St. Louis Blues Sign Pius Suter
After recently signing Nick Bjugstad, the St. Louis Blues further bolstered their center depth with Pius Suter. Coming off a career year with the Vancouver Canucks, Suter offers reliable defense and potential for 15-20 goals. Securing him for two years at $4.125 million per season is considered a good move by GM Doug Armstrong.
Kaedan Korczak Extended by Vegas Golden Knights
With Nic Hague traded and Alex Pietrangelo out for the entire 2025-26 season, the Vegas Golden Knights need defensive solutions. They hope Kaedan Korczak can step into an increased role after signing a four-year, $13 million contract. The 24-year-old played well in limited minutes last year but will now face tougher assignments.
Detroit Red Wings Add Mason Appleton
A key part of the Winnipeg Jets` effective shutdown line was winger Mason Appleton. Now, he joins the Detroit Red Wings on a two-year deal worth $2.9 million per season. While Appleton may not bring significant offense, he enhances the Red Wings` team defense at a reasonable cost.
New Jersey Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass
The New Jersey Devils acquired Cody Glass from the Penguins at last year`s trade deadline, where he recorded seven points in 14 games. His re-signing for two years at $2.5 million annually is an affordable move, and he is expected to provide solid depth at center on the third or fourth line.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Anthony Mantha
Anthony Mantha signed a one-year contract worth $2.5 million with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mantha has been limited to just 31 games over the past two seasons due to injury. When healthy, he`s a dependable middle-six winger. For a rebuilding Penguins team, this is a low-risk bet; if Mantha performs well, he could be traded for future assets at the deadline.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Andrew Mangiapane
In their ongoing search for reliable secondary scoring, the Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Andrew Mangiapane this offseason. The 29-year-old, who scored 14 goals with the Capitals last season, is expected to play a middle-six role in Edmonton. The Oilers hope this signing is more successful than their previous acquisitions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson last summer. Mangiapane`s contract is a two-year deal totaling $7.2 million.
New York Rangers Re-Sign Will Cuylle
Will Cuylle, a 2020 second-round draft pick, had a breakout season last year with 20 goals and 25 assists. As a restricted free agent, he was a potential target for offer sheets, but the New York Rangers quickly secured him. Cuylle will remain with the Rangers on a two-year contract worth $3.9 million per season.
San Jose Sharks Add Veteran Depth
The San Jose Sharks, focusing on building around their exciting young core, spent part of Tuesday adding experienced players. They signed defenseman John Klingberg, who revitalized his career during the Oilers` playoff run, to a one-year deal worth $4 million. The Sharks also added bottom-six forward Adam Gaudette, coming off a 19-goal season with the Senators, signing him to a two-year, $4 million contract.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Mikael Granlund
The Anaheim Ducks, a team aiming for a playoff spot next season, have signed center Mikael Granlund to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $7.0 million. Granlund was traded to the Dallas Stars last season and recorded 66 points (22 goals, 44 assists) combined between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas. He was productive in Dallas (seven goals, 14 assists in the second half) but the Stars lacked the cap space to retain him. Anaheim needed depth down the middle after trading Trevor Zegras recently. Granlund not only helps fill this need but can also serve as a mentor for young forwards like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier.
Buffalo Sabres Add Goaltender Alex Lyon
The Buffalo Sabres have added veteran goaltender Alex Lyon to their depth chart, signing him to a two-year deal with a $1.5 million annual cap hit. Lyon spent the previous two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, posting a 14-9-0 record with a 2.81 GAA and .896 save percentage in 2024-25. He joins Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi in Buffalo`s crease. The Sabres may hope Lyon pushes Luukkonen to improve his performance after Luukkonen`s 3.20 GAA last season. With several other goaltenders off the market, options like Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov, and James Reimer remain available, likely fitting into tandem roles.
Nashville Predators Add Nick Perbix
With an abundance of left-handed defensemen, the Nashville Predators needed a right-shot blue-liner. They addressed this by signing Nick Perbix to a two-year, $2.75 million contract. Perbix played effectively in a depth role for the Tampa Bay Lightning recently. It remains to be seen if he can excel in a larger role in Nashville, but his contract reflects a depth signing price.
New York Islanders Sign Jonathan Drouin
Seeking more offense, the New York Islanders have signed Jonathan Drouin to a two-year deal worth $8 million. He should be a valuable addition to the middle six, especially after revitalizing his career with the Colorado Avalanche, where he registered 63 points in 122 games. While he won`t play alongside Nathan MacKinnon, Drouin is expected to provide significant playmaking ability on the wing for the Islanders.
Los Angeles Kings Make Defensive Additions
The Los Angeles Kings had a busy day, making several defensive acquisitions. Cody Ceci signed a four-year, $18 million contract, and Brian Dumoulin signed for three years and $12 million. These defensive signings are seen by some as questionable moves for a team that has recently excelled in this area. Additionally, Anton Forsberg replaces backup goaltender David Rittich, who departed in free agency.
Los Angeles Kings Add Corey Perry and Joel Armia
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings on reaching the Western Conference Final, and commiserations on their Stanley Cup Final loss. The Kings have signed veteran Corey Perry, who has been on the losing side of the Cup Final in five of the last six years, to a one-year deal worth $2 million. Perry had a very productive playoff run with Edmonton. Joel Armia was also added to provide depth in the bottom six.
Mammoth Sign Nate Schmidt After Playoff Performance
Before the 2024-25 season, Nate Schmidt signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Florida Panthers. He performed well in a depth role and had an excellent postseason with 12 points during their Stanley Cup win. Now, Schmidt has signed a three-year contract worth $10.5 million with the Mammoth, where he is likely to take on a larger role.
St. Louis Blues Acquire Nick Bjugstad
The St. Louis Blues addressed their need for center depth by signing Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract. Bjugstad brings size, defensive reliability, and some offense to the St. Louis lineup at a reasonable price of $1.75 million per season.
Seattle Kraken Sign Ryan Lindgren
The Seattle Kraken focused on strengthening their defense for the second straight offseason. After signing Brandon Montour last summer, they have now signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million, according to reports. Lindgren split last season between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche, tallying four goals and 18 assists in 72 games. He provides solid defensive depth for the Kraken as they aim to return to the playoffs.
New York Rangers Sign Vladislav Gavrikov
The New York Rangers significantly upgraded their defense by signing defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract worth $7.0 million annually, according to reports. Gavrikov was considered the top defenseman available in free agency this summer. He recorded five goals and 25 assists with the Los Angeles Kings last season and is now expected to potentially pair with Adam Fox on the Rangers` top defensive unit. New coach Mike Sullivan gains a major addition to his blue line.
Philadelphia Flyers Add Goaltender Dan Vladar
The Philadelphia Flyers have been active in free agency, announcing the signing of goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year deal worth $3.35 million annually. Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 GAA and .898 save percentage in 30 games with the Calgary Flames last season. The Flyers continue their search for a starting-caliber goaltender, and Vladar joins Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov in the crease.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak
Under General Manager Danny Briere, the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers have been spending. Reports indicate the Flyers signed center Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal worth $5.4 million. Dvorak spent the last four seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, recording 12 goals and 21 assists in a full 82-game season last year. While the Flyers added Trevor Zegras recently, they still needed center depth. Dvorak`s $5.4 million cap hit is notable, but the league`s salary cap is expected to rise significantly.
Jake Allen Remains with New Jersey Devils
The market for goaltenders has become even tighter. Reports state the New Jersey Devils are signing goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year contract extension worth $1.8 million annually. The Devils acquired Allen from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2024 trade deadline. He posted a 13-16-1 record with a 2.66 GAA and .908 save percentage in 31 games while splitting time with starter Jacob Markstrom last year. Teams needing goaltending will now need to explore other options.
Boston Bruins Acquire Viktor Arvidsson
The Boston Bruins added another forward before free agency by acquiring winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, according to reports. The Oilers made the trade to shed salary, freeing up $4 million in cap space. Arvidsson, who scored 15 goals and 12 assists for the Oilers last season and added two goals and five assists in the 2024-25 playoffs, will provide depth for the Bruins` middle six.
Vancouver Canucks Extend Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland
Before free agency officially started, the Vancouver Canucks completed two important signings. They agreed to three-year extensions with goaltender Thatcher Demko ($8.5 million AAV) and forward Conor Garland ($6.0 million AAV). Both players were entering the final year of their contracts. Demko`s previous season was affected by injury, limiting him to just 23 games (10-8-3 record, 2.90 GAA, .889 SV%). He has played his entire eight-year career with Vancouver and ranks tied for fourth in franchise history for goalie wins (126). Garland had a strong season with 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists), his second-highest total. He has scored 39 goals over the past two seasons.
Florida Panthers Re-Sign Aaron Ekblad
General Manager Bill Zito aims for continued success after back-to-back Stanley Cups. With Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand potentially hitting free agency, keeping all three seemed challenging. Before free agency opened, the Panthers signed Marchand and Ekblad. Ekblad reportedly took a significant discount to stay, signing an eight-year deal worth approximately $6.1 million annually. Ekblad was vital to Florida`s playoff success, contributing 13 points in 19 games and posting strong five-on-five numbers. He is now set to anchor the Panthers` blue line well into his 30s.
Brad Marchand Signs Long-Term Extension with Panthers
Veteran forward Brad Marchand is reportedly close to signing a six-year, $32 million extension to remain with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers. Marchand was acquired from the Boston Bruins last season after 16 years there and made an immediate impact with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during Florida`s playoff run.
Sam Bennett Stays with Florida Panthers
The 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is staying in Sunrise. Sam Bennett was a dominant force during the Panthers` second consecutive Stanley Cup win, leading the league with 15 goals while maintaining strong defensive play. His performance could have earned him a massive free-agent contract, but he has re-signed with the Panthers on an eight-year, $64 million deal.
Evan Bouchard Signs Large Extension with Oilers
Evan Bouchard`s future with the Edmonton Oilers was never really in doubt. He has become their primary defenseman and an elite power-play quarterback. Edmonton announced Monday they re-signed Bouchard to a four-year contract worth $10.5 million per season. The Oilers now have close to $20 million committed annually to two of their top defensemen, Bouchard and Darnell Nurse.
Patrick Kane Returns to Detroit Red Wings
Veteran winger Patrick Kane is returning to Detroit for a third season, signing a one-year deal worth $3 million. While not reaching his peak performance levels from his three Stanley Cup wins with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kane has scored over 20 goals in his first two seasons with the Red Wings. He provides a top-six scoring option as the team continues its effort to end its playoff drought.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Ivan Provorov to Large Contract
One of the more surprising moves during the re-signing period was the Columbus Blue Jackets announcing a seven-year, $59.5 million contract for defenseman Ivan Provorov. Columbus has used him in a top-four role over the last two years, but he hasn`t consistently performed well in that capacity, especially regarding five-on-five metrics. Paying $8.5 million annually for a defenseman who has struggled to maintain positive results analytically is seen by many as questionable management.
John Tavares Re-Signs with Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are keeping one of their key offensive players. The team announced they re-signed captain John Tavares to a four-year contract carrying a $4.38 million annual cap hit. Tavares was set to become an unrestricted free agent and likely would have drawn significant interest. The 34-year-old recorded 74 points (38 goals, 36 assists) in 75 games last season and has spent the last seven years with the Maple Leafs. Retaining Tavares on an affordable multi-year deal is considered a major win for the Maple Leafs, especially with winger Mitch Marner`s departure. Tavares is expected to continue centering Toronto`s second line next season.
Jonathan Toews Set to Sign with Winnipeg Jets
Jonathan Toews is expected to make his NHL comeback after two seasons away from the game. The Jets announced he will sign with the franchise when free agency officially opens. Toews has accumulated 883 points (372 goals, 511 assists) over 1,067 career regular-season games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks. He ranks high in Blackhawks history in various stats. In his last full season (2022-23), he scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 53 games. Toews` extensive accolades include three Stanley Cups and the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
Matt Duchene Remains with Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are retaining a key veteran player. They have re-signed forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract extension worth $4.5 million per season. Duchene was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. Duchene led the Stars in scoring last season with 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games, including a career-high 52 assists. His 82 points were his second-best career total. Duchene also added six points (one goal, five assists) in 18 playoff games. He is expected to continue being a productive member of the team`s top six forwards as they pursue a Stanley Cup.
Colorado Avalanche Extend Brock Nelson
The Colorado Avalanche are keeping arguably their most significant incoming free agent. They have signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Nelson was acquired from the New York Islanders at the 2025 trade deadline, recording 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in 19 regular-season games for Colorado. He totaled 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) between both teams and added four assists in the playoff loss to the Dallas Stars. Nelson is expected to continue centering the Avalanche`s second line, potentially alongside Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin. Nelson will turn 34 around the start of the 2025-26 season.
