NHL free agency is now active, and teams across the league are looking to enhance their rosters for the upcoming season. Many clubs successfully retained core players by signing extensions before the official July 1 start date.
After taking a few days to evaluate his options, former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers has made his decision. On Thursday, Ehlers signed a seven-year contract worth $51 million with the Carolina Hurricanes. Having spent the first decade of his NHL career with the Jets, Ehlers will now aim to help the Hurricanes overcome their conference finals hurdle.
The Vancouver Canucks also surprised many during free agency by re-signing forward Brock Boeser to a seven-year contract extension valued at $7.25 million annually. With several key pieces secured on long-term deals, the team`s focus will shift towards extending 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes.
Perhaps the most significant move of this offseason involved the Vegas Golden Knights. Following a sign-and-trade agreement, star forward Mitch Marner signed an eight-year deal worth $96 million, ensuring his presence in Vegas for the foreseeable future. In return, the Maple Leafs acquired third-line center Nicolas Roy.
Positive news for the Maple Leafs included re-signing two important players. Captain John Tavares will remain in Toronto on a four-year contract worth just over $4 million per year. Additionally, young forward Matthew Knies signed a six-year, $46.5 million deal before hitting the market as a restricted free agent.
Elsewhere, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito continued his impressive work. Facing potential unrestricted free agency for Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad, the Panthers managed to lock up all three for at least six more years. Reports indicate each player accepted a discount on their annual salary to stay in Sunrise and pursue more championships.
This report provides updates on notable signings and transactions across the league.
Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes
With many prominent players re-signed before free agency began, Ehlers was a highly sought-after winger. He ultimately signed with the Hurricanes on a contract averaging $8.5 million per season. Over the past two years, the speedy Ehlers recorded 49 goals and 75 assists while playing under 16 minutes per game. Carolina might aim to utilize him more to help him reach new performance levels.
Sharks Add Dmitri Orlov on Two-Year Deal
Another former Hurricanes defenseman on the move is Dmitri Orlov. Despite struggling in the postseason, Orlov still secured a $13 million contract ($6.5M AAV) with the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have cap space and can afford to spend, and Orlov will provide a veteran presence in their very young locker room.
Brent Burns Lands with Avalanche
Even at 40, Brent Burns remains a reliable two-way defenseman. After his time in Carolina, Burns joins the Colorado Avalanche on a one-year deal worth $1 million plus incentives. Burns adds depth behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews, but it remains to be seen how he performs outside Carolina`s strong defensive system.
Jets Acquire Veteran Winger Gus Nyquist
Winnipeg has clearly focused on adding experienced players this summer. After signing Jonathan Toews, they`ve brought in Gus Nyquist on a one-year, $3.25 million contract. The 35-year-old Nyquist saw a decline in performance last season but should provide valuable third-line minutes for the Jets.
Pius Suter Signs Two-Year Contract with Blues
Following the signing of Nick Bjugstad earlier in the week, the St. Louis Blues further improved their center depth with Pius Suter. Coming off a career-best year with the Vancouver Canucks, Suter offers solid defense and typically scores between 15-20 goals. At $4.125 million per year, this appears to be a good value signing by GM Doug Armstrong.
Kaedan Korczak Stays with Vegas on Four-Year Deal
With Nic Hague traded and Alex Pietrangelo expected to miss the entire upcoming season, the Vegas Golden Knights need defensive solutions. They hope Kaedan Korczak, who signed a $13 million contract ($3.25M AAV), can step into a larger role. The 24-year-old performed well in limited ice time last year but will face tougher assignments going forward.
Red Wings Enhance Forward Depth with Mason Appleton
A key reason for the Jets` strong defensive play was their shutdown line featuring Adam Lowry between Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton. Now, Appleton heads to Detroit. While he may not contribute significantly offensively, at $2.9 million per year for two seasons, the Red Wings have improved their team defense at a reasonable cost.
Devils Re-sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
The New Jersey Devils acquired Cody Glass from the Penguins at last year`s trade deadline, and he posted seven points in 14 games. At $2.5 million per season, the Devils aren`t overspending to retain Glass, who should provide reliable presence down the middle on the third or fourth line.
Anthony Mantha Signs $2.5 Million Contract with Penguins
Over the last two seasons, Anthony Mantha played a combined 31 games. When healthy, he has been a dependable middle-six winger. This is a calculated risk for Pittsburgh, a team clearly undergoing a rebuild. If Mantha performs well, the Penguins could potentially trade him for future assets at the deadline.
Andrew Mangiapane Joins Oilers
In their ongoing search for reliable depth scoring, the Edmonton Oilers signed Andrew Mangiapane this offseason. The 29-year-old forward is coming off a 14-goal season with the Capitals and is expected to fill a middle-six role in Edmonton. The Oilers hope he proves more successful than last summer`s acquisitions like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. Mangiapane signed a two-year contract worth a total of $7.2 million ($3.6M AAV).
Rangers Re-sign Will Cuylle
Will Cuylle, a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, took a significant step last season with 20 goals and 25 assists. This performance made him a potential target for an offer sheet as a restricted free agent, but New York secured him before it came to that. Cuylle will remain with the Rangers on a two-year deal worth $3.9 million per season.
Sharks Bolster Depth
The San Jose Sharks, building around an exciting young core, spent time adding veteran depth. They signed defenseman John Klingberg, who revived his career during the Oilers` playoff run, to a one-year deal worth $4 million. The Sharks also signed Adam Gaudette, a bottom-six forward coming off a 19-goal season with the Senators, to a two-year, $4 million contract ($2M AAV).
Ducks Acquire Mikael Granlund
The Anaheim Ducks, a team on the rise aiming for a postseason berth next season, signed center Mikael Granlund to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7.0 million. Granlund was traded to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline last season, tallying 66 points (22 goals, 44 assists) combined between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas. He was productive in Dallas with seven goals and 14 assists in the second half, but the Stars lacked the cap space to re-sign him.
Anaheim needed depth down the middle after trading Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers the previous week. Granlund helps fill this need and could serve as a valuable mentor for talented young forwards like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier.
Sabres Add Goaltending Depth with Alex Lyon
The Buffalo Sabres added veteran netminder Alex Lyon to bolster their goaltending depth, signing him to a two-year deal with a $1.5 million annual cap hit. Lyon spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. Last season (2024-25), the 32-year-old posted a 14-9-0 record with a 2.81 goals-against-average and .896 save percentage. Lyon joins Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi in Buffalo. The Sabres may hope Lyon pushes Luukkonen, who had a 3.20 GAA last season, to improve.
Several top goaltenders, including Jake Allen, Anton Forsberg, Dan Vladar, and Lyon, are now off the market. Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov, and James Reimer remain available options but are likely seen as tandem partners rather than primary starters for teams with existing goaltenders.
Nashville Fills RHD Need with Nick Perbix
With an abundance of left-handed defensemen, the Nashville Predators needed a right-handed shot and found one in Nick Perbix. He signed a two-year deal worth $2.75 million ($1.375M AAV) after performing well in a depth role for the Lightning in recent years. While it`s unclear if Perbix can thrive in a bigger role with Nashville, his salary doesn`t demand it.
Isles Ink Jonathan Drouin to a Two-Year Deal
The New York Islanders needed an offensive boost, and Jonathan Drouin should provide it on a two-year contract worth $8 million ($4M AAV). He`ll be a valuable player in the middle six, especially after revitalizing his career with the Colorado Avalanche, where he tallied 63 points in 122 games. While he won`t be playing with Nathan MacKinnon, he should still bring playmaking ability to the Islanders` wing.
Los Angeles Continues Busy Day with Defensive Additions
The Los Angeles Kings have been active today, though the quality of the moves is debatable. Cody Ceci signed a four-year deal worth $18 million ($4.5M AAV), and Brian Dumoulin signed for three years and $12 million ($4M AAV). These are questionable defensive acquisitions for a team that has recently excelled in that area. Additionally, Anton Forsberg replaces backup goaltender David Rittich, who left in free agency.
Kings Bring In Corey Perry, Joel Armia
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings on winning the Western Conference and condolences on their Stanley Cup Final loss. Los Angeles has signed Corey Perry, who has been on the losing side in five of the last six Cup Finals, to a one-year, $2 million deal. Perry had a very productive playoffs in Edmonton. Joel Armia adds bottom-six depth for the Kings.
Mammoth Add Nate Schmidt After Excellent Postseason
Before the 2024-25 season, Nate Schmidt signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for $800,000. He played well in a depth role for Florida and had a great postseason with 12 points en route to a Stanley Cup victory. Now, Schmidt will earn $10.5 million over the next three seasons ($3.5M AAV) with the Mammoth, where he will likely have a larger role.
Nick Bjugstad Goes to Blues
The St. Louis Blues needed to add center depth and did so by signing Nick Bjugstad to a two-year deal. Bjugstad brings size, defensive ability, and some offense to the St. Louis lineup at a reasonable price of $1.75 million per season.
Kraken Sign Ryan Lindgren
The Seattle Kraken aimed to improve their blue line for the second consecutive offseason. After signing Brandon Montour last summer, the Kraken have signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $4.5 million, according to reports. Lindgren split time between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche last season, tallying four goals and 18 assists in 72 total games. He provides solid depth for Seattle`s defense as the franchise seeks to rebound from missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Vladislav Gavrikov Signs with Rangers
The New York Rangers significantly improved their blue line. According to reports, the Rangers signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract with a $7.0 million average annual value. 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 likely to pair with Adam Fox on New York`s top defensive unit. New coach Mike Sullivan gains one of the top remaining free agents.
Corey Perry Lands with Kings (Duplicate)
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Flyers Add Goaltending Depth with Dan Vladar
The Philadelphia Flyers have been quite active to start free agency. The team announced they signed goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year deal worth $3.35 million annually. Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 goals-against-average and a .898 save percentage in 30 games with the Calgary Flames last season. The Flyers continue searching for a starting goaltender, and Vladar joins a crease that includes Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov.
Brock Boeser Re-signs with Canucks (Duplicate)
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Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to One-Year Deal
The Philadelphia Flyers, undergoing a rebuild under general manager Danny Briere, have been spending. According to reports, 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. Even with the addition of Trevor Zegras, the Flyers still needed center depth. While Dvorak`s cap hit is high for a rebuild, the league`s salary cap is expected to rise significantly.
Jake Allen to Stay with Devils
The goaltender market thinned further as the New Jersey Devils re-signed goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year contract extension worth $1.8 million annually, according to reports. The Devils acquired Allen at the 2024 trade deadline from Montreal. He tallied a 13-16-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against-average and a .908 save percentage in 31 games, splitting time with Jacob Markstrom last year. Goalie-needy teams will now need to explore other options.
Bruins Land Viktor Arvidsson in Trade
The Boston Bruins added another forward before free agency. According to reports, the Bruins acquired winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. The Oilers aimed to shed salary, with Arvidsson`s trade freeing up $4 million in cap space. Arvidsson brings depth to the Bruins` middle-six, having tallied 15 goals and 12 assists with the Oilers last season, plus two goals and five assists in the playoffs.
Canucks Extend Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland (Duplicate)
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Mitch Marner Dealt to Golden Knights (Duplicate)
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Panthers Keep Band Together with Ekblad Deal (Duplicate)
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Brad Marchand Signs Long-Term with Panthers (Duplicate)
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Sam Bennett Will Remain with Panthers (Duplicate)
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Evan Bouchard Inks Big Deal with Oilers
Evan Bouchard`s future with the Oilers was rarely in doubt. He has developed into a strong top defenseman and excels as a power play quarterback. On Monday, Edmonton announced Bouchard signed a four-year contract worth $10.5 million per season. With Bouchard and Nurse, the Oilers now have nearly $20 million committed to two of their key blueliners.
Patrick Kane Returns to Red Wings
Veteran winger Patrick Kane is staying in Detroit for a third season, signing a one-year deal worth $3 million. While not as dominant as his prime Chicago Blackhawks years, where he won three Stanley Cups, Kane has surpassed the 20-goal mark in both seasons with the Red Wings. He provides a top-six scoring option as Detroit attempts to end its playoff drought.
Blue Jackets Sign Ivan Provorov to Massive Contract
One of the more surprising moves during the extension period was the Blue Jackets announcing a seven-year, $59.5 million contract for Ivan Provorov ($8.5M AAV). Columbus has used him in a top-four role for the past two years, but he hasn`t consistently succeeded in that capacity. Paying $8.5 million for a defenseman who has struggled at five-on-five seems like questionable business.
John Tavares Re-signs with Maple Leafs (Duplicate)
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Jonathan Toews to Sign with Jets
Jonathan Toews is set to make his return to the NHL after two seasons away. The Jets announced that Toews will sign with the franchise when free agency opens on July 1. Toews has recorded 883 points (372 goals, 511 assists) in 1,067 career regular-season games. He ranks high in Blackhawks history in various categories. In his last full season (2022-23), he scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 53 games. Toews boasts numerous accolades, including three Stanley Cups and the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy.
Matt Duchene Stays with Stars
The Dallas Stars are bringing back a key veteran. Matt Duchene has re-signed on a four-year contract extension worth $4.5 million per season. Duchene was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He led the Stars in scoring last season (2024-25) with 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists), with his 52 assists being a career high and his 82 points the second-highest total of his 16-year career. Duchene also added six points in 18 playoff games. He is expected to remain a very productive member of the team`s top six forwards as they pursue a Stanley Cup.
Avalanche Extend Brock Nelson
The Colorado Avalanche are keeping arguably their top free agent for the foreseeable future. The team signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million. Nelson was slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He was acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from the New York Islanders and tallied 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists) in 19 regular-season games with Colorado. He recorded 56 combined points (26 goals, 30 assists) between the Avalanche and Islanders and registered four assists in the first-round series loss to Dallas. Nelson will likely continue to center the Avalanche`s second line. He is set to turn 34 around the start of the upcoming season.
Elton Marrow