The annual NHL player market frenzy has commenced, signaling a period where teams across the league strategize to bolster their squads for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign. A significant number of franchises have proactively addressed their needs ahead of the official opening by securing contract extensions with pivotal players.
Following a period of deliberation, former Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers has finalized his future plans. On Thursday, Ehlers committed to a seven-year, $51 million agreement with the Carolina Hurricanes. After dedicating the initial decade of his NHL journey to the Jets, Ehlers aims to contribute to the Hurricanes’ efforts to advance beyond the conference finals stage.
The Vancouver Canucks also orchestrated an unexpected move in the player market by re-signing forward Brock Boeser to a seven-year contract extension, carrying an annual value of $7.25 million. With several core members of the team locked in for the long haul, the organization will now prioritize persuading 2024 Norris Trophy recipient Quinn Hughes to commit to a contract extension.
Arguably the most impactful transaction of the current offseason was executed by the Vegas Golden Knights. Following a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Vegas Golden Knights, star forward Mitch Marner formalized an eight-year, $96 million contract, ensuring his presence in the desert for the foreseeable future. In exchange, the Maple Leafs acquired third-line center Nicolas Roy.
Encouragingly for the Maple Leafs, they successfully retained the services of two crucial players. John Tavares will remain in Toronto under a four-year contract with an annual value exceeding $4 million, while promising young forward Matthew Knies signed a six-year, $46.5 million deal before becoming a restricted free agent.
Elsewhere, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito continues to exhibit his managerial prowess. With Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad all poised to enter the market, the Panthers have secured all three players for a minimum of six additional years. Each player accepted a reduction in their annual salary to remain in Sunrise and pursue a championship dynasty.
CBS Sports is your dedicated source for comprehensive coverage of the NHL player market, providing up-to-the-minute information on all signings throughout the league.
Nikolaj Ehlers Joins the Hurricanes’ Ranks
Given the abundance of prominent players re-signing before the official start of free agency, Ehlers emerged as a highly coveted asset, attracting interest from numerous teams. Ultimately, he chose to join the Hurricanes on a contract valued at $8.5 million per season. Over the past two campaigns, the fleet-footed Ehlers accumulated a total of 49 goals and 75 assists while averaging under 16 minutes of ice time per game. Carolina may offer him an opportunity to reach new levels of performance with increased playing time.
Sharks Secure Dmitri Orlov with Two-Year Agreement
Another former Hurricanes defenseman is changing teams, this time with Orlov. Despite experiencing challenges in the postseason, Orlov still secured a $13 million contract in San Jose. The Sharks have the financial flexibility to offer a premium, and Orlov will contribute a veteran presence within a youthful locker room.
Brent Burns Joins Avalanche’s Roster
Even at 40 years of age, Burns continues to perform as a dependable two-way defenseman. After concluding his tenure with Carolina, Burns will join the Avs on a one-year deal valued at $1 million, supplemented by incentives. Burns will augment Colorado’s defensive depth behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews, but his performance outside of Carolina’s strong defensive system remains to be seen.
Jets Welcome Veteran Winger Gus Nyquist
Winnipeg has clearly made the acquisition of experienced players a priority this offseason. The team previously signed Jonathan Toews and has now added Nyquist on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. The 35-year-old Nyquist experienced a decline in performance during the 2024-25 season but should contribute in a third-line role with the Jets.
Pius Suter Commits to Blues on Two-Year Contract
After signing Nick Bjugstad on Tuesday, the Blues further enhanced their center depth by adding Suter. Coming off a career-best season with the Vancouver Canucks, Suter provides strong defensive play along with 15-20 goals on the offensive end. With the Blues only committing $4.125 million per year, GM Doug Armstrong has made a shrewd acquisition.
Kaedan Korczak Stays with Vegas on Four-Year Deal
With Nic Hague joining the Predators and Alex Pietrangelo sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season, the Golden Knights need to address their defensive lineup. They are hopeful that Korczak, who recently signed a $13 million contract, can fill that need as he takes on a larger role. The 24-year-old performed well in limited minutes last year, but more demanding assignments are on the horizon.
Red Wings Augment Forward Depth with Mason Appleton
One of the primary reasons for the Jets’ strong defensive performance was the shutdown line anchored by Adam Lowry, flanked by Nino Niederreiter and Appleton. Now, one-third of that line has moved to Detroit. Appleton may not provide significant offensive contributions to the Motor City, but at $2.9 million per year for the next two seasons, the Red Wings have improved their team defense at a reasonable cost.
Devils Re-sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Contract
The Devils acquired Glass from the Penguins at last year’s trade deadline, and he recorded seven points in 14 games. At $2.5 million per season, New Jersey is not overspending to bring Glass back, and he should provide a solid presence in the middle on the third or fourth line.
Anthony Mantha Secures $2.5 Million Contract with Penguins
Over the past two seasons, Mantha has participated in a combined 31 games. When he has been in the lineup, Mantha has been a reliable middle-six winger. It’s a worthwhile gamble for Pittsburgh, a team that is clearly in a rebuilding phase. If Mantha performs well, the Pens can trade him for future assets at the trade deadline.
Andrew Mangiapane Signs with Oilers
In their continuous pursuit of reliable secondary scoring, the Oilers have turned to Mangiapane this offseason. The 29-year-old forward is coming off a 14-goal season with the Capitals and should be capable of filling a middle-six role in Edmonton. The Oilers are hopeful that he proves to be a more successful acquisition than last summer’s additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. Mangiapane is on a two-year contract worth a total of $7.2 million.
Rangers Re-sign Will Cuylle
Cuylle, a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, demonstrated significant progress last season, scoring 20 goals and providing 25 assists. This made him a potential target for offer sheets as a restricted free agent, but New York ensured that it did not reach that point. Cuylle will remain with the Rangers on a two-year deal worth $3.9 million per season.
Sharks Strengthen Roster Depth
The Sharks possess an exciting core of young players, and they dedicated the latter part of Tuesday to surrounding them with experienced veterans on the depth chart. San Jose signed defenseman John Klingberg, who rejuvenated 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 campaign with the Senators. He signed a two-year deal worth $4 million.
Ducks Acquire Mikael Granlund
The Anaheim Ducks are an emerging team with aspirations of making a postseason push next season. On Tuesday, they 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 this past season and totaled 66 points (22 goals & 44 assists) during his time with both the San Jose Sharks and Dallas. The veteran center was productive in Dallas, recording seven goals and 14 assists in the second half of the regular season, but the Stars did not have the cap space to re-sign him.
Anaheim needed depth at the center position after trading Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers last week. Granlund bolsters the Ducks’ options at center and could serve as an invaluable mentor to talented young forwards such as Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier.
Sabres Enhance Goaltending Depth by Acquiring Alex Lyon
The Buffalo Sabres are strengthening their goaltending ranks by adding veteran netminder Alex Lyon on a two-year deal carrying an annual cap hit of $1.5 million.
Lyon has been a member of the Detroit Red Wings for the past two seasons. In 2024-25, the 32-year-old recorded a 14-9-0 record with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Lyon will join fellow netminders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi in Buffalo. The Sabres may be hoping that Lyon will motivate Luukkonen to improve after he posted a 3.20 goals-against average this past season.
Several of the 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, but they will likely be considered tandem options to complement goaltenders already on NHL rosters.
Nashville Addresses RHD Need with Nick Perbix
With an abundance of left-handed defensemen in the organization, the Predators sought a right-handed defenseman and found that in Perbix. He signed a two-year deal worth $2.75 million after performing well in a depth role for the Lightning over the past few years. Can Perbix excel in a larger role with Nashville? Possibly, but his salary does not reflect such expectations.
Islanders Sign Jonathan Drouin to a Two-Year Agreement
The Islanders could benefit from an offensive boost, and Drouin should provide that on a two-year deal worth $8 million. He will be a valuable presence in the middle six, especially after revitalizing his career with the Colorado Avalanche, where he amassed 63 points in 122 games. Will Drouin be playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon? No, but he should still contribute playmaking ability on the wing for New York.
Los Angeles Continues Active Day with Defensive Acquisitions
The Kings have been active today. Does this mean they are making positive moves? Not necessarily. Cody Ceci has signed a four-year deal worth $18 million, and Brian Doumolin has signed for three years at $12 million. These are questionable defensive decisions for a team that has traditionally excelled in that area. Anton Forsberg also replaces backup goaltender David Rittich, who departed 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 Perry, who has been on the losing side in five of the last six Cup Final matchups, to a one-year deal worth $2 million. Perry is coming off a productive playoff run in Edmonton, and Joel Armia adds depth to the Kings’ bottom six.
Mammoth Add Nate Schmidt After Excellent Postseason
Prior to the 2024-25 season, Schmidt signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for $800,000. From there, he performed well in a depth role for Florida and had a great postseason, recording 12 points en route to a Stanley Cup. Now, Schmidt will receive $10.5 million over the next three seasons with the Mammoth, where he will likely play a more significant role.
Nick Bjugstad Joins the Blues
The Blues are in need of center depth, and they addressed that need by signing Bjugstad to a two-year deal. Bjugstad will bring size, defensive capabilities, and a moderate amount of offense to the St. Louis lineup at a reasonable price of $1.75 million per season.
Kraken Secure Ryan Lindgren
The Seattle Kraken have made an effort to strengthen their blue line for the second consecutive offseason. After acquiring Brandon Montour from the Florida Panthers last summer, the Kraken have signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year deal carrying an average annual value of $4.5 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Lindgren split time between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche last season. The veteran blue-liner recorded four goals and 18 assists in 72 total games in 2024-25. Lindgren provides solid depth to Seattle’s back end as the franchise attempts to rebound from missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Vladislav Gavrikov Signs with Rangers
The New York Rangers have significantly improved their blue line. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Rangers have signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract carrying a $7.0 million average annual value.
Gavrikov was the top defenseman available on the free agent market this summer. He accumulated five goals and 25 assists with the Los Angeles Kings in 2024-25 but will now likely partner with Adam Fox as part of New York’s top defensive pairing. New coach Mike Sullivan is acquiring one of the top remaining free agents.
The Los Angeles Kings are aiming to contend in the Western Conference playoff picture next season. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, veteran forward Corey Perry is signing a one-year deal with the Kings.
Perry spent the past two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, tallying 19 goals and 11 assists last season. The 40-year-old winger has a track record of playing in the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past six seasons. Perry brings veteran leadership to the locker room for a Kings team looking to take the next step.
The Philadelphia Flyers have been quite busy to start free agency. The team announced that they have signed goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year deal worth $3.35 million annually.
Vladar recorded a 12-11-6 record, along with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage in 30 games with the Calgary Flames last season. The Flyers continue to search for a starting-caliber goaltender, as Vladar will join a crease that also includes Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov.
Brock Boeser Re-signs with Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have had an active start to free agency. After extending forward Conor Garland and goaltender Thatcher Demko earlier in the day, the Canucks have re-signed winger Brock Boeser to a seven-year deal worth $7.25 million annually.
It is significant that Vancouver is bringing Boeser back into the fold. Boeser is coming off a season in which he scored 25 goals and dished out 25 assists in 2024-25. Throughout the process, Boeser expressed his desire to remain with the Canucks, and the two sides ultimately reached an agreement on a new contract. With teammate Pius Suter also a free agent and attracting considerable interest, retaining a forward with 40-goal scoring potential was an important move.
The Philadelphia Flyers are in the midst of a rebuild under general manager Danny Briere and are actively spending as free agency begins. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers have signed center Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal worth $5.4 million.
Dvorak spent the past four seasons as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. The veteran forward recorded 12 goals and 21 assists in a full 82-game season. Even with the addition of Trevor Zegras in last week’s trade with the Anaheim Ducks, the Flyers still require depth at the center position. While Dvorak’s cap hit is $5.4 million, the league’s salary cap is expected to increase significantly over the next three seasons.
The goaltender market has become even more limited. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, 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. Allen recorded a 13-16-1 record, along with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 31 games as he split time with starter Jacob Markstrom last year. Teams in need of a goalie will now be forced to explore alternative options to address their goaltending deficiencies with Allen no longer available.
The Boston Bruins added another forward to their group prior to free agency. According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins are acquiring winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.
The Oilers are looking to reduce salary by trading Arvidsson, freeing up $4 million in cap space. Arvidsson will add depth to the Bruins’ middle six after tallying 15 goals and 12 assists with the Oilers this past season. He also contributed two goals and five assists during the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Canucks Extend Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland
The Vancouver Canucks accomplished two important pieces of business before free agency got underway. The team agreed to terms with goaltender Thatcher Demko on a three-year contract extension ($8.5 million AAV) and forward Conor Garland on a six-year contract extension ($6.0 million AAV).
Both Demko and Garland were slated to enter the final years of their respective contracts next season. Demko is coming off an injury-plagued campaign that limited him to just 23 games in which he posted a 10-8-3 record, in addition to a 2.90 goals-against average, a .889 save percentage, and a shutout. He has spent his entire eight-year career with the Canucks and is tied for fourth on the franchise’s goaltender all-time wins list (126).
Garland just wrapped up a stellar season in which he tallied 50 points (19 goals & 31 assists), which was the second-highest point total of his career. The talented winger has combined to score 39 goals over his past two seasons in Vancouver and could be relied upon even more going forward if Brock Boeser signs elsewhere in free agency.
Mitch Marner Traded to Golden Knights
On the eve of NHL free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs are trading Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a reported sign-and-trade deal, according to multiple reports. Marner, 28, is expected to sign an eight-year, $96 million contract with an average annual value of $12 million. It’s not yet clear what Toronto will receive in return. Marner would have been one of the top players available on the open market. Instead, he brings an immediate scoring punch to Vegas’ top line.
Panthers Keep Band Together with Ekblad Deal
General manager Bill Zito isn’t satisfied with back-to-back Stanley Cups. With Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand all set to become free agents on July 1, it seemed unlikely that Florida would be able to keep all three. On the eve of free agency, the Panthers signed Marchand and Ekblad to new contracts. Ekblad took a significant discount to remain with the Cats, signing for eight years at roughly $6.1 million, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Ekblad was once again integral in Florida’s postseason success, contributing 13 points in 19 games while also posting excellent five-on-five numbers. Now, he’ll patrol the blue line in Sunrise well into his 30s.
Brad Marchand Signs Long-Term with Panthers
Marchand isn’t going anywhere. The veteran forward is reportedly close to signing a six-year, $32 million extension with the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Marchand was traded to Florida at the deadline last season after spending 16 years with the Boston Bruins. He made an immediate impact, recording 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during the Panthers’ playoff run.
Sam Bennett Will Remain with Panthers
The 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is staying in Sunrise. In the Panthers’ bid for back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, Bennett was outstanding. His 15 goals led the league, and he didn’t create that offense at the expense of his defense either. The veteran center was superb at both ends of the ice. Bennett’s performance could have commanded a massive payday in free agency, but he has re-signed with the Panthers on an eight-year contract worth $64 million.
There was never really any question about Bouchard’s future with the Oilers. He’s emerged as a great No. 1 defender for them, and he can quarterback the power play as well as anyone. On Monday, Edmonton announced that it had re-signed Bouchard to a four-year contract worth $10.5 million per season. Now, between Bouchard and Nurse, the Oilers have just under $20 million committed to two of their best blue liners.
The veteran winger is staying in Detroit for a third season after signing a one-year deal worth $3 million. While Kane may not be as productive as he was while leading the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups, he has eclipsed the 20-goal mark in each of his first two seasons with the Wings. He will stay with the team to give them a top-six scoring option as they try to end their playoff drought.
One of the more surprising moves of the re-sign period was the Blue Jackets announcing a seven-year, $59.5 million contract for Provorov. Columbus has used him in a top-four role over the last two years, but he hasn’t necessarily had success in those minutes. Paying $8.5 million for a defenseman who struggled to stay above water at five-on-five seems like a questionable decision.
John Tavares Re-signs with Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are retaining one of their offensive assets. The team announced that they have re-signed Tavares to a four-year contract carrying a $4.38 million cap hit per season. Tavares was slated to become an unrestricted free agent next week and likely would’ve generated considerable interest on the open market.
Tavares, 34, recorded 74 points (38 goals & 36 assists) in 75 regular-season games for Toronto last season. He has spent the last seven seasons with the Maple Leafs after signing a seven-year, $77 million contract with the franchise in free agency.
With the Maple Leafs anticipated to lose star winger Mitch Marner in free agency this summer, bringing back Tavares on a very affordable multi-year deal is a significant positive. Tavares will likely continue to center Toronto’s second line when the 2025-26 campaign gets underway.
Jonathan Toews will be making his anticipated return to the NHL after two seasons away from the ice. The Jets announced that Toews will sign with the franchise when free agency opens on July 1.
Toews has tallied 883 points (372 goals & 511 assists) in 1,067 career regular-season games. He also ranks fifth in games played, sixth in points, sixth in goals, eighth in assists, and third in game-winning goals (69) in Blackhawks history. In his last full season in 2022-23, the Blackhawks star scored 15 goals and dished out 16 assists in 53 games. Toews has a long list of accolades, including winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.
The Stars are bringing back a key member of their veteran core. Dallas has re-signed the forward to a four-year contract extension that will be worth $4.5 million per season. Duchene was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Duchene recorded 30 goals and 52 assists in 82 regular-season games, leading the Stars in scoring in 2024-25. His 52 assists were a career-high this past season, and Duchene’s 82 points marked the second-highest-scoring season of his entire 16-year career. Duchene also added six points (one goal & five assists) in 18 games throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Duchene should continue to be a productive member of the team’s top six forwards as they attempt to make a Stanley Cup run next season.
The Avalanche are keeping arguably their top free agent in the fold for the foreseeable future. The team has 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.
Nelson 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 a combined 56 points (26 goals & 30 assists) between the Avalanche and Islanders, while also registering four assists in the team’s first-round series loss at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Nelson will likely continue to center the Avalanche’s second line and skate with Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.
Nelson is set to turn 34 years old around the start of the 2025-26 season this fall.