Kane returns to the Red Wings on a one-year deal that carries a $3.0M cap-hit in salary and $2.5M in potential bonuses. Kane has spent the last two seasons with the Red Wings, averaging 28 goals and 44 assists (71 points) per 82 games.
The Hurricanes solidified their goaltending by acquiring Primeau, who will likely rank third on their depth chart behind Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. The 25-year-old Primeau had spent the entirety of his career with the Montreal Canadiens. He struggled last season, posting a 4.70 GAA and .836 SV% in 11 games with the Canadiens (7-2-3).
Pietrangelo and the Golden Knights released a statement on Monday that Pietrangelo is dealing with hips that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success. “After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life," Pietrangelo said. The veteran blueliner will be stepping away from hockey for the 2025-26 season, and his future beyond that is uncertain. Pietrangelo will be placed on LTIR.
After winning the Stanley Cup in the 2023-24 season with the Florida Panthers, Cousins spent the 2024-25 season with the Ottawa Senators and will return for a second season with the club in 2025-26. The agitating 31-year-old forward had 15 points (6G / 9A), 41 penalty minutes, and 85 hits in 50 games with the Senators.
By acquiring Marner's rights, the Golden Knights were able to secure an eight-year contract worth $12M AAV before free agency opened on July 1st. Marner entered the league as a 19-year-old in the 2016-17 season and played the entirety of his nine-year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, being amongst the league leaders over that time with 741 points (221G / 520A) in 657 games. The 28-year-old Marner will be motivated to continue his point-per-game production with a new team, likely playing alongside Jack Eichel.
By acquiring Marner's rights, the Golden Knights were able to secure an eight-year contract worth $12M AAV before free agency opened on July 1st. Marner entered the league as a 19-year-old in the 2016-17 season and played the entirety of his nine-year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, being amongst the league leaders over that time with 741 points (221G / 520A) in 657 games. The 28-year-old Marner will be motivated to continue his point-per-game production with a new team, likely playing alongside Jack Eichel.
Roy spent the previous six seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, winning a Stanley Cup in the 2022-23 season, but will spend the 2025-26 season with the Maple Leafs after being acquired in a trade that sent superstar Mitch Marner the other way. The 28-year-old Roy has a $3 million cap hit and scored 31 points (15G / 16A) while averaging 15:13 time-on-ice in 71 games with Vegas last season.
After spending the entirety of his 16-year career with the Boston Bruins, Marchand was dealt to the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline last season and has found a new home with the team, securing a six-year contract extension worth $5.25M AAV. The 37-year-old Marchand became a fan favourite with the Panthers, finishing as the runner-up for the Conn Smythe trophy and scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in 23 postseason games.
Bishop made his Flames debut last season, scoring one point (1G / 0A) in six games, but spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying 38 points (19G / 19A) in 66 games. The 29-year-old Bishop's career-high was 20 NHL games in the 2018-19 season, a feat that will likely be surpassed in the 2025-26 season after signing a one-way contract.
With the selection of free-agent defensemen dwindling, the Blue Jackets acted quickly and signed Provorov to a massive seven-year extension worth $8.5 million AAV. The 28-year-old Provorov was excellent in 2024-25, his second season with the Blue Jackets, averaging 23:21 of time on ice, scoring 33 points (7G, 26A) in 82 games. He ranked in the top 30 amongst all defensemen last season with 30 even-strength points.
Lorentz matched a career-high 19 points (8G / 11A) playing 80 games in his first season with the Maple Leafs and has signed a three-year contract extension worth $1.35M AAV. The 29-year-old was a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and averaged 10:33 time-on-ice last season.
After struggling in stints with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers last season, Kuzmenko found success in his third stop in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games with the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Kuzemnko ended the season with 17 points (5G / 12A) in his last 15 games while playing on the Kings' top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Andrian Kempe.
Washington acquired the rights to Chisholm last week from the Minnesota Wild and promptly signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.6 million AAV. The 25-year-old Chisholm was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He averaged 17:00 time-on-ice last season with Minnesota, tallying 12 points (2G / 10A) in 66 games.
Merkulov is an undrafted 24-year-old forward that has predominantly been an AHL player. He recorded one point (0G / 1A) in six NHL games with Boston last season and was dominant in the AHL, tallying 54 points (15G / 39A) in 59 games with the Providence Bruins.
Merilainen spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, but was thrust into NHL action due to recurring injuries to Ottawa's goaltenders. The 22-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was excellent when called upon for Ottawa, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 outings (8-3-1). He had a 2.37 GAA and .913 SV% in 37 games (18-12-4) with the Belleville Senators (AHL).
After playing only 12 games in 2023-24, Berggren played a career-high 75 games last season, tallying 24 points (12G / 12A). He receives a one-year contract extension worth $1.825 million after spending most of the previous campaign on Detroit's third line, averaging 12:59 time-on-ice.
Bouchard has established himself as one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL and has earned a four-year contract extension worth $10.5 million AAV. The 25-year-old Bouchard had 67 points (14G / 53A) in 82 games with the Oilers last season. He has scored an impressive 55 combined points (13G / 42A) in 47 playoff games over the previous two postseasons.
Ekblad was expected to be a highly desired commodity in Free Agency on July 1st, but the Panthers have locked him up to an eight-year contract extension worth $6.1 million AAV. The 29-year-old Ekblad was drafted first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with Florida. Ekblad had 380 points (118G / 262A) in 732 career games.
Johansson made his NHL debut last season, scoring nine points (3G / 6A) in 61 games with the Red Wings, and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension worth $1.125 million AAV. The 24-year-old defenseman was the 60th overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Romanov missed portions of the 2024-25 season due to injuries, limited to only 64 games, but has signed a massive eight-year contract worth $6.25 million AAV. The hard-hitting 25-year-old defenseman has 64 points (13G / 51A), 465 blocks, and 502 hits in 221 career games with the New York Islanders.
