The Avalanche have signed Logan O'Connor to a six-year contract extension worth $15 million ($2.5M AAV).
NHL Hockey Player News
The Golden Knights have signed Viliam Kmec to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Nashville has signed Hiroki Gojsic to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Gojsic was Nashville's 2024 3rd-round pick (94th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 18-year-old right-winger is expected to return to Kelowna (WHL) for a sophomore campaign after putting up 21 goals and 50 points in 68 games in 2023-24.
The Canucks signed Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract worth $875K.
The Canucks needed goaltending depth because Thatcher Demko is still not 100 percent recovered from the injury that he suffered in the playoffs. It's unclear whether or not Demko will be ready for the start of the season, so Arturs Silovs and Lankinen could start the year as their goaltending duo. Most recently, Lankinen was with the Predators, where he was 11-6-0 with a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% in 24 games in 2024.
Utah has signed Dylan Guenther to an eight-year contract worth $7.14M AAV ($57.12M total).
Fresh off an impressive sophomore campaign which saw him put up 18 goals, 35 points and 121 SOG in 45 games played, Dylan Guenter has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $7.14M AAV ($57.12M total) with Utah. The 21-year-old right-winger was Arizona's 2021 1st-round pick (9th overall) and is expected to take a large step forward as a member of Utah's top six and likely top powerplay in 2024-25.
New Jersey has signed Dawson Mercer to a three-year, $12 million contract extension ($4,000,000 AAV).
After a long offseason of negotiations, New Jersey's remaining UFA Dawson Mercer has signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension ($4,000,000 AAV) with the Devils. The 22-year-old was New Jersey's 2020 1st round pick (18th overall) and had the worst year of his three-year career in 2023-24 where he picked up 20 goals, 33 points, 134 SOG and a -26 plus/minus in 82 games played.
The Red Wings have signed Moritz Seider to a seven-year deal worth $8.55M AAV ($59.85M total).
Just one day after locking up Lucas Raymond, Detroit has completed their UFA signings by extending Moritz Sieder to a seven-year deal worth $8.55M AAV ($59.85M total). The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2019 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has appeared in all 82 games for the Red Wings in every season since his debut in 2021-22. Seider set career highs in goals (9), PIMs (51) and PPG (3) in 2023-24 while putting up 42 points in 82 games played.
Calgary has signed Cole Schwindt to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000.
The Flames are down to one final RFA (Ilya Soloyev) after they signed Cole Schwindt to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000 on Wednesday. The 23-year-old has appeared in seven NHL games across the last two seasons but has yet to pick up his first career NHL point. He spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and had 14 goals, and 36 points in 66 games played.
The Predators have signed Philip Tomasino to a one-year extension worth $825K.
Tomasino was a first-rounder in 2019 but has yet to become a full-time NHLer with the Predators. Last year, he once again split his campaign between the NHL and AHL, recording 20 points (7G / 13A) in 41 games with Nashville. During his time in Milwaukee (AHL), he had 18 points (11G / 7A) in 22 games. Following the additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in the offseason, Tomasino is going to be battling for a bottom-6 spot in the lineup in training camp.
Los Angeles has signed Arthur Kaliyev to a one-year, $825,000 extension.
After a long offseason without a contract, Arthur Kaliyev and Los Angeles have agreed on a one-year, $825,000 contract extension. The 23-year-old right-winger is entering his fourth full season in Los Angeles and took an unexpected step backwards in 2023-24 with only seven goals and 15 points in 51 games played.
The Stars have signed Thomas Harley to a two-year deal worth $4.0M AAV ($8.0M total).
Fresh off a career year which saw Thomas Harley put up 15 goals, 47 points, and a +28 plus/minus in 79 games played, the 23-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension worth $4.0M AAV ($8.0M total). The towering 6'4" defenseman was Dallas' 2019 1st-round pick (18th overall) and is expected to take another step forward in 2024-25 after averaging only 21:01 TOI/GP in his first full campaign last season.
Dallas has signed Esa Lindell to a five-year, $26.25 contract extension ($5,250,000 AAV).
Lundell will not get a chance to test free agency next summer after the 30-year-old defenseman was signed to a five-year, $26.25 contract extension ($5,250,000 AAV) on Tuesday. Lundell is entering his 10th NHL season (all with Dallas) and has had a positive +/- in all but his rookie season in 2015-16. In 82 games played in 2023-24, he had five goals, 26 points, 12 PIMs and a +17 plus/minus.
Buffalo has signed Peyton Krebs to a two-year, $2.9 million ($1,450,000 AAV) contract extension.
Krebs will remain a Sabre after agreeing to a two-year, $2.9 million ($1,450,000 AAV) contract extension on Tuesday morning. The 23-year-old was Vegas' 2019 1st-round pick (17th overall) but has spent the last three seasons in Buffalo. In 2023-24, he unfortunately failed to take an expected step forward but still put up four goals, 17 points, 67 PIMs and 74 SOG in 80 games played.
The Red Wings signed Lucas Raymond to an eight-year deal worth $8.075M AAV ($64.6M total).
The Red Wings signed Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $875K.
After a long offseason of negotiations, Detroit and Jonatan Berggren agreed on a one-year, $875,000 contract extension on Monday. The 24-year-old is entering his third season with Detroit and will hope for a larger role than the 12 games he appeared in in 2023-24. In 79 career games with the Red Wings, he has 17 goals, 34 points and 112 SOG while averaging just 13:04 TOI/GP.
The Penguins have signed Sidney Crosby to a two-year contract extension worth $8.7 million.
Crosby's lifelong connection to the number 87 continued on Monday as the 37-year-old signed a two-year extension worth $8.7 million with Pittsburgh. "Sid the Kid" will once again take a team-friendly contract after coming off one of his most impressive seasons in years in 2023-24, with 42 goals, 94 points and 278 SOG in 82 games played. Crosby is entering his 20th NHL season and is 10th all-time in career points (1596); only 45 points from Joe Sakic and the 9th slot.
The Blue Jackets signed James van Riemsdyk to a one-year deal worth $900K.
With Columbus looking to get above the salary cap floor, they have signed 35-year-old left-winger James van Riemsdyk to a one-year, $900,000 contract. The 35-year-old is entering his 16th NHL season with his fourth team and spent 2023-24 with Boston where he had 11 goals, 38 points and 142 SOG in 71 games played.
Calgary has signed Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $800,000.
Calgary solidified some of their offensive depth on Thursday after they re-signed former 1st-round pick (2019 - 26th overall) Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000. The 23-year-old left-winger appeared in 13 games in 2023-24 and had a goal, three points, and nine SOG while averaging just 9:16 TOI/GP in a bottom-six role.
Toronto has signed Jani Hakanpaa to a one-year, $1.47 million contract.
Months after speculation of his signing, Jani Hakanpaa has agreed to a one-year, $1.47 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old stay-at-home defenseman will join his fourth NHL team in his seventh season after putting up two goals, 12 points, 33 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus in 64 games with Dallas in 2023-24.
Seattle has signed Adam Larsson to a four-year, $21 million contract extension ($5,250,000 AAV).
Adam Larsson will continue to patrol Seattle's blueline for four more seasons after the towering defensemen signed a four-year, $21 million contract extension ($5,250,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 31-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season and fourth with Seattle after putting up four goals, 18 points, a +6 plus/minus and 55 PIMs in 81 games in 2023-24.
NHL Free Agents: Best Available Players in 2025
Once the dust settles on the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL offseason officially commences as the latest wave of free agents hit the market as teams and players alike reevaluate their current situation and plot their next steps toward success.
With a plethora of talent up for grabs every summer, Stanley Cup contenders can be formed as well as broken up through free agency. With NHL signings going down at a breakneck pace throughout the opening days of free agency, we’ll keep you in the loop with our 2025 NHL free agency tracker. You can find all of the latest NHL signings of the free agency period as players switch teams, sign extensions, and change the outlook of the league with a single decision.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of your favourite team and are looking to stay up to date with every move made by the front office, or are an avid daily fantasy sports bettor that wants to prep for their wagers, our NHL free agency tracker is the best destination for all your free agent market news.
Types of Free Agent Markets
Each NHL free agent holds their own unique distinction when signing with a team. These distinctions are made based on a number of factors including age, NHL experience, as well as their current contract situation. NHL free agents are divided by restricted and unrestricted free agents, with each classification of player holding varying rights, including how teams are able to offer them contracts, and the results of receiving an offer.
Below, we take a deep dive into each type of NHL free agent so you can get a thorough understanding of each free agent market type, how they are able to sign with teams, and the possible outcomes from each offseason acquisition.
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted NHL free agent (RFA) is a player that is either under the age of 27 or has been in the NHL for less than seven seasons. Teams hold a form of protection over their restricted free agents, providing them with a sort of insurance if their RFA decides to sign with a new team.
While restricted free agents are technically eligible to sign a new contract with different teams, the process can become messy if a team other than their original squad makes them an offer and they accept. Restricted free agents are only able to sign a standard NHL contract with the team that currently owns the players rights, all other squads must submit an offer sheet if they want to lure away a player from their team. If an offer sheet is made to an RFA, the team who holds the players rights will be left with the option to either match the offer made to their player, or allow the player to sign with the team that made the offer sheet, in return receiving draft compensation depending on the value of the contract offered.
Qualifying Offers
In order for a team to retain a player’s rights heading into the free agency period, they must make a qualifying offer to the player. These offers are in the form of a one-year contract, with the amount offered being formulated depending on the value of their previous contract.
For any player who was on a deal worth $660,000 or less, the qualifying offer they receive must be worth 110% the amount of their previous season’s salary. For a player making between $660,000 and $1,000,000, they must be offered 105% their previous seasons salary. Finally, if a player was making more than $1 million in their previous year of duty, their team must offer them 100% of their previous season’s salary.
These offers are not final and players are eligible to receive greater or lesser valued contracts from the team that holds their rights once free agency begins. Players who reject qualifying offers remain restricted free agents.
Non-Qualified RFAs
If a team decides to not submit a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent on their roster, all non-qualified RFAs instantly become free agents and are welcome to sign contracts with any team come July 1st.
Unrestricted Free Agents
The other form of NHL free agent is the unrestricted free agent (UFA). UFAs have the right to sign their next deal with any team without restriction, as long as the offer they sign complies with league salary cap mandates and rules. Unrestricted free agents are truly what can shake up the free agent market, with many of the leagues top stars entering into the offseason as UFAs.
There are multiple forms of unrestricted free agents, each with their own unique classifications, but don’t necessarily affect the potential value of the contracts offered to them in the offseason. Below are two of the most common UFAs.
Group 3 UFAs
Common among NHL veterans, Group 3 comprises players entering free agency that are 27 or older, or have played in the NHL for more than seven accrued seasons. An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player has suited up for action on an NHL roster in at least 40 games (30 for goalies). Any player that fits this criteria will become an unrestricted free agent once their contract expires in the following offseason.
Group 6 UFAs
Another way that players can become an unrestricted free agent is by being 25 years of age or older and to have played three or more professional hockey seasons under an NHL contract (AHL, ECHL, Europe), but played in less than 80 NHL games (28 for goalies) in their career. Often, Group 6 unrestricted free agents are developing players that, for one reason or another, have not had the chance to crack into an NHL lineup, but still possess experience as a high-level player. There is no difference in the rights of Group 3 and Group 6 unrestricted free agents, but typically the latter will receive smaller contracts, both in terms of value as well as in duration.
Undrafted UFAs
The final way that a player may enter into free agency as an unrestricted free agent is by going undrafted in their three years of draft eligibility. If a player is not selected by an NHL franchise through the draft they are still eligible to crack into a final roster as a free agent.
NHL Free Agency FAQs
Who are the top NHL free agents in 2025?
Some of the top NHL free agents available this summer are Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Aaron Ekblad, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Brock Boeser, Brad Marchand and Linus Ullmark.
This offseason will bring a stacked crop of free agents to the market that will shape the landscape of the 2025-26 NHL season. Not only will the final landing spots for each of the top 2025 NHL free agents shake up the framework of the league, but will also have major implications on the upcoming fantasy hockey season. Be sure to stay in the know in regard to the latest free agency updates with our NHL player news.
What time does free agency start?
On July 1st, 2025, at 12 PM EST, the 2025 NHL free agency period officially opens. While some players will have all but signed the dotted line up to this point, nothing can become official until noon on Canada Day.