Phillips spent 2023-24 with two separate organizations (PIT, WASH) but has found himself a home for the 2024-25 season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado on Friday. The 26-year-old has torn up the American Hockey League for seasons but has still struggled to find a home in the NHL and only produced a goal and five points in 31 games played in 2023-24.
Yakemchuk was Ottawa's 2024 1st round pick (7th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 18-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with Calgary (WHL) and shot his way up draft boards in 2023-24 after scoring 30 goals and 71 points in 66 games played. He is expected to return to Calgary for the 2024-25 season.
Kylington will leave the Calgary Flames after five successful seasons after the defensemen signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with Colorado on Monday. The 27-year-old made headlines in 2023-24 after he successfully returned to the NHL after a nearly two-year mental health hiatus. In 33 games played in his return, he had three goals, eight points, and 12 PIMs in 33 games with the Flames.
Vanacker was Chicago's 2024 1st round pick (27th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday with the Blackhawks. The 18-year-old left-winger took a massive step forward in the OHL in 2023-24 with Brantford, collecting 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games played.
Danford was Toronto's 2024 1st round pick (31st overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs on Friday. The 18-year-old defensemen enjoyed a strong second season in Oshawa (OHL), picking up a goal and 33 points in 64 games played.
Chernyshov was San Jose's 2024 2nd-round pick (33rd overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Thursday. The 18-year-old Russian left-winger spent 2023-24 between Dynamo Moskva (KHL) and MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) and had 32 points in 56 games played between the two.
Spence was rewarded for his first full season with Los Angeles by signing a two-year, $3 million contract ($1,500,000 AAV). The 23-year-old Australian defenseman was Los Angeles' 2019 4th round pick (95th overall) and took a massive step forward in 2023-24 with two goals, 24 points, 80 SOG and a +5 plus/minus through 71 games played.
Guhle was set to become an RFA at the end of the 2024-25 season, but gets an extension done early and is now signed through the 2030-31 season. The 22-year-old defenseman was selected No.16 overall in 2020 and essentially skipped the AHL after spending four seasons in the WHL. Most recently, he had 22 points (6G / 16A) in 70 games while ranking second among Canadiens' blueliners in TOI/gm (20:51).
Murashov is Pittsburgh's 2022 4th round pick (118th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Tuesday. The 20-year-old Russian netminder spent the majority of 2023-24 with Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) and had an impressive 2.03 GAA and .930 SV%. He is expected to start 2024-25 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) as he adjusts to North American hockey.
Wolf made a career-high 17 appearances in 2023-24 and earned himself a two-year, $1.7 million ($850,000 AAV) contract on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is expected to be heavily leaned upon in 2024-25 after Calgary traded Jakub Markstrom in the offseason and will look to improve apon his 7-7-1 record, 3.16 GAA and .893 SV% from last year. Wolf has been one of the steadiest and most impressive AHL goalies since 2021-22, posting a .922 SV% and higher in all four seasons and a league leading .932 SV5 in 2022-23.
The final arbitration contract in the NHL was figured out on Tuesday as Ryan Lindgren and the New York Rangers agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract extension. The 26-year-old dfensemen is entering his seventh NHL seasn with New York and had three goals, 17 points, 36 PIMs and a +22 plus/minus in 76 games played in 2023-24.
Montreal made its secodn defensive signing of the afternoon on Tuesday as they gave Justin Barron a two-year, $2.3 million contract ($1,150,000 AAV). The 22-year-old was acquired from Colorado in a trade which sent Artturi Lehkonen the other way two seasons ago. Barron appeared in 48 games in 2023-24 and had a career high seven goals, 13 points and 16 PIMs.
New Jersey locked up their goaltending depth for the next two seasons as they signed Nico Daws to a two-year contract with the first year being a two-way and the second being a one-way. The 23-year-old netminder was drafted by New Jersey in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (84th overall) and had a down season with his 9-11-0 record, 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% in 2023-24.
Montreal locked up their designated "tough guy" on Tuesday after they signed Arber Xhekah to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension ($1,300,000 AAV). The undrafted 23-year-old is entering his third NHL season after putting up three goals and 10 points in 44 games played in 2023-24. In 95 career NHL games played, he has 182 PIMs.
Necas was an RFA whose name was at the top of the trade rumours all offseason, but he signs a two-year deal to stay in Carolina through the 2026 season. The 25-year-old winger saw his production take a step back last season, as he went from 71 points (28G / 43A) in 2023 to 53 points (24G / 29A) in 2024. With Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen not returning to Carolina this summer, it opens up plenty of ice-time and opportunity for Necas to take advantage of in 2025.
Faber had an outstanding rookie season, scoring eight goals with 39 assists (47 points) while leading all rookies in ice-time (24:58 ATOI) in 82 games. The soon-to-be 22-year-old defenseman finished second in Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) voting behind Connor Bedard. Faber's new $8.5M AAV cap hit will not kick in until the 2025-26 season.
Phillips set career highs in both games played (33) and assists (6) in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with Chicago. The 22-year-old mobile defensemen has struggled defensively in his three NHL seasons with a collective -37 plus/minus in just 53 career games played but will look to improve that ugly number when he takes on an expected bigger role in 2024-25.
Crevier made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Chicago, picking up three assists and a -16 plus/minus in 24 games played and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. The 23-year-old towering 6'8" defensemen was Chicago's 2020 7th round pick (188th overall) and will look to carve a full time role on Chicago's back end in 2024-25.
Cholowski spent the entire 2024 season in Bridgeport (AHL), where he had 31 points (7G / 24A) in 68 games. Since signing with the Islanders prior to the 2023 season, Cholowski has appeared in just two NHL games but has eight goals and 61 assists (69 points) in 135 AHL games. Expect him to continue to provide offence at the AHL-level and be one of the first names the Islanders consider when they need help on their NHL blueline.
Marchenko built on a successful first season in Columbus by scoring 23 goals with 19 assists (42 points) in 78 games in 2023-24. The Blue Jackets were not busy in the offseason, so Marchenko will be a prominent part of their top-6 again in 2024-25. He saw a small bump in ice time down the stretch last season, and that will need to remain if he's going to be a 30-plus goal scorer this season.
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.
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.
