The Red Wings added some depth to their blueline on the opening day of free agency, signing Bryson to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old defenseman played 50 games last season, split between the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets, scoring eight points (2G / 6A).
After spending most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, Sheary returned to the NHL in a bottom-six role with the New York Rangers, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 62 games. The 34-year-old 5'8 forward rejoins the Buffalo Sabres, a team he spent two seasons with earlier in his career.
Jenik was a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 24 career NHL games, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 25-year-old Czech forward scored 17 points (9G / 8A) in 43 AHL games last season.
Duhaime has been a consistent and reliable bottom-six forward the past few seasons, earning himself a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $7.8 million ($2.6M AAV). The 29-year-old recorded nine points (4G / 5A) and 159 hits in 82 games last season with the Washington Capitals.
Gasseau, a seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, is poised to make his professional debut after signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. The 22-year-old forward scored 23 points (6G / 17A) in 23 games with Boston College (H-East).
Butler is an undrafted forward who will add some depth organizationally to the Detroit Red Wings after signing a one-year contract. The 24-year-old spent most of the 2025-26 season in the ECHL, where he scored 20 points (9G / 11A) in 30 games with the Iowa Heartlanders.
The Sharks added some goaltending depth on the opening day of free agency with the acquisition of Eric Comrie. The 30-year-old Comrie was a serviceable backup for the Winnipeg Jets last season, posting a 3.13 GAA and .890 SV% in 25 appearances (12-11-1).
The Red Wings have signed Tarasov to a one-year contract, likely indicating that they are moving on from Cam Talbot and going with a John Gibson-Daniil Tarasov goaltending tandem. The 27-year-old Tarasov had a 3.05 GAA and .895 SV% in 33 games (13-15-3) with the Florida Panthers last season.
Beckman was drafted 75th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has only played 23 career NHL games. The 25-year-old forward scored 51 points (30G / 21A) last season in 68 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL).
Petrovic was drafted 36th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and will return to the team after departing in the 2018-19 season. The 34-year-old Petrovic has primarily played in the AHL since leaving Florida, but he has become a reliable depth defender for the Dallas Stars over the past two seasons. He scored 10 points (2G / 8A) in 54 games last season.
Shaw was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and will return to the organization after signing a one-year contract extension. The 27-year-old forward has played 82 career NHL games, but spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (15G / 29A) in 71 games with the Manitoba Moose.
Pickard has seen significant NHL exposure the past three seasons, but organizational moves by the Edmonton Oilers made him expendable, ultimately resulting in a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Pickard has a 2.95 GAA and .901 SV% in 191 career NHL games (74-77-14). He should start the year at the NHL level with Minnesota, filling in for Filip Gustavsson, who is expected to be sidelined for the first couple of months of the 2026-27 season.
Dube has not played an NHL game since the 2023-24 season, but could get a shot after signing a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. The 27-year-old scored 37 points (20G / 17A) last season in 46 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL).
Scwindt was a third-round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has begun to make his presence felt at the NHL level over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old forward scored seven points (5G / 2A) last season in 29 games with the Florida Panthers.
Woo was a second-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has yet to play an NHL game, and will join his third team in the last two seasons. The 25-year-old defenseman scored 10 points (2G / 8A) in 43 combined AHL games between the Abbotsford Canucks and the San Jose Barracuda.
After trading Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, the Devils' crease is uncertain heading into the 2026-27 season as they now have Jake Allen and Nico Daws under contract. The 25-year-old Daws has spent most of the past few seasons in the AHL, but has a 2.96 GAA and .898 SV% in 55 career NHL appearances (24-24-1).
Nick Jensen has become a reliable bottom-four defenseman in recent seasons, earning interest around the league that ultimately materialized into a two-year, $4.5 million contract ($2.25M AAV) with the Anaheim Ducks. The 35-year-old Jensen averaged 17:01 time-on-ice, recording 17 points (4G / 13A) last season in 61 games with the Ottawa Senators.
Desharnais, a towering 6'7 defenseman, had an impressive 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks, earning himself a sizeable four-year contract with the Washington Capitals worth $16.8 million ($4.2M AAV). The 30-year-old defenseman averaged 18:11 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A) and 103 hits in 53 games.
For five seasons between 2021 and 2025, Bjorkstrand averaged 54.4 points per 82 games. That said, in the 2025-26 season, his first full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 31-year-old forward battled some adversity, scoring just 32 points (12G / 20A) and recording a -14 plus/minus in 80 games. The Rangers hope Bjorkstrand can return to the scoring consistency he had with the Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Holl spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, playing 41 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), but played nine games with the St. Louis Blues after being acquired at the trade deadline. The 34-year-old will provide some extra depth for an already deep Washington Capitals blueline.
