After four strong seasons in Philadelphia, the Flyers have locked up 24-year-old former 1st round pick (23rd overall) Tyson Foester to an eight-year, approximately $7.1 million AAV contract ($56.8M total). Foerster was forced to miss 53 games in 2025-26 due to an injury but still managed to score 13 goals and 17 points in just 29 games played during the regular season.
Montreal has secured their young superstar for the remainder of the decade and beyond after they announced on Wednesday that Ivan Demidov has signed an eight-year, $9.125 million contract extension ($73M total). The 20-year-old flashy Russian is coming off an incredible rookie campaign which saw him lead all first-year players in points with 19 goals, 62 points and 34 PIMs in 82 games played.
After a very successful first season and playoffs in Philadelphia, Dan Vladar has locked up a five-year extension worth $5.5 million AAV ($27.5M total) to remain the Flyers' starting goalie for years to come. The 28-year-old spent four seasons in Calgary backing up the Flames before breaking out as Philadelphia's starter in 2025-26, with his 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA and .906 SV%. He will create a tandem with Joseph Woll for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Buffalo acquired the rights to Olen Zellweger last week for Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 2nd round pick and has now signed the defender to a three-year deal worth $3.1M AAV ($9.3M total). The 22-year-old will join Buffalo after three solid seasons in Anaheim which saw him surpass 7+ goals and 20+ points twice. He is expected to fill the void left by Bowen Byram being traded to Chicago for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Just hours before Wednesday's Free Agent signing window, Florida had announced through their social media account that Radko Gudas has signed a six-year deal worth $1.5M AAV ($9.0M total). The 36-year-old bruising defender is entering his 15th NHL season and will return to Florida for a 4th campaign after spending 2020-2023 in a Panthers' uniform. In 2025-26, he had two goals, 13 points and 67 PIMs in 56 games while being a steady veteran presence on Anaheim's blueline.
Rondbjerg was a third-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but he has yet to make an impactful mark at the NHL level. That said, he will continue to provide organizational depth for the Golden Knights after signing a one-year contract extension. The 27-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 26 points (13G / 13A) in 43 games with the Henderson Silver Knights.
Hischier was drafted 1st overall by the Devils in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and will continue his career with the only team he has known, signing a five-year contract extension worth $58.5 million ($11.7M AAV). The 27-year-old Swiss forward has become one of the NHL's top two-way forwards in recent seasons. He scored 66 points (28G / 38A) in 82 games last season with the Devils.
Robertson joins the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas, who was part of the team responsible for drafting Robertson in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old Robertson was never able to establish himself as a full-time top-six forward with the Maple Leafs and hopes to have better luck in a fresh start with his new team. Robertson had 32 points (16G / 16A) in 78 games last season.
The Dallas Stars have addressed some salary cap issues by trading Ilya Lyubushkin, who will join the Nashville Predators. Lyubushkin has one year left on a three-year contract worth $3.25 million AAV. The 32-year-old Lyubushkin recorded nine points (1G / 8A) in 53 games last season.
The Dallas Stars faced salary-cap issues and the fear of a looming offer sheet for Bourque, whom they ultimately traded to the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Bourque was the 30th-overall pick by Dallas in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He scored a career-high 41 points (20G / 21A) last season in 82 games.
Luostarinen has become a very reliable and effective middle-six forward for the Panthers, earning himself an eight-year, $40 million contract extension ($5.0M AAV). The 27-year-old Finnish forward, a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, scored 33 points (11G / 22A) in 73 games last season.
Boston has locked up some goaltending depth after it was announced Wednesday that Luke Cavallin had signed a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old undrafted German net-minder appeared in Providence (AHL) for eight games in 2025-26 but spent the majority of the season with Maine (ECHL), where he had a 18-10-5 record, .917 SV% and 2.35 GAA.
Byram's rights were acquired by Chicago on June 23rd for Jordan Greenway and the 2026 4th overall pick and the 25-year-old has signed a six-year deal worth $12.5M AAV ($75.0M total). He is entering his seventh NHL season with his third team (COL, BUF) after putting up career highs in Goals (11), points (42), and SOG (109) in 2025-26 with Buffalo. He is expected to be a key piece of Chicago's defensive unit for years to come.
Nick Cousins will return for a third season in Ottawa after finishing 2025-26 with his highest goal and point totals since 2022-23 and has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $1.5875 million AAV ($3.175M total). The 32-year-old pesky forward is entering his 14th NHL and will be expected to create a spark in Ottawa's bottom-six again this season after putting up nine goals, 23 points and 92 PIMs in 81 appearances last season.
Lauzon impressed in his first season with the Golden Knights, earning himself a six-year contract extension worth $24 million ($4.0M AAV). The 28-year-old hard-hitting defenseman averaged 17:11 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (1G / 12A), 89 penalty minutes, and 251 hits in 68 games last season.
