Vegas will keep a veteran presence around after they signed forward Reilly Smith to a one-year, $2 million contract extension on Wednesday. The 34-year-old was acquired at last season's trade deadline from New York and put up three goals, 11 points and a +11 plus/minus in 21 games after returning to Vegas.
The Oilers did not retain any of Kane's $5.125 cap hit, giving them some much-needed cap space to work with this offseason. Kane missed all of the 2024-25 regular season but was solid in the Oilers' postseason run to the Stanley Cup Final, posting 12 points (6G / 6A), 47 SOG and 95 Hits in 21 games. He'll now get a chance to suit up for his hometown team, his fifth NHL franchise of his career.
New York announced on Tuesday that 16-year-veteran Matt Martin would be retiring from professional hockey. The 36-year-old Windsor native ends his time in the NHL just 13 games short of the 1000 GP mark alongside his 81 goals, 178 points and 1168 PIMs in 987 games played. Martin will remain with the Islanders' organization as he will step into the role of Special Assistant to the General Manager immediately.
Edstrom graduated to a full-time NHLer in 2024-25, and the 6-foot-7 winger had nine points (5G / 4A) in 51 games. Expect the 2019 sixth-round pick to serve as a fourth liner for the Rangers again in 2025-26.
After missing the second half of the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury, Justin Kirkland has earned himself a one-year, $900,000 contract extension to remain in Calgary. The 28-year-old forward picked up his first career point in 2024-25 with the Flames and finished the campaign early with two goals, eight points and a +6 plus/minus in 21 games played. He is expected to take a bottom-six role in 2025-26.
Fresh off a successful AHL playoffs (15 Pts in 14 GP), Kole Lind has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old is entering his eighth full AHL season after putting up 23 goals and 52 points in 71 games with Texas (AHL) in 2024-25. He has appeared in 31 career NHL games as well throughout his career, picking up two goals, eight points and a -3 plus/minus.
Philadelphia added yet another flashy forward on Monday after they acquired Trevor Zegras from Anaheim for Ryan Poehling, a 2025 2nd-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 4th-round pick. The 24-year-old forward is in the final year of a three-year, $17,230,000 contract and will cost Philadelphia $5.75 million AAV in 2025-26. Zegras will be looking for a reset after averaging over 60 points in his first two full seasons in Anaheim, followed by only 18 goals and 47 points in his previous 88 games played across the last two years.
Poehling finds himself on his third team in seven seasons after the forward was acquired from Anaheim alongside a 2025 2nd-round pick (45th overall) and a 2026 4th-round pick from Anaheim for Trevor Zegras. The 26-year-old Poehling put up career highs in nearly all categories last season, with 12 goals, 31 points and 16 PIMs in 68 games played.
Brodie signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract last offseason but will be bought out by Chicago as they continue to clear up cap space for the July 1st free agency period. The 35-year-old will cost the Blackhawks $3.23 million in 2025-26 and $258,000 in 2026-27. Brodie's forgettable time with Chicago ends after just one season with two goals, 10 points and a -18 plus/minus in 54 games.
Brodie signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract last offseason and is expected to be bought out by Chicago as they continue to clear up cap space for the July 1st free agency period. The 35-year-old will cost the Blackhawks $3.23 million in 2025-26 and $258,000 in 2026-27. Brodie's forgettable time with Chicago ends after just one season with two goals, 10 points and a -18 plus/minus in 54 games.
Toews has not appeared in an NHL game since April 13th, 2024, but till make his return with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. Toews, who is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion and had 883 career points (372G / 511A) in 15 seasons with the Blackhawks, could earn up to $5M in bonuses. He's expected to serve as a much-needed middle-6 centre for the Jets in 2025-26.
Fleury spent most of the 2024-25 season as the Kraken's No.7 defenseman, appearing in 14 games with the team. He did spend some time in the AHL, where he had 26 points (7G / 19A) in 39 games with Coachella Valley. Expect Fleury to serve a similar fringe roster player role over the next two seasons.
Hunt had a strong showing with Calgary in 2024-25 despite only playing in five total games with three assists and five SOG, and has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $825,000 AAV to remain with the Flames. The 29-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope to see some time with the Flames in 2025-26.
Bourque was Dallas' 2020 1st round pick (30th overall) and will remain a Star for at least one more season after the 23-year-old forward signed a one-year, $950,000 contract extension on Friday. He is entering his second full season with Dallas after putting up 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games in his rookie campaign in 2024-25.
Lundkvist missed the last 35 games of the 2024-25 campaign due to shoulder surgery but has earned himself a one-year, $1.25 million contract extension to remain with the Stars on Friday. The 24-year-old defenseman will enter his fifth NHL season in 2025-26 after putting up five assists, 20 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus in 39 games played last season.
After a brief eight-game debut (which included a two-game suspension) in 2024-25 with the Colorado Avalanche, Matthew Steinburg has re-signed a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old's 2024-25 season was cut short due to injury, resulting in his appearance in only 13 games between the Eagles (AHL) and Avalanche.
After appearing in just two games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25, Jason Polin has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension on Friday. The 26-year-old right winger spent the majority of last season with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) where he had 11 goals and 19 points in 39 games played.
