After two seasons in Charlotte (AHL), Michael Benning is expected to return to the Checkers after the 23-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Florida on Thursday. The puck-moving defenseman has yet to make an NHL appearance but has excelled with the Checkers in his last two seasons, putting up an impressive nine goals, 32 points and 34 PIMs in 54 games played last season.
Pyyhtia will return for a fourth season in Columbus after signing a one-year, two-way contract extension on Wednesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Columbus's 2020 4th-round pick (114th overall) and appeared in 47 games with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25, picking up career highs with four goals, seven points and 32 SOG. He is expected to play a depth role for the Blue Jackets for the upcoming season.
Seattle locked up one of their key defenders on Monday after they announced Ryker Evans had signed a two-year contract extension worth $2.05 million AAV ($4.1M total). The 23-year-old was Seattle's 2021 2nd round pick (35th overall) and has done well adjusting to the NHL since making his debut in 2023-24. In his sophomore campaign in 2024-25, he took a massive step forward with career highs in all statistical categories, including his five goals, 25 points and 30 PIMs in 73 games played.
Ruhwedel announced through the NHLPA that he has officially retired from professional hockey after 13 NHL seasons with three different organizations (PIT,BUF, NYR). The 35-year-old appeared in five games with the Rangers in 2024-25, picking up an assist and a +2 plus/minus. Throughout his 13-year NHL career, the defenseman had 13 goals and 50 points in 369 total games and was a one-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bastian provides very little offence, combining for just 37 points (15G / 22A) in 156 games over the last three seasons with the Devils, but he brings plenty of physicality. Bastian ranked 29th in the NHL in Hits/60 (min 500 TOI) last season and 26th in Hits/60 (min 1500) in the last three seasons. As a team, Dallas was second-last in the NHL in hits in 2024-25.
Kiviranta had a solid 2024-25 season with the Avalanche, posting 16 goals with seven assists (23 points) in 79 games while posting a plus-15 rating and 114 hits. Kiviranta returns to Colorado, where he will likely continue to serve in the bottom-6 role that saw him average 12:31 TOI/gm last season.
William Villeneuve will return to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for a fourth straight season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 23-year-old puck-moving defender was Toronto's 2020 4th-round pick (122nd overall) but has yet to make his first NHL appearance despite solid offensive numbers every season with the Marlies. He is expected to start 2025-26 as one of the Marlies' main defenders after his four-goal, 40-point season last year across 55 games played.
Kravtsov will return to North America for a second stint and another shot at the NHL after Vancouver announced Tuesday they had signed the 25-year-old Russian to a one-year, two-way contract. The big-bodied winger is a former 9th overall pick (2018 draft) but has spent the last two seasons in the KHL after an unsuccessful first turn in the NHL with New York and Vancouver. He impressed in Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) in 2024-25, with 27 goals and 58 points in 66 games played. He will battle for a bottom-six role in training camp.
Colangelo concluded his rookie campaign in 2024-25 with 10 goals and 12 points in just 32 games played and has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension, announced on Monday. The 23-year-old was Anaheim's 2020 2nd-round pick (36th overall) and is expected to play a key depth role for the Ducks this upcoming season.
Schaefer was this year's first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on Monday. The 17-year-old missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to a serious collarbone injury but still managed to go first overall in the draft due to his five goals and 22 points in 18 games with Erie (OHL). He is expected to be a key part of the Islanders' future for years to come.
Robertson played primarily in a bottom-6 role again in 2024-25, leading to just 22 points (15G / 7A) in 69 games while averaging just 12:00 TOI per game. With many offseason additions, like Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, Robertson will once again find himself in a battle for playing time in the Maple Leafs' bottom-6 in 2025-26.
Washe appeared in two games for Anaheim directly after finishing his season with Western Michigan (NCAA) and has earned himself a two-year contract worth $812,500 AAV ($1.625M total). The 23-year-old forward was a sought-after free agent after finishing his senior season with Western Michigan in 2024-25 with 16 goals and 38 points in 42 games played. Despite making his NHL debut last season, he is expected to play for San Diego (AHL) to start 2025-26.
Los Angeles has locked up one of their key young players on Friday after they announced the signing of Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract extension worth $4.1 million AAV ($12.3M total). The 23-year-old right-winger improved on nearly all his rookie numbers in his sophomore campaign last season, putting up 19 goals, 42 points, and a +22 plus/minus in 77 games played. He is expected to occupy a top-six role again in 2025-26.
Levi was once viewed as one of the top goaltending prospects in hockey, but has struggled to find a foothold in the NHL. The Sabres made it clear there was no guaranteed spot for Levi in Buffalo to start 2025-26 when they signed Alex Lyon in free agency. Levi, who was 25-13-4 with a 2.20 GAA and .919 SV% in 42 AHL games last season, will have to continue to earn his spot in the NHL. Over the span of three seasons, he's got 17-17-2 with a 3.29 GAA and .894 SV% in 39 NHL games.
Pospisil still has one year left on his two-year contract worth $1 million AAV, but has signed an extension beyond this season for three-years, $7.5 million ($2.5 million AAV) with Calgary on Wednesday. The 25-year-old bruising ringer is entering his third NHL season after playing in nearly every game in 2024-25 (81), and picking up four goals, 25 points, and 84 PIMs. He is expected to fill another bottom-six role to start the season with Calgary.
Winnipeg and Dylan Samberg avoided arbitration on Wednesday after they announced the 26-year-old had signed a three-year contract extension worth $5.75 AAV ($17.25M total). The stay-at-home defenseman is entering his fifth season in Winnipeg after posting career highs in almost all statistical categories in 2024-25, including goals (6), points (20), plus/minus (+34), SOG (95) and average TOI (21:08). He is expected to play a big role on Winnipeg's back end in 2025-26.
Struble has appeared in 56 NHL games in each of the last two seasons, most recently posting 13 points (2G / 11A), 124 hits and 54 blocks in 2024-25. Struble became a reliable partner for rookie Lane Hutson, posting a 60.7 xG% together, the best of any Canadiens' pairing. Entering 2025-26, Struble will likely be in the mix to be the No.6 defenseman, and his strong play alongside Hutson last season should give him the upper hand.
Conor Timmins and Buffalo avoided arbitration on Sunday after agreeing to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million AAV ($4.4M total). The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired in late June in a trade that saw Connor Clifton go the other way to Pittsburgh. He appeared in 68 games with Pittsburgh and Toronto in 2024-25, picking up three goals, 15 points and a +11 plus/minus.
Gushchin was acquired from the San Jose Sharks via trade on Friday and immediately signed a new deal with the Avalanche. Gushchin will be a fringe roster player with a chance to make the NHL out of training camp this fall.
Springfield (AHL) will bring back one of their best scorers from the 2024-25 season after St. Louis announced on Saturday it had signed Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 24-year-old last appeared with the Blues in 2023-24 but still had a successful seaosn in the minors with Springfield last year, putting up 21 goals and 49 points in 48 games played.
