NHL Signings & Free Agents

Just hours before training camp, Chicago has locked up a key defensive piece by signing former 3rd-round pick (81st overall) Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million AAV ($3.4M total). Kaiser took a huge step forward in 2024-25, setting career highs in almost all categories, including goals (4), points (8) , games played (57) and SOG (66). The 23-year-old is expected to play another pivotal role on Chicago's defence as the Blackhawks enter 2025-26 and he takes another step forward alongside his young teammates.

Calgary's captain will return for an 18th season with the Flames after Mikael Backlund signed a two-year extension worth $3.25M AAV ($6.5 million total) on Wednesday. The 36-year-old remained a steady nightly presence in Calgary's lineup last season, with 15 goals, 32 points and 175 SOG in 76 games played while averaging 18:44 TOI/GP.

Walker came out of nowhere to score three goals and four points in seven playoff games last season and has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $887,500 AAV ($1.775M total). The 31-year-old Great Britain native is entering his ninth NHL season after setting career highs last season in assists (8), points (16), PIMs (63) and SOG (72).

Knight was acquired by the Blackhawks in March and has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $5.83 AAV ($17.49M total). The 24-year-old was once one of the brightest goaltending prospects in hockey, but struggled to catch on during his four years in Florida. After being traded to Chicago, he posted a .896 SV%, 3.18 GAA and a 5-8-2 record.

Suseyev was St.Louis's 2023 7th round pick and will head to North America for the first time after signing a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 20-year-old winger will be glad to stick with one team in 2025-26, as he is expected to start the season with Springfield (AHL) after playing for five separate teams across three professional leagues (KHL, VHL, MHL) last season.

Carbonneau was St. Louis' 2025 1st round pick (19th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blues on Wednesday. The Quebec native skyrocketed up draft boards last season after an impressive 46-goal, 89-point campaign with Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) in 62 games played. The 18-year-old will look to crack the Blues' roster out of training camp, but is expected to spend the majority of the season back in junior for a third year.

Misa was the 2nd overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with San Jose on Wednesday. The 18-year-old is expected to compete for a spot on the Sharks' opening night roster after an impressive 62-goal, 134-point campaign with Saginaw (OHL) across 65 games last season.

Sebrango made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season with Ottawa, appearing in two games and earning a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old defenseman is expected to start 2025-26 in Belleville (AHL), where he had eight goals, 20 points and 79 PIMs in 50 games played last season.

One of the biggest remaining RFAs of the offseason is off the board after Calgary signed Connor Zary to a three-year contract worth $3.775 million AAV ($11.325M total). The 23-year-old bruising forward was Calgary's 2020 1st round pick (24th overall) and has assimilated nicely to NHL hockey with 27 goals and 61 points in his first 117 NHL games across two seasons. He is expected to play a pivotal role in Calgary's offence for the 2025-26 season.

Prokhorov was the Islanders' 2025 2nd round pick (42nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with New York. The 18-year-old Russian winger improved his draft stock in 2024-25 after a solid 20-goal, 27-point campaign with MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL) across 43 games played. He is expected to remain in Russia with Dynamo Moskva (KHL) on loan for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

After making his first six career starts with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25, Dennis Hildeby has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $841,667 AAV. The 24-year-old is expected to start 2025-26 with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as Toronto's third goalie on the depth chart after posting a lacklustre 3-3-0 record, .878 SV% and 3.33 GAA with the Maple Leafs last season.

Ryabkin was Carolina's 2025 2nd round pick (62nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Hurricanes on Wednesday. The 18-year-old Russian forward impressed in his first season in North America with Muskegon (USHL) in 2024-25, putting up 19 goals, 30 points and 70 PIMs in 27 games played.

After appearing in two games with the Senators in 2024-25, Jan Jenik will remain with Ottawa after signing a one-year, two-way contract extension on Monday. The 24-year-old forward is expected to start 2025-26 with Belleville (AHL) but will provide Ottawa with some offensive depth if they happen to face injury problems. He had 12 goals, 29 points and 75 PIMs with Belleville in 2024-25.

Ottawa added to its defensive depth on Monday after it announced the signing of Cameron Crotty to a two-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old has appeared in two NHL games with two different organizations (ARI, MIN) since making his debut in 2023-24. He is expected to start 2025-26 in Belleville (AHL) after captaining Iowa (AHL) with 10 assists in 64 games played last season.

Minutes after news of Matthew Tkachuk's offseason surgery dropped, Florida announced they had signed Luke Kunin to a one-year, $800,000 contract on Friday. The 27-year-old appeared in 75 games between Columbus and San Jose in 2024-25, picking up 11 goals, 18 points and 55 PIMs. He is expected to play a depth role in Florida's bottom-six this season.

A long summer of trade rumours has ended for Marco Rossi on Friday after Minnesota announced they had signed the forward to a three-year contract extension worth $5 million AAV ($15M total). The 23-year-old was Minnesota's 2020 1st-round pick (9th overall) and took a massive step forward in 2024-25, posting career highs in goals (24), assists (36), points (60), plus/minus (+3) and PPP (16) across 82 games played. He is expected to continue developing in Minnesota's top six and be a key contributor in 2025-26.

After just 56 total NHL games played, Chicago has locked up Frank Nazar for the next eight seasons after signing the 21-year-old to a seven-year contract worth $6.59 million AAV ($46.13M total) on Thursday. Nazar was Chicago's 2022 1st round pick (13th overall) and opened some eyes with nine points in his final eight games to end last season and close his rookie campaign out with 26 points in 53 games played. He is expected to center Chicago's second line and remain on their top power play as we head into the 2025-26 season.

Colorado added some much-needed offensive depth on Wednesday with the signing of Victor Olofsson on a one-year, $1.575 million contract. The 30-year-old right-winger had 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games with Vegas in 2024-25 after spending the previous six campaigns in with the Buffalo Sabres. He is expected to play a top-nine role in Colorado and should see some power-play time on the second unit, despite that unit rarely seeing the ice.

Martin was the 5th overall selection in this year's NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on Wednesday. The 18-year-old center saw his draft stock skyrocket in 2024-25 after an impressive 33-goal, 72-point campaign with the Soo Greyhounds (OHL). He will compete for a spot on Nashville's roster to start the 2025-26 season, but is expected to return to the Soo for the majority of the season.