NHL Signings & Free Agents

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.

Berggren was acquired mid-season in 2025-26 by the Blues off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings and made enough of an impact with his new team to earn a one-year contract extension. The 25-year-old Swedish forward, the 33rd-overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, scored 16 points (6G / 10A) in 36 games with the Blues last season.

Cossa was drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and was at times considered the team's goalie of the future after excelling at the AHL level. That said, he was buried until some strong goaltending depth in the organization and will ultimately get a shot with the Utah Mammoth after being acquired in a trade for a first-round pick last week. The 23-year-old goalie had a solid 2.33 GAA and .915 SV% last season in 39 games (26-8-4) with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL).

Grundstrom was a reliable bottom-six forward for the Flyers in the 2025-26 season, earning himself a one-year contract extension. The 28-year-old Swedish forward averaged 11:51 time-on-ice and scored 13 points (9G / 4A) in 47 games last season.

Avon is an undrafted forward that has spent the past three seasons playing in the AHL. The 22-year-old saw some success in 2025-26 in his first season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, scoring 24 points (10G / 14A) in 45 games.

DeSimone has battled for NHL playing time throughout his career and finally became a regular fixture on the blueline for the Utah Mammoth in 2025-26, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 31-year-old defenseman scored eight points (2G / 6A) last season in 40 games.

Roy has seen limited action at the NHL level over the past two seasons and hopes to reestablish himself in a more regular role in 2026-27 with the Utah Mammoth. The 22-year-old forward, a fifth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, spent most of 2025-26 in the AHL, where he scored 45 points (23G / 22A) in 57 games with the Laval Rocket.

Ivan's RFA rights were acquired from the Avalanche on Sunday and he signs a one-year, two-way deal with the Bruins. The 23-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he had 26 points (11G / 15A) in 66 games with the Colorado Eagles. He'll likely start the 2026-27 season in the AHL, but should be one of the first players summoned to Boston.

Roed is an undrafted forward that played collegiate hockey with Bemidji State University for two seasons before making his professional debut at the AHL level in 2023-24. The 23-year-old scored 38 points (11G / 27A) last season in 65 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL).

After spending most of the previous season in the AHL, Yamamoto returned to playing predominantly in the NHL in 2025-26. He scored 23 points (13G / 10A) in 59 games with the Utah Mammoth, earning himself a two-year contract extension worth $3.5 million ($1.75M AAV).

Stecher was claimed off waivers from the Oilers in mid-November and recorded 14 points (3G / 11A) in 58 games with the Maple Leafs in 2025-26. With their current depth chart, Stecher and Emil Andrae will likely battle for the No.6 defenseman spot in training camp. Even if he serves as the No.7 defenseman all season, Stecher provides the Maple Leafs with a cheap veteran replacement when injuries occur on the back-end.

Williams is an undrafted 24-year-old forward that made his professional debut last season, including playing one game with the Columbus Blue Jackets. That said, he spent most of the season in the AHL, where he scored 38 points (15G / 23A) in 72 games with the Cleveland Monsters.

The Sharks acquired Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in 2026 for the 20th overall pick in 2026 from the Buffalo Sabres earlier this offseason. Kesselring has quickly been awarded a three-year contract extension worth $13.5 million ($4.5 million AAV). The 26-year-old Kesselring joined Buffalo last offseason but battled injuries, playing just 34 games with the Sabres, scoring two points (0G / 2A) while averaging 13:24 time-on-ice.

In his two seasons with Buffalo, Malenstyn has impressed in a bottom-six role, earning himself a six-year contract extension worth $17.5 million ($2.917 AAV). The 27-year-old forward averaged 11:15 time-on-ice, recording 282 hits and 14 points (7G / 7A) in 81 games last season.

A myriad of injuries in the Vegas crease last season afforded Lindbom his NHL debut, during which he appeared in eight games (2-4-2) and posted a 3.00 GAA and .873 SV%. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie, a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, will likely remain a depth player for the organization in 2026-27 and continue in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he posted an impressive 2.16 GAA and .926 SV% in 35 games last season (24-5-5).