1-year, $775,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken. Expires 2026 (UFA).
Source:
2025-06-02T23:59:00.000Z
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
1-year, $775,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2025-06-02T23:59:00.000Z
Seattle has signed Ben Meyers to a one-year, $775,000 contract extension.
Despite not collecting a point in eight games with Seattle in 2024-25, Ben Meyers has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract extension. The undrafted 26-year-old is currently with his third NHL team in five seasons and has six goals and eight points in 75 career NHL games.
Washington has signed Garin Bjorklund to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.
After an impressive season with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL), Garin Bjorklund has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Washington for the upcoming season. The 23-year-old Canadian netminder was Washington's 2020 6th-round pick (179th overall) and posted a 21-4-3 record, .927 SV% and 2.02 GAA with South Carolina last season. Washington is hoping he can bring his success from last season to Hershey (AHL) as he takes a further step forward in his development.
Tampa Bay has signed Yanni Gourde to a six-year, $13.98 million contract extension ($2,330,000 AAV).
Gourde spent the first six seasons of his career in Tampa Bay before heading back to Seattle for four years before being traded back to Tampa Bay at last year's Trade Deadline and has signed a six-year, $13.98 million contract extension ($2,330,000 AAV to remain with the Lightning. The 33-year-old forward reached 30+ points for an eighth straight season in 2024-25 after putting up seven goals and 31 points in 57 games between Seattle and Tampa.
Minnesota has signed Marcus Johansson to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension.
Amongst a flurry of different trade rumours, Minnesota has strengthened up their offensive depth on Monday by signing 34-year-old Marcus Johansson to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension. The Swedish winger is entering his 16th NHL season after putting up 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games with the Wild in 2024-25.
The Senators signed Tyler Kleven to a two-year contract extension worth $1.6M AAV.
The 2024-25 season was the first full NHL season for Kleven, who had 19 points (4G / 6A) in 79 games. He also had a solid postseason, posting two assists, eight blocked shots and 16 hits while averaging 15:47 TOI/gm in six games vs. the Maple Leafs.
Seattle has signed Kaden Hammell to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Hammell was Seattle's 2023 5th-round pick (148th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday. The 20-year-old defenseman captained the Everett Silvertips (WHL) in 2024-25 and had 10 goals and 38 points in 59 games played.
Los Angeles has signed Kirill Kirsanov to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Kirasanov was Los Angeles's 2021 3rd-round pick (84th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Kings after spending the last five seasons in the KHL. The 22-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to report to Ontario (AHL) for the start of this season. In 2024-25, he had three goals, seven points, and a +5 plus/minus in 34 games played with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).
3-year, $2,796,999 contract with the Seattle Kraken. Expires 2028 (RFA).
Source:2025-06-01T23:59:00.000Z
2-year, $1,867,500 contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2025-06-01T23:59:00.000Z
Pittsburgh has signed Mikhail Ilyin to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Ilyin is Pittsburgh's 2023 5th-round pick (142nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Saturday. The 20-year-old Russian winger spent 2024-25 with Severstal (KHL) and had seven goals, 30 points and 14 PIMs in 64 games played.
Seattle has signed Josh Mahura to a two-year, $1.815 million contract extension ($907,500 AAV).
Utah has signed Gabe Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Smith is Utah's 2024 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract upon the completion of Moncton's Memorial Cup run. The 18-year-old center spent 2024-25 with Moncton (QMJHL) and had 20 goals, 39 points and 62 PIMs in 52 games played.
Colorado has signed Ilya Nabokov to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Nabokov was Colorado's 2024 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche. The 22-year-old Russian netminder has already been loaned back to Metallurg (KHL) for the 2025-26 season after posting a 23-17-6 record, .923 SV% and 2.22 GAA in 49 games played in 2024-25.
2-year, $9,500,000 contract with the New York Islanders. Year 2: 16 team no trade list. Expires 2027 (UFA).
Source:2025-05-30T23:59:00.000Z
2-year, $1,625,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. $275K Guaranteed in Year 1. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2025-05-30T23:59:00.000Z
2-year, $1,815,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken. Expires 2027 (UFA).
Source:2025-05-30T23:59:00.000Z
2-year, $1,950,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2025-05-30T23:59:00.000Z
3-year, $2,888,334 contract with the Utah Mammoth. Expires 2028 (RFA).
Source:2025-05-30T23:59:00.000Z
NHL Free Agents: Best Available Players in 2025
Once the dust settles on the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL offseason officially commences as the latest wave of free agents hit the market as teams and players alike reevaluate their current situation and plot their next steps toward success.
With a plethora of talent up for grabs every summer, Stanley Cup contenders can be formed as well as broken up through free agency. With NHL signings going down at a breakneck pace throughout the opening days of free agency, we’ll keep you in the loop with our 2025 NHL free agency tracker. You can find all of the latest NHL signings of the free agency period as players switch teams, sign extensions, and change the outlook of the league with a single decision.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of your favourite team and are looking to stay up to date with every move made by the front office, or are an avid daily fantasy sports bettor that wants to prep for their wagers, our NHL free agency tracker is the best destination for all your free agent market news.
Types of Free Agent Markets
Each NHL free agent holds their own unique distinction when signing with a team. These distinctions are made based on a number of factors including age, NHL experience, as well as their current contract situation. NHL free agents are divided by restricted and unrestricted free agents, with each classification of player holding varying rights, including how teams are able to offer them contracts, and the results of receiving an offer.
Below, we take a deep dive into each type of NHL free agent so you can get a thorough understanding of each free agent market type, how they are able to sign with teams, and the possible outcomes from each offseason acquisition.
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted NHL free agent (RFA) is a player that is either under the age of 27 or has been in the NHL for less than seven seasons. Teams hold a form of protection over their restricted free agents, providing them with a sort of insurance if their RFA decides to sign with a new team.
While restricted free agents are technically eligible to sign a new contract with different teams, the process can become messy if a team other than their original squad makes them an offer and they accept. Restricted free agents are only able to sign a standard NHL contract with the team that currently owns the players rights, all other squads must submit an offer sheet if they want to lure away a player from their team. If an offer sheet is made to an RFA, the team who holds the players rights will be left with the option to either match the offer made to their player, or allow the player to sign with the team that made the offer sheet, in return receiving draft compensation depending on the value of the contract offered.
Qualifying Offers
In order for a team to retain a player’s rights heading into the free agency period, they must make a qualifying offer to the player. These offers are in the form of a one-year contract, with the amount offered being formulated depending on the value of their previous contract.
For any player who was on a deal worth $660,000 or less, the qualifying offer they receive must be worth 110% the amount of their previous season’s salary. For a player making between $660,000 and $1,000,000, they must be offered 105% their previous seasons salary. Finally, if a player was making more than $1 million in their previous year of duty, their team must offer them 100% of their previous season’s salary.
These offers are not final and players are eligible to receive greater or lesser valued contracts from the team that holds their rights once free agency begins. Players who reject qualifying offers remain restricted free agents.
Non-Qualified RFAs
If a team decides to not submit a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent on their roster, all non-qualified RFAs instantly become free agents and are welcome to sign contracts with any team come July 1st.
Unrestricted Free Agents
The other form of NHL free agent is the unrestricted free agent (UFA). UFAs have the right to sign their next deal with any team without restriction, as long as the offer they sign complies with league salary cap mandates and rules. Unrestricted free agents are truly what can shake up the free agent market, with many of the leagues top stars entering into the offseason as UFAs.
There are multiple forms of unrestricted free agents, each with their own unique classifications, but don’t necessarily affect the potential value of the contracts offered to them in the offseason. Below are two of the most common UFAs.
Group 3 UFAs
Common among NHL veterans, Group 3 comprises players entering free agency that are 27 or older, or have played in the NHL for more than seven accrued seasons. An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player has suited up for action on an NHL roster in at least 40 games (30 for goalies). Any player that fits this criteria will become an unrestricted free agent once their contract expires in the following offseason.
Group 6 UFAs
Another way that players can become an unrestricted free agent is by being 25 years of age or older and to have played three or more professional hockey seasons under an NHL contract (AHL, ECHL, Europe), but played in less than 80 NHL games (28 for goalies) in their career. Often, Group 6 unrestricted free agents are developing players that, for one reason or another, have not had the chance to crack into an NHL lineup, but still possess experience as a high-level player. There is no difference in the rights of Group 3 and Group 6 unrestricted free agents, but typically the latter will receive smaller contracts, both in terms of value as well as in duration.
Undrafted UFAs
The final way that a player may enter into free agency as an unrestricted free agent is by going undrafted in their three years of draft eligibility. If a player is not selected by an NHL franchise through the draft they are still eligible to crack into a final roster as a free agent.
NHL Free Agency FAQs
Who are the top NHL free agents in 2025?
Some of the top NHL free agents available this summer are Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Aaron Ekblad, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Brock Boeser, Brad Marchand and Linus Ullmark.
This offseason will bring a stacked crop of free agents to the market that will shape the landscape of the 2025-26 NHL season. Not only will the final landing spots for each of the top 2025 NHL free agents shake up the framework of the league, but will also have major implications on the upcoming fantasy hockey season. Be sure to stay in the know in regard to the latest free agency updates with our NHL player news.
What time does free agency start?
On July 1st, 2025, at 12 PM EST, the 2025 NHL free agency period officially opens. While some players will have all but signed the dotted line up to this point, nothing can become official until noon on Canada Day.