Shine is an undrafted 31-year-old that has never played an NHL game. He has spent the previous nine seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) and has 32 points (11G / 21A) in 40 games with the club this season.
DeAngelo started the 2024-25 season with St. Petersburgh SKA (KHL), scoring 32 points (6G / 26A) in 34 games before being released from his contract. The 29-year-old has 210 points (48G / 162A) in 371 career NHL games. His contract is worth a league-minimum, one-year, $775,000. With Noah Dobson (lower body) out week-to-week, DeAngelo could potentially find himself on New York's top powerplay unit.
Spellacy was a third-round pick, 72nd overall, of the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old forward is in his third season with the Windsor Spitfires (OHL), tallying 25 points (11G / 14A) through 40 games.
Klingberg hasn't played since undergoing hip surgery over a year ago after a brief 14-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he scored five points (0G / 5A). The 32-year-old Klingberg isn't far removed from being one of the league's elite powerplay quarterbacks. He scored a career-high 67 points (8G / 59A) in 82 games with the Dallas Stars in the 2017-18 season. However, his production has dipped significantly in recent years, tallying only 85 points (16G / 69A) and a -60 plus/minus in his 155 most recent games. Given Evan Bouchard's dominance on Edmonton's top powerplay unit, it's unlikely that Klingberg will find himself in that position. Yet, he could still see an uptick in production considering the star power of his surrounding cast.
Christiansen has been a staple on the Blue Jackets' blue line this season and has been rewarded with a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension. The 25-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:07 time-on-ice, recording seven points (1G / 6A), 41 hits, and 28 blocks in 45 games this season.
Aston-Reese has impressed in his first season with the Blue Jackets, recording 11 points (4G / 7A), 32 blocks, and 94 hits in 42 games. The 30-year-old Aston-Reese spent most of the 2023-24 season in the AHL but has solidified himself a spot with the Blue Jackets.
In his second full NHL season, Greig is averaging a career-high 15:27 time-on-ice, recording 12 points (6G / 6A) in 37 games. The 22-year-old forward was the 28th overall pick of the Senators in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Ferguson officially signed with Minnesota on a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday and will remain with the Wild organization for the remainder of 2024-25. The 26-year-old has spent the season between the Iowa Wild (AHL) and Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL). Ferguson has two career NHL starts to his name and has picked up a victory alongside his .940 SV%.
In only 39 games this season, Kastelic has already matched a career-high with 11 points (4G / 7A) and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension. The bruting 6-4 forward is second in the NHL with 151 hits.
Myers has only played 11 games this season but has been a bruting force when in the lineup, racking up 29 hits. The 28-year-old towering 6'5 defenseman is averaging 17:08 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) this season.
Middleton was the fourth-round pick, 101st overall, of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He has been a product of the Avalanche since the 2020-21 season but had only played three NHL games before this season. In 10 games this season, the 26-year-old Middleton is averaging 10:31 time-on-ice and has zero points, 10 blocks, and 14 hits. He signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV).
Back has impressed in a fourth-line role in his first NHL season and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. The 24-year-old forward has nine points (1G / 8A) in 31 games with Dallas this season.
Becher was a third-round pick, 80th overall, of the Red Wings in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old Czech forward has three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) this season.
Blackwood was acquired in a trade from the San Jose Sharks nearly three weeks ago and has been excellent since his debut with Colorado. Blackwood has a 2.03 GAA and .931 SV%, earning himself a five-year contract extension after only four games with the Avalanche (3-1-0). The 28-year-old netminder has a 3.05 GAA and .905 SV% in 219 career games (84-92-25), primarily while playing for non-playoff teams in New Jersey and San Jose.
Clattenburg was a fifth-round pick, 160th overall, of the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 18 points (10G / 8A) in 22 games with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) this season.
He becomes the first Chinese-born player in history to sign an NHL contract. The 18-year-old winger was a fourth-round pick, 109th overall, of the Jets in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He has 43 points (23 / 20A) in 29 games with the Niagara IceDogs (OHL) this season.
Pachal is averaging 14:31 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A), 27 penalty minutes, 34 blocks, and 72 hits in 31 games this season, earning himself a two-year contract extension. The 25-year-old defenseman has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 93 career NHL games.
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.
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.
