2-year, $4,500,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:
2024-08-21T23:59:00.000Z
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
Toronto has signed Alexander Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Toronto added to its forward depth on Wednesday as they signed 24-year-old undrafted forward Alex Steeves to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 6'0" centre has appeared in seven NHL games for the Maple Leafs in the last three seasons but spent the vast majority of his time with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) since joining from Notre Dame (NCAA) in 2021-22. Steeves had an impressive AHL campaign in 2023-24 with 27 goals, 57 points and 26 PIMs in 65 games played.
Columbus has signed Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV).
Weeks after signing fellow 2021 1st-round pick (5th overall) Kent Johnson, Columbus has also agreed to signed Cole Sillinger to a two-year, $4.5 million contract extension ($2,250,000 AAV). The 21-year-old was drafted 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021 and has faced his share of up-and downs since joining the NHL as an 18-year-old in 2021-22. In 77 games in 2023-24 he had 13 goals, 32 points, 46 PIMs and 157 SOG while averaging 16:07 TOI/GP.
7-year, $49,999,999 contract with the Seattle Kraken. 12 team no trade list: 2029-30 to 2030-31. Expires 2031 (UFA).
Source:2024-08-20T23:59:00.000Z
Seattle has signed Matty Beniers to a seven-year, $49.98 million contract extension ($7,140,000 AAV).
Seattle has locked up 2022-23 Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers to a seven-year, $49.98 million contract extension ($7,140,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 21-year-old centre was Seattle's inaugural draft pick when he went 2nd overall in 2021 from the University of Michigan (NCAA). In 77 games in 2023-24, the 6'2" American had 15 goals, 37 points, 133 SOG and a -11 plus/minus.
St.Louis has signed Philip Broberg to a two-year, $9.16 million contract ($4,580,000 AAV) after Edmonton refused to match his contract.
The Edmonton Oilers will not match St. Louis' offer sheet to restricted free agent Philip Broberg which means the 23-year-old has signed a two-year, $9.16 million contract with the Blues. Due to the signing, Edmonton has been compensated a 2025 2nd-round pick. In 12 games with Edmonton in 2023-24, Broberg had two assists, six SOG, and a -3 plus/minus while averaging only 11:37 TOI/GP.
Holloway's offer sheet from St.Louis was not matched by Edmonton and he has been signed to a two-year, $4.58 million contract ($2,290,000 AAV).
Alongside Philip Broberg, Edmonton has decided to not match the two-year, $4.58 million offer sheet St.Louis presented to Dylan Holloway and will therefore lose the 22-year-old forward for a 2025 3rd-round pick. Holloway was Edmonton's 2020 1st round pick (14th overall) and had six goals, nine points and 29 PIMs in 38 games played in 2023-24.
2-year, $9,161,834 contract with the St Louis Blues. Offer Sheet from Stl. Blues. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2024-08-13T23:59:00.000Z
2-year, $4,580,914 contract with the St Louis Blues. Offer Sheet from St. Louis Blues. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2024-08-13T23:59:00.000Z
Dallas has signed Magnus Hellberg to a one-year, two-way contract.
Dallas may have created some competition in camp for their backup goaltender position after they signed veteran Magnus Hellberg to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Swedish netminder spent 2023-24 with Pittsburgh and appeared in three games, picking up a 1-1-0 record, 2.50 GAA and .922 SV%. The veteran has appeared in 26 career NHL games for a whopping five separate teams across his 10 years of being in the NHL.
Calgary has signed Adam Klapka to a one-year, two-way contract.
The tallest forward in the NHL (6'8") has been signed by Calgary on Tuesday as they signed Adam Klapka to a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old towering right-winger made his NHL debut with the Flames in 2023-24 and had a goal, 19 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus while averaging just 6:46 TOI/GP.
Calgary has signed Yan Kuznetsov to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Calgary shored up its defensive depth on Tuesday as they signed Yan Kuznetsov to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 22-year-old Russian defenseman was Calgary's 2020 2nd-round pick (50th overall) and made his NHL debut in 2023-24 but only appeared in one game. In 63 games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) last season, he had five goals and 13 points.
New Jersey has signed Nolan Foote to a one-year, two-way contract.
New Jersey solidified their forward depth on Monday as they signed 23-year-old left-winger Nolan Foote to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 6'3" winger was Tampa Bay's 2019 1st-round pick (27th overall) but has failed to ever truly crack the Devils roster as he has appeared in seven or fewer games in each of the Devils' last four seasons. In 2023-24, he had a goal and six SOG while averaging 10:06 TOI in four games and yet another short showing with New Jersey.
Colorado has signed Matthew Phillips to a one-year, two-way contract.
Phillips spent 2023-24 with two separate organizations (PIT, WASH) but has found himself a home for the 2024-25 season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Colorado on Friday. The 26-year-old has torn up the American Hockey League for seasons but has still struggled to find a home in the NHL and only produced a goal and five points in 31 games played in 2023-24.
3-year, $2,825,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2024-08-06T23:59:00.000Z
Ottawa has signed Carter Yakemchuk to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Yakemchuk was Ottawa's 2024 1st round pick (7th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 18-year-old defenseman has spent the last three seasons with Calgary (WHL) and shot his way up draft boards in 2023-24 after scoring 30 goals and 71 points in 66 games played. He is expected to return to Calgary for the 2024-25 season.
3-year, $2,922,500 contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2024-08-05T23:59:00.000Z
Colorado has signed Oliver Kylington to a one-year, $1.05 million contract.
Kylington will leave the Calgary Flames after five successful seasons after the defensemen signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract with Colorado on Monday. The 27-year-old made headlines in 2023-24 after he successfully returned to the NHL after a nearly two-year mental health hiatus. In 33 games played in his return, he had three goals, eight points, and 12 PIMs in 33 games with the Flames.
Chicago has signed Marek Vanacker to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Vanacker was Chicago's 2024 1st round pick (27th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday with the Blackhawks. The 18-year-old left-winger took a massive step forward in the OHL in 2023-24 with Brantford, collecting 36 goals and 82 points in 68 games played.
3-year, $2,808,167 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:2024-08-02T23:59:00.000Z
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.