3-year, $2,874,999 contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Expires 2027 (RFA).
Source:
2024-07-26T03:59:00.000Z
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
8-year, $70,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Years 7 & 8: 14 Team No Trade List. Expires 2033 (UFA).
Source:2024-07-26T03:59:00.000Z
Pittsburgh has signed Brayden Yager to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Yager was Pittsburgh's 2023 1st round pick (14th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Thursday. The 19-year-old forward has spent the last four seasons in Moose Jaw (WHL) and had 35 goals and 95 points in 57 games played in 2023-24.
New York has signed Oliver Wahlstrom to a one-year, $1 million contract extension.
After a long offseason discussion period Oliver Wahlstrom will remain in New York after signing a one-year, $1 million contract extension with the Islanders. The 24-year-old right-winger had an incredibly down 2023-24 season, appearing in his least amount of games (32) in the passed four seasons and only putting up two goals, six points, eight PIMs and 41 SOG.
Los Angeles has signed Carter George to a three-year, entry-level contract.
George was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft (57th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Los Angeles. The 18-year-old goaltender spent 2023-24 with the Owen Sound Attack (OHL) and had a 3.30 GAA and .907 SV% while appearing in 56 games. He is expected to be one of the best goalies in the CHL in the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Philadelphia has signed Travis Konecny to an eight-year, $70 million contract extension ($8,750,000 AAV) starting in 2025-26.
Signing one of the biggest contracts in Philadelphia history, Travis Konecny is locked up as a Flyer until he is 38 years old after signing a eight-year, $70 million contract extension ($8,750,000 AAV) starting in 2025-26. The 27-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and set career highs in goals (33), points (68), and SOG (244) in 76 games played in 2023-24.
5-year, $23,750,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres. 5 team no trade list Yr 3-5. Expires 2029 (UFA).
Source:2024-07-25T03:59:00.000Z
2-year, $1,650,000 contract with the Nashville Predators. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2024-07-25T03:59:00.000Z
2-year, $2,000,000 contract with the San Jose Sharks. Expires 2026 (UFA NO QO).
Source:2024-07-25T03:59:00.000Z
San Jose has signed Henry Thrun to a two-year, $2 million contract extension.
Thrun appeared in 51 games for San Jose picking up three goals, 11 points and a -22 plus/minus and has earned himself a two-year, $2 million contract extension. The 23-year-old was drafted by Anaheim in the 4th round of the 2019 NHL Draft and is expected to take a big leap forward in 2024-25 in San Jose's top defensive pairings.
Nashville has signed Spencer Stastney to a two-year, approximately $1.65 million contract ($825,000 AAV) after arbitration.
Stastney and Nashville had gone to arbitration over his contract and settled on an approximate two-year, $1.65 million contract ($825,000 AAV). The 24-year-old former fith-round pick has appeared in 28 NHL games for Nashville over the last two seasons and has two goals, six points, six PIMs and a +14 plus/minus.
Buffalo has signed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a five-year, $23.75 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV).
Buffalo solified its goaltending for years to come after it signed Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to a five-year, $23.75 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV). The 25-year-old was drafted by Buffalo in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft (54th overall) and set career highs in wins (27), appearances (54) and GAA (2.57) in 2023-24 as Buffalo's starter.
2-year, $2,700,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Expires 2026 (UFA).
Source:2024-07-24T03:59:00.000Z
Minnesota has signed Graeme Clarke to a one-year, two-way contract.
Clarke's rights were acquired by Minnesota a month ago in a one-for-one trade for Adam Beckman and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Wild. The 23-year-old was an AHL All-Star in 2023-24 after putting up 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games with Utica (AHL) and will compete for a bottom-six role with the Wild this season.
Toronto has signed Connor Dewar to a one-year, $1.18 million contract after arbitration.
Toronto and Connor Dewar have settled after arbitration on a one-year, $1.18 million contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old forward was acquired by the Maple Leafs' at last year's trade deadline from Minnesota and had 11 goals, 19 points, 28 PIMs and 77 SOG in 74 games between the Maple Leafs and Wild.
Buffalo has signed Beck Malenstyn to a two-year, $2.7 million contract ($1,300,000 AAV).
Buffalo acquired Beck Malenstyn's rights on June 29th in a trade with Washington for a 2024 second-round pick and have signed the 26-year-old forward to a two-year, $2.7 million contract ($1,300,000 AAV). The left-winger is entering just his second full NHL season after playing in only 24 games in his first three years in the NHL before completing 81 games played in 2023-24. He set career highs last season in all statistical categories with six goals, 21 points, 25 PIMs and 98 SOG.
New Jersey has signed Santeri Hatakka to a one-year, two-way contract.
Hatakka played 12 games in his first season in New Jersey in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old was acquired in Febuary of 2023 in the blockbuster trade that brought Timo Meier to New Jersey and had two asssits, 12 SOG and a +5 plus/minus in 12 games played last season.
Utah has signed Cole Beaudoin to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Beaudoin was Utah's 2024 1st round pick (24th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 18-year-old centre spent 2023-24 with the Barrie Colts (OHL) and had 28 goals, and 62 points in 67 games played. He is expected to return back to Barrie for the 2024-25 season but will compete in Utah's upcoming training camp for a spot on this year's roster.
The Kings signed Liam Greentree to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Greentree was the No.26 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old winger played the 2024 season in Windsor (OHL), leading the rebuilding roster with 90 points (36G / 54A) in 64 games. He'll be back with Windsor to start the 2025 season.
The Red Wings signed Joe Veleno to a two-year contract worth $4.55 million ($2.275M AAV).
Veleno has served primarily as a bottom-6 centre for the Red Wings over the last three seasons. 2023-24 was his best offensive season to date, scoring 12 goals with 16 assists (28 points) in 80 games. Expect Veleno to continue operating in a similar role in 2024-25.
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.