NHL Signings & Free Agents

Tampa's defensive depth got a little bit deeper on Tuesday with the addition of Steven Santini on a one-year, two-way contract. The 29-year-old has 23 points (5G/18A) in 123 career NHL games since making his debut in 2015-16.

Tampa Bay has poached one of Laval's assistant captains last season as it signed Tobie Bisson to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The undrafted 27-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but had nine goals and 27 points in 69 games with Laval (AHL) in 2023-24.

Journeyman Derrick Pouliot will join his eighth different organization in eight years after he agreed to sign a one-year, two-way contract with Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 30-year-old appeared in five games for Dallas in 2023-24 but has eight goals and 54 points in 226 career NHL games.

San Jose added to their defensive depth on Tuesday as they signed Lucas Carlsson to a two-year, two-way deal. The 26-year-old will likely begin the season with the Barracuda (AHL) after appearing in two NHL games for Florida in 2023-24. In 60 career NHL games, he has three goals, 11 points and 14 PIMs across four separate seasons.

After five strong AHL campaigns, Jimmy Schuldt has signed a one-year, two-way contract with San Jose as he is expected to dress for the Barracuda (AHL) this season. The 29-year-old made his NHL debut straight out of college in 2018-19 but has since spent the passed five seasons between four different AHL organizations. In 2023-24 he had five goals and 24 points in 68 games with Coachella Valley (AHL).

Seattle's trend of signing fringe NHL talent continued on Tuesday as they brought in Brandon Biro for a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old had two goals in five games played with Buffalo in 2023-24 but spent the majority of the season with Rochester where he had 16 goals and 43 points in 59 games played.

Seattle added to its offensive depth on Tuesday by signing Mitchell Stephens to a two-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old centre has appeared in 95 career NHL games including 23 games with Montreal in 2023-24, picking up two goals and three points.

Seattle added a bottom-six piece on Tuesday as it signed Ben Meyers to a one-year contract worth $775,000. The 25-year-old spent 2023-24 between Colorado and Anaheim and had a goal, three points and six PIMs while averaging 10:07 TOI/GP.

After four strong AHL seasons, Nikolas Brouillard has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Seattle. The 29-year-old defenseman took an unconventional route to the AHL after spending three seasons with McGill University of the USports league. He has yet to make an NHL appearance but had five goals and 36 points in 70 games with Hartford (AHL) in 2023-24.

Lajoie has made brief NHL appearances in each of his six last seasons and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with Seattle on Tuesday. The 26-year-old collected one assist in seven games with Toronto last season but spent the majority of 2023-24 with the Marlies (AHL), picking up four goals and 24 points in 51 games played.

Bemstrom will return to Pittsburgh after a successful first-half season with the Penguins and has signed a one-year extension worth $775,000. The 25-year-old was acquired in a trade from Columbus early on in 2023-24 and had eight goals, 16 points and 12 PIMs in 56 games played between Columbus and Pittsburgh.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) added a depth piece on Tuesday after Pittsburgh signed Nathan Clurman to a one-year contract worth $775,000. The 26-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but has spent the last three and a half seasons between Colorado's AHL and ECHL teams.

After three seasons in Texas (AHL) and Dallas, Matthew Murray has signed a one-year, two-way contract to provide Nashville with some goaltending depth. The 26-year-old has four NHL appearances to his name but spent the majority of 2023-24 with Texas, posting a 3.02 GAA and .896 SV%.

Nashville continued its signing frenzy on Tuesday by bringing in Nick Blankenburg on a two-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old undrafted free agent appeared in 12 games with Columbus in 2023-24, picking up one assist, four PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.

Lucchini made his NHL debut in 2022-23 and has since played in 51 games between Minnesota and Ottawa and has earned himself a new two-year, two-way contract with Nashville. The 29-year-old undrafted left-winger occupied Minnesota's bottom six for 40 games in 2023-24, picking up two goals and five points.

Nashville added to its offensive depth on Tuesday by adding nine-year veteran Vinnie Hinostroza to the Predators on a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old appeared in 14 games with Pittsburgh in 2023-24 and had a goal and three points. Nashville will be his sixth NHL team as he looks to add to his 54 goals and 151 points in 374 career NHL games played.

Utica gained a strong defensive piece on Tuesday after New Jersey signed Colin White to a two-year, two-way deal. The 27-year-old defenseman has 10 points in 84 career NHL games but failed to make it to the big leagues in 2023-24 after collecting eight points in 53 games with San Diego (AHL).

After four seasons in the Blackhawks organization, Mike Hardman has signed a two-year, two-way deal with New Jersey. Hardman hasn't made an NHL appearance since 2022-23 with Chicago but has a goal and five points in 37 career NHL games played. In 63 games with Rockford (AHL) in 2023-24 he had 22 goals and 37 points in 63 games played.

Jones joins Minnesota after two strong seasons with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) after he signed a two-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 25-year-old 7th-round pick made his one and only NHL appearance with Vegas in 2021-22 and only appeared in two games. In 2023-24 with Calgary (AHL) he had 21 goals and 43 points in 72 games played.

After four seasons in Chicago, Reese Johnson has signed with Minnesota on a one-year, two-way contract. The undrafted 25-year-old has 141 career NHL games under his belt after collecting two goals and five points in 42 games played in 2023-24.