NHL Signings & Free Agents

New Jersey locked up their goaltending depth for the next two seasons as they signed Nico Daws to a two-year contract with the first year being a two-way and the second being a one-way. The 23-year-old netminder was drafted by New Jersey in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (84th overall) and had a down season with his 9-11-0 record, 3.15 GAA and .894 SV% in 2023-24.

Montreal locked up their designated "tough guy" on Tuesday after they signed Arber Xhekah to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension ($1,300,000 AAV). The undrafted 23-year-old is entering his third NHL season after putting up three goals and 10 points in 44 games played in 2023-24. In 95 career NHL games played, he has 182 PIMs.

Necas was an RFA whose name was at the top of the trade rumours all offseason, but he signs a two-year deal to stay in Carolina through the 2026 season. The 25-year-old winger saw his production take a step back last season, as he went from 71 points (28G / 43A) in 2023 to 53 points (24G / 29A) in 2024. With Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen not returning to Carolina this summer, it opens up plenty of ice-time and opportunity for Necas to take advantage of in 2025.

Faber had an outstanding rookie season, scoring eight goals with 39 assists (47 points) while leading all rookies in ice-time (24:58 ATOI) in 82 games. The soon-to-be 22-year-old defenseman finished second in Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) voting behind Connor Bedard. Faber's new $8.5M AAV cap hit will not kick in until the 2025-26 season.

Phillips set career highs in both games played (33) and assists (6) in 2023-24 and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with Chicago. The 22-year-old mobile defensemen has struggled defensively in his three NHL seasons with a collective -37 plus/minus in just 53 career games played but will look to improve that ugly number when he takes on an expected bigger role in 2024-25.

Crevier made his NHL debut in 2023-24 with Chicago, picking up three assists and a -16 plus/minus in 24 games played and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract on Monday. The 23-year-old towering 6'8" defensemen was Chicago's 2020 7th round pick (188th overall) and will look to carve a full time role on Chicago's back end in 2024-25.

Cholowski spent the entire 2024 season in Bridgeport (AHL), where he had 31 points (7G / 24A) in 68 games. Since signing with the Islanders prior to the 2023 season, Cholowski has appeared in just two NHL games but has eight goals and 61 assists (69 points) in 135 AHL games. Expect him to continue to provide offence at the AHL-level and be one of the first names the Islanders consider when they need help on their NHL blueline.

Marchenko built on a successful first season in Columbus by scoring 23 goals with 19 assists (42 points) in 78 games in 2023-24. The Blue Jackets were not busy in the offseason, so Marchenko will be a prominent part of their top-6 again in 2024-25. He saw a small bump in ice time down the stretch last season, and that will need to remain if he's going to be a 30-plus goal scorer this season.

Johnson's up-and-down tenure in Columbus will continue after the 21-year-old former top prospect signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV). The ex-Michigan superstar was Columbus' 2021 1st round pick (5th overall) and took a noticable step backwards in 2023-24 only picking up six goals and 16 points in 42 games after amassing 40 points (16G/24A) in 79 games played the season before.

Lundmark completed his third AHL season with Manitoba in 2023-24 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Jets. The 23-year-old defensemen was Winnipeg's 2019 2nd round pick (51st overall) and had five goals and 17 points in 67 games with Manitoba (AHL) last season.

Bordealeau set career highs in 2023-24 in games played (27), goals (6), assists (5), points (11), PIMs (18) and SOG (48) and earned himself a one-year, $875,000 contract extension with San Jose. The 22-year-old was the Sharks' 2020 2nd round pick (38th overall) and has six goals and 18 points in 43 games played across three NHL seasons.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.