NHL Signings & Free Agents

Fresh off of posting a career-high 14 goals and 32 points in his first season in Carolina, Eric Robinson has signed a four-year, $6.8 million contract extension ($1.7 million AAV) to remain a Hurricane on Friday. The undrafted 30-year-old left-winger has been in the NHL for eight years but has never caught on with an organization until Carolina. In 388 career games, he has 54 goals and 123 points.

Robertson was a second-round pick in 2019 and made his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season, appearing in two games with the Rangers. He spent most of the season with Hartford (AHL), where he had one goal and 24 assists (25 points) in 60 games. Robertson will likely be in a battle for the No.6 defenseman spot in training camp.

After two incredibly successful seasons in Dallas, Matt Duchene has decided to stay a Star after signing a four-year, $18 million contract extension ($4.5 million AAV) on Thursday. The 34-year-old is coming off a point-per-game campaign, during which he scored 30 goals and 82 points in 82 games played in the 2024-25 season. The veteran forward is entering his 17th NHL season.

Zetterlund was acquired at the trade deadline from the Sharks and had just two goals and three assists (five points) in 20 games. Zetterlund played more of a depth role after being acquired but could play more of a top-6 role in 2025-26. He has a career-high of 24 goals and 44 points with the Sharks in 2023-24.

Donato had a career year in 2024-25, scoring 31 goals with 31 assists (62 points) in 80 games. The Blackhawks decided not to trade him at the trade deadline, a sign that they wanted to re-sign him in the offseason. Donato gets a four-year extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2028-29 season.

Nesterenko spent most of the 2024-25 season with San Diego (AHL), where he tallied 34 points (13G / 21A) in 50 games. During his 20 games with the Ducks, Nesterenko had four goals and two assists (six points). The 23-year-old forward will have an uphill battle to make the Ducks out of training camp for the start of the 2025-26 season.

Dallas continued to add to their goaltending depth on Wednesday after signing 24-year-old goaltender Ben Kraws to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The towering 6'5" netminder spent the majority of 2024-25 with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) and had a 2.88 GAA and .910 SV% to go along with his 23-12-5 record.

Dallas signed their second depth goalie of the day on Tuesday after they extended their AHL starter Remi Poirier, to a two-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old was originally Dallas' 2020 6th-round pick (185th overall) and spent the 2024-25 season with Texas (AHL), where he put up a 17-11-2 record, .908 SV% and 2.50 GAA.

After appearing in 42 games in his Sophomore season, Matt Rempe has signed a two-year, $1.95 million contract extension ($975,000 AAV) with New York on the first day of the offseason. The 22-year-old towering bruiser was originally New York's 2020 6th-round pick (165th overall) and has four goals, six points, 138 PIMs and a +8 plus/minus in 59 career NHL games played.

Koppanen split his 2024-25 season between the NHL and AHL, but spent most of the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he had 23 points (8G / 15A) in 56 games. Koppanen has just one goal and one assist in 20 career NHL games since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Freij was a second-round pick (No.37 overall) of the Jets in 2024 and septa the 2024-25 season with Bjorkloven IF (HockeyAllsvenskan), where he posted two goals with six assists (eight points) in 29 games. The 19-year-old defenseman is expected to move up to Sweden's top league in 2025-26 and play for Timrå IK.

Poirier spent the entire season with Texas (AHL), where he went 17-11-2 with a 2.50 GAA and .908 SV% in 31 games. Poirier served as Texas' No.1 netminder in the AHL playoffs, going 5-3 with a 2.19 GAA and .919 SV%. Expect him to start the 2025-26 season in the AHL again.

Copley only appeared in one game for Los Angeles in 2024-25 but will provide some goaltending depth yet again after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Monday with the Kings. The 33-year-old Alaskan netminder appeared in 42 games with Ontario (AHL) in 2024-25, posting a 24-17-1 record with a .904 SV%.

Thomson spent the 2024-25 season with Malmö (SHL) but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old is expected to return to North America after one season with Malmö, where he excelled with 17 goals and 29 points in 50 games played. His last NHL appearance came in 2022-23 with Ottawa, where he had no points in two games played.

After three seasons in Switzerland, Juho Lammikko is returning to the NHL with New Jersey after signing a one-year, $800,000 contract on Sunday. The 28-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 75 games played. He is expected to compete for a roster spot come the 2025-26 season.

Rohrer was a third-round pick of the Canadiens in 2022 and has won back-to-back National League Championships while playing with Zurich SC. In 2024-25, Rohrer had 15 goals and 10 assists (25 points) in 52 games and added five points (1G / 4A) in 16 playoff games.

Soderstrom spent 2024-25 playing professional hockey for Brynas IF (SHL) but has had his rights traded from Chicago to Boston for Ryan Mast and a 7th-round pick. The 24-year-old Swedish defenseman was Arizona's 1st-round pick in 2019 (11th overall) and has 11 points in 53 career NHL games played.

Fermstrom was Pittsburgh's 2024 3rd-round pick (93rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Friday. The 19-year-old Swedish right-winger spent 2024-25 with Orebro HK (SHL) and had eight goals and 17 points in 48 games played.

Imama appeared in 16 games with the Penguins in 2024-25, picking up one goal, 30 PIMs and a +2 plus/minus and earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Friday. The 28-year-old bruiser has appeared in 31 career NHL games with three separate organizations (ARI, OTT, PIT) but has never averaged more than 7:29 TOI in any of his four seasons.

Pettersson was Anaheim's 2024 2nd-round pick (35th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ducks on Friday. The 19-year-old Swedish center spent 2024-25 split between MoDo Hockey (SHL) and Ostersunds IK (HockeyAllsvenskan). He is expected to play for Brynas IF of the SHL for the 2025-26 season.