NHL Signings & Free Agents

After picking up 16 goals and 33 points with Tucson (AHL) in 2024-25, Ben McCartney has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension with Utah on Wednesday. The 23-year-old winger was Utah's 2020 7th overall pick (204th overall) and has spent the last four seasons in the AHL.

Postava was an undrafted free agent out of the Czech Extraliga. The 23-year-old netminder was 23-18-0 with a. 2.39 GAA and .920 SV% in 42 games during the regular season and 10-7-0 with a 1.97 GAA and .940 SV% in the playoffs with Brno Kometa. Postava will likely report to Grand Rapids (AHL) to begin the 2025-26 season.

Klapka made a splash in 2024-25 with six goals and 10 points in 31 games played and has earned himself a two-year, $2.5 million contract extension ($1,250,000 AAV). The 24-year-old undrafted right-winger made his NHL debut in 2023-24 but only picked up one goal in six games played before this year's breakout season.

Marjala was originally drafted by the Sabres in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft but never signed. Marjala spent the past three seasons in Finland with TPS Turku, posting 29 goals and 72 assists (101 points) in 129 games. In the 2024-25 season, he tied for the team lead with 52 points (8G / 44A) in 54 games.

Finley made his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season but spent most of the season in Syracuse (AHL), where he had 28 points (14G / 14A) in 40 games. The 22-year-old forward will likely begin the 2025-26 season in the AHL.

Crozier only appeared in five games with Tampa Bay in 2024-25 and failed to pick up a point, but has earned himself a three-year extension worth $775,000 AAV. The 25-year-old stay-at-home defenseman was Tampa Bay's 2019 4th-round pick (120th overall).

Nelson was acquired from the Islanders in March and had 13 points (6G / 7A) in 19 regular-season games and four assists in seven playoff games with the Avalanche. The 33-year-old will serve as Colorado's No.2 centre in 2025-26 and is signed through the 2027-28 season.

Kiiskinen was originally a third-round pick of the Predators but was acquired by the Red Wings in a trade last June. The 19-year-old winger spent the 2024-25 season in Finland, where he led HPK Hameenlinna with 44 points (14G / 30A) while playing just

Vancouver's General Manager Patrik Allvin announced Tuesday that the team had signed Derek Forbort to a one-year, $2 million contract extension. The 33-year-old will look to build off his first season in Vancouver in 2024-25, which saw him appear in only 54 games due to injury but put up two goals, 11 points and 45 penalty minutes.

Despite playing in 59 games with the Jets in 2024-25, Rasmus Kupari announced Tuesday that he had signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with Lugano (NL). Winnipeg is expected to retain the 25-year-old despite him heading overseas.

After an eye-opening seven-game showing with Syracuse (AHL) in 2024-25, Ryan Fanti has signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $775,000 with Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old netminder was originally signed as an undrafted free agent to Edmonton in 2022 and spent the majority of his career in the ECHL before breaking out last season. With Syracuse, he had a 3-1-0 record, .946 SV% and 1.45 GAA,

Fresh off a seven-game showing with Slovakia at the World Championships, Martin Chromiak has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Los Angeles. The 22-year-old winger was Los Angeles' 2020 5th round pick (128th overall) and had 18 goals and 39 points in 69 games with Ontario (AHL) last season.

Jarventie missed all but two games in 2024-25 due to a knee injury but has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with Edmonton. The 22-year-old was originally expected to return to Tappara of Liiga in Finland for the 2025-26 season as he recovers from last year's serious injury. He appeared in seven NHL games in 2023-24, picking up an assist.

After setting a career high in goals (16), PIMs (14) and SOG (110) in 2024-25, Noah Cates has earned himself a four-year, $16 million contract extension ($4,000,000 AAV). The 26-year-old American left-winger has spent his entire four-year career with the Flyers after being drafted in the 5th round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He had 16 goals and 37 points in 78 games played in 2024-25.

Despite not collecting a point in eight games with Seattle in 2024-25, Ben Meyers has earned himself a one-year, $775,000 contract extension. The undrafted 26-year-old is currently with his third NHL team in five seasons and has six goals and eight points in 75 career NHL games.

After an impressive season with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL), Garin Bjorklund has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Washington for the upcoming season. The 23-year-old Canadian netminder was Washington's 2020 6th-round pick (179th overall) and posted a 21-4-3 record, .927 SV% and 2.02 GAA with South Carolina last season. Washington is hoping he can bring his success from last season to Hershey (AHL) as he takes a further step forward in his development.

Gourde spent the first six seasons of his career in Tampa Bay before heading back to Seattle for four years before being traded back to Tampa Bay at last year's Trade Deadline and has signed a six-year, $13.98 million contract extension ($2,330,000 AAV to remain with the Lightning. The 33-year-old forward reached 30+ points for an eighth straight season in 2024-25 after putting up seven goals and 31 points in 57 games between Seattle and Tampa.

Amongst a flurry of different trade rumours, Minnesota has strengthened up their offensive depth on Monday by signing 34-year-old Marcus Johansson to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension. The Swedish winger is entering his 16th NHL season after putting up 11 goals and 34 points in 72 games with the Wild in 2024-25.

The 2024-25 season was the first full NHL season for Kleven, who had 19 points (4G / 6A) in 79 games. He also had a solid postseason, posting two assists, eight blocked shots and 16 hits while averaging 15:47 TOI/gm in six games vs. the Maple Leafs.

Hammell was Seattle's 2023 5th-round pick (148th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Sunday. The 20-year-old defenseman captained the Everett Silvertips (WHL) in 2024-25 and had 10 goals and 38 points in 59 games played.