NHL Signings & Free Agents

Kirasanov was Los Angeles's 2021 3rd-round pick (84th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Kings after spending the last five seasons in the KHL. The 22-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to report to Ontario (AHL) for the start of this season. In 2024-25, he had three goals, seven points, and a +5 plus/minus in 34 games played with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL).

Ilyin is Pittsburgh's 2023 5th-round pick (142nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins on Saturday. The 20-year-old Russian winger spent 2024-25 with Severstal (KHL) and had seven goals, 30 points and 14 PIMs in 64 games played.

Smith is Utah's 2024 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract upon the completion of Moncton's Memorial Cup run. The 18-year-old center spent 2024-25 with Moncton (QMJHL) and had 20 goals, 39 points and 62 PIMs in 52 games played.

Nabokov was Colorado's 2024 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche. The 22-year-old Russian netminder has already been loaned back to Metallurg (KHL) for the 2025-26 season after posting a 23-17-6 record, .923 SV% and 2.22 GAA in 49 games played in 2024-25.

Grans only appeared in six games for the Philadelphia Flyers in his rookie season in 2024-25, picking up an assist and two PIMs and has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract worth $787,000 AAV. The 23-year-old defenseman was Los Angeles's 2020 2nd round pick (35th overall) and spent the majority of 2024-25 putting up eight goals and 23 points in 66 games played with Lehigh Valley (AHL).

Boqvist was acquired off waivers by Long Island in 2024-25 and has signed a one-year, $850,000 contract extension to remain with the Islanders for at least one more season. The 24-year-old mobile defenseman was once the 2018 8th overall pick but has struggled to find his footing, even playing forward at times for the Islanders last season. In 35 games combined between Florida and New York, he had four goals and 14 points while producing a -9 plus/minus.

After five successful seasons on Long Island, Kyle Palmieri has committed to two more after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV). The 34-year-old continued to play a crucial top-six role in 2024-25, picking up 24 goals, 48 points and 169 SOG in 82 games played. He is only 100 games away from reaching the illustrious 1000 games played mark.

Foerster was the 23rd overall pick of the Flyers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and has 83 points (48G / 35A) in 166 career games with the team. The 23-year-old Foerster played a career-high 81 games last season and scored a career-high 43 points (25G / 18A).

Utah acquired DeSimone via waivers and he made an impact with the club, securing a one-year contract extension. The 30-year-old defenseman had six points (1G / 5A) in 20 games with Utah this season.

Mukhamadulin played a career-high 30 games with the Sharks this season and will return to the club in 2025-26. The 23-year-old defenseman had nine points (2G / 7A) in 30 games this season.

Hayden has spent the last three seasons in Seattle and will remain with the Kraken for two more years after signing a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV) on Wednesday. The 30-year-old forward appeared in 20 games with the Kraken in 2024-25, picking up a goal and two points to go alongside 31 PIMs while averaging 8:31 TOI/GP.

But was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (12th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old left-winger is expected to head over to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up nine goals and 28 points with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Simashev was Utah's 2023 1st-round pick (6th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Mammoth on Wednesday. The 20-year-old Russian defenseman is expected to head to North America for the 2025-26 season after putting up a goal, six points and a +9 plus/minus in 56 games played with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) in 2024-25.

Afanasyev was acquired from Nashville mid-season in 2024-25 in exchange for Ozzy Wiesblatt and has signed a one-year contract extension to remain with San Jose, worth $800,000. The 24-year-old Russian winger was once a 2019 2nd-round pick (45th overall) but spent 2024-25 with CSKA Moskva (KHL) where he picked up seven assists and 21 points in 53 games played.

Zajicek is an undrafted 23-year-old netminder who has spent the last six seasons with HC Litvinov (Czechia) and will join Boston on a one-year, entry-level contract worth $872,500. The 6'2" goalie opened eyes recently at the World Hockey Championships, where he was the definition of perfect, stopping all 40 shots he faced and posting two shutouts for Czechia in his only two starts. In 29 games with HC Litvinov as well in 2024-25, he posted an eye-popping .930 SV% and 15-13-0 record.

Chesley was Washington's 2022 2nd round pick (37th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old defenseman spent 2024-25 with the University of Minnesota (NCAA) where he captained the team and put up eight goals and 20 points in 40 total games played.

Keskinen is Columbus' 2023 7th-round pick (194th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old center represented Finland at the 2025 World Jr Championships and spent the entire 2024-25 season with Tappara (Liiga), where he scored 15 goals and 35 points in 59 games played in Finland's top league.

Yurov is Minnesota's 2022 1st round pick (24th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The 21-year-old Russian forward spent 2024-25 with Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) and had 13 goals and 25 points in 46 games played.

Eklind made his professional North American debut this season, tallying 22 points (5G / 17A) in 64 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL). The undrafted 26-year-old has yet to play an NHL game.