3-year, $2,602,500 contract with the New York Rangers. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:
2023-03-21T23:59:00.000Z
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
Max Crozier has signed a two-year, entry-level contract and will join Syracuse (AHL).
Crozier had three goals, 21 assists, 33 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 37 games with Providence College (NCAA) and signed a two-year, entry-level contract Tuesday. He will join Syracuse (AHL) right away.
3-year, $2,602,500 contract with the Seattle Kraken. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2023-03-20T23:59:00.000Z
Hunter McKown has been signed to a three-year, entry-level contract and is expected to join the team this week.
McKown had 21 goals, seven assists, 30 PIMs and a -19 plus/minus through 38 games with Colorado College (NCAA) and has been signed to a three-year, entry-level contract and is expected to join the team this week. The 20-year-old was an undrafted free agent.
The Blackhawks signed Ryder Rolston to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Rolston was originally a fifth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2020 but was traded to Chicago in 2021 for Carl Soderberg. The 21-year-old winger had seven goals and 13 assists (20 points) in 27 games at Notre Dame this season.
The Blackhawks signed Wyatt Kaiser to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Kaiser was a third-round pick in 2020 (No.81 overall) and picked up 23 points (5G / 18A) in 35 games at the University of Minnesota-Duluth this season.
The Red Wings signed Antti Tuomisto to a two-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.
The Red Wings selected Tuomisto with the No.35 overall pick in 2019. After two seasons at the University of Denver, the right-handed defnseman returned to Finland for the 2023 season. Tuomisto scored five goals with 15 assists (20 points) in 60 games with TPS Turku (Liiga).
3-year, $2,529,999 contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Expires 2026 (UFA NO QO).
Source:2023-03-19T23:59:00.000Z
The Sabres have signed Devon Levi to a three-year entry-level contract.
Levi was selected in the seventh-round of the 2020 draft and was traded to the Sabres as a part of the deal that sent Sam Reinhart to the Panthers. Levi is widely considered one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL and went 17-12-5 with a 2.24 GAA, .933 SV% and six shutouts in 34 games with Northeastern University this season.
3-year, $2,775,000 contract with the Utah Mammoth. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2023-03-16T23:59:00.000Z
3-year, $2,574,999 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Expires 2026 (UFA NO QO).
Source:2023-03-16T23:59:00.000Z
The Ducks signed Nikita Nesterenko to a three-year entry-level contract.
Neterenko had 13 goals, 21 assists, 18 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 36 games this season with Boston College (NCAA) and has been signed to a three-year entry-level contract Tuesday. He is expected to join the Ducks right away and draw into their lineup immediately.
The Golden Knights signed Christoffer Sedoff to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Sedoff has four goals, 46 assists, 24 PIMs and a +14 plus/minus through 58 games with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 21-year-old was an undrafted free agent signing.
The Wild signed Hunter Haight to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Haight has 19 goals, 36 assists, 14 PIMs and is a -11 plus/minus through 59 games with the Saginaw Spirit (OHL) and Barrie Colts (OHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota. The 18-year-old is Minnesota's 2022 second-round pick (47th overall).
The Capitals signed Ethen Frank to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$205,000) for the 2023-24 season.
Frank has 25 goals, 17 assists, 16 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 50 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$205,000) for the 2023-24 season.
The Blues have signed Michael Buchinger to a three-year entry-level contract.
Buchinger has 15 goals, 60 points, 56 PIMs and is a -7 plus/minus through 56 games with the Guelph Storm (OHL) and has signed a three-year entry-level contract with St. Louis. The 18-year-old was St. Louis' 2022 third-round pick (88th overall).
The Penguins have signed Isaac Belliveau to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Belliveau has 11 goals, 44 points, 50 PIMs and a +44 plus/minus through 50 games with the Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh. The 20-year-old was Pittsburgh's 2021 fifth-round pick (154 overall).
The Wild signed Caedan Bankier to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2023-24 season.
Bankier has 35 goals, 78 points, 16 PIMs and a +33 plus/minus through 51 games with the Kamloops Blazers (WHL) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota wild that starts in the 2023-24 season. The 20-year-old was the Wild's 2021 third-round pick (86th overall).
3-year, $2,555,001 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Expires 2026 (RFA).
Source:2023-03-15T23:59:00.000Z
The Maple Leafs have signed Ryan Tverberg to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The 2020 seventh-round pick will join the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of the season on a professional tryout, so this contract doesn't kick in until 2023-24. Tverberg had 30 points (15G / 15A) in 35 games with the University of Connecticut this season.
NHL Free Agents: Best Available Players in 2025
Once the dust settles on the Stanley Cup Final, the NHL offseason officially commences as the latest wave of free agents hit the market as teams and players alike reevaluate their current situation and plot their next steps toward success.
With a plethora of talent up for grabs every summer, Stanley Cup contenders can be formed as well as broken up through free agency. With NHL signings going down at a breakneck pace throughout the opening days of free agency, we’ll keep you in the loop with our 2025 NHL free agency tracker. You can find all of the latest NHL signings of the free agency period as players switch teams, sign extensions, and change the outlook of the league with a single decision.
Whether you’re a diehard fan of your favourite team and are looking to stay up to date with every move made by the front office, or are an avid daily fantasy sports bettor that wants to prep for their wagers, our NHL free agency tracker is the best destination for all your free agent market news.
Types of Free Agent Markets
Each NHL free agent holds their own unique distinction when signing with a team. These distinctions are made based on a number of factors including age, NHL experience, as well as their current contract situation. NHL free agents are divided by restricted and unrestricted free agents, with each classification of player holding varying rights, including how teams are able to offer them contracts, and the results of receiving an offer.
Below, we take a deep dive into each type of NHL free agent so you can get a thorough understanding of each free agent market type, how they are able to sign with teams, and the possible outcomes from each offseason acquisition.
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted NHL free agent (RFA) is a player that is either under the age of 27 or has been in the NHL for less than seven seasons. Teams hold a form of protection over their restricted free agents, providing them with a sort of insurance if their RFA decides to sign with a new team.
While restricted free agents are technically eligible to sign a new contract with different teams, the process can become messy if a team other than their original squad makes them an offer and they accept. Restricted free agents are only able to sign a standard NHL contract with the team that currently owns the players rights, all other squads must submit an offer sheet if they want to lure away a player from their team. If an offer sheet is made to an RFA, the team who holds the players rights will be left with the option to either match the offer made to their player, or allow the player to sign with the team that made the offer sheet, in return receiving draft compensation depending on the value of the contract offered.
Qualifying Offers
In order for a team to retain a player’s rights heading into the free agency period, they must make a qualifying offer to the player. These offers are in the form of a one-year contract, with the amount offered being formulated depending on the value of their previous contract.
For any player who was on a deal worth $660,000 or less, the qualifying offer they receive must be worth 110% the amount of their previous season’s salary. For a player making between $660,000 and $1,000,000, they must be offered 105% their previous seasons salary. Finally, if a player was making more than $1 million in their previous year of duty, their team must offer them 100% of their previous season’s salary.
These offers are not final and players are eligible to receive greater or lesser valued contracts from the team that holds their rights once free agency begins. Players who reject qualifying offers remain restricted free agents.
Non-Qualified RFAs
If a team decides to not submit a qualifying offer to a restricted free agent on their roster, all non-qualified RFAs instantly become free agents and are welcome to sign contracts with any team come July 1st.
Unrestricted Free Agents
The other form of NHL free agent is the unrestricted free agent (UFA). UFAs have the right to sign their next deal with any team without restriction, as long as the offer they sign complies with league salary cap mandates and rules. Unrestricted free agents are truly what can shake up the free agent market, with many of the leagues top stars entering into the offseason as UFAs.
There are multiple forms of unrestricted free agents, each with their own unique classifications, but don’t necessarily affect the potential value of the contracts offered to them in the offseason. Below are two of the most common UFAs.
Group 3 UFAs
Common among NHL veterans, Group 3 comprises players entering free agency that are 27 or older, or have played in the NHL for more than seven accrued seasons. An accrued season is defined as a season in which a player has suited up for action on an NHL roster in at least 40 games (30 for goalies). Any player that fits this criteria will become an unrestricted free agent once their contract expires in the following offseason.
Group 6 UFAs
Another way that players can become an unrestricted free agent is by being 25 years of age or older and to have played three or more professional hockey seasons under an NHL contract (AHL, ECHL, Europe), but played in less than 80 NHL games (28 for goalies) in their career. Often, Group 6 unrestricted free agents are developing players that, for one reason or another, have not had the chance to crack into an NHL lineup, but still possess experience as a high-level player. There is no difference in the rights of Group 3 and Group 6 unrestricted free agents, but typically the latter will receive smaller contracts, both in terms of value as well as in duration.
Undrafted UFAs
The final way that a player may enter into free agency as an unrestricted free agent is by going undrafted in their three years of draft eligibility. If a player is not selected by an NHL franchise through the draft they are still eligible to crack into a final roster as a free agent.
NHL Free Agency FAQs
Who are the top NHL free agents in 2025?
Some of the top NHL free agents available this summer are Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Aaron Ekblad, Nikolaj Ehlers, John Tavares, Brock Boeser, Brad Marchand and Linus Ullmark.
This offseason will bring a stacked crop of free agents to the market that will shape the landscape of the 2025-26 NHL season. Not only will the final landing spots for each of the top 2025 NHL free agents shake up the framework of the league, but will also have major implications on the upcoming fantasy hockey season. Be sure to stay in the know in regard to the latest free agency updates with our NHL player news.
What time does free agency start?
On July 1st, 2025, at 12 PM EST, the 2025 NHL free agency period officially opens. While some players will have all but signed the dotted line up to this point, nothing can become official until noon on Canada Day.