NHL Signings & Free Agents

Smith only played 13 NHL games last season, split between the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche, and has been signed to a two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Smith has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 168 career games.

LaCombe had an outstanding sophomore campaign with the Ducks in 2024-25, scoring a career-high 43 point (14G / 29A) in 75 games, earning himself a massive eight-year, $72 million contract ($9M AAV). The talented 24-year-old defenseman is poised to start the 2025-26 season on the top powerplay unit for an improving young Ducks team and could be destined for another career-best season.

The Panthers have orchestrated another long-term extension to a member of their core, inking Mikkola to an additional eight-years worth $40 million total ($5M AAV). The 29-year-old Mikkola played a career-high 20:12 time-on-ice last season and scored 22 points (6G / 16A) in 76 games.

After a long summer of back-and-forth contract negotiations, New Jersey and Luke Hughes have agreed to a seven-year extension worth $9 million AAV ($63M total). The 22-year-old was New Jersey's 2021 1st round pick (4th overall) and is entering his third full season with the Devils after putting up seven goals, 44 points and 121 SOG in 71 games played.

After countless trade speculations and a deliberate back-and-forth between Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild, the two parties have agreed on an NHL record-breaking eight-year, $17 million AAV contract. Since his introduction in the NHL in the 2020-21 season, Kaprizov has been among the top point producers in the league, with 386 points (185G / 201A) in 319 games. The 28-year-old superstar forward battled injuries last season and was limited to only 41 games, scoring 56 points (25G / 31A), and will hope to return to speed as one of the NHL's most productive players in the 2025-26 season.

Toronto has locked up its starting goaltender for four more seasons after they announced Sunday that they have signed Anthony Stolarz to a four-year extension worth $3.75 million AAV ($15M total). The 31-year-old is entering his 9th NHL season and 2nd in Toronto after setting career-highs in games started (33), wins (21), SV% (.926 SV%), and shutouts (4) last season.

Fowler flourished after being traded from Anaheim to St. Louis last season and has earned himself a three-year extension worth $6.1 million AAV ($18.3M total) with St. Louis on Saturday. The 33-year-old is entering his 16th NHL season and his first full season with St. Louis after picking up nine goals and 36 points in 51 games after his trade last season. Fowler is expected to yet again play a key part in St. Louis' defensive unit and top power play this season.

With just over a week of training camp left, Anaheim has completed a key piece of business by signing Mason McTavish to a six-year extension worth an estimated $7 million AAV ($42M total). The 22-year-old is entering his fourth full season in Anaheim after putting up career highs in goals (22), assists (30), points (52) and SOG (180) across 76 games played in 2024-25. He is expected to be a key part of Anaheim's top-six and power play in 2025-26.

After an impressive first campaign with Red Deer in the WHL, Jaxon Fuder has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract with Dallas after going undrafted last season. The 19-year-old forward is expected to return to Red Deer for a sophomore campaign in 2025-26, where he had 11 goals, 26 points and 91 PIMs in 46 games played.

Edmonton locked up one of their complementary forwards on Monday after they announced the signing of Vasily Podkolzin to a three-year contract extension worth $2.95 million AAV ($8.85M total). The 23-year-old right-winger enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2024-25 with eight goals and 24 points after he was acquired from Vancouver before the start of last season for a 2025 4th round pick.

Chiarot was Vancouver's 2025 6th round pick (175th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old right-winger is expected to spend 2025-26 with Brampton, where he is also projected to take a massive step forward entering his third OHL season after putting up 21 goals and 35 points in 66 games in 2024-25.

Patterson was Vancouver's 2024 5th round pick (125th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old forward is expected to return to the OHL for the 2025-26 season, starting a new chapter with Niagara (OHL) after spending last season in Barrie (OHL) with 25 goals and 59 points in 64 games played.

Minnesota has locked up its 2024 5th round pick (142nd overall) after announcing it had signed Chase Wutzke to a two-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old is expected to return to Red Deer (WHL) for a fourth season in 2025-26 after posting a 17-25-5 record last season with a 3.38 GAA and .895 SV%.

James was drafted by Chicago in the 6th round of the 2022 NHL Draft (173rd overall) but was unable to agree to an entry-level contract and has instead signed a two-year contract with Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old spent the last four seasons playing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and is expected to join Syracuse (AHL) to start 2025-26. He had 14 goals and 30 points in 35 games in his senior season of college last year.

Just hours before training camp, Chicago has locked up a key defensive piece by signing former 3rd-round pick (81st overall) Wyatt Kaiser to a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million AAV ($3.4M total). Kaiser took a huge step forward in 2024-25, setting career highs in almost all categories, including goals (4), points (8) , games played (57) and SOG (66). The 23-year-old is expected to play another pivotal role on Chicago's defence as the Blackhawks enter 2025-26 and he takes another step forward alongside his young teammates.

Calgary's captain will return for an 18th season with the Flames after Mikael Backlund signed a two-year extension worth $3.25M AAV ($6.5 million total) on Wednesday. The 36-year-old remained a steady nightly presence in Calgary's lineup last season, with 15 goals, 32 points and 175 SOG in 76 games played while averaging 18:44 TOI/GP.

Walker came out of nowhere to score three goals and four points in seven playoff games last season and has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $887,500 AAV ($1.775M total). The 31-year-old Great Britain native is entering his ninth NHL season after setting career highs last season in assists (8), points (16), PIMs (63) and SOG (72).

Knight was acquired by the Blackhawks in March and has earned himself a three-year contract extension worth $5.83 AAV ($17.49M total). The 24-year-old was once one of the brightest goaltending prospects in hockey, but struggled to catch on during his four years in Florida. After being traded to Chicago, he posted a .896 SV%, 3.18 GAA and a 5-8-2 record.

Suseyev was St.Louis's 2023 7th round pick and will head to North America for the first time after signing a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The 20-year-old winger will be glad to stick with one team in 2025-26, as he is expected to start the season with Springfield (AHL) after playing for five separate teams across three professional leagues (KHL, VHL, MHL) last season.