NHL Signings & Free Agents

Gilbert has played 119 career NHL games, but only suited up in eight last season with the Ottawa Senators. The 29-year-old defenseman will provide some reliable depth on Buffalo's blueline after signing a one-year deal worth $850K.

Johnston has struggled to be a full-time NHLer over his career, but at age 31 in the 2025-26 season, he had a breakout season in a fourth-line role for the Anaheim Ducks, tallying 14 points (3G / 11A), 107 penalty minutes, and 192 hits in 62 games. He earns himself some security, joining the Blues on a three-year contract worth $6 million ($2M AAV).

It was widely assumed that Andersson would sign a lengthy extension with the Vegas Golden Knights after they acquired him in a trade last season, which came to fruition on the first day of free agency, with a seven-year extension worth $59.5 million ($8.5M AAV). The veteran 29-year-old Swedish defenseman was solid in a brief run with the Golden Knights, averaging 21:42 time-on-ice and scoring 17 points (7G / 10A) in 33 games.

Moroz was a third-round pick, 88th overall, and has signed a two-year, entry-level contract. The 22-year-old Belarusian forward has spent the previous four seasons with Minsk Dynamo in the KHL. He scored 29 points (14G / 15A) in 54 games in 2025-26.

Lomberg became a fan favourite with the Calgary Flames over the past two seasons as an intimidating bottom-six forward, but he will join his third NHL team after signing a two-year contract worth $2.6 million ($1.3M AAV) with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 31-year-old scored nine points (4G / 5A) in 57 games last season.

Cole spent the previous two seasons with the Utah Mammoth and will have a change of scenery in 2026-27, signing a one-year, $4.0 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, his 10th NHL team. The 37-year-old defenseman scored 23 points (3G / 20A) last season in 82 games.

Perry signed with the Los Angeles Kings last offseason on a one-year contract before being dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline. The 41-year-old forward will return to the Kings to start the 2026-27 season on a one-year contract worth $1.0 million. Last season, he scored 37 points (17G / 20A) in 72 combined games.

After spending his first five NHL seasons with the Nashville Predators, the team traded him to Vegas mid-season in 2025-26. The 30-year-old forward will have another change of scenery entering year seven of his career, signing a three-year contract extension worth $3.0 million AAV with the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored 12 points (8G / 4A) in 63 combined games last season.

Schwartz spent the past five seasons with the Seattle Kraken and has opted for a change of scenery, signing a three-year, $9.75 million contract ($3.25M AAV) with the Colorado Avalanche. The 34-year-old veteran forward averaged 16:08 time-on-ice and scored 26 points (11G / 15A) in 50 games with Seattle.

After being thrust into a starting role with the Philadelphia Flyers the past two seasons, Ersson was overtaken by Dan Vladar in the 2025-26 season, making Ersson expendable for the Flyers. The 26-year-old Ersson posted a 3.12 GAA and .870 SV% last season in 33 games (14-11-5) with the Flyers and hopes to provide complementary goaltending for Ottawa behind Linus Ullmark.

After seven successful seasons in Minnesota, Mats Zuccarello will start a new adventure in his 17th NHL season after signing a one-year, $1 million contract with Los Angeles on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Norwegian winger has surpassed 54+ points in each of his last five seasons and is expected to provide an offensive spark to Los Angeles who finished 4th worst in the NHL in goals for in 2025-26.

Samoskevich's rights were acquired from Florida prior to the NHL Entry Draft for a 2026 1st round pick (25th overall) and a 2027 condition second-round pick and the 23-year-old has now signed a three-year, $3.85 million AAV contract extension ($11.5M total) with Seattle. The former 2021 1st round pick (24th overall) is entering his third full season in the NHL after putting up a career high in points in 2025-26, with 12 goals, 32 points, 30 PIMs and 161 SOG.

One of the dominos of free agency has dropped after it was announced moments after the signing window that Los Angeles has signed Erik Haula to a two-year, $3.5 million AAV ($7.0M total). The 35-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season with his eighth organizations after spending last season with Nashville where he had 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games played.

Although Detroit could have matched Mazur's qualifying offer, the team and player decided to skip that and sign a cheaper, two-year, $875,000 AAV contract extension ($1.75M total). Mazur is Detroit's 2021 3rd round pick (70th overall) but has failed to find success at the NHL level after going pointless in his first nine NHL games over three seasons. He is expected to battle for a bottom-six role in Detroit in training camp after putting up 11 goals and 16 points in 16 games with Grand Rapids (AHL) last season.

After four strong seasons in Philadelphia, the Flyers have locked up 24-year-old former 1st round pick (23rd overall) Tyson Foester to an eight-year, approximately $7.1 million AAV contract ($56.8M total). Foerster was forced to miss 53 games in 2025-26 due to an injury but still managed to score 13 goals and 17 points in just 29 games played during the regular season.

Montreal has secured their young superstar for the remainder of the decade and beyond after they announced on Wednesday that Ivan Demidov has signed an eight-year, $9.125 million contract extension ($73M total). The 20-year-old flashy Russian is coming off an incredible rookie campaign which saw him lead all first-year players in points with 19 goals, 62 points and 34 PIMs in 82 games played.

After a very successful first season and playoffs in Philadelphia, Dan Vladar has locked up a five-year extension worth $5.5 million AAV ($27.5M total) to remain the Flyers' starting goalie for years to come. The 28-year-old spent four seasons in Calgary backing up the Flames before breaking out as Philadelphia's starter in 2025-26, with his 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA and .906 SV%. He will create a tandem with Joseph Woll for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Buffalo acquired the rights to Olen Zellweger last week for Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 2nd round pick and has now signed the defender to a three-year deal worth $3.1M AAV ($9.3M total). The 22-year-old will join Buffalo after three solid seasons in Anaheim which saw him surpass 7+ goals and 20+ points twice. He is expected to fill the void left by Bowen Byram being traded to Chicago for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Just hours before Wednesday's Free Agent signing window, Florida had announced through their social media account that Radko Gudas has signed a six-year deal worth $1.5M AAV ($9.0M total). The 36-year-old bruising defender is entering his 15th NHL season and will return to Florida for a 4th campaign after spending 2020-2023 in a Panthers' uniform. In 2025-26, he had two goals, 13 points and 67 PIMs in 56 games while being a steady veteran presence on Anaheim's blueline.