NHL Signings & Free Agents

Anaheim has locked up a key piece of their defensive unit on Thursday after the team announced they had signed Ian Moore to a two-year deal worth $1.15M AAV. The 24-year-old is entering his second full NHL season after a successful rookie campaign in 2025-26 saw him put up four goals and 12 points in 67 games played.

Ethan Cardwell will remain with San Jose's organization for a fourth season after it was announced the forward had signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Sharks. The 23-year-old appeared in seven games with the Sharks in 2025-26, but did majority of his damage with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), where he had seven goals and 15 points in 24 games played.

Dallas will bring back one of Texas' (AHL) best players next season after it was announced the Stars had signed Matthew Seminoff to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The 22-year-old was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (179th overall) and has spent the last three seasons in Texas (AHL). In 72 games in 2025-26, he had 24 goals and 50 points while picking up 24 PIMs.

Following a successful first professional season in Texas (AHL), Dallas has signed Harrison Scott to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The 25-year-old was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Maine (NCAA) after the 2024-25 season and had 18 goals and 32 points in 72 games in his first full campaign in the minors last year.

After three strong seasons in Ontario (AHL), Los Angeles has decided to keep Francesco Pinelli in the organization for another season after the forward signed a one-year, two-way contract on Thursday. The 23-year-old was Los Angeles' 2021 2nd round pick (42nd overall) but has yet to make his NHL debut. In 65 games with Ontario in 2025-26, he had 14 goals, 35 points and 50 PIMs. He is expected to be a key part of the Reigns' roster yet again to start 2026-27.

Dallas continued to lock up defensive depth on Thursday after the team announced they had signed Luke Krys to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The 25-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Texas (AHL) after coming over from Providence College (NCAA) in 2023-24. In 40 games played in 2025-26, he had seven goals, 16 points and 30 PIMs.

After appearing in 33 games with Dallas in 2025-26, the Stars have locked up Kyle Capobianco to a two-year contract extension worth $850K AAV. The 28-year-old was effective when called upon last season, with two goals, five points and eight PIMs across his 33 appearances. He is expected to provide key defensive depth for the Stars as they enter the 2026-27 campaign.

After five appearances with Columbus in 2025-26, Mikael Pyyhtia has earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $875,000 AAV to remain with the Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old forward was Columbus' 2020 4th round pick (114th overall) and has appeared in 71 NHL games with the Blue Jackets since 2022-23, picking up five goals, 11 points and eight PIMs during that time. He is expected to compete for a bottom-six role in training camp for the Blue Jackets.

Valimaki was a 16th-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but he spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 23 points (7G / 16A) in 27 games. The 27-year-old defenseman has had some success at the NHL level, including an impressive 34-point campaign (4G / 30A) in the 2022-23 season in 78 games with the Arizona Coyotes.

Benson was drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and made his presence felt with a breakout 2025-26 season, scoring 43 points (13G / 30A) in 65 games. The 21-year-old forward continued to gain attention in the postseason, where he scored nine points (5G / 4A) in 13 games. He should continue to see his role elevate in the upcoming season with the Sabres, especially with the recent departure of top-six forward Alex Tuch.