Signing
BREAKING: The Red Wings have signed defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo to a two-year deal.
The move gives the Wings another offensive blueliner for the powerplay, when healthy.
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
Signing
1 year...$7 mil for Semin in Carolina.
Semin latches onto another 1-year contract with hopes of regaining the scoring prowess that he once saw with the Caps. The improving Hurricanes will foster an environment where could emerge as the team's top scoring forward. Look for him near the top of our ranks this preseason.
14-year, $110,000,000 contract with the Nashville Predators. Expires 2026 (UFA).
Source:
2012-07-25T03:59:00.000Z
Washington signed Wojtek Wolski to a one-year deal worth $600,000, giving them additional depth up front and perhaps a second-line winger.
It's a low-risk move for both the Caps and Wolski that could pay out huge dividends. Wolski has shown flashes of his offensive ability in the past but injuries have limited his output in recent years. If Wolski finds himself fortunate enough to be at RW on the Caps' top line, he could be a great FA pick up.
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are coming to the ?#mnwild?!
Suter was the second most coveted defender and joins Parise in Minnesota. Suter's fantasy stock should remain just about where it was with Nashville.
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are coming to the ?#mnwild?!
Parise, the most coveted free agent of the 2012 offseason, signs a $98-million deal, 13-year deal with his hometown and joins a Wild team that has shown limited offensive potential in the past.
Signing
Hearing that Jaromir Jagr has agreed to one-year, $4.5-million deal with the Dallas Stars
Jagr is an interesting addition to the re-tooling Stars. His skills appeared to be declining last season but could still be a mid-tier winger if he holds on to a top-six role with the Stars.
An Italian hockey team that wants to join the KHL has signed Andrew Raycroft.
This paves the way for Richard Bachman to be Lehtonen's backup.
Devils' Vladimir Zharkov will play in Russia's KHL next season: Agrees to two-year deal with CSKA Moscow
The Devils still retain the rights for the young winger.
Jiri Hudler agrees to 4 year, $16 million contract with Calgary Flames. 4yrs x $4 mil.
Tough to see Hudler finding more opportunity to score in Calgary than in Detroit.
2 year deal, $9mil for Jokinen in Wpg. $4.5 aav
Jokinen should see find himself part of the offense in Winnipeg but with the Jets' balanced approach, we don't see him standing out much.
It's a 4 year deal for Radulov in the ?#KHL? with CSKA.
Many would say good riddance as Radulov became the butt of jokes in the NHL. His rights still lie with the Preds but don't expect him back in the NHL any time soon.
Hurricanes sign Joe Corvo on a one-year $2-million deal.
Corvo finished with 25 points in 75 games with the Bruins last season. He returns to Carolina where had 40 points with the Canes the season before.
Signing
P.A. Parenteau to COL, 4 yrs, $16M total.
Parenteau had a breakout season with the Isles last year and could help spark the Avs' offense.
The Detroit Red Wings, as they are accustomed to doing, have brought back a familiar face, signing forward Mikael Samuelsson to a two-year contract on Sunday for $3 million per season.
Samuelsson will help improve the Wings' second power play.
Signing
The Detroit Red Wings have signed former Swiss scoring champ Damien Brunner to a one-year, two-way entry-level contract.
The Wings have had success with European free agents before and Mike Babcock feels that Brunner can contribute on the Wings' top two lines.
Filip Kuba to Florida. Two years, $8 million. Paperwork being finalized. ?#Sens?
Kuba will be looked at to replace Garrison's void on the powerplay.
Signing
?#isles? sign Brad Boyes to 1-year, $1 million deal.
A low risk contract for the Isles who could hope to see Boyes return back to productivity after an off year in Buffalo.
Guillaume Latendresse is in Ottawa for a medical. If he pass it, he'll play with the Senators next season.
Latendresse has been plagued by injuries in his short career but he's only 25 and looking for a new start with the Sens.
Signing
Garrison left $ on table - was offered "Wideman money" elsewhere - but wanted to play for hometown VAN, which held firm on internal $ scale.
The Canucks needed a booming shot to anchor their power play and Garrison helps fit that need. He'll be a good look among second tier defensemen next 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.