NHL Signings & Free Agents

Alec Martinez will join Chicago for his 16th NHL season after the veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Blackhawks on Monday. The three-time Stanley Cup Champion only managed to play in 55 games in 2023-24 due to injury, but still had four goals, 17 points, and 72 SOG while averaging 19:03 TOI/GP.

After six lacklustre seasons away from Winnipeg, Eric Comrie will return to the Jets on a one-year deal worth $825,000 to provide much-needed goaltending depth. The 28-year-old spent 2023-24 with Buffalo and struggled mightily in his 10 appearances, with his 2-7-0 record, 3.69 GAA and .874 SV%.

Arguably the biggest fish of the free agent market is off the board early on Monday as Steven Stamkos has signed a four-year deal worth $32.0 million ($8.0M AAV) with Nashville after 16 successful seasons in Tampa Bay. The 34-year-old brings a full trophy collection to the Predators as he's a two-time Cup winner, two-time Rocket Richard Winner and a two-time all-star. In 79 games played in 2023-24, he had 40 goals and 81 points alongside 262 SOG.

Nashville's massive first day of Free Agency continued Monday as Brady Skjei joined Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in joining the Predators after he signed a seven-year deal worth $49.0 million ($7.0M AAV). The 30-year-old spent his first nine NHL seasons between New York and Carolina and had a career year in 2023-24 with 13 goals, 47 points, 40 PIMs and a +15 plus/minus in 80 games played.

The "Big Rig" Pat Maroon will join his eighth NHL team after he signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million with Chicago on Monday. The 36-year-old bruising winger is entering his 14th NHL season and had four goals and 16 points in 51 games with both Minnesota and Boston in 2023-24.

Recent cup winner Oliver Ekman-Larsson will join the Toronto Maple Leafs on a four-year deal worth $14.0 million ($3.5M AAV). The 32-year-old is coming off his strongest statistical season since 2018-19 after he had nine goals and 32 points in 80 games with the Panthers in 2023-24.

Washington continued to shape their brand new looking defensive unit on Monday as they signed Matt Roy to a six-year deal worth $34.5 million ($5.75M AAV). The 29-year-old completed his third straight season with mid 20's points in 2023-24 as he ended the season with five goals and 25 points in 81 games played.

Mantha will join his third team in two seasons as he signed a one-year deal worth $3,500,000 with the Calgary Flames on Monday. The 29-year-old spent 2023-24 with both Washington and Vegas and had 23 goals, 44 points, 25 PIMs and 113 SOG in 74 games played.

Carolina will keep one of its most important defensive pieces around long term as they have signed Jaccob Slavin to an eight-year contract extension worth $51.69 million ($6.46M AAV). The 30-year-old defenseman just completed his ninth season with Carolina (665 GP) and had six goals, 37 points and a +21 plus/minus in 81 games played in 2023-24.

Fan favourite Jordan Martinook will remain in Carolina after the Hurricanes signed the 10-year veteran to a three-year extension worth $9.15 million ($3.05M AAV). The 31-year-old Hurricanes' assistant captain surpassed the 30+ point plateau for a second straight season in 2023-24 as he ended the campaign with 14 goals and 32 points in 82 games played.

Lafferty will join his fourth team in the last three years as he signed a two-year deal worth $4.0 million ($2.0M AAV). with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. The 29-year-old centre spent one season in Vancouver in 2023-24, finishing with career highs in goals (13), points (24) PIMs (32) and games played (79).

Toffoli will head to the West Coast to join the young talent out in San Jose as he signed a four-year deal worth $24.0 million ($6.0M AAV) with the Sharks on Monday. The 32-year-old was acquired at the trade deadline by Winnipeg from New Jersey and had 33 goals, 55 points and 229 SOG in 79 total games played in 2023-24.

One of the biggest defensive pieces on the open market is gone early on Monday as New Jersey has signed nine-year veteran Brett Pesce to a six-year deal worth $33.0 million ($5.5M AAV). The 29-year-old has spent his entire career with Carolina and had three goals, 13 points and a +10 plus/minus in 70 games played last year.

Teravainen will return to Chicago, where he spent the first three seasons of his 11-year career after he agreed to a three-year deal worth $16.2 million ($5.4M AAV) on Monday. The 29-year-old left-winger surpassed his career high in goals in 2023-24 (25) and had 53 points, 142 SOG and a +15 plus/minus in 76 games played.

Trenin will get a big pay upgrade as he signed a four-year, $14 million contract ($3,500,000 AAV) to join the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The 27-year-old bottom-six forward was acquired by Colorado at the trade deadline last season from Nashville and had 12 goals, 17 points and 40 PIMs in 76 games played in 2023-24.

Kapenen will return to the Blues for a third-straight season after putting up six goals and 22 points in 73 games in 2023-24. The 27-year-old will return to St. Louis for at least one more campaign after signing a deal worth $1 million as he enters his 10th NHL season.

Arguably the biggest defensive free agent is off the market early on Monday as Seattle has signed reigning Stanley Cup Champion Brandon Montour to a seven-year deal worth $49.98 million ($7.14M AAV). The 30-year-old smashed his career highs in 2022-23 after he ended the season fifth in the NHL in defensive scoring with 16 goals and 73 points in 80 games but came back down to earth in 2023-24 with eight goals and 33 points in 66 games played.

Despite retirement rumours, 36-year-old Erik Johnson will rejoin the Philadelphia Flyers on a one-year contract extension worth $1,000,000. The defensive defenseman is just 13 games from 1000 played as he enters his 14th NHL season and had five goals, six points and 26 PIMs in 67 games between Buffalo and Philadelphia in 2023-24.

McMichael took a massive step forward with his game in 2023-24 after Niklas Backstrom was ruled out for the season and earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $4.2 million ($2.1M AAV). The 23-year-old averaged 5:21 TOI/GP more than his previous career high last season which led to his 18 goals and 33 points in 80 games played.

Robinson spent 2023-24 between Columbus and Buffalo but has signed a one-year deal to join Carolina worth $950,000. The 29-year-old role-player never really settled into Buffalo during his brief tenure as he had two goals and nine points in 40 games after joining the Sabres early in the season.