NHL Signings & Free Agents

New York brought back their 2024-25 AHL starter on Sunday after they announced the signing of Dylan Garand to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old was New York's 2020 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and appeared in 39 games as Hartford's (AHL) starter in 2024-25, posting a 20-10-9 record alongside his .913 SV% and 2.73 GAA. He is expected to return as Hartford's starter for the 2025-26 season, but has a shot to make his NHL debut if the Rangers run into any injury issues.

After three semi-successful seasons on Long Island, Hudson Fasching has signed with Columbus on a one-year, two-way contract to provide some offensive depth for the Blue Jackets. The 30-year-old winger struggled with the Islanders in 2024-25, putting up just two goals and four points in 43 games played. He is expected to battle for a bottom-six role in Columbus and will hope to return to the 19-point form we witnessed across 49 games in 2022-23.

Gagne was a former 6th-round pick (2021) with Tampa Bay but failed to sign an entry-level contract with the Lightning and has now signed a two-year entry-level contract with Colorado. The 23-year-old defenseman will join the Colorado Eagles (AHL) after a successful senior season where he captained the University of New Hampshire (NCAA) in 2024-25 with four goals and 17 points in 35 games played.

Hamonic will join his fifth NHL organization in his 16th season after he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Detroit on Friday to provide some defensive depth. The 35-year-old stay-at-home defender appeared in 59 games with Ottawa in 2024-25, picking up a goal, seven points, and a -16 plus/minus. He is expected to compete for a spot in Detroit's third defensive pairing to start the season.

After two seasons in Charlotte (AHL), Michael Benning is expected to return to the Checkers after the 23-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Florida on Thursday. The puck-moving defenseman has yet to make an NHL appearance but has excelled with the Checkers in his last two seasons, putting up an impressive nine goals, 32 points and 34 PIMs in 54 games played last season.

Pyyhtia will return for a fourth season in Columbus after signing a one-year, two-way contract extension on Wednesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Columbus's 2020 4th-round pick (114th overall) and appeared in 47 games with the Blue Jackets in 2024-25, picking up career highs with four goals, seven points and 32 SOG. He is expected to play a depth role for the Blue Jackets for the upcoming season.

Seattle locked up one of their key defenders on Monday after they announced Ryker Evans had signed a two-year contract extension worth $2.05 million AAV ($4.1M total). The 23-year-old was Seattle's 2021 2nd round pick (35th overall) and has done well adjusting to the NHL since making his debut in 2023-24. In his sophomore campaign in 2024-25, he took a massive step forward with career highs in all statistical categories, including his five goals, 25 points and 30 PIMs in 73 games played.

Bastian provides very little offence, combining for just 37 points (15G / 22A) in 156 games over the last three seasons with the Devils, but he brings plenty of physicality. Bastian ranked 29th in the NHL in Hits/60 (min 500 TOI) last season and 26th in Hits/60 (min 1500) in the last three seasons. As a team, Dallas was second-last in the NHL in hits in 2024-25.

Kiviranta had a solid 2024-25 season with the Avalanche, posting 16 goals with seven assists (23 points) in 79 games while posting a plus-15 rating and 114 hits. Kiviranta returns to Colorado, where he will likely continue to serve in the bottom-6 role that saw him average 12:31 TOI/gm last season.

William Villeneuve will return to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) for a fourth straight season after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. The 23-year-old puck-moving defender was Toronto's 2020 4th-round pick (122nd overall) but has yet to make his first NHL appearance despite solid offensive numbers every season with the Marlies. He is expected to start 2025-26 as one of the Marlies' main defenders after his four-goal, 40-point season last year across 55 games played.