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NHL Signings & Free Agents

Joel Hanley(Defenseman)(D)|Calgary Flames CGY

Signing

The Flames have signed Joel Hanley to a two-year deal worth $1.75M AAV ($3.5M total)

After posting a career high in points (9) in his 10th NHL season in 2024-25, Joel Hanley has earned himself a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension ($1,750,000 AVV) to remain with Calgary. The 34-year-old will provide Calgary with some much-needed defensive depth next season after collecting two goals, nine points and 21 PIMs in 53 games played last season.

Source:

@NHLFlames 2025-07-01T15:47:14.325Z

Tony DeAngelo(Defenseman)(D)|New York Islanders NYI

Signing

The Islanders have signed Tony DeAngelo to a one-year deal worth $1.75M.

After a successful return from the KHL mid-season in 2024-25, Tony DeAngelo has earned himself a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Islanders ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 29-year-old will likely take on a bigger role this season after Noah Dobson was moved out of town last week and is expected to occupy the top powerplay in his absence. Across 35 games in 2024-25, he had four goals, 19 points and a -11 plus/minus.

Source:

Frank Seravalli 2025-07-01T15:50:40.228Z

Thatcher Demko(Goalie)(G)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Signing

The Canucks have signed Thatcher Demko to a three-year deal worth $8.5M AAV ($25.5M total).

Despite a horrific 2024-25 campaign, Thatcher Demko will remain a Canuck for at least three more seasons after signing a three-year deal worth $8.5M AAV ($25.5M total). The 29-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope for a bounce-back season after battling knee injuries throughout the last two seasons. In 23 appearances in 2024-25, he was 10-8-3 with a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV%.

Source:

@Canucks 2025-07-01T16:07:21.393Z

Conor Garland(Right Wing)(RW)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Signing

The Canucks have signed Conor Garland to a six-year extension worth $6.0M AAV ($36.0M total).

Garland has been the definition of consistency since joining the Canucks in 2021-22, finishing each of his four seasons with the team between the 46 to 52 points. The 29-year-old forward finished tied for second on the team with 50 points (19G / 31A) in 81 games last season.

Source:

@Canucks 2025-07-01T16:58:21.622Z

Tomas Nosek(Left Wing)(LW)|Free Agent FA

Signing

The Panthers have re-signed Tomas Nosek to a one-year deal worth $775K AAV.

Nosek became an integral part of Florida's bottom-six forward group in his first season with the team, especially in the playoffs, and has earned a one-year extension worth $775K AAV. The 32-year-old Czech forward had nine points (1G / 8A) in 59 games with Florida, in addition to three points (0G / 3A) in 16 postseason games.

Source:

Pierre LeBrun 2025-07-01T16:39:01.156Z

Martin Fehervary(Defenseman)(D)|Washington Capitals WSH

Signing

The Capitals signed Martin Fehervary to a seven-year extension worth $6.0M AAV ($42.0M total).

Fehervary has become a reliable defenseman for the Capitals and has signed a massive seven-year contract worth $6 million AAV to remain with the team. The 25-year-old Slovak defenseman played a career-high 81 games last season, tallying a career-high 25 points (5G / 20A) despite recording a career-low 139 hits.

Source:

PuckPedia 2025-07-01T16:36:41.557Z

Sam Malinski(Defenseman)(D)|Colorado Avalanche COL

Signing

The Avalanche signed Sam Malinski to a one-year deal worth $1.4M.

Malinski is an undrafted defenseman who became an NHL regular last season. The 26-year-old played 76 games with the Avalanche in the 2024-25 season, averaging 15:57 time-on-ice and scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 76 games.

Source:

PuckPedia 2025-07-01T16:34:07.034Z

Patrick Kane(Right Wing)(RW)|Chicago Blackhawks CHI

Signing

The Red Wings signed Patrick Kane to a one-year deal worth $3.0M AAV.

Kane returns to the Red Wings on a one-year deal that carries a $3.0M cap-hit in salary and $2.5M in potential bonuses. Kane has spent the last two seasons with the Red Wings, averaging 28 goals and 44 assists (71 points) per 82 games.

Source:

Chris Johnston 2025-07-01T00:43:05.112Z

Guillaume Brisebois(Defenseman)(D)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Signing

1-year, $775,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Expires 2026 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Noah Philp(Center)(C)|Edmonton Oilers EDM

Signing

1-year, $775,000 contract with the Edmonton Oilers. $300,000 Guaranteed. Expires 2026 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

John Beecher(Center)(C)|Boston Bruins BOS

Signing

1-year, $900,000 contract with the Boston Bruins. Expires 2026 (UFA NO QO).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Ivan Provorov(Defenseman)(D)|Columbus Blue Jackets CBJ

Signing

7-year, $59,500,000 contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. *No Move Clause – through end of 2026-27 season; No Trade – 2026-27 season through June 15, 3030; Modified No Trade Clause – June 30, 2030 through term – 15 team no trade list. Expires 2032 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Declan Chisholm(Defenseman)(D)|Washington Capitals WSH

Signing

2-year, $3,200,000 contract with the Washington Capitals. Expires 2027 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Aatu Raty(Center)(C)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Signing

2-year, $1,625,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Expires 2027 (RFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Georgii Merkulov(Center)(C)|Boston Bruins BOS

Signing

1-year, $775,000 contract with the Boston Bruins. $275,000 Guarantee. Expires 2026 (RFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Max Sasson(Center)(C)|Vancouver Canucks VAN

Signing

1-year, $775,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Expires 2026 (RFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Aaron Ekblad(Defenseman)(D)|Florida Panthers FLA

Signing

8-year, $48,800,000 contract with the Florida Panthers. Yr 1 - 6: NMC, Yr 7-8: 16 Team No Trade Clause. Expires 2033 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Jonatan Berggren(Right Wing)(RW)|Detroit Red Wings DET

Signing

1-year, $1,825,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Expires 2026 (UFA NO QO).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Nick Cousins(Center)(C)|Ottawa Senators OTT

Signing

1-year, $825,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators. Expires 2026 (UFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

Marc McLaughlin(Center)(C)|New Jersey Devils NJD

Signing

1-year, $775,000 contract with the New Jersey Devils. Expires 2026 (RFA).

Source:

2025-07-01T03:59:00.000Z

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.