After making 14 appearances between Boston and New Jersey last season, Marc McLaughlin has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Devils. The undrafted 25-year-old center is expected to start 2025-26 in Utica (AHL) but will provide plenty of depth up the middle for New Jersey after picking up two goals and three points in 14 games last season.
Mantha had his 2024-25 season cut significantly short due to an ACL tear but has earned himself a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Pittsburgh as he attempts to bounce back this upcoming season. The 30-year-old right-winger is joining his fourth NHL organization in the last three years. Before his injury in 2024-25, he was off to a fairly decent start with four goals, seven points and 11 PIMs in just 13 games played.
Despite only appearing in six games with Boston in 2024-25, Riley Tufte has signed a one-year, two-way contract to remain a Bruin. The 27-year-old left-winger spent the majority of last season with Providence (AHL), picking up 21 goals, 42 points and 60 PIMs in 58 games played. He is expected to return to Providence for the start of the 2025-26 season.
After two successful seasons backing up in Los Angeles, David Rittich will join his sixth NHL team after signing a one-year contract with the Islanders on Tuesday. The 32-year-old appeared in his most games (34) since 2019-20 last season, but struggled mightily as shown by his .886 SV% and 2.84 GAA. He is expected to provide goaltending depth if Semyon Varlamov is unable to go to start the season.
Bjugstad will join his sixth team in six seasons after signing a two-year deal worth $1.75M AAV ($3.5M total) with St. Louis on Tuesday. The 32-year-old is entering his 14th NHL season after a down year in Utah in 2024-25, which saw him put up only eight points, 19 points and 16 PIMs while playing a bottom-six role.
After two up-and-down seasons in Edmonton, Connor Brown will leave the Oilers after signing a four-year deal worth $3.0M AAV ($12.0M total) with New Jersey on Tuesday. The 31-year-old is entering his 11th NHL season after putting up 13 goals, 30 points and a +9 plus/minus in 82 games played in 2024-25.
New Jersey has locked up their backup netminder for the next five seasons after signing Jake Allen to a five-year, $9 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV) just hours before the free agency deadline. The 34-year-old netminder is entering his third season in New Jersey after posting a 13-16-1 record with a .908 SV% and 2.66 GAA while backing up Jacob Markstrom in 2024-25.
Washington acquired the rights to Chisholm last week from the Minnesota Wild and promptly signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.6 million AAV. The 25-year-old Chisholm was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He averaged 17:00 time-on-ice last season with Minnesota, tallying 12 points (2G / 10A) in 66 games.
Hanzel was a sixth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2023 and was traded to Nashville in March of 2024 as part of the deal that sent Yakov Trenin to Colorado. The 22-year-old defenseman had 22 points (3G / 19A) in 61 ECHL games during the 2024-25 season.
After three seasons in Switzerland, Juho Lammikko is returning to the NHL with New Jersey after signing a one-year, $800,000 contract on Sunday. The 28-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 75 games played. He is expected to compete for a roster spot come the 2025-26 season.
Boqvist played in both Games 1 and 2, failing to record a point with just one shot on goal and four hits in 8:20 TOI/gm. AJ Greer (lower-body) will return to the lineup to replace Boqvist on the Panthers' fourth line.
