Vanecek joined the Florida Panthers and the trade deadline last season and served as the backup to Sergei Bobrovsky during the run to a Stanley Cup Championship. The 29-year-old Czech goalie has battled consistency over the previous few seasons and will hope to emerge as a reliable option for the Utah Mammoth in 2025-25.
Bear will join his fourth organization in five seasons after signing a one-year deal worth $775,000 with the Islanders on Tuesday. The 28-year-old defenceman last appeared in the NHL in 2023-24 after spending last season in Hershey (AHL) where he had 10 goals and 46 points in 62 games played. He is expected to compete for one of the Islanders' final roster spots in training camp.
The first domino of the 2025 free agency has dropped after St. Louis signed Matt Luff to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 28-year-old right-winger spent 2024-25 between Charlotte (AHL) and Springfield (AHL) and had 20 goals and 49 points in 56 total games played. He will provide St. Louis with some offensive depth but is expected to start the season back in Springfield.
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.
Romanov missed portions of the 2024-25 season due to injuries, limited to only 64 games, but has signed a massive eight-year contract worth $6.25 million AAV. The hard-hitting 25-year-old defenseman has 64 points (13G / 51A), 465 blocks, and 502 hits in 221 career games with the New York Islanders.
The 2027 3rd round pick can become a 2029 2nd round pick if the Maple Leafs make the playoffs and Maccelli records at least 51 points during the 2025-26 season. Maccelli had a down-year in 2024-25, but in the two years prior to that he averaged 16 goals and 44 assists (60 points) per 82 games. With Mitch Marner likely on his way out, Maccelli should provide some of the playmaking from the wing that their top-6 is losing.
Former 18th overall pick Liam Foudy has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension to provide New York with some offensive depth for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The 25-year-old appeared in two games for the Islanders in 2024-25 but failed to pick up a point, instead spending the majority of his season with Bridgeport (AHL), where he had 20 goals and 45 points.
Heineman is no stranger to being included in big trades, he was traded to Calgary as a part of the Sam Bennett trade, then traded to Montreal as a part of the Tyler Toffoli trade, and now to the Islanders for Noah Dobson. The 6-foot-2, 198 lbs winger was a full-time NHLer in 2024-25, and finished with 18 points (10G / 8A), 64 SOG and 173 hits in 62 games while playing just 11:24 TOI/gm. He'll likely fill a similar bottom-6 role with the Islanders.
New York announced on Tuesday that 16-year-veteran Matt Martin would be retiring from professional hockey. The 36-year-old Windsor native ends his time in the NHL just 13 games short of the 1000 GP mark alongside his 81 goals, 178 points and 1168 PIMs in 987 games played. Martin will remain with the Islanders' organization as he will step into the role of Special Assistant to the General Manager immediately.
After five successful seasons on Long Island, Kyle Palmieri has committed to two more after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension ($4,750,000 AAV). The 34-year-old continued to play a crucial top-six role in 2024-25, picking up 24 goals, 48 points and 169 SOG in 82 games played. He is only 100 games away from reaching the illustrious 1000 games played mark.
Horvat suffered the injury at the World Championships, cutting his tournament short, but will be ready for training camp in September.
Chaffee will get the chance to make his 2025 playoff debut on Thursday as the Lightning are opting to dress 12 forwards. Defenceman Darren Raddysh will sit in his place.
Clutterbuck did not play in the 2024-25 season and has announced his retirement, ending his career with 293 points (143G / 150A) in 1064 games. The 37-year-old was drafted 72nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, going on to play 17 NHL seasons, splitting time with Minnesota and the New York Islanders.
