After playing 96 games combined with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the previous two seasons, Chaffee was limited to only 11 contests in 2025-26. The 28-year-old will hope for more NHL action in 2026-27 after signing a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.
Booner Jenner was drafted 37th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his entire career with the team, but will join the Washington Capitals after signing a four-year contract worth $23 million ($5.75M AAV). The 33-year-old forward has battled injuries in recent seasons but has had a solid 2025-26 campaign, scoring 38 points (13G / 25A) in 67 games with Columbus.
MacEwen is an undrafted forward who has been an effective depth forward in recent seasons but spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, where he scored 19 points (7G / 9A) in 23 games with the Belleville Senators (AHL). The 29-year-old had 34 points (17G / 17A) in 240 career NHL games.
With the signing of UFA Sergei Bobrovsky, Dennis Hildeby became expendable for the Toronto Maple Leafs, resulting in a trade sending him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 24-year-old Hildeby had an impact at the NHL level last season, posting a 2.86 GAA and .912 SV% in 20 appearances with the Maple Leafs (5-7-4).
New GM John Chayka has been busy for the Toronto Maple Leafs on the opening day of free agency, mixing in a trade with the acquisition of Nick Paul. The 31-year-old Paul has been an integral part of the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past few seasons. He battled injuries in 2025-26, playing just 51 games, but scored 148 points (75G / 73A0 in 310 combined games with Tampa Bay.
Stenlund has been a solid bottom-six forward for the Utah Mammoth for the past two seasons and earned himself a one-year contract extension. The 29-year-old forward scored 18 points (4G / 14A) last season in 80 games with Utah.
Malott is an undrafted 29-year-old forward who has primarily been an AHL player, but earned significant playing time in the NHL last season. In 58 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2025-26, Malott scored nine points (3G / 6A).
Polin played four games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, but has primarily been an AHL player. The 27-year-old forward scored 21 points (10G / 11A) last season in 46 games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).
Kuntar, a third-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Buffalo Sabres. The 25-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 37 points (21G / 16A) in 37 games with the Rochester Americans.
The Red Wings added some depth to their blueline on the opening day of free agency, signing Bryson to a one-year contract. The 28-year-old defenseman played 50 games last season, split between the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets, scoring eight points (2G / 6A).
After spending most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, Sheary returned to the NHL in a bottom-six role with the New York Rangers, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A) in 62 games. The 34-year-old 5'8 forward rejoins the Buffalo Sabres, a team he spent two seasons with earlier in his career.
Jenik was a third-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 24 career NHL games, but has spent most of his career in the AHL. The 25-year-old Czech forward scored 17 points (9G / 8A) in 43 AHL games last season.
Duhaime has been a consistent and reliable bottom-six forward the past few seasons, earning himself a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $7.8 million ($2.6M AAV). The 29-year-old recorded nine points (4G / 5A) and 159 hits in 82 games last season with the Washington Capitals.
Gasseau, a seventh-round pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, is poised to make his professional debut after signing a two-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. The 22-year-old forward scored 23 points (6G / 17A) in 23 games with Boston College (H-East).
Butler is an undrafted forward who will add some depth organizationally to the Detroit Red Wings after signing a one-year contract. The 24-year-old spent most of the 2025-26 season in the ECHL, where he scored 20 points (9G / 11A) in 30 games with the Iowa Heartlanders.
The Sharks added some goaltending depth on the opening day of free agency with the acquisition of Eric Comrie. The 30-year-old Comrie was a serviceable backup for the Winnipeg Jets last season, posting a 3.13 GAA and .890 SV% in 25 appearances (12-11-1).
The Red Wings have signed Tarasov to a one-year contract, likely indicating that they are moving on from Cam Talbot and going with a John Gibson-Daniil Tarasov goaltending tandem. The 27-year-old Tarasov had a 3.05 GAA and .895 SV% in 33 games (13-15-3) with the Florida Panthers last season.
Beckman was drafted 75th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has only played 23 career NHL games. The 25-year-old forward scored 51 points (30G / 21A) last season in 68 games with the Bridgeport Islanders (AHL).
Petrovic was drafted 36th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and will return to the team after departing in the 2018-19 season. The 34-year-old Petrovic has primarily played in the AHL since leaving Florida, but he has become a reliable depth defender for the Dallas Stars over the past two seasons. He scored 10 points (2G / 8A) in 54 games last season.
Shaw was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and will return to the organization after signing a one-year contract extension. The 27-year-old forward has played 82 career NHL games, but spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (15G / 29A) in 71 games with the Manitoba Moose.
