Kettle was drafted in the second-round, 39th overall, by the Penguins in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old defenseman scored 14 points (5G / 9A) in 53 games with the Swift Current Broncos (WHL) last season.
The Jets inked their captain to a five-year extension on Wednesday, keeping him locked up until his age 37 season in 2030-31. Lowry was on the final year of a five-year contract with a $3.25 million AAV, and was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The 33-year-old captain made his season debut on November 4th after he underwent hip surgery in the off-season and has three points (1G/2A) in seven games this season.
Wedgewood has been exceptional with Colorado this season, thrust into a starting role because of an injured Mackenzie Blackwood, and has likely earned himself a larger share of starts for the remainder of the season. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has a 2.26 GAA and .913 SV% in 14 appearances this season (10-1-2). He had a career-high 16 wins in the 2023-24 season as a member of the Dallas Stars.
Pinto is off to a hot start in the 2025-26 season and has been rewarded with a four-year contract extension. He has 14 points (8G / 6A) in 17 games this season. The 25-year-old forward was drafted 32nd overall by the Senators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He scored a career-high 37 points (21G / 16A) in 70 games last season, totals that he is on pace to demolish in 2025-26.
The Rangers added some organizational goalie depth on Wednesday, signing Martin to a two-year contract. The 30-year-old goalie has primarily played in the AHL, but has a 3.56 GAA and .883 SV% in 66 career NHL games, mostly with the Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes. He is expected to report to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) after clearing waivers.
Brindley was drafted 34th overall by the Columbus Blues Jackets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and has established himself as an NHL regular with the Avalanche early in the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-ld forward is averaging 8:58 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) through 14 games this season.
The extension comes as a major vote of confidence for Markstrom, who has somewhat underperformed since joining the Devils ahead of the 2024-25 season. The 35-year-old netminder owns an impressive 28-18-6 record over parts of two seasons in New Jersey, but has posted just an .895 SV% along with a 2.67 GAA. The extension will take Markstrom through his age 38 season in 2027-28.
Miroshnichenko was drafted 20th-overall by the Capitals in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward has spent parts of the previous two seasons with the Capitals but has mostly played in the AHL. He scored 42 points (23G / 19A) in 53 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) last season.
Necas was acquired by Colorado in a surprising mid-season trade in 2024-25, sending Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old Necas has gelled seamlessly with his new team, playing almost exclusively alongside Nathan MacKinnon, scoring 41 points (18G / 23A) in 41 games since joining the team last January.
Set to be an RFA at the end of the season, GM Jim Nill ensured that Harley will be a Dallas Star for the foreseeable future after signing him to a massive eight-year contract worth nearly $85 million ($10.587 AAV). Harley caught national attention after being a late addition to Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off. The 24-year-old Harley was drafted 18th overall by the Stars in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and is coming into his own in his third full season at the NHL level. He has eight points (1G / 7A) in 10 games so far this season.
Cooley was drafted third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has steadily improved in each of his three seasons. The 21-year-old had a career-high 65 points (25G / 40A) in 75 games in 2024-25 and is off to a hot start in 2025-26, with 12 points (8G / 4A) in his first 11 games. An eight-year contract for Cooley ensures that Utah will have his services secured until his age-29 season.
Nielsen had started 2025-26 with the Colorado Eagles (AHL) and earned himself a two-year, two-way contract on Monday after picking up three goals and seven points in his first 7 games in the minors.The 25-year-old is in his fifth pro season but has yet to make an NHL appearance despite scoring 14 or more goals in each of his last three minor seasons.
Leason started his career in the Capitals organization but spent the previous three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. The 26-year-old forward has 54 points (25G / 29A) in 220 career NHL and returns to the Capitals, providing some organizational depth on a two-way contract.
Aspinall was drafted 159th-overall by the Rangers in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract. The 19-year-old forward is currently playing in the OHL with the Flint Firebirds and has 10 points (6G / 4A) in six games.
The 2024-25 Calder trophy winner for the NHL's best rookie has been rewarded with a lucrative eight-year contract extension worth $8.85 million AAV. The 21-year-old defenseman scored an impressive 66 points (6G / 60A) in 82 games with the Canadiens last season. Hutson is off to a slower start to his sophomore season, with only one point (0G / 1A) in his first three games, but is likely due for another productive season quarterbacking Montreal's top powerplay unit.
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.
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.
