Chicago has signed Arvid Soderblom to a two-year extension worth $2.75 million AAV (5.5M total).
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NHL Signings & Free Agents
The Islanders have signed Maxim Tsyplakov to a two-year contract worth $2.25 AAV ($4.5M total).
New York and Maxim Tsyplakov avoided arbitration on Friday after they announced a two-year contract extension worth $4.5 million ($2.25 million AAV) for the Russian forward. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut last season after signing out of the KHL and succeeded in his first taste of the big leagues with 10 goals, 35 points, and 39 PIMs in 77 games played. He is expected to take on a bigger role in his second season with the Islanders in 2025-26.
Carolina has signed Jackson Blake to an eight-year extension worth $5.625 AAV ($45M total).
Blake still has a season left in his Entry Level Contract, but has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $5.625 AAV ($45M total) due to the new CBA rules that limit contracts to seven years starting in September. Blake had a standout rookie season in 2024-25, finishing ninth in Calder Trophy voting after putting up 17 goals, 34 points and a +10 plus/minus in 80 games played.
New Jersey has signed Thomas Bordeleau to a one-year, two-way contract.
After four seasons in San Jose's organization, Thomas Bordeleau has jumped ship and signed a one-year, two-way contract with New Jersey on Thursday. The 23-year-old forward was San Jose's 2020 2nd-round pick (38th overall) and, despite only appearing in one game with the Sharks in 2024-25, has six goals and 18 points in 44 games total with San Jose since joining in 2021-22. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Utica (AHL) after putting up 14 goals and 38 points in 59 games with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) last year.
The Lightning have signed Ethan Czata to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Czata was selected in the second round (No.56 overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old centre spent the 2024-25 season with the Niagara IceDogs, where he was fourth on the team with 55 points (21G / 34A) in 68 games. He's expected to return to the OHL for the start of the 2025-26 season.
The Kraken have signed Kaapo Kakko to a three-year deal worth $4.525M AAV ($13.575M total).
Carolina has signed Ryan Suzuki to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
After making his NHL debut in 2024-25 with Carolina, Ryan Suzuki has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract with the Hurricanes to come back to Chicago (AHL) for a sixth season. The 24-year-old was Carolina's 2019 1st round pick (28th overall) and he had 12 goals and 59 points in 69 games with Chicago last season. He is expected to return to the Wolves for the start of the 2025-26 season but will provide Carolina with depth throughout the year.
Carolina has signed Ronan Seeley to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Carolina will bring Ronan Seeley back for a fourth season in the organization after the 22-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract extension. The stay-at-home defensemen enjoyed a strong season in 2024-25 with Chicago (AHL), picking up three goals, 10 points and a -6 plus/minus in 69 games played. He is expected to spend 2025-26 back in Chicago.
Ottawa has signed Xavier Bourgault to a one-year, two-way contract.
Winnipeg has signed Parker Ford to a two-year, two-way contract.
Winnipeg has signed Gabriel Vilardi to a six-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($45M total).
Vilardi will avoid arbitration and cash in after the 25-year-old agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($45M total) with Winnipeg on Friday. The Canadian right-winger is entering his seventh NHL season after posting career highs in almost all major categories last season, including goals (27), assists (34), points (61), SOG (130), and PPP (25). He is expected to return to his role on the Jets' top line and powerplay for the 2025-26 season.
Anaheim has signed Drew Helleson to a two-year contract extension worth $1.1 million AAV. ($2.2M total).
Helleson and Anaheim avoided arbitration on Friday after they agreed to a two-year, $2.2 million extension ($1.1 million AAV). The 24-year-old is entering his second full season with Anaheim after an impressive rookie campaign in 2024-25, during which he scored four goals, tallied 13 points, and accumulated 47 penalty minutes in 56 games played. He is expected to be a key part in Anaheim's defensive core this upcoming season.
Anaheim has signed Lukas Dostal to a five-year contract extension worth $6.5 million AAV ($32.5M total).
Anaheim will avoid arbitration with their biggest offseason piece of business after announcing on their social media that they have signed Lukas Dostal to a five-year contract extension worth $6.5 million AAV ($32.5M total). The 25-year-old is entering his fifth NHL season with Anaheim after posting career highs in games played (54), Wins (23) and shutouts (1) in 2024-25. He is expected to be Anaheim's starter after they parted ways with John Gibson in the offseason.
Chicago has signed Louis Crevier to a two-year contract extension worth $900,000 AAV ($1.8M total).
Chicago has retained one of their key defensive pieces for the upcoming 2025-26 season after they announced they had signed Louis Crevier to a two-year contract extension worth $900,000 AAV ($1.8M total). The 23-year-old was Chicago's 2020 7th-round pick (188th overall) and appeared in 32 games with the Blackhawks last season, picking up three goals, four points and 10 PIMs. He is expected to compete for one of Chicago's final six defensive spots come training camp this upcoming season.
Chicago has signed Stanislav Berezhnoy to a two-year, entry-level contract.
Berezhnoy is a 22-year-old undrafted goaltender who spent last season playing 27 games in the VHL with Omskie Krylia and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg and has earned himself a two-year, entry-level contract with Chicago on Thursday. The towering Russian netminder is expected to report to Rockford (AHL) for the upcoming 2024-25 season after posting a .928 SV% in the VHL last season.
Florida has signed Tobias Bjornfot to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Florida continued to shore up its defensive depth on Thursday after announcing it had signed 24-year-old defenseman Tobias Bjornfot to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The former first-round pick came to Florida off waivers in March 2024 and managed to appear in 14 games with the Panthers during the 2024-25 season, failing to record a point. He spent the majority of last season with Charlotte (AHL), where he had three goals and 18 points in 50 games played.
Calgary has signed Jeremie Poirier to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Calgary made a trio of depth signings on Thursday, and Jeremie Poirier to a one-year, two-way contract extension was certainly one of them. The 23-year-old defenseman was Calgary's 2020 3rd-round pick (72nd overall) but has yet to appear in an NHL game in any of his three professional seasons. He is expected to return to the Wranglers (AHL) for the 2025-26 season, where he had five goals and 42 points in 71 games last season.
Calgary has signed Yan Kuznetsov to a two-year, two-way contract extension.
Calgary added to its depth on Thursday with a trio of signings, including Yan Kuznetsov, whom the Flames signed to a two-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old was Calgary's 2020 2nd-round pick (50th overall) and has appeared in just one NHL game since joining the Flames organization in 2020-21 from the University of Connecticut (NCAA). He is expected to start 2025-26 with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL), where he had six goals and 21 points in 72 games last season.
Calgary has signed Rory Kerins to a one-year, two-way contract.
Kerins was part of a trio of signings that Calgary made on Thursday as the 23-year-old was brought back for another season on a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old was Calgary's 2020 6th-round pick (174th overall) and made his NHL debut in 2024-25, picking up an eye-opening four assists in just five games played. He will battle for one of Calgary's final roster spots in training camp this season after an impressive 2024-25 campaign with the Wranglers (AHL), where he put up 33 goals and 61 points in 63 games played.
Florida has signed Wilmer Skoog to a one-year, two-way contract.
Skoog will return for a third season with Charlotte (AHL) after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Florida on Wednesday. The 26-year-old centre was undrafted out of Boston University (NCAA) and made his minors debut in 2023-24. Last season, he scored nine goals, added 24 points, and accumulated 63 penalty minutes in 72 games with Charlotte.
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.