The NHL free agency period has commenced, with numerous players signing new contracts across various teams. The league released its list of restricted and unrestricted free agents on Wednesday, and teams have been active in securing new talent and re-signing existing players.
Among the notable signings, the Edmonton Oilers have been particularly busy, adding several players to their roster. They signed Mathieu Joseph to a one-year, $1 million average annual value (AAV) contract. Joseph, a winger, previously played under associate coach D.J. Smith with the Ottawa Senators. The Oilers also secured goaltender Frederik Andersen for one year at $2.8 million AAV. Andersen recently contributed to the Carolina Hurricanes‘ playoff run, achieving a 13-2 record, a 1.89 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage in the playoffs. Additionally, Kasperi Kapanen re-signed with the Oilers for one year at $2.6 million AAV, and Ryan Shea joined on a five-year deal worth $4.25 million AAV.
The Dallas Stars have also made moves, signing Joel Kiviranta to a one-year contract valued at $1 million AAV. Kiviranta previously had a career-high 16 goals and 23 points with Colorado in the 2024-25 season. The Winnipeg Jets bolstered their defense by signing Mario Ferraro to a three-year contract worth $4 million AAV. Ferraro, a defensive defenseman, recorded seven goals and 23 points last season and led his former team in blocked shots with 150.
Western Conference team movements
Several other Western Conference teams have made significant additions. The Vancouver Canucks signed defensive defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year, $5 million AAV contract. Oleksiak, who had 112 hits and 106 blocked shots last season, is expected to help set the tone for the Canucks’ rebuild. The Utah Mammoth secured Anders Lee for three years at $5.4 million AAV. Lee, a power forward, posted 19 goals and 42 points last season.
The Minnesota Wild re-signed defenseman Zach Bogosian to a one-year, $1.25 million AAV contract, retaining him for a depth role. The Anaheim Ducks added goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a one-year, $1.1 million AAV deal, and defenseman Nick Jensen for two years at $2.25 million AAV. Jensen, a right-shooting puck-mover, is expected to help fill a gap on Anaheim’s blue line.
Eastern Conference signings
In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, as well as Zack MacEwen to a two-year, $875,000 AAV contract, and Brandon Duhaime for three years at $1.85 million AAV. The Buffalo Sabres brought in Conor Sheary on a one-year, $850,000 AAV deal. The Washington Capitals signed former Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner to a four-year, $5.75 million AAV contract. Jenner, a physical forward, is expected to contribute secondary scoring.
The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Daniil Tarasov for one year at $2 million AAV. Tarasov, who had an .895 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average in 33 games last season, will serve as a stop-gap. The Pittsburgh Penguins added veteran defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on a two-year, $4 million AAV contract, aiming to improve their defensive play. The St. Louis Blues signed Dillon Dube to a one-year, $850,000 AAV deal. The Nashville Predators acquired Alexander Kerfoot for two years at $3.5 million AAV.
Other notable re-signings include A.J. Greer with the Anaheim Ducks, Luke Cavallin with the Boston Bruins, and Olen Zellweger with the Buffalo Sabres. Jordan Harris re-signed with the Boston Bruins, and Arttu Hyry re-signed with the Dallas Stars. Carter Mazur re-signed with the Detroit Red Wings, and Max Jones and Kasperi Kapanen re-signed with the Edmonton Oilers. Radko Gudas, Cole Schwindt, and Donovan Sebrango re-signed with the Florida Panthers. Scott Laughton re-signed with the Los Angeles Kings, and Jan Jenik re-signed with the Los Angeles Kings. Zach Bogosian re-signed with the Minnesota Wild, and Alex Belzile and Kaapo Kahkonen re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens.
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Source: nhl.com
