Buffalo made its first move of Free Agency on Tuesday by bringing in backup goaltender Alex Lyon on a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5 million AAV). The 32-year-old undrafted netminder had spent the last two seasons in Detroit, appearing in 70 games combined and had a 14-9-1 record, 2.81 GAA and .896 SV% last season.
Pittsburgh will bring back a familiar face on Day 1 of free agency by signing Connor Dewar to a one-year contract extension. The 26-year-old forward came to Pittsburgh at last year's trade deadline and finished the season with four goals and 10 points in 48 games played between Toronto and Pittsburgh. He is expected to fill a bottom-six role much like he did last season after being acquired.
Seattle has added a third netminder to their goaltending carousel after signing Matt Murray to a one-year, $1 million contract. Murray, 31, was once a Conn Smythe winner with Pittsburgh in 2015-16 but has since gone through multiple surgeries. He struggled while appearing in only two games for Toronto in 2024-25 but excelled in the AHL with the Marlies, posting a .934 Sv%, 1.72 GAA and 10-5-6 record.
After four seasons in Boston's minor league system, Brandon Bussi has decided to sign a one-year, two-way contract in Florida to provide some goaltending depth for the Panthers. The 27-year-old appeared in 33 games for Providence in 2024-25, posting a 15-14-4 record with a .907 SV% and 2.77 GAA. He is expected to start the season in Charlotte (AHL) in 2025-26.
After three successful seasons with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), Nick Abruzzese has signed a one-year, two-way contract in Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old left-winger has appeared in 11 games (3 Pts) with the Maple Leafs since 2022-23 but spent the majority of his professional career in the AHL where he averaged nearly 50 Pts a season across three years.
Detroit added to its minor league depth on Tuesday by signing John Leonard to a one-year, $775,000 contract. The 26-year-old winger finished in goals across the AHL with 36 and 61 points in 72 games played with Charlotte (AHL) in 2024-25. He should compete for a bottom-six spot on the Red Wings this season.
After a successful bounce-back campaign with Vegas in 2024-25, Tanner Pearson has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The 33-year-old left-winger is entering his 13th NHL season with his 6th different team after picking up 12 goals and 27 points in 78 games played with the Golden Knights in 2024-25.
Dallas has signed their 2024 5th round draft pick (158th overall), Niilopekka Muhonen to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 19-year-old Finnish defenseman spent 2024-25 in Medicine Hat (WHL) after being selected in 1st round of the CHL import draft and had four goals, 17 points and a +20 plus/minus in 60 games played.
Before playing his first career game in the KHL, Kirill Gerasimyuk signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Florida. The 21-year-old goaltender was Florida's 2021 5th-round pick (152nd overall) and excelled in the VHL last season posting a SV% above .930 between Yugra Khanty-Manisysk and SKA-Neva.
Colorado added to its defensive depth on Day 1 of free agency by bringing in Ronald Attard on a one-year, two-way contract. The 26-year-old appeared in 29 NHL games with Philadelphia across the last three seasons, picking up two goals and six points with a -1 plus/minus. He is expected to battle for one of Colorado's final defensive openings when training camp roles around.
Koepke established himself as a full-time NHL player last season, playing a career-high 73 games and scoring 17 points (7G / 10A) with the Boston Bruins. He is averaging 2.34 hits per game over 99 games in his career and add some grit to Winnipeg's bottom-six forward group.
After putting up an impressive 39 goals and 72 points with Texas (AHL) in 2024-25, Matej Blumel has earned himself a one-year, $875,000 one-way contract with the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Czech right winger was originally drafted by Edmonton in the 2019 4th round (100th overall) and has appeared in 13 total NHL games across the last three seasons with Dallas.
Studnicka was the 53rd overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has split time between the AHL and NHL throughout his career. The 26-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 45 points (16G / 19A) in 72 games with the Ontario Reign.
After falling out of favour with the Montreal Canadiens, Drouin took an opportunity with the Colorado Avalanche to rediscover his scoring prowess alongside Nathan MacKinnon and did just that. In 122 games with Colorado over the previous two seasons, Drouin scored an impressive 93 points (30G / 63A) after playing on back-to-back team-friendly one-year deals with the team. He joins the New York Islanders on a two-year $8 million contract.
The Dallas Stars traded Faksa's $3.25 million cap-hit to the St. Louis Blues in the previous offseason. After spending a season with the Blues, scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 70 games, he returns to the Stars on a three-year, $2 million AAV contract. The Stars drafted Faksa 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
With the departure of David Rittich, joining the New York Islanders, the Kings have signed Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3).
Dumoulin joins his fifth team in the last three years, signing a three-year deal with the Kings worth $4 million AAV. The veteran 33-year-old defenseman averaged 19:33 time-on-ice, recording 109 blocks, 74 hits, and 22 points (3G / 19A) in 80 games between the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils last season.
Ceci joins his fourth team in the previous three seasons, signing a four-year contract worth $4.5 million AAV with the Kings. The 31-year-old Ceci joined the Dallas Stars before the trade deadline last season, recording nine points (0G / 9A), 55 blocks, and 24 hits in 31 games.
In a market desperate for right-handed defenseman, Perbix was a sought-after free agent who opted to sign a two-year deal for $2.75 million AAV with the Predators. The 27-year-old Perbix scored 63 points (13G / 50A) in 220 career games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After spending his previous two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Petry joins the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on a one-year contract worth $775K. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman averaged 18:54 time-on-ice and scored eight points (1G / 7A) in 44 games last season.
