NHL Hockey Player News

After a rumour-filled signing period, it appears Brock Boeser will remain a member of the Vancouver Canucks after the 28-year-old signed a seven-year, $50.75 million contract extension ($7,250,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The Minnesota native was drafted by the Canucks in the 1st round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (23rd overall) and has spent the last nine seasons out West. He will look to return to the 40-goal, 73-point form he had in 2023-24 after posting just 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games played last season.

Fresh off a successful 2nd full campaign that saw him post career highs in goals (17), assists (41), points (58), and SOG (151), William Eklund has earned himself a three-year, $16.8 million extension ($5,600,000 AAV) to remain with San Jose. The 22-year-old was San Jose's 2021 1st round pick (7th overall) and has produced admirably since making his NHL debut in 2021-22. He is expected to return to his regular top-six and top power-play role for the 2025-26 season.

After four seasons in the KHL, goaltender Amir Miftakhov will be coming to North America after signing a one-year deal with Carolina at the start of free agency. The 25-year-old Russian netminder appeared in 30 games with AK Bars Kazan (KHL) in 2024-25, posting an impressive .927 SV% to go alongside his 2.18 GAA and 13-11-3 record.

Colorado has secured some goaltending depth at the beginning of free agency by signing Trent Miner to a two-year contract extension. The 24-year-old goaltender made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with Colorado, appearing in two games and posting a .879 SV% and 2.62 GAA. He is expected to return to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) for the start of the 2025-26 season, where he posted a .918 SV%, 2.12 GAA and 22-10-9 record in 2024-25.

Colorado solidified its depth for the next four seasons after signing forward Parker Kelly to a four-year, $6.8 million contract extension ($1,700,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 26-year-old spent the first four years of his career in Ottawa before signing with Colorado last season and posting career highs in both goals (8) and points (19) in his first season as an Avalanche player in 2024-25.

The first big domino of the 2025 free agency has dropped after Philadelphia signed Christian Dvorak to a one-year, $5.4 million contract. The 29-year-old center will join his third NHL franchise in 10 seasons after putting up 12 goals, 33 points and 16 PIMs in 82 games with Montreal in 2024-25. He is expected to center either Philadelphia's second or third line in the upcoming season.

Despite free agency opening up, Dallas has secured forward Colin Blackwell for two more seasons after he signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV) on Tuesday. The 32-year-old forward will provide Dallas with much-needed bottom-six depth in 2025-26 after posting six goals and 17 points in 63 games played last season while averaging just 11:34 TOI.

Philadelphia added to their defensive depth right away to start the 2025 free agency after adding 28-year-old Noah Juulsen to a one-year, $900,000 contract. Juulsen appeared in 35 games with Vancouver in 2024-25, but failed to pick up a point alongside his 21 PIMs and -12 plus/minus. He will likely be Philadelphia's sixth defenseman heading into the 2025-26 season.

The first domino of the 2025 free agency has dropped after St. Louis signed Matt Luff to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 28-year-old right-winger spent 2024-25 between Charlotte (AHL) and Springfield (AHL) and had 20 goals and 49 points in 56 total games played. He will provide St. Louis with some offensive depth but is expected to start the season back in Springfield.

Just minutes before the Free Agency deadline, Buffalo has announced that they have extended 23-year-old defenseman Ryan Johnson to a three-year, $2.325 million contract extension ($775,000 AAV). Johnson only appeared in three games for the Sabres in 2024-25 but will provide some much-needed defensive depth heading into the 2025-26 season as he is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp.

Buffalo shed $2 million worth of salary just minutes before Tuesday's free agency window by trading Sam Lafferty to Chicago for a 2026 6th-round pick. The 30-year-old center appeared in 60 games in 2024-25, picking up four goals, seven points and a -15 plus/minus. He is expected to take a bottom-six role with Chicago in the upcoming season.

St. Louis and Montreal completed a one-for-one prospect swap on Tuesday after moving forward Zack Bolduc for defensemen Logan Mailloux. The 22-year-old Mailloux was Montreal's 2021 1st round pick (31st overall) but only appeared in seven games in 2024-25, still managing to pick up two goals and four points. He is expected to compete for one of St. Louis' final defensive spots to start the 2025-26 season.

Montreal and St. Louis completed a one-for-one prospect swap just hours before the Free Agency window after they agreed to trade forward Zack Bolduc for Logan Mailloux. Bolduc is a 22-year-old right-winger who was drafted in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. Across 72 games with St. Louis in his first full season in 2024-25, he had 19 goals, 36 points and a +20 plus/minus.

Edmonton has shed $4 million for the upcoming season after it traded Viktor Arvidsson to Boston for a 2027 5th-round pick on Tuesday. The 32-year-old winger is entering his 12th NHL season after a down year with Edmonton in 2024-25, picking up 15 goals, 27 points and 24 PIMs in 67 games played.

New Jersey has locked up their backup netminder for the next five seasons after signing Jake Allen to a five-year, $9 million contract ($1,800,000 AAV) just hours before the free agency deadline. The 34-year-old netminder is entering his third season in New Jersey after posting a 13-16-1 record with a .908 SV% and 2.66 GAA while backing up Jacob Markstrom in 2024-25.

Carolina acquired Stankoven at last year's trade deadline in the blockbuster that sent Mikko Rantanen to Dallas and will remain a Hurricane for at least eight more seasons after signing a team-friendly 8-year deal worth $6.0M AAV ($48.0M total). The 22-year-old is coming off his first full NHL season, where he put up 14 goals, 38 points and 194 SOG in 78 games played.

Florida has secured their new backup netminder for the 2025-26 season after the Panthers signed Daniil Tarasov to a one-year, $1.05 million contract. The 26-year-old was acquired from Columbus last week for a 5th-round pick and will provide a backup option for Sergei Bobrovsky after Florida let Vitek Vanecek head to free agency. Tarasov struggled in 2024-25, with a 7-10-2 record, 3.54 GAA and ,881 SV%.

After posting a career high in points (9) in his 10th NHL season in 2024-25, Joel Hanley has earned himself a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension ($1,750,000 AVV) to remain with Calgary. The 34-year-old will provide Calgary with some much-needed defensive depth next season after collecting two goals, nine points and 21 PIMs in 53 games played last season.

After a successful return from the KHL mid-season in 2024-25, Tony DeAngelo has earned himself a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Islanders ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 29-year-old will likely take on a bigger role this season after Noah Dobson was moved out of town last week and is expected to occupy the top powerplay in his absence. Across 35 games in 2024-25, he had four goals, 19 points and a -11 plus/minus.

Despite a horrific 2024-25 campaign, Thatcher Demko will remain a Canuck for at least three more seasons after signing a three-year deal worth $8.5M AAV ($25.5M total). The 29-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope for a bounce-back season after battling knee injuries throughout the last two seasons. In 23 appearances in 2024-25, he was 10-8-3 with a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV%.