NHL Signings & Free Agents

Mayo spent the last two and a half seasons in Henderson (AHL) but has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Columbus on Wednesday. The 28-year-old defenseman has 12 points and 82 career NHL games to his name, but hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2022-23. He is expected to start 2025-26 in the minors, where he had eight goals, 19 points and 86 PIMs with Henderson (AHL) last season.

After three years in New York's organization, Jake Leschyshyn has jumped ship and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old forward has appeared in 77 NHL career games but last appeared in the big leagues with New York in 2023-24. He spent the entirety of last season with Hartford (AHL), where he had 13 goals and 24 points in 69 games played.

Hebig will return for his sixth season in Tucson (AHL) after Utah signed the veteran forward to a two-year, two-way contract extension on Wednesday. The 28-year-old undrafted forward has never made the jump to the NHL but had his most productive AHL season by a mile in 2024-25, picking up 26 goals and 47 points in 67 games played with Tucson.

After a short two-game showing with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024-25, Domenick Fensore has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain a Hurricane for the upcoming season. The 23-year-old puck-moving defenseman took a step forward in 2024-25 with Chicago (AHL), putting up nine goals and 32 points alongside his 39 PIMs in 67 total games played. He is expected to start 2025-26 in Chicago but will provide Carolina with some much-needed defensive depth.

Velno was bought out by the Seattle Kraken a few weeks ago and has found a new home in Montreal after agreeing to a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Canadiens. The 25-year-old forward was once Detroit's 2018 first-round pick (30th overall) and has spent the last five seasons in the NHL, splitting time between the Red Wings and Blackhawks. He appeared in 74 games between Chicago and Detroit in 2024-25, picking up eight goals, 17 points and a -23 plus/minus.

Despite rumours that his time with the Mammoth was over, Michael Carcone will return for a fifth season in the Utah organization after signing a one-year, $775,000 contract extension on Tuesday. The 29-year-old left-winger broke out in 2023-24 with 21 goals in 74 games, but unfortunately, regressed into a bottom-six role in 2024-25 with only seven goals and 19 points in 53 games.

San Diego will have their starting netminder return for the 2025-26 season after it was announced Tuesday that Calle Clang has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Ducks. The 23-year-old struggled throughout 31 starts with San Diego (AHL) in 2024-25, with his 3.17 GAA, .895 SV% and 11-13-4 record.

Toronto has signed their 2024 5th round pick (151st overall) on Tuesday after agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with Miroslav Holinka. The 19-year-old Czech forward spent 2024-25 as an import for Edmonton (WHL) and succeeded in his inaugural North American season with 19 goals and 45 points in 47 games played. He is expected to return to Edmonton for the 2025-26 season.

Mysak has spent the last season and a half in San Diego (AHL) and will remain in Anaheim's organization after it was announced he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 23-year-old is entering his fourth AHL season and will provide Anaheim with some offensive depth in their system after putting up 18 goals and 42 points in 68 games last season.

Frondell was the 3rd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $975,000 AAV with Chicago on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Swedish forward is expected to return to Djurgardens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) for the 2025-26 season despite the new contract. In 2024-25, he put up 11 goals and 25 points in 29 games last season in Sweden.

Mrtka was Buffalo's 2025 1st round pick (9th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres on Tuesday. The 18-year-old Czech defenseman spent 2024-25 as an import player with Seattle (WHL), where he excelled with three goals and 35 points in 43 games played. He is expected to return to the Thunderbirds for the 2025-26 season but will get a chance to make an impression in training camp.

Manitoba (AHL) will bring back one of its most physical defenders after the team announced Tuesday that Winnipeg had re-signed Tyrel Bauer to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old defenseman is entering his fourth season with the Moose and has yet to make his NHL debut. In 59 games in 2024-25, he had just two assists and 105 PIMs to go along with his -21 plus/minus.

Boston will keep a familiar face around for the upcoming season after announcing they have signed John Farinacci to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday. The 24-year-old forward made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with the Bruins, scoring his first career goal in his only game appearance. He is expected to fight for a bottom-six spot out of training camp but will likely start the season back in Providence (AHL) where he had 10 goals and 38 points in 58 games last season.

Despite being the talk of much trade speculation, Buffalo and Bowen Byram will avoid arbitration after they agreed on a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension ($6,250,000 AAV) on Monday. The 24-year-old is entering his 6th NHL season after completing all 82 regular season games for the first time in his career in 2024-25, putting up seven goals, 38 points and a +11 plus/minus.

Sabourin is a 32-year-old veteran who has spent most of his career in the AHL. Most recently, he was with the Sharks for the last two seasons, where he had just four NHL appearances. He had 10 goals and 15 assists (25 points) to go along with 111 PIMS in 68 AHL games in 2024-25.

Barron had eight goals and seven assists (15 points) in 74 games with the Jets in 2024-25. Barron found a role on the Jets' fourth line but he will have more competition for minutes in 2025-26 after the signings of Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke.