ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 30: Jason Robertson #21 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild in the second period of Game Six of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena on April 30, 2026 in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy free agency to all who celebrate! NHL Free Agency 2026 opens at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1 — and what’s really marked this year’s group is far less about the players available to be signed as unrestricted free agents, and more related to the anarchy that could ensue with established talent.
If you’ve been following along, we already know that this 2026 class of UFAs is fairly weak. Teams worked to get ahead of the best players leaving, either locking them up to long-term deals or trading them around the draft to teams that subsequently got contracts done themselves. This also means that players who didn’t get dealt already are now causing major waves, operating as the dominoes people are waiting to fall before other signings take place. The players we’re really waiting on right now are:
Jason Robertson, LW — Dallas Stars: Robertson is an RFA, but has already informed multiple teams that he won’t sign contracts with them, killing multiple trades. Where Robertson ends up will start the dominoes at forward
Zach Werenski, D — Columbus Blue Jackets: Werenski is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and wants to be on a contender. Stunningly he killed a potential trade to the Dallas Stars, so now teams are waiting to see whether or not CBJ can get a deal done.
John Carlson, D — Carolina Hurricanes: One of the top free agents this year, Carlson was dealt to the Hurricanes during the late rounds of the NHL Draft solely to give the Canes three extra days to negotiate with him ahead of free agency. The league waits to see whether or not this move was successful, and it will have a huge impact on the rest of the class if Carlson doesn’t end up hitting the market at noon.
We’ll be following along with all the signings as they happen, and giving a full list of the moves.
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 31: A general view of post-game fireworks after the game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Winnipeg Jets at Pepsi Center on December 31, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Jets defeated the Avalanche 7-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Ah, that new league year smell.
Join us and follow along as we celebrate the official start of the 2026-27 NHL season and witness hundreds of millions of dollars spent on free agents hitting the open market. The festivities begin officially at 10 a.m. MT.
Who will the Avalanche sign to round put their roster? How many AHL level deals to help the Colorado Eagles are on tap? And as always, plenty of intrigue on who will get the largest contract in the NHL on the open market? Some big extensions are eligible starting today as well, will any get filed and announced quickly?
Is the flurry of trades largely concluded for the Avalanche and NHL as a whole or will there be more shocking moves on the horizon? Join us in the comments as it all unfolds.
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The Philadelphia Flyers are unlikely to make a big splash in NHL free agency this year, though it would be unwise to put it past them to chase a feel-good story while addressing a position of need at the same time.
In this year's free agent class, the center position is probably the weakest, unless you're looking for bottom-six depth.
The Flyers, who traded away Garnet Hathaway and Nick Deslauriers, and will probably let Rodrigo Abols walk, need to get some fourth-line grit back, as well as someone who can play center when they need it.
One player who already knows the organization and locker room intimately is Scott Laughton.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Laughton, 32, is part of a small crop of veteran centers drawing interest from teams, including the Flyers.
"Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund. I believe Utah still lusts after Vincent Trocheck, who prefers the east. Kings tried to get Haula before Laughton, but he was hurt at the time. They like him," Friedman reported for Sportsnet.
If the Kings really do like Erik Haula more than Laughton, it's more likely than not they simply bring in Haula and let Laughton go.
After just 10 goals, six assists, and 16 points in 63 games across two seasons with the Maple Leafs, Laughton was dealt to the Kings for a measly 2026 third-round pick as Toronto's playoff aspirations were more than dashed.
The longtime Flyers forward, now a veteran of 745 NHL regular season games, had his homecoming with the Maple Leafs, and it didn't work.
Laughton never necessarily wanted to leave the Flyers anyway, and he could find himself back in Philadelphia at the perfect time, now that the team just made the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
To that end, it wouldn't be like Laughton is sacrificing the playoffs to return to the Flyers; he can chase both now.
Whether or not he and the Flyers can make a reunion happen remains to be seen, but there appears to be at least tentative interest from the team's side of things.
The New Jersey Devils are in an interesting off-season. They finished in the bottom third of the league, but they must operate as if they are a playoff lock. Injuries to top players last year cut their season short, but they have an opportunity to bounce back.
After Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal in February, his game was taken to another level in the NHL games that followed. When he is healthy, he is one of the best players in the league.
Sunny Mehta, who is currently in his first offseason as an NHL General Manager, has to make some additions to the roster. The Devils have already announced their qualifying offers to a handful of players, but they have also let a few go.
Other teams around the league let a couple of good players go, and the Devils could consider one or multiple of them to take a flier on someone who could help provide depth:
Philipp Kurashev
Philipp Kurashev had a career year the one time he was linemates with Connor Bedard. During the 2023-24 season, he had 18 goals and 36 assists for 54 points. He hasn’t had more than 20 points in a season since.
After 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 points on the nose with the San Jose Sharks in 2025-26, he is on the market after being non-tendered. As a depth option up front, the Devils make sense.
Kurashev is a Swiss-born player, which would make him the 4th on New Jersey’s roster, including Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jonas Siegenthaler. If anyone could re-unlock some of his production in a bottom-six role for cheap, it’s the team with three of his countrymen there.
Matias Maccelli
Matias Maccelli is a solid offensive depth piece on a team, as he proved on a lousy Maple Leafs team in 2025-26. In 71 games with Toronto in his first year, he had 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points.
Maccelli isn't going to be a guy who is out there in all situations, but he can provide some secondary scoring to complement the top guys on the team. After being let go by the Maple Leafs, he will be a cheap option for New Jersey (or any team that goes to sign him).
Philip Tomasino
Philip Tomasino is a forward who has spent time in the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins organizations. After being a first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, things haven't panned out the way he thought.
He only played in 9 NHL games last season, and he collected one assist. A good reason for New Jersey to get involved with him is that he can improve the Utica Comets.
Utica is in need of some skill to help them have a bounce-back season. They need to surround any young players on the team with quality veterans, and Tomasino can fit that bill as far as an AHL player.
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EDMONTON, CANADA OCTOBER 25: Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers is pursued by Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at Rogers Place on October 25, 2024, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Leila Devlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NHL’s free agency market opens up at 12 noon. The Penguins, by signals from Kyle Dubas, aren’t in a hurry to make a big splash in the free agent market.
“We’ll stay after it, for sure,” Dubas said. “But it might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We’ll try to stay active on those, but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style.”
That applies to July 1, as Dubas doesn’t want to make the mistake of being too aggressive.
“I try to learn from the past, and we’ll try to steer clear of that,” Dubas said. “Rather than just doing something for the sake of doing it, I’d rather come here and say, ‘Yeah, we aspire to do it and the options weren’t there.’ So, we’ve had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have.”
That’s probably for the best when taking into account that this year’s class of free agents isn’t the best, and plenty of teams have a lot of salary cap space with the recent increases. That adds up to a bad combination.
Sought out some opinions on what NHL free agency will look like tomorrow.
One prediction: "Never in the history of the NHL will so much money be spent on such little talent." https://t.co/YuNH9urp3p
Jason Robertson: Wants Dallas to budge. Don’t see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he’s the best option for Larkin.
Not sure if some, including Dubas, have completely given up hope for finding a way to wrangle Jason Robertson into Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t look very likely. If he files for arbitration then offer sheets are off the table and he’ll be getting a one-year contract with the Stars. Dallas could always still trade him at some point in the next year but that has already proven difficult with the player’s reluctance to sign a long-term contract with a team like Seattle.
Darnell Nurse: Pittsburgh wanted Edmonton to take back a contract. The Oilers didn’t like whatever was presented to them. Philadelphia’s had a challenge putting all of the different pieces together in and out. Boston’s shown interest, but that’s also about what has to go out to make it work. I believe the Sharks are very interested, but Nurse remains east-focused as I write this.
This makes perfect sense, if the Pens and Oilers even want to have a conversation about sending Nurse and his $9.25 million cap hit for four years to Pittsburgh, Edmonton taking Ryan Graves ($4.5mx3) is an unavoidable starting point. Graves’ involvement in a Nurse trade just has to happen for the Penguins to even consider going forward with negotiations. The Oilers don’t have to accept that condition and can go look for a different trade fit as a result, which looks like is exactly what is playing out in real time. That makes for a natural conclusion to the trade rumors around Nurse and the Penguins; neither side has to jump through hoops that they don’t want to and an acceptable trade match for both teams on this deal might be out of grasp.
Alexander Nikishin: A lot of interest. Carolina will hold until they get what they want, which includes a player. Rangers are believed to have offered a first and another pick. But that didn’t do it. Heavy competition, with many asking: what does he want on his next deal? Can’t sign an offer sheet.
Nikishin fits the age range and position the Penguins need the most, but the price to acquire will be very high. Difficult to see Pittsburgh engaging and coming out on a top in a bidding war in this area.
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund
Noel Acciari’s potential suitors could be among this group. Seems like a lot of ex-Penguins end up migrating to Utah, worth watching to see if that happens again or he ends up somewhere else. Hopefully not Philadelphia..
Stuart Skinner: If Hellebuyck is traded, Winnipeg makes the most sense. Otherwise, I’d take a shot if I was the Mammoth. They need to lighten Karel Vejmelka’s load.
Utah traded for and signed Sebastian Cossa, so I’m not sure where Skinner would fit into the mix for them with Vejmelka also signed for next year. But this will be interesting to see if Skinner doesn’t end up signing today that perhaps could mean he’s waiting to see how the dust settles with other situations like Hellebuyck’s before he can find his next spot. Sergei Bobrovsky is out there as a big fish, and Florida is apparently booked up by acquiring Jacob Markstrom (and Akira Schmid), so there currently aren’t too many teams looking for a 1/1A goalie like Skinner at the moment until something else changes to create an opening.
Ryan Shea: Had a really good year. Heard Lightning really liked him. But they also have their eyes on Werenski and John Carlson, if he doesnt sign in Carolina. Good player.
Tampa has a lot of plates in the air with potentially Werenski and Carlson, Shea’s next spot will be one to track today too. Friedman also mentioned that San Jose is looking to add a defenseman today, that might not be a bad spot to pull up to as a team on the rise over the next 3-4 years for a player like Shea.
Offer sheets: Last year, the Hurricanes threatened the Oilers (who signed Evan Bouchard) and the Rangers (who acquiesced and traded them K’Andre Miller). I think they’re considering doing it again. I have a theory, but I’m too chicken to say it. I also believe Seattle is considering it, as they basically created an offer-sheet trade for Jason Robertson, if he’d taken their cash. I also believe Mavrik Bourque is another potential target. I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up, but there’s lots of noise out there.
The Penguins, or another NHL team, could offer up to $4.775 million for Bourque and only have to surrender a 2027 second round draft pick if Dallas elects not to match, and that amount could put them in an uncomfortable spot should Robertson head for arbitration. Pittsburgh has two second rounders in 2027 (their own, plus the Rangers) and then three more second rounders coming up in 2028. The Pens certainly have the ammo on hand to force Dallas’ position, if they want to get into that lane. They might have to move quickly to see if Bourque would even sign with them if a team like Carolina is potentially lurking as a consideration.
—
Overall, for the Penguins, we’ll see if they dip into the bargain bin for any free agent signings or look to the trade market to reshape their team. Since many/most the Dubas moves (like yesterday’s trade of Parker Wotherspoon) usually come completely out of left field, there could yet be fireworks for the Pens if they decide to keep flipping NHL players around at the start of the free agency period. Whether that means a bigger names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust or smaller pieces like Tommy Novak and Justin Brazeau remains to be seen.
Just days out from being picked 7th overall in the NHL Entry Draft, Chase Reid has made his way to Seattle and started work at the Kraken's 2026 Development Camp. The 6'2", 194 pound defenseman plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall, but for now he is honing his skills in Seattle as the next step in his NHL journey.
Talking about the whirlwind of the past few days, Reid said "it's been a blast" to meet the other prospects, coaches, and tour the facility. He made special mention of the Mariners game, and his first pitch-a strike-which he practiced in the tunnel before taking the field. Reid was a catcher as a kid, and grew up as a fan of the Detroit Tigers. He joked that the Mariners have his loyalty now that "they got my jersey with my number and my last name...the Tigers have never done that."
June 30th: Chase Reid Talks Jake O'Brien video by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News
Reid joked that the biggest adjustment on the first day of camp has been breaking in his brand new gear, "Gloves are stiff, pants are stiff...stepping onto a NHL ice sheet for the first time...it's a feel-out day..." and added, "I've waited for this day my whole life, to wear this jersey and put on an NHL logo."
You can catch Chase Reid and the rest of the Kraken prospects in action at the Kraken Community Iceplex July 1st and 2nd during Development Camp.
The 2026 NHL free agency period has officially arrived, and the expectation is that the Toronto Maple Leafs and GM John Chayka will be active in one way or another.
The Leafs may make some moves on the trade front, as there has been plenty of activity that way across the NHL lately, but in terms of signing UFAs, there are some possibilities in that sense, too.
It's clear the Maple Leafs want to get back into playoff contention and are looking to build a team that is competitive in the demanding Atlantic Division. With that in mind, here are some areas in which the Leafs can tinker with or improve in free agency, as well as the UFAs that fit the bill.
Right-Handed Forward
When looking at the Maple Leafs' current projected roster for next season, William Nylander is the only listed forward who is a right-handed shot. If Nylander ever misses a game for whatever reason, Toronto is one player away from sending out a lineup with 12 left-handed forwards.
Having a forward group that's predominantly one-handed isn't the end-all, be-all of a result, but it certainly makes the team more predictable for opposition defenses and goaltenders. That can lead to a dull or ineffective offense.
So, if the Leafs are going to look for some offensive depth in free agency, it may be in their best interest to find a UFA or two who shoot with their right hand. Here are a few players who meet that description.
Oliver Bjorkstrand is coming off a rather disappointing season with the Tampa Bay Lightning last year. In 80 appearances in the regular season, the right winger scored just 12 goals and 32 points.
However, there is a fair explanation as to why there's been a drop-off in point production for Bjorkstrand. Spending the past campaign on a team that carried players such as Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel and other great wingers, Bjorkstrand couldn't find a role in the team that would utilize his skills to the fullest. As a result, he averaged just 13:38 of ice time per game.
That's a serious contrast when considering how he was used in the best seasons of his 11-year NHL career. When reaching a career-high 59 points for the Seattle Kraken in 2023-24, he averaged 16:11 time on ice. Even in his final three years with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Bjorkstrand averaged over 17 minutes of ice time.
In a position to succeed, the 31-year-old Dane is quite the offensive producer. And on the Maple Leafs, there could be a spot for him on the right wing of whatever line Nylander doesn't occupy.
Bjorkstrand's previous contract was a five-year deal that paid him $5.4 million against the salary cap. He'll certainly seek a raise in terms of his average annual salary, but potentially not a hefty raise considering his numbers from the past season.
Jack Roslovic
While he's still capable of scoring 20 goals in a season, Jack Roslovic is a player who would fit in the middle-six of a competitive lineup, rather than the top-six presence that Bjorkstrand is.
With that, Roslovic would be a much cheaper option to inject into the Leafs' forward group, and also a younger player, as a 29-year-old. In this past year with the Edmonton Oilers, in which he signed a one-year contract in the 2025 off-season, he scored 22 goals and 36 points in 69 contests. That's about a 43-point pace in a full 82-game season, or in the case of the 2026-27 campaign and onward, about a 44-point pace.
Roslovic is more than capable of pitching in offensively, depending on what his role is, but with the Maple Leafs, he may fit best on the third line and potentially as a center. One perk about Roslovic's game is his versatility, as he is proficient as a center, which makes him a valuable roster player.
Considering Max Domi's health is a concern at the moment, Bo Groulx and Jacob Quillan are the in-house solutions to fill the role of the third-line center. Therefore, if Roslovic is added to the roster, that's an extra body that can fill in for the center position when needed.
Kevin Stenlund could be a UFA that flies under the radar as a valuable signing.
The 29-year-old is a center, but can certainly do a job on the right flank in a role at any rate. Stenlund isn't known for his flashy skills, nor does he put up a lot of points, recording four goals and 18 points in 80 games last year.
But to this point in his 368-game NHL career, he's made his living off his responsibility on the defensive side of the ice.
Stenlund is a premier penalty killer and thrives in the faceoff dot in all situations. In fact, among players to take a minimum of 1,000 faceoffs this past year, Stenlund finished in the top 20 with a 54.2 percent rate for the Utah Mammoth.
He also led all NHL forwards in total and average shorthanded ice time, logging a total of 234:15, while averaging 2:56 of ice time on the penalty kill per game.
With all he can bring to the defensive side of the game, he could be a great fit to be Toronto's third-line center. And with the loss of players such as Scott Laughton and Nicolas Roy at the 2026 trade deadline, the Leafs could use a player to fill that role again.
The Maple Leafs now have three goaltenders in contention for two NHL spots, with Anthony Stolarz guaranteed to take one if healthy. What happens to the remaining spot in Toronto's goaltending tandem remains to be seen.
It can certainly be filled by either one of 24-year-olds Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov, who have both earned NHL roles one way or another. But if Chayka believes he needs a little more security in the pipes, he can search for someone to support Stolarz throughout the campaign.
Sergei Bobrovsky
If the Maple Leafs acquired Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency, he wouldn't be so much a supportive partner for Stolarz, but most likely taking the role of starting goaltender, as long as his performances can keep up early in the year.
Bobrovsky must be included in this list, just based on the number of reports that link him and the Maple Leafs together ahead of the beginning of the free agency period.
Cam Talbot is a veteran like Bobrovsky, but won't cost nearly as much and has performed slightly better in the past year, even if Talbot recorded a .883 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average with the Detroit Red Wings.
Nonetheless, Talbot, 38, can be a presence for the young Hildeby and Akhtyamov while contributing to the NHL roster. Not to mention, he will be a very cheap option between the pipes, with his previous $2.5-million cap hit as a reference point.
Despite an unimpressive performance in 2025-26, Talbot is just one year removed from a campaign in which he registered a .901 SP, as well as a .913 SP in 2023-24.
David Rittich
David Rittich is a slightly better option for the Leafs in goal in terms of his age, possible contract ask and the numbers he's put up lately.
The 33-year-old Czechia native has been a member of the Maple Leafs before. He was traded to Toronto during the 2020-21 season and featured in four regular-season games. A return could be on the cards for Chayka if he values Rittich's game and his low cost.
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While the Philadelphia Flyers themselves may not make a huge impact on free agency this year, they will still, as is customary, be well represented.
Following Tuesday's random Jacob Markstrom trade, the Florida Panthers have their two goalies in place for the 2026-27 season.
As a result, former Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, a former Stanley Cup champion and Vezina Trophy winner, will hit the free agent market and sign with a new NHL team in the twilight days of his playing career.
Bobrovsky, 37, will be the best option available among free agent goalies by far; the class is otherwise "headlined" by the likes of Stuart Skinner, Cam Talbot, and David Rittich.
If the Flyers hadn't already managed to trade for the much younger Joseph Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs, a potential reunion with Bobrovsky could have been in the cards.
Current Flyers general manager Danny Briere was teammates with the Russian netminder during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
"Yeah, it's pretty safe to say that there's not much room for Bob. I still have the feeling that Bob will re-sign in Florida. I don't think they have a goalie signed, so, yeah, they're gonna need a goalie, at least one, maybe two. I mean, Bob's a fantastic teammate, and great work ethic. He would have been a really good example for our guys, but no, I don't know how realistic that would have been," Briere told The Hockey News in a recent Q&A.
While the Panthers ultimately decided to trade for New Jersey's Markstrom instead of giving into Bobrovsky's contractual demands, it is obvious that Briere still holds his old Flyers teammate in high regard.
As a rebuilding team that can still benefit from having Stanley Cup-winning experience on the roster, Bobrovsky would have been a logical add, but the former superstar will instead take that experience elsewhere when NHL free agency opens Wednesday afternoon.
One of the biggest goaltending names available in this year's free agency class is Sergei Bobrovsky. And based on the Florida Panthers' acquisition of goalies Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid in the past few days, it seems that Bobrovsky's tenure with the Cats is over.
It's been reported that the Maple Leafs will be keeping tabs on Bobrovsky, who is reportedly looking for a hefty contract considering the two-time Stanley Cup champion is 37 years old.
Regardless, Toronto will likely make a pitch to Bobrovsky's camp.
"The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be among the teams that see if there's a fit there," Chris Johnston said of UFA Bobrovsky on TSN's Insider Trading.
In addition to his age, he's coming off one of the worst campaigns of his 16-year NHL career with a .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average. Therefore, there is certainly risk involved in handing Bobrovsky a long and expensive contract.
"The Leafs are in an aggressive remake, remodel frame of mind right now," Johnston added. "Bobrovsky deal, if it's a long-term one, would have some risk."
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For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while. | NHLI via Getty Images
Today could be the day the Islanders and captain Anders Lee say goodbye after 14 seasons and 923 games together.
Lee will turn 36 in a couple of days, so while both parties would like to continue their relationship under the right conditions, there is apparent disagreement over term or rate and what not.
Such is reality in the NHL when you gotta make room for 15-points-at-age-35 Ondrej Palat.
As NHL free agency officially kicked off, word was that Lee was headed to market. Maybe, if whatever his definitely-not-tampering agent tells him is out there fails to emerge, he’ll come back to the Isles after all.
Or maybe he’ll sign with the Wild.
The Islanders were informed this morning that captain Anders Lee is headed to the UFA market. Not a decision that was taken lightly. The Isles improved their offer in late stages, but still not there. So Lee heads to market. Door open to Isles as well while hearing from other…
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: A detail view of a puck during warmups prior to the game between the Dallas Stars and the Utah Mammoth at American Airlines Center on November 28, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wednesday marks the first day of July, which is historically one of the busiest days on the NHL calendar as free agency begins and general managers hand out money by the Brink’s truck to lure shiny new toys to their respective franchises.
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has gone on record saying he doesn’t anticipate being super active in the early hours of the 2026 free-agent frenzy, preferring to make his moves, if he can, via trade.
With that, let’s hop in the time machine and take a trip back to look at the start of the last 10 free agency periods to see how the Penguins constructed their roster while reminiscing or recoiling at some of those signings.
Note that this list is not meant to be exhaustive. Apologies to all the Mark Donk and Buzz Flibbet fans out there.
2016
Just days removed from winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship since 2009, the architect of the Penguins’ championship team, general manager Jim Rutherford, was signed to a three-year contract through the 2018-19 season.
Former blue liner Chad Ruhwedel signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh on July 1, 2016, where he would remain for the better part of the next eight seasons.
The team also made several depth signings, inking forwards Tom Sestito, Garrett Wilson and defensemen Steve Olesky, David Warsofsky, Cameron Gaunce and Stuart Percy. All of whom (except for Percy) made at least one appearance for the NHL club.
2017
One year later, the Penguins are once again Stanley Cup champions. General manager Jim Rutherford had already begun tinkering with the makeup of the team a few days prior, clearly wanting to become a heavier, tougher team to play against. He wound up trading forward Oskar Sundqvist and the Penguins’ 2017 first-round pick (No. 31 overall) to St. Louis for winger Ryan Reaves and a 2017 second-round draft pick (No. 51 overall).
On July 1, Rutherford brought in two more new faces, signing defenseman Matt Hunwick to a three-year contract and goalie Antti Niemi to a one-year deal.
Pittsburgh also signed forward Greg McKegg (there’s a guy) to a one-year deal.
Zach Trotman and Kevin Czuczman were signed as organizational defensive depth on July 1 and July 3, respectively.
2018
Not even one year later, on June 27, 2018, the Penguins had shipped off Hunwick and forward Conor Sheary to the Buffalo Sabres for a conditional 2019 fourth-round draft pick.
On July 1, the Penguins re-signed forward Matt Cullen to a one-year deal after he had spent the 2017-18 season with the Minnesota Wild.
The Penguins also handed out one of the more controversial contracts in franchise history–signing free agent defenseman Jack Johnson to a five-year, $16.25 million contract.
Johnson would only spend two seasons in the black and gold. The Penguins bought out the remainder of his contract in October 2020. Johnson’s contract accounted for dead cap space through the 2025-26 season and is officially off the books as of today with the start of the NHL’s 2026-27 calendar.
2019
The Penguins were active on (and near) the free agency start date in 2o19. The team signed forward Brandon Tanev to a six-year contract on July 1, 2019.
Forward Andrew Agozzino and defenseman David Warsofsky were both signed to two-year deals on July 1.
The franchise also handed head coach Mike Sullivan a four-year contract extension through the 2023-24 season on July 5, 2019.
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the 2019-20 season, the league’s standard July 1 opening date was delayed to Oct. 9, 2o2o. The NHL draft, usually held right before free agency, was also moved to Oct. 6-7, 2020.
On Oct. 8, the team signed forward Sam Lafferty to a two-year contract running through the 2021-22 season.
On Oct. 9, the “official” start of free agency, the Penguins signed forwards Evan Rodrigues, Mark Jankowski, and Frederick Gaudreau to one-year contracts.
Pittsburgh also reinforced its blue line, giving Cody Ceci a one-year deal on Oct. 16.
Goalie Maxime Lagacé was also brought in on a one-year contract.
2021
The effects of the pandemic were still being felt into the 2021 season, with free agency returning to July, albeit a bit later than the traditional July 1 date, this time coming on July 28.
New general manager Ron Hextall made his biggest splash, signing forward Brock McGinn on July 28 to a four-year, $11 million contract.
Other, smaller moves included signing forward Danton Heinen to a one-year deal on July 29, bringing back forward Dominik Simon for a second tour of duty, and signing defenseman Taylor Fedun to a one-year deal, providing the Wilkes-Barre Penguins with a quality veteran presence on the backend.
Forward Radim Zohorna signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh on Aug. 3, 2021, and forward Zach Aston-Reese signed a one-year contract on Aug 5, 2021.
2022
The biggest transactions around this time were contract signings for some of Pittsburgh’s core players. Franchise defenseman Kris Letang was signed to a six-year contract extension.
After a bit of drama into the 11th hour, Evgeni Malkin eventually re-upped with the Penguins on a four-year, $24,000,000 contract. Winger Rickard Rakell was also given a six-year, $30,000,000 contract.
On the external transaction front, defenseman Jan Rutta was poached from the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning and signed to a three-year, $8,250,000 contract.
Defenseman Xavier Ouellet agreed to terms with the organization on a two-year deal, primarily serving as a veteran AHL defender.
The Penguins also signed goalie Dustin Tokarski and forwards Josh Archibald and Drake Caggiula to one-year deals. Danton Heinen also returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year contract.
2023
Kyle Dubas was hired as president of hockey operations on June 1, 2023. And while he was hired to guide the Penguins into a post-Sidney Crosby era, he came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, giving Crosby and co. another chance at a Stanley Cup.
July 1 saw a flurry of action.
Forward Noel Acciari was signed to help Pittsburgh’s bottom six, agreeing to a three-year contract. Veteran Lars Eller was given a two-year deal, again primarily deployed as a lower-line forward. Winger Matt Nieto was brought on with a two-year contract, but injuries largely derailed his tenure.
Dubas’ focus was also on reloading the AHL team, ensuring they remained competitive as well. Forwards Vinne Hinostroza, Joona Koppanen, and Marc Johnstone were brought in to round out the WB/S forward group. Radim Zohorna also returned to the organization on a one-year deal.
Defensemen Ryan Shea and Will Butcher were both signed as organizational depth, and in Shea’s case, he eventually blossomed into an NHL regular who is now primed for a payday on the open market in 2026.
For Pittsburgh’s defense, Dubas’ largest free agent acquisition to date was signing Ryan Graves to a six-year, $27 million deal. That one… hasn’t worked out.
Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic came over from the Detroit Red Wings to give Tristan Jarry a running mate. And netminder Magnus Hellberg was brought in as an AHL backstop.
Dubas’ biggest swing would come later in the summer in a massive, three-team blockbuster when he now famously acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.
2024
Dubas was firmly on a mission to rebuild the aging Penguins while also acquiring future draft capital to restock a barren prospect cupboard.
Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left the Boston Bruins as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $2.75 million contract for the 2024-25 season.
Blake Lizotte agreed to terms on a two-year deal, coming over from the Los Angeles Kings, reinforcing Pittsburgh’s bottom six and penalty kill unit. Anthony Beauvillier was the classic buy-low, sell-high candidate who would eventually be flipped at the following trade deadline.
At the AHL level, forwards Boko Imama, Corey Andonovski, and Jimmy Huntington were signed. Defensemen Mac Hollowell and Nate Clurman signed one-year deals. Fellow defender Sebastian Aho also signed a two-year contract.
2025
Anthony Mantha, signed last summer, enjoyed a career year this past season and looks primed to cash in on the open market after one year. Justin Brazeau can also be lumped into the same category after an impressive 2025-26 campaign from him, but the good thing for the Penguins is they have Brazeau under contract for another year.
Defenseman Caleb Jones, brother to Seth, signed a two-year deal with the team, and after an injury-plagued first season with Pittsburgh, could be looked at as the seventh defenseman or one of the first AHL callups in the event of injury on the blue line.
Defenseman Parker Wotherspoon signed a two-year deal and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his professional career last year, being partnered with Erik Karlsson. Still, Wotherspoon was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights not even 24 hours ago for Kaedan Korczak.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins also welcomed some new faces with the arrivals of Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Philip Kemp, and Alexander Alexeyev.
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There have been a few pretty positive free agent signings, especially more recently, with the likes of the aforementioned Wotherspoon, Brazeau, Lizotte, and Mantha contributing to an unexpected playoff run last season.
Penguins management has also been prone to whiffing, sometimes big, when looking back at how they dished out money for players like Jack Johnson, Ryan Graves, and Brock McGinn.
And as mentioned above, Kyle Dubas seems set on going big-game hunting via the trade market over the next few weeks with a weaker free agent class this year, so any new faces that arrive via free agency may be more in line with organizational depth or the low-risk, high-reward type rather than an impact player receiving a five-year deal.
An unexpected option may have just emerged for the Colorado Avalanche as they continue navigating NHL free agency.
Veteran forward Jonathan Drouin is once again available after the St. Louis Blues placed him on unconditional waivers Tuesday for the purpose of buying out the final season of his contract. With the NHL's buyout window now officially closed, Drouin becomes one of the more intriguing unrestricted veterans still on the market—and a familiar name for Colorado.
Drouin's stint in St. Louis proved to be brief. Acquired from the New York Islanders in a March trade that sent Blues captain Brayden Schenn to New York, the 31-year-old appeared in just nine games, recording one goal and two assists before the organization elected to move on. He had one year remaining on a contract carrying a $4 million cap hit.
Before arriving in St. Louis, Drouin spent two productive seasons with the Avalanche, where he revitalized his NHL career alongside longtime friend Nathan MacKinnon. The pair first became teammates with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL before reaching the NHL together years later, and their chemistry translated immediately in Denver.
Over 122 regular-season games with Colorado, Drouin totaled 30 goals and 63 assists for 93 points, becoming a reliable top-six contributor and an important part of one of the league's highest-scoring offenses. His playmaking ability and familiarity with head coach Jared Bednar's system made him a seamless fit throughout his time with the Avalanche.
Following the 2025-26 season, Drouin made it no secret that he hoped to remain in Colorado, expressing a desire to continue his career with the organization. Instead, he ultimately landed in St. Louis, where his stay lasted less than three months before ending with Tuesday's buyout.
Originally selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL Draft, Drouin has appeared in 671 NHL games, compiling 111 goals and 287 assists over his career.
Colorado's offseason priorities remain centered on improving its roster, with the front office still expected to explore additional help up front and potentially add another defenseman. But with Drouin suddenly back on the open market—and his history with both the organization and MacKinnon well established—the circumstances have changed.
Whether that opens the door for a reunion is another question entirely, but one that has suddenly become much more interesting.
The Utah Mammoth have made it clear that their trade for Sebastian Cossa was about more than adding organizational depth.
Just days after acquiring the former first-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the 23rd overall selection in the 2026 NHL Draft, Utah announced Wednesday that the 23-year-old goaltender has signed a two-year contract carrying an average annual value of $2 million. The deal immediately solidifies Cossa as a central piece of the organization's long-term plans between the pipes.
Cossa arrives in Utah after spending the past four seasons developing with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins, where he established himself as one of the league's top young goaltenders. He owns a career 70-33-19 record with a 2.46 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and eight shutouts across 123 regular-season appearances.
His strongest campaign came in 2025-26, when he posted a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage while recording five shutouts in 39 games. The performance earned him his second consecutive selection to the AHL All-Star Game after also receiving the honor in 2025.
Although most of his professional experience has come in the AHL, Cossa has already made his NHL debut. He appeared in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 9, 2024, stopping 12 of 14 shots to earn his first career victory against the Buffalo Sabres.
Before beginning his professional career, Cossa emerged as one of the premier goaltending prospects in junior hockey with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. He compiled a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and 14 shutouts over 98 games from 2019 through 2022.
His dominance was particularly evident during the 2020-21 season, when he led the WHL with a 1.57 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. One season later, he backstopped the Oil Kings to a league championship, finishing the postseason with a 16-3 record, a 1.93 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 19 playoff appearances.
That championship run also carries a familiar connection for Utah. Cossa spent all three of his WHL seasons alongside current Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther, giving the two an opportunity to reunite as teammates at the NHL level.
Internationally, the Hamilton, Ontario, native captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship after previously representing Team Canada White at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Originally selected 15th overall by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa now joins the Mammoth with a proven track record of success at every level he has played. By following last week's trade with a new contract, Utah has made an early statement that it views the towering netminder as an important part of the franchise's future.
The Los Angeles Kings could be preparing to address one of their offseason priorities as NHL free agency approaches.
With veteran forward Scott Laughton widely expected to move on when the market opens July 1, Los Angeles is expected to explore options to reinforce its forward depth. One name that has already surfaced is veteran winger Erik Haula, whom NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes could be headed to the Kings.
Speaking on The Game Nashville, Friedman was asked whether he had heard of any potential free-agent destinations before the market officially opens. Haula was the first player he mentioned.
"The one name I did hear is that Erik Haula might end up in LA," Friedman said.
Haula would bring experience, versatility, and secondary offense to a Kings roster looking to add reliable depth under new head coach Peter Laviolette. The 35-year-old has spent parts of 14 NHL seasons with seven different organizations and has built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward capable of contributing throughout the lineup.
He spent the 2025-26 season with the Nashville Predators, recording 14 goals and 38 points in 81 games. Across 840 career NHL contests, Haula has totaled 147 goals and 375 points while logging minutes in a variety of offensive and defensive roles.
For Los Angeles, the fit makes sense beyond the production. If Laughton leaves as expected, the Kings will have another opening among their veteran forwards, making an experienced player like Haula a logical target. He offers lineup flexibility, playoff experience, and should come at a manageable price compared to some of the higher-profile options available in free agency.
Haula is coming off a three-year, $9.45 million contract and is expected to command a similar annual salary on a shorter-term deal. A one- or two-year contract in the $3 million to $4 million average annual value range appears to be a realistic projection despite the NHL's rising salary cap.
Because Haula is 35 years old, he is also eligible to sign a one-year contract that includes performance bonuses. That structure could provide additional flexibility for the Kings, who have roughly $11 million in available salary cap space entering free agency. A deal with a lower guaranteed salary and attainable performance incentives could allow Los Angeles to maximize its cap flexibility while adding another proven veteran to its forward group.
On Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights added an experienced voice to their coaching staff, hiring former NHL forward Mark Letestu as an assistant coach. Letestu joins head coach Ryan Craig's staff for the 2026-27 season, with the remainder of the Golden Knights coaching group set to return as well.
Letestu brings both playing pedigree and a steadily building coaching resume to Vegas. The former forward spent 11 seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 567 regular season games and producing 210 points on 93 goals and 117 assists.
His NHL career painted a picture of a reliable two-way centre who carved out a long professional career through intelligence, faceoff ability and a willingness to embrace whatever role his team needed.
His final NHL stint came with the Jets, where he appeared in seven games during the 2019-20 season before transitioning out of playing and into coaching. The move to the bench suited him well. Letestu spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters, helping build a winning culture in the organization.
The Monsters qualified for the postseason in each of the final two seasons of his tenure, capturing the North Division title during the 2023-24 campaign and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final that same year.
From there, Letestu took his biggest step yet in coaching, becoming head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles ahead of last season. He wasted little time making an impact, guiding Colorado to a 41-20-11 record and a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Eagles advancing all the way to the Western Conference Final in his first and only season behind the bench.
The strong showing made Letestu one of the more attractive coaching candidates available this summer and clearly caught the attention of the Golden Knights front office.
The connection to Craig also likely played a role in the hire as the two shared the ice together in Columbus during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. For Vegas, the addition of Letestu rounds out a coaching staff built around Craig, who is entering his first season leading the Golden Knights after the team fell short in the Stanley Cup finals under interim hire John Tortorella.
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