Category: Sports News

The opening day of NHL free agency is always an exciting time for hockey fans, as teams retool their rosters with fresh talent and strategic additions. But obviously, with the standard roster, contract and cap limitations, they can't just stockpile talent, so every addition eventually requires a subtraction.

On July 1, the Ottawa Senators officially parted ways with six unrestricted free agents, all of whom saw varying levels of NHL time with the club in 2024-25.

As they scattered to the wind, here's where they signed on Tuesday:

Adam Gaudette

Gaudette was one of the best storylines of the Senators’ 2024–25 season. Out of the NHL for nearly two years, he signed a two-way deal with Ottawa, reuniting with his former Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green, who had just gotten the Sens job. Gaudette made the team out of camp and responded with a strong season, scoring 19 goals.

Never having had a serious NHL payday, Gaudette took full advantage of free agency, signing a two-year contract with the San Jose Sharks worth $2 million annually. Ottawa seemed fully ready for his departure on Tuesday, bringing in veteran Lars Eller, who is expected to take over Gaudette’s spot as the fourth-line center.

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Anton Forsberg

Goaltender Anton Forsberg signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings worth $2.2 million per season. He’ll reunite with former Senators head coach D.J. Smith, now an assistant in L.A., on a team that allowed the second-fewest goals in the league last season.

Forsberg’s best campaign in Ottawa came in 2021–22, when he posted a 2.82 GAA and a .917 save percentage over 46 games. Throughout the rebuild, he could sometimes be a stabilizing presence, despite a leaky defense in front of him. But there were nights of inconsistency as well. With the emergence of the less expensive Leevi Meriläinen, the Senators were ready to move on.

Ottawa Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next SeasonOttawa Senators general manager Steve Staios officially provided some clarity on the organization’s 2025-26 goaltending depth chart on Tuesday afternoon. The dominoes started to fall on Monday with Leevi Meriläinen signing a one-year, one-way contract worth $1 million for next season.

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Matthew Highmore

Highmore played 41 NHL games last season with Ottawa, recording just six points. Though well-regarded for his work ethic, the 29-year-old didn’t do enough to earn a new deal. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders.

In his NHL career, Highmore has tallied 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 187 games. He’s also been productive at the AHL level, with 166 points (61G, 105A) in 231 games.

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Angus Crookshank

Crookshank became a bit of a cult favorite in Ottawa—thanks in part to his memorable name and underdog appeal. After playing 13 NHL games at the end of the 2023–24 season, he seemed poised to break through.

But with new management prioritizing size and adding multiple free agent forwards last summer, Crookshank’s path became crowded. He lacked the high-end skill to crack the top six and didn’t have the size or physical edge for a bottom-six role.

Still, he found a new opportunity with the New Jersey Devils, signing a two-year deal worth $5 million. The first year is a two-way contract, but it becomes a one-way deal in 2026–27.

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Dennis Gilbert

Gilbert arrived in Ottawa as part of a trade deadline deal with the Buffalo Sabres, a move that sent Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to Buffalo in exchange for Dylan Cozens and Gilbert. While Cozens was the main piece for Ottawa, Gilbert appeared in just four games.

Gilbert has since signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Meanwhile, Bernard-Docker was not tendered a qualifying offer by Buffalo and has signed with the Detroit Red Wings.

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Cole Reinhardt

A former teammate of Ridly Greig with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Reinhardt was drafted by the Senators as a 20-year-old and spent five seasons in the organization. Known as an excellent skater and hardworking winger, he recorded just two points in 17 games with Ottawa last season.

Now 25, Reinhardt qualified for Group 6 unrestricted free agency and signed a two-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights. Terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

So there it is. The end of the line for half a dozen Ottawa Senators. With a tip of the cap, we wish them success in their next hockey chapters.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
Image credit: Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

More Sens Headlines:

Senators Clarify Their Goaltending Picture for Next Season
Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' Complete
Detroit Trades Former Ottawa Senators Winger Vladimir Tarasenko
Senators Sign Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen To New One-Way Contract
Sens First-Round Selection Says He Models His Game After Jake Sanderson
Senators Acquire Defenseman Jordan Spence From Los Angeles

When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Noah Dobson, many believed it meant the end of Mike Matheson in Montreal. With sophomore sensation Lane Hutson also on board, the Habs now have three puck-moving defensemen on hand.

With that kind of depth, one could have thought that Kent Hughes was readying himself to train the 31-year-old blueliner to fix another area of need. After all, Matheson is a minute muncher and could be very useful to any team.

About the Canadiens' Second Big Trade Of The Week...
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Canadiens: Hughes’ Free Agency Signings

During his press conference on July 1, the GM was asked: Many linked Noah Dobson’s arrival with a potential Mike Matheson departure. From your perspective, do you see yourself moving forward with him?

Hughes didn’t even have to think before answering a simple yes, which signified he didn’t want to discuss the matter further. At the scouting combine in Buffalo, Matheson met with Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to discuss a potential contract extension since he’s now entering the last year of the eight-year contract he signed with the Florida Panthers in 2018.

With a $4,875,000 AAV, the deal provided excellent value for the Canadiens in the last few years as Matheson’s production increased when he arrived in Montreal and was given the driver’s seat on the power play and a first pairing spot. His points total jumped from 34 in 2022-23 to 62 in 2023-24. Of course, it regressed to only 31 points this past season, but that was to be expected since he lost his spot on the first power-play unit and played more minutes on the penalty kill.

While fans may only notice the decreased production and become less tolerant of the turnovers committed, the Canadiens’ GM considers the possibility of having a puck-moving defenseman on each of his pairings. To him, that’s an enticing possibility. Just how enticing, though? That is the question.

Hughes also mentioned in the same press availability that Joel Armia wanted to stay in Montreal, but the Canadiens were not willing to match the offer the Los Angeles Kings made him. I assume the situation will be similar; Hughes will have to set the price he’s willing to pay and make his pitch to Matheson. If the veteran defenseman is willing to accept the GM’s assessment, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him stick around, but that would probably mean leaving some money on the table. Will Matheson believe enough in what the Canadiens are building to settle for less money in the hope of winning in his hometown? That’s the question.

The GM has already proven he’s a shrewd negotiator, getting Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky to commit long-term for less money than his captain Nick Suzuki and getting newly acquired defenseman Noah Dobson to accept a cap hit that was lower than his rumoured asking price. Usually, the players are buying what Hughes is selling, but will Matheson? Time will tell…

Photo credit:  Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

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Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram has frequently appeared in trade rumors in recent weeks. 

The speculation increased last week after the Sabres shipped winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth, prompting some observers to suggest that he'd become a trade chip to acquire a replacement for Peterka among their top-six forwards. 

The 24-year-old Byram became a restricted free agent with arbitration rights on July 1. He earned an average annual value of $3.85 million on his previous contract. With the UFA market picked clean of quality defensemen, some enterprising teams seeking a puck-moving blueliner could tempt him with an offer sheet. 

TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that the Sabres had trade conversations with several teams, including the Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. He also raised the possibility of an offer sheet.

Dreger's colleague Chris Johnston suggested the sweet spot could be around the compensation range tier of $7,020,113. “If a deal comes in under that, the compensation would be a first and a third-round pick in 2026.”. He indicated that the danger for the Sabres in matching that offer is that it would take Byram straight to UFA status while losing the ability to trade him. 

Another defenseman continuing to garner attention in the trade market is Rasmus Andersson. The 28-year-old Calgary Flames blueliner is a year away from UFA eligibility with a cap hit of $4.55 million. 

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the thinning free-agent market for defensemen could rekindle trade interest in Andersson. He claimed the Golden Knights, Kings, Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets could be among the suitors. 

LeBrun indicated those teams would prefer if Andersson signed an extension with them, but the only team he was interested in doing that for is the Golden Knights. However, TSN subsequently reported that Flames GM Craig Conroy never gave the Andersson camp permission to discuss an extension with other teams, nor had Andersson honed in on a single club. 

Having signed Mitch Marner to an expensive contract, the Golden Knights lack the cap space and necessary assets to acquire Andersson. The Blue Jackets have $19.65 million in cap room, but they're likely out after re-signing Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro to long-term deals. 

The Kings could also be out following their signings of Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci on Tuesday. As for the Senators, they're reportedly on his no-trade list.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are adding more size to their defensive depth. 

According to PuckPedia, the Penguins have signed defenseman Phil Kemp to a two-year, two-way contract. 

The #LetsGoPens signed 26 y/o Group 6 UFA Phil Kemp

Year 1: NHL 775K, minors 350K, 375K guaranteed
Year 2 775/350/400

Rep’d by Neumann/Bazos @EdgeSportsMngmthttps://t.co/alg9JrKVPT

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 2, 2025

Kemp, 26, hit the market as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) after spending each of the last five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. In 56 games with the AHL squad this campaign, he recorded seven goals, 12 points, 39 penalty minutes, and a plus-5 rating. 

Kemp has played in one career NHL game, which was with the Oilers during the 2023-24 season. During it, he had 2:03 of ice time. 

Overall, with this move, the Penguins have brought in an experienced AHL defenseman, which is never a bad thing. The 6-foot-3 defenseman could also be a call-up candidate for Pittsburgh when injuries arise. 

Penguins Potential Star Trade Target Is Off The BoardA potential trade target for the Pittsburgh Penguins is officially off the board. 

Photo Credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

This is Martin’s first contract to play overseas after playing his entire career to this point in North America.

Originally from Oakville, Ont., Martin played junior hockey for the Mississauga Steelheads in the OHL and was taken in the third round, 60th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Between 2016 and 2025, Martin played 66 NHL games for the Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes, compiling a record of 24-30-8 with a goals-against average of 3.31, a save percentage of .833 and one shutout.

Martin played 35 of his NHL games with Vancouver, starting with a brilliant six-game stint at the end of the 2021-22 season in which he posted a 1.74 goals-against average and .950 save percentage. His solid goaltending continued into the start of the following season; however, an injury to Thatcher Demko in early December forced Martin into the starting role, and his play suffered. Eventually, Collin Delia started getting the majority of work, and when Demko finally returned, Martin was sent back to the AHL.

Linden Vey Moves From Switzerland To Vienna Canadian center Linden Vey, 33, has signed a one-year contract with the Vienna Capitals, the ICEHL club announced on Tuesday.

Early last season, Martin was recalled by Carolina while Fredrik Andersen was injured, but after posting a 3.89 goals-against average and .849 save percentage in nine games, he was returned to the minors.

With CSKA, Martin is expected to share the crease with 22-year-old New York Islanders prospect Dmitri Gamzin.

The signing of Martin comes the day after CSKA announced the acquisition of former NHL winger Egor Sokolov. CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, also has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

Utah Prospect, Ex-Sen Egor Sokolov Signs In KHL Russian winger Egor Sokolov, 25, has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Tuesday. According to the announcement, CSKA had earlier worked out an agreement with Avtomobilist Yetaterinberg, who had previously held Sokolov’s KHL rights.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a Mitch Marner-sized hole in their lineup opted for a sign and trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. But when the clock struck noon for the opening of free agency, the Leafs were quiet.

They signed some depth players to fill out their roster, but they didn't add point-getting forward that could play alongside their top-six forward group.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving cautioned that replacing a 100-point player like Marner wasn't going to be quick fix. But he admitted that the pool available in free agency to make a big swing wasn't particularly deep.

"If you're looking for a top-six forward there wasn't a long list of them," Treliving said. "If you're one of those teams that has a top six forward and you're not going to sign your own guy, you're looking at the same list. So, it really steers you to a point where the anticipation was a lot of those guys were going to sign back with their teams, which ended up happening."

Mitch Marner Reveals When He Knew He’d Test NHL Free Agency While Under Maple Leafs ContractMitch Marner is a Vegas Golden Knight, officially unveiled on Tuesday in an introductory news conference with the Vegas local media.

So that leaves Toronto with something they haven't had a lot of after Day 1 of free agency...salary cap space.

The Leafs will likely look to weaponize that space in the hope that later in the summer, they could help a team get out of a salary cap issue and acquire a player that they need. 

 "If we've got a box there that we call the top-six box, we're trying to give ourselves as much flexibility rather than spending and not addressing that need. And having some flexibility if an opportunity comes up later down the road, again, whether that be trade or otherwise. And that's probably the path right now that we're looking more closely at," Treliving explained."

Based on 23 players on their roster, the Leafs have $4,983,081 in salary cap space according to PuckPedia.com. They actively look to move depth forwards in the hopes of getting a player that they need. 

The Leafs added depth forwards Michael Pezzetta and Benoit-Olivier Groulx to two-year contracts carrying an average annual value of $812,500. The Leads also signed forward Travis Boyd to a one-year contract worth $775,000. Boyd had a short stint with the Leafs during the 2020-21 season where he had three goals and five assists in 20 games before he was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks off waivers later that season. The Leafs are also bringing back depth defenseman Dakota Mermis on a two-year deal worth $812,500. All of the signings took place on July 1.

(Headline Photo Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

Why The Maple Leafs Didn’t Qualify Pontus Holmberg As Player Signs With Lightning Pontus Holmberg is moving on from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Why Matthew Knies 'Wanted To Go Long-Term' On Six-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet. 'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.