The NHL has released its list of restricted and unrestricted free agents, with several players signing new contracts as free agency opened. Teams across the league have been active, securing talent for the upcoming season.
The Edmonton Oilers have been particularly busy, adding several players to their roster. Among their signings is Frederik Andersen, a goaltender who signed a one-year contract. Andersen previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes and contributed to their playoff run, achieving a 13-2 record, a 1.89 goals-against average, and a .913 save percentage with three shutouts in the playoffs. The Oilers also re-signed Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year deal and brought in Mathieu Joseph on a one-year contract. Joseph, a winger, previously played under associate coach D.J. Smith with the Ottawa Senators and later with the Los Angeles Kings.
Another significant signing for the Oilers is defenseman Ryan Shea, who agreed to a five-year contract. Shea had a productive season with Pittsburgh, recording 35 points in 80 games, and is noted for his puck-moving ability and penalty-kill contributions.
Western Conference teams bolster rosters
In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars have signed Joel Kiviranta to a one-year contract. Kiviranta previously played for the Colorado Avalanche, where he posted a career-high 16 goals and 23 points in the 2024-25 season. The Winnipeg Jets have strengthened their defense by signing Mario Ferraro to a three-year deal. Ferraro, a defensive defenseman from the Sharks, recorded seven goals and 23 points this past season and led his former team with 150 blocked shots.
The Vancouver Canucks have added defensive defenseman Jamie Oleksiak on a two-year contract. Oleksiak, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 252 pounds, had 112 hits and 106 blocked shots in the previous season and played a secondary role on Seattle‘s penalty kill. His signing comes as the Canucks traded Marcus Pettersson to the New York Rangers. The Utah Mammoth secured Anders Lee with a three-year contract. Lee, a power forward, recorded 19 goals and 42 points this past season.
The Anaheim Ducks have been active in free agency, signing goaltender Laurent Brossoit to a one-year contract, adding him to a roster that includes Lukas Dostal and Ville Husso. They also signed Jeff Malott to a three-year deal and defenseman Nick Jensen to a two-year contract. Jensen, a right-shooting puck-mover, is expected to help fill a gap on Anaheim’s defense following the departures of Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas.
Eastern Conference teams make moves
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals signed Boone Jenner to a four-year contract. Jenner, a former captain for the Blue Jackets, is known for his physicality and secondary scoring. The Detroit Red Wings have added goaltender Daniil Tarasov on a one-year deal. Tarasov, who had an .895 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against average in 33 games with the Panthers, replaces Cam Talbot as a stop-gap netminder. The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in veteran defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk on a two-year contract after his six seasons with the Capitals.
The Florida Panthers signed Lars Eller to a one-year contract. Eller, a defensive center, recorded 15 points in 68 games with Ottawa. The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Zack MacEwen to a two-year contract and Brandon Duhaime to a three-year deal. The Buffalo Sabres added Conor Sheary on a one-year contract. The St. Louis Blues signed Dillon Dube to a one-year contract; Dube recorded 20 goals and 37 points in 46 games with the AHL‘s Springfield Thunderbirds this past season.
The San Jose Sharks have signed goaltender Eric Comrie to a two-year contract. Comrie’s stats were noted to have worsened in Winnipeg this past season. The New York Rangers signed Joseph Veleno to a one-year contract. Veleno had 28 points in 80 games in 2023-24. The Minnesota Wild re-signed Zach Bogosian to a one-year contract, continuing his role as a depth player for the team.
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Source: nhl.com
