NHL Free Agents

NHL free agent news, rumors and signings. NHL free agency opens on July 13th, but free agent news and rumors begin long before that.

Latest NHL Free Agents News
A master list of all the pending unrestricted 2021-22 NHL free agent defensemen. NHL free agency is scheduled to open on July 13th, 2022.
Alex Goligoski

NHL Free Agents: 2021-22 Unrestricted NHL Free Agent Defensemen

A master list of all the pending unrestricted NHL free agent defensemen. NHL free agency is scheduled to open on July 13th, 2022.

Mark Easson
Teams would need to overpay for Justin Holl or Travis Dermott. All quiet on the Toronto Maple Leafs - Jack Campbell extension talk front.

NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs – Justin Holl, Travis Dermott, and Jack Campbell

Teams would need to overpay for Holl or Dermott. All quiet on the Maple Leafs - Jack Campbell extension talk front.

Mark Easson
Preliminary talks for pending RFAs Adam Fox and Jack Hughes. Jack Eichel will make one last push to the Buffalo Sabres.
Adam Fox

NHL Rumors: Adam Fox, Jack Hughes, and Jack Eichel

Preliminary talks for pending RFAs Adam Fox and Jack Hughes. Eichel running out of options.

Mark Easson
Canucks will stay internal for now. Very preliminary talks for Adam Fox and the Rangers. Jack Hughes' side likely won't be in a rush.
Adam Fox

NHL Rumors: Jack Eichel, Travis Hamonic, Adam Fox and Jack Hughes

Canucks will stay internal for now. Very preliminary talks for Fox and the Rangers. Hughes' side likely won't be in a rush

Mark Easson
Dallas Stars John Klingberg could be looking for something in the mid-$60 million range. Adam Fox will be looking for a big payday.
Adam Fox

NHL Rumors: John Klingberg and Adam Fox Will Be Looking For Big Eight-Year Deals

Klingberg could be looking for something in the mid-$60's. Fox will be looking for a big payday.

Mark Easson
The Ottawa Senators have re-signed RFA forward Brady Tkachuk to a seven-year contract worth $57.5 million - an $8.214 million AAV.
Brady Tkachuk

NHL News: Ottawa Senators – Brady Tkachuk Agree On A Seven-Year Deal

The Ottawa Senators have re-signed RFA forward Brady Tkachuk to a seven-year contract worth $57.5 million - an $8.214 million AAV.

Mark Easson
Patrice Bergeron will wait on an extension. The Door is still open for Tuukka Rask, David Krejci. A big extension coming for Charlie McAvoy.
Boston Bruins

NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins – Patrice Bergevin, Tuukka Rask, David Krejci and Charlie McAvoy

Bergeron will wait on an extension. The Door is still open for Rask and Krejci. A big extension coming for McAvoy.

Mark Easson
Claude Giroux is a name to keep an eye on this NHL Trade Deadline
Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Rumors: Dylan Strome, Vitali Kravtsov, and Claude Giroux

Little room for Dylan Strome in Chicago. Is the cost to acquire Vitali Kravtsov a second-round pick? Claude Giroux and the Flyers won't talk contract in-season.

Mark Easson
The Nashville Predators and defenseman Mattias Ekholm agreed on a four-year contract extension with a $6.5 million cap hit.
Mattias Ekholm

NHL News: The Nashville Predators, Mattias Ekholm Reach A Four-Year Extension

The Nashville Predators and defenseman Mattias Ekholm agreed on a four-year contract extension with a $6.5 million cap hit.

Mark Easson
Player signings from yesterday include Jack Johnson, Zach Parise, Zdeno Chara, Erik Gustafsson, Jimmy Vesey and Mika Zibanejad.
Chicago Blackhawks

NHL Signings: Avalanche, Islanders, Blackhawks, Devils and Rangers

Player signings from yesterday include Jack Johnson, Zach Parise, Zdeno Chara, Erik Gustafsson, Jimmy Vesey and Mika Zibanejad.

Mark Easson
No contract for Jack Johnson yet Adrian Dater: Though there is still no contract from the Colorado Avalanche for Jack Johnson, believe that he'll still get one from the team. Lamoriello still working the phones Arthur Staple: New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz said that GM Lou Lamoriello "isn't quite finished assembling the roster." The Islanders could be looking trade some of their extra players. 5:00 PM on Monday is the deadline for teams to submit their rosters. Andrew Gross: Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is still working the phones to finalize their roster. Canucks shopping defenseman Olli Juolevi Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal of The Athletic: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Olli Juolevi hasn't been skating with the main group and has only played in one of their last four pre-season games. The Canucks have spoken with several teams about a potential trade according to several sources. They are trying to give him a change of scenery. His trade value is minimal at this point. He'll looking be put on waivers if a trade can't be found, and assigned to the AHL if he's not claimed. Patrick Johnston of the Vancouver Province: Have also confirmed that the Canuck are actively shopping Olli Juolevi around the league. On the left side of the Canucks blue line he's now below Quinn Hughes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jack Rathbone and Brad Hunt. If they don't put him on waivers today, they could keep him on their opening day roster to get closer to the salary cap before they place forward Micheal Ferlund on the LTIR. Cam Robinson: If the Canucks are shopping defenseman Olli Juolevi, they are doing so with a low trade value. The best case scenario for them maybe trading for another "bust-appearing former top prospect" who is under contract for another season.
Colorado Avalanche

NHL Rumors: Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks

No contract for Jack Johnson yet. Lamoriello is still working the phones. Canucks shopping defenseman Olli Juolevi.

Mark Easson
A quick looking into some players, and one GM, who are entering the final year of their contracts.
Boston Bruins

NHL Rumors: Kris Letang, Morgan Rielly, John Klingberg, Evgeni Malkin, Patrice Bergeron and Marc Bergevin

A quick looking into some players, and one GM, who are entering the final year of their contracts.

Mark Easson

2024-25 Critical Dates

Mar. 7th: NHL Trade Deadline (3:00 PM ET)
Apr. 17th: Last day of the regular season
April 19th: Stanley Cup Playoffs begin
TBD: 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
June 23rd: Last possible day for the Stanley Cup Final
June 27th-28th: 2025 NHL Draft
July 1st: Start of free agency