July 8, 2025
Forward Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement from the NHL. He made 747 regular-season appearances in the league, recording 193 goals and 433 points. Johnson became a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2011. The 5-foot-8 forward also suited up for the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Boston signed him to a one-year contract in November, but Johnson was waived after just a month and a half, limiting him to nine appearances in 2024-25.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 8, 2025
Utah Mammoth forward Jack McBain has agreed to a five-year, $21.25 million contract with the team. The two parties reached an agreement on a new deal a little over 24 hours after the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward. With the 2024-25 campaign, McBain completed a two-year, $3.2 million contract. The 25-year-old hit new heights on the offensive end by producing 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 82 games and finished sixth in the league with 291 hits. Fantasy managers can expect similar production from McBain next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 8, 2025
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York has re-upped with the team, signing a five-year contract worth $25.75 million. He was a restricted free agent after completing a two-year, $3.2 million deal. York receives a big boost in salary with his new deal, but it could still end up being a favorable contract for the team, considering the rising salary cap. While the 24-year-old is seen as an important piece of the Flyers defense, York has only provided modest fantasy production during his time in the NHL. In 2024-25, he recorded 17 points (four goals, 13 assists), 65 shots, 126 blocks, and 60 hits in 66 appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 6, 2025
Washington Capitals left wing Sonny Milano (upper body) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in the fall. "I actually talked to Sonny a few weeks ago and he feels good," Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said on Saturday. "He's preparing to be a player for us in training camp. He was doing some offseason traveling and then he's going to get back into skating a little earlier than he normally does and he was excited. He's ready to go." Milano only played three games for Washington in the 2024-25 season before landing on the shelf in November. In previous years, Milano has been a decent contributor in the NHL, recording 137 points (62 goals, 75 assists) in 313 career games. The 29-year-old is heading into the final season of a three-year $5.7 million deal.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 6, 2025
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has re-signed with the team, agreeing to a two-year, $1.93 million pact. Dobes made his NHL debut during the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 7-4-3 record across 15 starts. He became the 13th goaltender in NHL history to go 5-0-0 in his first five career games, and only the fourth netminder born outside North America to accomplish this. Following his hot start, Dobes was inconsistent but still finished the season with solid numbers. He logged a 2.74 goals-against average with a .909 save percentage and one shutout. On July 1, Dobes became a restricted free agent, but the Canadiens now have him locked up for a couple of more years. The 24-year-old Czech will compete with Kaapo Kahkonen for the No. 2 spot behind Sam Montembeault in the Canadiens crease.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 6, 2025
Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the team on Saturday. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent after completing his entry-level contract. The Capitals used a first-round pick on Lapierre in 2020 and gave him the third-line center spot for the start of 2024-25. However, Lapierre struggled in the role and didn't see any NHL action after the calendar was flipped. He finished the campaign with zero goals and eight assists across 27 games. In the AHL, Lapierre was a point-per-game player. Lapierre will hope to establish himself as a full-time NHLer next season but is unlikely to provide fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: PuckPedia
July 6, 2025
Seattle Kraken left wing Tye Kartye has re-signed with the team on a two-year, $2.5 million contract. The 24-year-old is set to start his third season with the Kraken after he was picked up as an undrafted free agent. Kartye has been a physical presence in the Kraken lineup, averaging close to four hits per game in 140 outings with the team. Offensively, he chipped in with six goals and seven assists in 63 games last season. While Kartye has been a good fit for Seattle, he offers no fantasy value because of his limited offensive arsenal.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 6, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov has signed a new two-year, $8.35 million contract with the team. He was a restricted free agent following a career year. In 73 outings, Voronkov posted 23 goals and 47 points with 154 shots on goal. His numbers included a team-high eight power-play goals and a stellar plus-17 rating. At 24, Voronkov is still relatively young and appears capable of further improvement in 2025-26. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell holds him in high regard, noting that Voronkov "has a chance to be a very special player."
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 4, 2025
Forward Christian Fischer has decided to hang up his skates. The 28-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL in an interview with The Athletic. "It's just more so a decision of moving on into another chapter of my life," Fischer said. "I wish there was a big reasoning why, but in the end, I'm very thankful for the career I had." The Chicago native added that he has a business opportunity in the golf industry. Fischer was the No. 32 pick in the 2015 draft and spent most of his NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes. He also had stints with the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets, posting 137 points (62 goals, 75 assists) in 523 regular-season appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 4, 2025
Goaltender Spencer Martin has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow in the KHL. He will move overseas after making nine appearances with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. Martin earned seven starts and struggled, posting a 3-4-1 record with a 3.89 goals-against average and a .846 save percentage. The Oakville, Ontario native holds a 24-30-8 career record in the NHL. Since he turned 30 in June, it's possible Martin may not get a chance to add to his 66 NHL appearances. Carolina will continue to roll with Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov in the crease next season, with newly signed Cayden Primeau providing additional depth.
--Taavi PailkSource: KHL
July 4, 2025
Washington Capitals winger Anthony Beauvillier has re-signed with the team on a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The 28-year-old had an option to leave as an unrestricted free agent but has chosen to stay in D.C. Beauvillier joined the Capitals in March after beginning the 2024-25 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 81 games between the two teams, he scored 15 goals and 25 points. He also contributed six points (two goals, four assists) in 10 playoff games as a member of the Capitals. Beauvillier impressed in a first-line role during the playoffs and may get another opportunity in the top six to start the 2025-26 season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 3, 2025
Defenseman Nick Leddy was claimed off waivers on Thursday by the San Jose Sharks. The 34-year-old had a rough campaign with the St. Louis Blues in 2024-25 and was waived by the team earlier in the week. Leddy is entering the final year of his contract, which has an average annual value of $4 million. The veteran will try to help the NHL's leakiest defense next season. San Jose was the only team to allow 300 goals last term, finishing with a goals-against average of 3.78. That said, Leddy is not a player who should attract the interest of fantasy managers.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 3, 2025
Defenseman Dmitry Orlov has joined the San Jose Sharks as a free agent. The Russian rearguard, who will celebrate his 34th birthday in a couple of weeks, was handed a two-year, $13 million contract. Orlov is moving to the West Coast after spending the past two seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. He notched 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) in 76 games last term and registered 101 blocks. Orlov might get more ice time with the Sharks, which could boost his numbers. A couple of seasons ago, he flirted with a 40-point season when he played over 22 minutes a game with the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 3, 2025
Winger Nikolaj Ehlers signed a six-year, $51 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday. He was the biggest name remaining among free agents and reportedly preferred a move to Raleigh over Washington and Utah. Ehlers had spent his entire NHL career so far with the Winnipeg Jets. Last season, the Danish forward had one of the best campaigns of his career, scoring 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 69 games. Ehlers is likely to fill a similar role to the one he had in Winnipeg and will get a chance to post a third consecutive 60-point year in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 3, 2025
Defenseman Brent Burns has decided to join the Colorado Avalanche for the 2025-26 NHL campaign, signing a one-year, $1 million pact with the team. Burns may earn a further $3 million with games-played bonuses. The veteran blue-liner, who turned 40 in March, has just finished a three-year spell with the Carolina Hurricanes. He had 29 points (six goals, 23 assists) in 82 games last season, marking his lowest scoring total since the 2020-21 campaign. Burns is no longer the player he once was, but he can still do a solid job. The 2017 Norris Trophy winner will enter next season having made 925 consecutive regular-season appearances, which puts him just 139 games behind Phil Kessel's all-time record.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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