July 2, 2025
Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod has signed a four-year, $20 million extension with the franchise. The 25-year-old became a restricted free agent on Tuesday, but Buffalo locked him up with another deal. McLeod has improved his scoring numbers in each of his four NHL seasons and produced 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) across 79 appearances in 2024-25. He will look to take another step forward next season, although it's unlikely that McLeod can sustain the 20.6 shooting percentage he had last term.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Defenseman Nick Perbix will move to the Western Conference for the upcoming season after leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning to join the Nashville Predators as a free agent. The Predators signed him to a two-year, $5.5 million deal. Although his role was limited on the Lightning team, Perbix has accumulated 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists) in 220 career games. He also has 246 blocks and 203 hits. Perbix's production could improve in Nashville with more playing time.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Defenseman Cody Ceci has signed a four-year, $18 million pact with the Los Angeles Kings. The well-traveled veteran will suit up for his seventh NHL team in 2025-26. He split the past campaign between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, making 85 total appearances during the regular season. Ceci notched 24 points (four goals, 20 assists) and recorded 155 blocks. The Kings also snapped up Brian Dumoulin on a three-year, $12 million deal in free agency, giving the team's backline a new look next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 2, 2025
Winger James van Riemsdyk has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The veteran forward moves to Motor City after spending one season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Considering his role on the team, van Riemsdyk had a decent campaign in Columbus, notching 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 71 games. He's way past his heyday but can still contribute on teams as a depth scorer. Van Riemsdyk is close to fellow veteran Patrick Kane, and the two are likely to enjoy some time together on the same line in Detroit.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
The Boston Bruins have acquired winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Edmonton decided to part ways with Arvidsson just 12 months after signing him to a two-year, $8 million contract. He had a disappointing season in 2024-25, recording 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 67 appearances. Arvidsson flirted with a 60-point campaign just two seasons ago, so he could still be a productive player for fantasy managers if he finds a good fit in Boston.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed free-agent goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year, $6.7 million contract. With Dustin Wolf firmly establishing himself as the No. 1 option in Calgary, Vladar decided to move on and will now compete with Samuel Ersson for playing time in the City of Brotherly Love. In 2024-25, Vladar posted a 12-11-6 record while allowing 2.80 goals with a .898 save percentage. Ersson went 22-17-5 with a 3.14 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage. The Flyers also have Ivan Fedotov on the books for next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Winger Andrew Mangiapane has signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old will return to Alberta, having previously represented the Calgary Flames for seven seasons. The Flames traded Mangiapane to the Washington Capitals for a second-round draft pick a year ago. Things did not go well for Mangiapane in D.C, as he finished the 2024-25 season with 28 points (14 goals, 14 assists) in 81 games, his lowest scoring total in four years. The 2021 World Championships MVP could be an intriguing bounce-back candidate in fantasy hockey next season if he can land on a line with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren has inked a four-year, $18 million contract with the Seattle Kraken. He was available as a free agent after splitting the 2024-25 season between the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche. In 72 games, Lindgren set a career high with 22 points (four goals, 18 assists), while also tallying 128 blocks and 80 hits. Lindgren has made a name for himself as a defensive defenseman and offers limited value to fantasy managers.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Center Christian Dvorak signed a one-year, $5.4 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. He hit the open market after completing a six-year, $26.7 million deal he signed with the Arizona Coyotes in 2018. Just a couple of years into the contract, Dvorak was traded to the Montreal Canadiens, where he registered 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 82 games during the 2024-25 season. Nine years into his NHL career, Dvorak has never managed more than 38 points in a season, so his deal with the Flyers is sure to raise some eyebrows.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 2, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven signed an eight-year, $48 million contract extension with the franchise on Tuesday. The deal will take effect with the 2026-27 NHL season. Carolina acquired Stankoven from the Dallas Stars in the Mikko Rantanen trade in March, and the long-term extension is a strong signal that the team sees him playing a vital role in Raleigh for the foreseeable future. In 2024-25, Stankoven registered nine points (five goals, four assists) in 19 appearances with the Hurricanes, adding eight points (five goals, three assists) in 15 playoff outings.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
Forward Jonathan Drouin will head back to the Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 NHL season, having agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the New York Islanders. The former top-three draft pick has spent the past two campaigns with the Colorado Avalanche. Injuries limited Drouin to 43 appearances in 2024-25, but he had a good spell in Denver. Across 122 games with the Avalanche, Drouin posted 30 goals and 93 points. He might maintain that level of productivity on Long Island if he secures a top-six role and gets a spot on the first power-play unit.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 2, 2025
Right wing Connor Brown will take his talents to New Jersey in 2025-26, having landed a four-year, $12 million contract from the Devils. The 31-year-old revived his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers, tallying 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 82 games during the 2024-25 season. He added five goals and four assists in 20 postseason appearances. Brown has been a 30-40-point guy for most of his career and will likely hover around the same range next season if he stays clear of injuries.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 2, 2025
The San Jose Sharks have picked up defenseman John Klingberg in free agency, signing him to a one-year, $4 million contract. Klingberg has battled health issues in recent years and skated in only 11 regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024-25. He made 19 further appearances during the playoffs. In total, Klingberg managed two goals and eight points in Edmonton. The defenseman secured a good deal in San Jose, but his fantasy value will likely stay limited next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund has secured a three-year contract extension. He was handed a $16.8 million deal that will begin with the 2026-27 season. The Swedish forward has just finished his second season in the NHL, recording 58 points (17 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games. He's only 22 years old and has plenty of untapped potential. Fantasy managers should keep Eklund on their radar, as he is likely to continue playing a key role for a rebuilding Sharks team.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 2, 2025
New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle has re-signed with the team for two years, landing a $7.8 million contract. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent. Cuylle had a strong finish to 2024-25 and will be a player to watch next season. He played in all 82 games this past campaign and achieved career-high marks in all offensive categories, posting 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists). Additionally, Cuylle was tied for the third-most hits in the league with 301, making him even more attractive from a fantasy perspective.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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