July 1, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov has secured a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension. Provorov was set to be one of the most attractive free agents among defensemen on the open market. Instead, he has committed his long-term future to the Blue Jackets, who acquired Provorov a couple of years back from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Russian blue-liner has produced back-to-back 30-point campaigns in Columbus. In 2024-25, he notched seven goals and 26 assists in 82 games with 127 blocked shots. He is expected to remain a steady two-way contributor next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 1, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is expected to sit out the 2025-26 season after announcing that he is stepping away from the team for health reasons. The 35-year-old veteran is dealing with hip problems. "The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am in a difficult position with my overall playing health," Pietrangelo said in a statement. "After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it's been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life." Pietrangelo, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, posted 33 points (four goals, 29 assists) in 71 games this term. The Vegas blue line will get a new look next season, with Pietrangelo sidelined and Nicolas Hague traded to the Nashville Predators.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 1, 2025
Left wing Matias Maccelli was traded by the Utah Mammoth to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday in exchange for a conditional third-round draft pick. Maccelli showed good offensive upside during his first couple of years in the NHL, but his career trajectory took a downward trend in 2024-25. He spent a large portion of the final few months of the season as a healthy scratch, finishing with 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 55 games. Acquiring Maccelli could be a shrewd move for the Maple Leafs if he can return to the form that earned him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2023.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 1, 2025
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard has landed a four-year, $42 million contract extension. With a cap hit of $10.5 million, he becomes one of the highest-paid defensemen in the NHL. Bouchard, who was a pending restricted free agent, has put together back-to-back impressive seasons with the Oilers. In 2024-25, he tallied 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists) in 82 games while blocking 108 shots. Since he is only 25 years old, Bouchard seems poised to remain among the top fantasy defensemen for many more seasons.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 1, 2025
The Minnesota Wild have acquired winger Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations. The former 40-goal scorer is set to play for a sixth team in four seasons. Tarasenko has started to bounce around in the league, despite being a point-per-game player as recently as the 2021-22 season. He joined the Red Wings on a two-year, $9.5 million deal as a free agent last offseason. It turned out to be a poor investment for Detroit, as Tarasenko only scored 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 80 regular-season outings. Fantasy managers should not expect much from him in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 1, 2025
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane will stay in Motown for another year after agreeing to a new $3 million contract. He could earn up to $7 million during the upcoming campaign, depending on bonuses. Kane played the 2024-25 season in Detroit on a one-year, $4 million deal. In 72 regular-season games, he scored 21 goals and 59 points, marking his best season in three years. Kane isn't the superstar he once was, but he can still make an impact on offense and aims to hit a few big milestones next season. The former MVP is eight goals away from 500 in his career and needs 49 assists to reach 900 career helpers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 1, 2025
Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand is set to sign a six-year extension with the team. After arriving from Boston midseason, Marchand proved to be an excellent fit for the Panthers, and the team will retain him with a contract that has an average annual value of $5.25 million. It's a significant deal for Marchand, considering he turned 37 in May. Marchand had his 10th straight season with at least 50 points this season and contributed 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games during Florida's second consecutive successful Stanley Cup run. The veteran forward still seems to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 1, 2025
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has agreed to an eight-year, $48.8 million contract extension. He has taken a small pay cut to stay with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, having finished off an eight-year, $60 million deal. Ekblad had 33 points (three goals, 30 assists) in 56 outings in 2024-25, missing the final 18 regular-season games due to a suspension for a failed drug test. He also recorded 64 blocks and 90 hits. The top pick of the 2014 draft will continue to see heavy usage on the Panthers blue line next season and still has plenty more to give at 29 years old.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 1, 2025
The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired right wing Mitchell Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Nicolas Roy. It was a sign-and-trade deal, with Marner agreeing to an eight-year, $96 million contract. Marner spent nine productive seasons with the Maple Leafs but was seeking a change of scenery after having a career year with 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 81 games. He joins a contending team and will have a strong chance of reaching 100 points again next season, playing on the top line with Vegas captain Jack Eichel.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 29, 2025
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (upper body) will likely miss the start of the 2025-26 NHL season. Michael Russo of The Athletic reports that Brodin had upper-body surgery a few weeks ago. Health issues have plagued Bordin for several years, and he made only 50 appearances with the Wild in 2024-25. The Swedish veteran posted 20 points (four goals, 16 shots) with 104 blocks. Zeev Buium, who made his NHL debut during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, might see increased usage due to Brodin's absence at the beginning of next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Michael Russo
June 29, 2025
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Conor Sheary is set to become an unrestricted free agent after being placed on unconditional waivers Sunday for the purpose of terminating his contract. The veteran forward had one year left on his three-year contract and was due to make $2 million next season. Sheary had a disappointing spell with the Lightning and made only five appearances for the team in 2024-25. However, the two-time Stanley Cup champion was a point-per-game player in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch and could attract interest from several teams as a free agent. Sheary has tallied 124 goals and 267 points in 593 career games in the NHL.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 29, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro signed a four-year, $16.5 million contract with the club on Sunday. The Blue Jackets locked him up with a new deal just a few days before Fabbro would have become an unrestricted free agent. He played the 2024-25 season on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, starting off the campaign with the Nashville Predators, who waived Fabbro in November. Fabbro made many in Nashville regret the decision, as he enjoyed a fine season in Columbus. In 62 appearances with the Blue Jackets, Fabbro registered 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists), 82 shots, 136 blocks, 66 hits, and a plus-23 rating. Fabbro is expected to continue playing an important role next season as Zach Werenski's partner on Columbus' top defensive pairing.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 29, 2025
St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer has avoided restricted free agency by signing a new two-year deal with the team. He will earn $6.8 million over the next couple of campaigns. Hofer has provided solid goaltending for the Blues since making his NHL debut during the 2021-21 season. He compiled a 16-8-3 record during the 2024-25 campaign, allowing 2.64 goals with a .904 save percentage and one shutout. Hofer saw quite a bit of action behind Jordan Binnington, making 28 starts, and is likely to have a similar workload next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 29, 2025
Calgary Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl has committed his future to the franchise, agreeing to a six-year, $32.1 million extension. Bahl moved to Calgary a year ago in a trade with the New Jersey Devils and would have become a restricted free agent on July 1. Fantasy managers have seen limited production from Bahl, but he remains a valuable top-four defenseman for the Flames. In the 2024-25 season, he tallied 20 points (three goals, 17 assists), along with 82 shots, 116 blocks, and 109 hits over 73 games.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 29, 2025
The Ottawa Senators have acquired defenseman Jordan Spence in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings. The 24-year-old blue-liner fetched a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Spence departs L.A. after putting up a career-high 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) in 79 appearances in 2024-25. Additionally, he was among the Kings' leaders with a plus-23 rating. Spence should add a bit of offensive spark to the Senators blue line, but he likely won't see enough ice time to make a significant impact in most fantasy leagues.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
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