NHL Free Agency Frenzy: Marner Trade, Ehlers Signing Headline Active Offseason
The NHL offseason is living up to its billing, delivering a whirlwind of activity following the Florida Panthers’ recent Stanley Cup triumph. From the 2025 NHL draft, which saw 224 prospects find new homes, to a flurry of trades and free agent signings, teams are aggressively reshaping their rosters. The most seismic event thus far has been the trade involving Mitch Marner, but numerous other key players have found new NHL addresses. Below is a continuously updated look at the major moves shaping the league’s landscape.
Key Moves Dominate Early Free Agency
The opening days of free agency were marked by significant transactions, with several high-profile players securing new contracts. On Monday, a slew of re-signings and the blockbuster trade of Marner dramatically altered the free agent pool.
The Carolina Hurricanes landed a major prize in former Winnipeg Jet Nikolaj Ehlers, signing him to a six-year, $8.5 million AAV contract. “This is a significant addition to our forward group,” a senior hockey analyst noted. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks continued their strategy of blending youth with veteran leadership, bringing in defenseman Dmitry Orlov on a two-year, $6.5 million AAV pact.
Notable Signings and Re-Signings (July 1-15)
Here’s a breakdown of key player movements, organized chronologically:
July 15: Restricted free-agent defenseman Bowen Byram opted to remain with the Buffalo Sabres, agreeing to a two-year, $6.25 million AAV deal after being the subject of trade speculation.
July 11: Veteran forward Jeff Skinner, who played over 1,000 regular-season games before reaching the playoffs, signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the San Jose Sharks, hoping to contribute to their playoff push.
July 10: The Florida Panthers retained forward Mackie Samoskevich, extending his contract for one year at $775,000.
July 7: Jack McBain secured a five-year, $4.25 million AAV contract to remain with the Mammoth. The Philadelphia Flyers also swiftly re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Cam York to a five-year, $5.15 million AAV contract.
July 6: Goaltender Jakub Dobes will continue his career with the Montreal Canadiens, signing a two-year, $965,000 AAV deal.
July 4: Veteran center Alex Barre-Boulet moved west, signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.
July 3: Anthony Beauvillier returned to the Washington Capitals on a two-year, $2.75 million AAV contract.
July 2: Brent Burns, a seasoned veteran still seeking a Stanley Cup, joined the Colorado Avalanche on a one-year contract. The Winnipeg Jets, acknowledging the departure of Ehlers, added winger Gustav Nyquist on a one-year, $3.25 million pact. Defenseman Alexander Alexeyev switched allegiances in the Capitals-Penguins rivalry, joining the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year, $775,000 deal. The St. Louis Blues secured forward Pius Suter with a two-year, $4 million AAV contract.
July 1: The Vegas Golden Knights, fresh off acquiring Marner, continued to bolster their roster, signing defenseman Kaedan Korczak to a four-year, $3.25 million AAV contract. Mason Appleton signed a two-year, $2.9 million AAV contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The New Jersey Devils re-signed forward Cody Glass for two years at $2.5 million AAV. Curtis Lazar returned to Western Canada, signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Veteran winger Anthony Mantha joined the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year, $2.5 million pact. Andrew Mangiapane also headed back to Western Canada, inking a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Forward Justin Brazeau signed a two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The New Jersey Devils added veteran winger Evgenii Dadonov on a one-year, $1 million deal. The Mammoth added Stanley Cup champion Vitek Vanecek on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Offensive defenseman John Klingberg signed a one-year, $4 million pact with the San Jose Sharks. Veteran forward Mikael Granlund landed with the Anaheim Ducks on a three-year deal. Veteran forward Lars Eller joined the Ottawa Senators on a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The Pittsburgh Penguins extended contracts with Philip Tomasino (one year, $1.75 million) and Connor Dewar (one year, $1.1 million). The Tampa Bay Lightning inked Pontus Holmberg to a two-year, $1.55 million AAV contract. The Minnesota Wild added Nico Sturm on a two-year, $2 million AAV contract. The Seattle Kraken added former Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray on a one-year, $1 million contract. The New York Islanders signed veteran forward Jonathan Drouin on a two-year, $4 million AAV deal. The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Radek Faksa on a two-year, $3 million AAV contract. The Los Angeles Kings signed defensemen Cody Ceci (four years, $4.5 million AAV) and Brian Dumoulin (three years, $4 million AAV), and goaltender Anton Forsberg (two years, $2.25 million AAV). Defenseman Nick Perbix joined the Nashville Predators on a two-year, $2.75 million AAV deal. The Florida Panthers signed veteran defenseman Jeff Petry to a one-year, $775,000 contract. Defenseman Nate Schmidt joined the Mammoth on a three-year, $3.5 million AAV contract.
June 30 Developments: Marner Trade and Key Extensions
The final day of June saw a flurry of activity, most notably the trade of Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Roy, alongside an eight-year, $12 million AAV extension for Marner. The Edmonton Oilers secured defenseman Evan Bouchard with a four-year, $10.5 million AAV contract. The Columbus Blue Jackets retained defenseman Ivan Provorov on a seven-year, $8.5 million AAV deal.
The 2025 NHL offseason is clearly off to a dynamic start, with teams actively maneuvering to improve their rosters. As free agency continues, expect further player movement and potentially more significant trades as teams prepare for the upcoming season.
