NHL Free Agency: Brock Boeser Re-Signs, Mitch Marner Traded

The period of NHL free agency has commenced, prompting teams across the league to look for ways to enhance their rosters for the 2025-26 season. Many clubs were proactive, finalizing contract extensions for key players even before the official opening on July 1st.

The Vancouver Canucks made significant news on the first day by securing forward Brock Boeser. Boeser committed to a seven-year contract extension valued at $7.25 million annually to continue playing for the Canucks.

Boeser consistently remained open to the possibility of extending his tenure in Vancouver. With several core players already signed long-term, the team`s next priority is reportedly securing a contract extension for the 2024 Norris Trophy winner, Quinn Hughes.

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers bolstered their defense by signing Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million deal at the start of free agency. Gavrikov had spent the previous two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.

Arguably the most prominent pending free agent is already off the market. Following a sign-and-trade agreement with the Vegas Golden Knights, star forward Mitch Marner inked an eight-year contract worth $96 million, establishing his presence in Vegas for the foreseeable future. In exchange, the Maple Leafs acquired third-line center Nicolas Roy.

On a positive note for the Maple Leafs, they successfully retained two important players. John Tavares will stay in Toronto on a four-year deal valued at just over $4 million per year. Additionally, young forward Matthew Knies signed a six-year, $46.5 million contract before potentially becoming a restricted free agent.

Elsewhere, Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito continues to impress with his roster management. Despite Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad all being set to enter free agency on Tuesday, the Panthers managed to lock up all three players for at least six more years. Each player reportedly accepted a discount, at least in terms of annual value, to remain in Sunrise and pursue further Stanley Cup success.

NHL free agency officially began at noon ET on Tuesday, with several noteworthy players still available. Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers is an appealing option for teams seeking additional scoring. Veteran forwards like Pius Suter and Jack Roslovic are also available. On the defensive side, Brent Burns is among the top names on the market.

Ducks Acquire Mikael Granlund

The Anaheim Ducks, a team positioning itself for a potential postseason run next season, signed center Mikael Granlund on Tuesday. He agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $7.0 million.

Granlund was acquired by the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline last season, finishing the year with a total of 66 points (22 goals & 44 assists) between his time with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas. The veteran center was effective in Dallas with seven goals and 14 assists in the latter half of the regular season, but the Stars faced salary cap constraints preventing his return.

Anaheim required additional depth down the middle following the trade of Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers last week. Granlund provides this depth and can serve as a valuable mentor to talented young forwards such as Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Cutter Gauthier.

Sabres Add Goaltending Depth with Alex Lyon

The Buffalo Sabres have enhanced their goaltending options by signing veteran netminder Alex Lyon to a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million.

Lyon played for the Detroit Red Wings for the past two seasons. In 2024-25, the 32-year-old posted a 14-9-0 record with a 2.81 goals-against-average and an .896 save percentage. Lyon joins goaltenders Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi in Buffalo. The Sabres may be hoping Lyon`s presence motivates Luukkonen, who recorded a 3.20 goals-against-average last season, to elevate his performance.

Several prominent goaltenders, including Jake Allen, Anton Forsberg, Dan Vladar, and Lyon, have now signed. Alexandar Georgiev, Ilya Samsonov, and James Reimer are among the remaining options, likely sought for tandem roles alongside existing team goaltenders.

Nashville Addresses RHD Need with Nick Perbix

Given an abundance of left-handed defensemen within the organization, the Predators sought a right-handed defenseman and found one in Perbix. He signed a two-year contract worth $2.75 million after performing well in a depth role for the Lightning recently. It remains to be seen if Perbix can excel in a more significant role with Nashville, though his salary reflects a depth signing.

Islanders Sign Jonathan Drouin to a Two-Year Deal

The Islanders aimed to boost their offensive capabilities, and Drouin is expected to contribute after signing a two-year, $8 million contract. He will likely be a valuable addition to their middle six forward group, especially after revitalizing his career with the Colorado Avalanche, where he recorded 63 points in 122 games. While he won`t be playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon in New York, he should still offer strong playmaking ability on the wing.

Los Angeles Remains Active with Defensive Additions

The Kings have been busy on the free agency day. Whether the activity translates to positive outcomes is debatable. Cody Ceci signed a four-year deal worth $18 million, and Brian Dumoulin signed for three years and $12 million. These defensive acquisitions appear questionable for a team that has recently performed strongly in that area. Anton Forsberg replaces backup goaltender David Rittich, who departed in free agency.

Kings Also Bring In Corey Perry and Joel Armia

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings on their (hypothetical per source text timeline) Western Conference victory and condolences on their Stanley Cup Final loss. Los Angeles has signed Perry, who has been on the losing side in five of the last six Cup Final appearances, to a one-year, $2 million deal. Perry is coming off a productive playoff performance with Edmonton. Joel Armia adds depth to the Kings` bottom six forward group.

Golden Knights Add Nate Schmidt After Excellent Postseason

Prior to the 2024-25 season, Schmidt signed a one-year deal with the Panthers for $800,000. He subsequently performed well in a depth capacity for Florida and had a strong postseason with 12 points during their (hypothetical per source text timeline) Stanley Cup run. Now, Schmidt will earn $10.5 million over the next three seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he is anticipated to take on a larger role.

Nick Bjugstad Heads to Blues

The Blues needed to improve their center depth and addressed this by signing Bjugstad to a two-year deal. Bjugstad will provide size, defensive reliability, and some offense to the St. Louis lineup at a reasonable annual cost of $1.75 million.

Kraken Sign Ryan Lindgren

The Seattle Kraken have focused on strengthening their blue line for the second consecutive offseason. Following the signing of Brandon Montour from the Florida Panthers last summer, the Kraken have now signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million, as reported by Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman.

Lindgren played for both the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche last season. The veteran defenseman recorded four goals and 18 assists in 72 games in 2024-25. Lindgren adds solid depth to Seattle`s defense as the franchise aims to rebound after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vladislav Gavrikov Signs with Rangers

The New York Rangers significantly upgraded their defense. According to The Athletic`s Pierre LeBrun, the Rangers signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract carrying a $7.0 million average annual value.

Gavrikov was considered the top defenseman available in free agency this summer. He registered five goals and 25 assists with the Los Angeles Kings in 2024-25 but is now likely to form a top defensive pairing with Adam Fox in New York. This signing provides new coach Mike Sullivan with one of the most sought-after free agents.

Corey Perry Joins Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are looking to become contenders in the Western Conference playoff picture next season. According to TSN`s Bob McKenzie, veteran forward Corey Perry is signing a one-year deal with the Kings.

Perry spent the previous two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, recording 19 goals and 11 assists last season. The 40-year-old winger has a history of reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past six seasons. Perry adds veteran leadership to a Kings team aiming to take the next step.

Flyers Add Goaltending Depth with Dan Vladar

The Philadelphia Flyers have been quite active at the start of free agency. The team announced the signing of goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year deal valued at $3.35 million annually.

Vladar had a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 goals-against-average and a .898 save percentage in 30 games with the Calgary Flames last season. The Flyers continue their search for a starting-caliber goaltender, as Vladar joins a goaltending group that includes Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov.

Brock Boeser Re-Signs with Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have had a busy beginning to free agency. After extending forward Conor Garland and goaltender Thatcher Demko earlier in the day, the Canucks have now re-signed winger Brock Boeser to a seven-year deal reportedly worth $7.25 million on an annual basis.

Bringing Boeser back is undoubtedly a significant move for Vancouver. Boeser is coming off a season in which he scored 25 goals and provided 25 assists in 2024-25. Throughout the negotiation process, Boeser indicated a preference to remain with the Canucks, and the two sides ultimately reached an agreement on a new contract. With teammate Pius Suter also a free agent attracting considerable interest, retaining a forward with the potential for 40 goals was a crucial step.

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to One-Year Deal

The Philadelphia Flyers, currently undergoing a rebuild under General Manager Danny Briere, have been active spenders early in free agency. According to Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers have signed center Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal valued at $5.4 million.

Dvorak played for the Montreal Canadiens for the past four seasons. The veteran forward recorded 12 goals and 21 assists in a full 82-game season. Even with the acquisition of Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks last week, the Flyers still require depth at the center position. Although Dvorak`s cap hit is $5.4 million, the league`s salary cap is projected to increase significantly over the coming seasons.

Jake Allen Stays with Devils

The market for goaltenders has become even tighter. According to Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman, the New Jersey Devils are signing goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year contract extension worth $1.8 million annually.

The Devils acquired Allen at the 2024 trade deadline from the Montreal Canadiens. Allen posted a 13-16-1 record with a 2.66 goals-against-average and a .908 save percentage in 31 games last year while splitting time with starter Jacob Markstrom. Teams in need of goaltending will now have to explore other options with Allen off the board.

Bruins Acquire Viktor Arvidsson in Trade

The Boston Bruins added another forward to their lineup ahead of free agency. According to The Athletic`s Pierre LeBrun, the Bruins are acquiring winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick.

The Oilers are attempting to reduce salary, with trading Arvidsson freeing up $4 million in cap space. Arvidsson will provide depth to the Bruins` middle six, having recorded 15 goals and 12 assists with the Oilers last season. He also contributed two goals and five assists during the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Canucks Extend Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland

The Vancouver Canucks completed two important pieces of business before the start of free agency. The team reached agreements on contract extensions with goaltender Thatcher Demko (three years, $8.5 million AAV) and forward Conor Garland (six years, $6.0 million AAV).

Both Demko and Garland were entering the final year of their respective contracts next season. Demko`s previous season was affected by injury, limiting him to 23 games where he posted a 10-8-3 record with a 2.90 goals-against-average, an .889 save percentage, and one shutout. He has spent his entire eight-year NHL career with the Canucks and is tied for fourth in franchise history for goaltender wins (126).

Meanwhile, Garland had a strong season, achieving 50 points (19 goals & 31 assists), his second-highest career total. The skilled winger has scored a combined 39 goals over his last two seasons in Vancouver and could see an increased role if Brock Boeser were to sign elsewhere in free agency (though he has now re-signed).

Mitch Marner Traded to Golden Knights

On the eve of NHL free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a reported sign-and-trade deal, according to multiple reports. Marner, 28, is expected to sign an eight-year, $96 million contract with an average annual value of $12 million. The return package for Toronto was not immediately clear. Marner would have been one of the top players available on the open market. Instead, he immediately adds scoring punch to Vegas` top line.

Panthers Keep Core Together with Ekblad Deal

General Manager Bill Zito is not satisfied with consecutive Stanley Cup victories. With Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, and Brad Marchand all potentially becoming free agents on July 1, it seemed unlikely Florida could retain all three. However, on the eve of free agency, the Panthers signed Marchand and Ekblad to new contracts. In Ekblad`s case, he reportedly took a significant discount to stay with the team, signing for eight years at approximately $6.1 million, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

Ekblad was once again vital to Florida`s postseason success, contributing 13 points in 19 games while also maintaining excellent five-on-five statistics. He is now set to patrol the blue line in Sunrise well into his thirties.

Brad Marchand Signs Long-Term with Panthers

Marchand is staying put. The veteran forward is reportedly finalizing a six-year, $32 million extension with the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, according to Sportsnet`s Elliotte Friedman. Marchand was traded to Florida last season at the trade deadline after spending 16 years with the Boston Bruins. He made an immediate impact, recording 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) during the Panthers` playoff run.

Sam Bennett Will Remain with Panthers

The 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy winner is staying in Sunrise. During the Panthers` bid for back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, Bennett was a dominant force. His 15 goals led the league, and his offensive output did not come at the expense of his defensive play. The veteran center was outstanding at both ends of the ice. Bennett`s performance could have commanded a substantial salary on the open market, but he has re-signed with the Panthers on an eight-year contract worth $64 million.

Evan Bouchard Inks Big Deal with Oilers

There was little doubt regarding Bouchard`s future with the Oilers. He has developed into a premier defenseman for the team and is highly effective quarterbacking the power play. On Monday, Edmonton announced that Bouchard had re-signed for four years at $10.5 million per season. With Bouchard and Nurse, the Oilers now have nearly $20 million committed to two of their top defensemen.

Patrick Kane Returns to Red Wings

The veteran winger will spend a third season in Detroit after signing a one-year deal worth $3 million. While Kane may not match his production levels from his time leading the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups, he has surpassed the 20-goal mark in both of his first two seasons with the Wings. He will remain with the team, providing a top-six scoring option as they aim to end their playoff drought.

Blue Jackets Sign Ivan Provorov to Significant Contract

One of the more surprising moves of the re-signing period was the Blue Jackets` announcement of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract for Provorov. Columbus has utilized him in a top-four role over the past two years, but he hasn`t consistently achieved success in those minutes. Committing $8.5 million annually to a defenseman who has struggled to maintain positive performance metrics at five-on-five appears to be questionable asset management.

John Tavares Re-Signs with Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs are keeping one of their offensive leaders. The team announced the re-signing of Tavares to a four-year contract with a $4.38 million cap hit per season. Tavares was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent soon and would likely have attracted considerable interest on the open market.

Tavares, 34, accumulated 74 points (38 goals & 36 assists) in 75 regular-season games for Toronto last season. He has played for the Maple Leafs for the past seven seasons after signing a seven-year, $77 million contract in free agency. With the expectation that star winger Mitch Marner would depart in free agency this summer, retaining Tavares on a very team-friendly multi-year deal is a significant positive. Tavares is expected to continue centering Toronto`s second line when the 2025-26 season begins.

Jonathan Toews to Sign with Jets

Jonathan Toews is set to make his anticipated return to the NHL after a two-season absence. The Jets announced that Toews will sign with the franchise when free agency opens on July 1st.

Toews has recorded 883 points (372 goals & 511 assists) in 1,067 career regular-season games. He also ranks high in Blackhawks history in games played (fifth), points (sixth), goals (sixth), assists (eighth), and game-winning goals (69, third). In his last full season in 2022-23, the Blackhawks star scored 15 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 games. Toews boasts numerous accomplishments, including winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.

Matt Duchene Remains with Stars

The Stars are retaining a key member of their veteran core. Dallas has re-signed forward Matt Duchene to a four-year contract extension worth $4.5 million per season. Duchene was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Duchene led the Stars in scoring in 2024-25, recording 30 goals and 52 assists in 82 regular-season games. His 52 assists were a career-high last season, and his 82 points marked the second-highest scoring season of his 16-year career. Duchene also added six points (one goal & five assists) in 18 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Duchene is expected to continue being a productive member of the team`s top six forwards as they aim for a Stanley Cup run next season.

Avalanche Extend Brock Nelson

The Avalanche are keeping arguably their top free agent within the organization for the foreseeable future. The team has signed forward Brock Nelson to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million. Nelson was slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Nelson was acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from the New York Islanders and tallied 13 points (6 goals & 7 assists) in 19 regular-season games with Colorado. He finished the season with a combined 56 points (26 goals & 30 assists) between the Avalanche and Islanders. He also registered four assists in the team`s first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Stars. Nelson will likely continue to center the Avalanche`s second line, potentially playing alongside Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin.

Note: Some reported details regarding future seasons (2025-26) and hypothetical playoff outcomes appear to be part of the original source text`s speculative or predictive nature.