NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: July 1, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

NHL Free Agency Frenzy and Major Trades

The NHL free agency period has exploded with significant player movement and contract signings, reshaping rosters across the league. Defenseman Rasmus Andersson inked a seven-year deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, carrying an $8.5 million cap hit. In a surprising move, the Edmonton Oilers are reportedly trading veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse, who is under contract for another eight years at $9.25 million annually, to the San Jose Sharks sources indicate. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is set to sign a three-year contract worth $21 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to multiple reports sources said.

The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Dillon Dube to a free agent contract making him the second player acquitted in the 2018 World Junior sexual assault case to secure an NHL deal. In Washington, the Capitals have secured center Boone Jenner with a four-year, $23 million contract and defenseman Vincent Desharnais on a four-year, $16.8 million deal the team announced. The New York Rangers are finalizing a deal to send forward Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth, offering the 32-year-old veteran a fresh start in the Western Conference sources told ESPN.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, is heading to the New York Rangers after signing a one-year contract with a $4.5 million cap hit, following a season where he recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 80 games the Rangers signed him. Amidst ongoing trade speculation surrounding Connor Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets have signed free agent goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million against the cap increasing speculation. Veteran defenseman Jacob Trouba has signed with the San Jose Sharks, accepting a four-year deal worth $8.25 million annually, after previously captaining the New York Rangers he accepted the deal.

Captain Nico Hischier has signed a five-year contract extension with the New Jersey Devils worth $58.5 million, ending speculation about his future with the team the team announced. The Lightning have also agreed to terms with veteran Ilya Mikheyev, on a four-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, adding depth to their forward lines after he played for the Chicago Blackhawks the Lightning signed him. Free agent winger Mason Marchment is headed to the San Jose Sharks on a five-year contract valued at $35 million the Sharks inked him.

Colorado has added veteran winger Jaden Schwartz, a former Stanley Cup champion, signing him to a three-year contract worth $3.25 million annually a source told ESPN. The New York Rangers have also acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo in a trade with the Boston Bruins the Rangers announced. The Detroit Red Wings are reportedly nearing a two-year deal with winger Viktor Arvidsson, who is coming off a 25-goal campaign with the Boston Bruins sources report.

The Blackhawks are extending newly acquired defenseman Bowen Byram with a six-year, $75 million contract, signaling a long-term commitment to the blueliner sources told ESPN. The Golden Knights have created over $3 million in cap space by acquiring Parker Wotherspoon from the Penguins in exchange for Kaedan Korczak the Knights announced. Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski has vetoed a trade to the Dallas Stars, an NHL source confirmed to ESPN the source confirmed.

The New Jersey Devils have signed restricted free agent winger Arseny Gritsyuk to a three-year contract, securing one of the team's promising young talents the Devils announced. The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward AJ Greer to a four-year contract worth $17 million, bringing Stanley Cup experience to their developing roster the Ducks signed him. The San Jose Sharks have signed newly acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring to a three-year, $13.5 million contract the Sharks announced.

The Florida Panthers have acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the New Jersey Devils as part of a five-player trade the team announced. Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn has been re-signed to a six-year pact worth $17.5 million the Sabres announced. Brendan Gallagher has been traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for future considerations the Canucks announced.

Playoff Picture and Future Outlook

As the playoff picture continues to take shape, attention is also turning towards future talent and potential acquisitions. With the 2026 class of draftees already announced, speculation is mounting about who might be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2027 ESPN NHL reported. Mitch Marner is rewriting his reputation during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs CBS Sports noted.

The Montreal Canadiens' Stanley Cup drought has now reached 33 years following their elimination from the playoffs CBS Sports reported. There is no "Presidents' Trophy curse"; it is simply difficult to win the Stanley Cup CBS Sports argued. Computer simulations are providing picks and predictions for various conference final matchups, including the Golden Knights vs. Avalanche CBS Sports offered and Hurricanes vs. Canadiens games CBS Sports offered. Further simulations are also available for a potential Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7 CBS Sports offered.

The summer trade season is heating up, with analysts providing report cards for general managers involved in major swaps ESPN NHL reported. Free agency continues to be a focal point, with evaluations of which players have improved their stock through their offseason moves ESPN NHL reported. Fantasy hockey implications for top prospects from the 2026 NHL draft are also being analyzed for upcoming fantasy leagues ESPN NHL reported.

The Dallas Stars have traded restricted free agent Mavrik Bourque and veteran Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville in exchange for a 2027 second-round and a 2028 third-round pick the Stars announced. Toronto has shipped the rights to restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins the Maple Leafs announced. The San Jose Sharks have also inked newly acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring to a new deal the Sharks announced.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward AJ Greer to a four-year, $17 million deal, adding Stanley Cup experience to their roster a source told ESPN. Former NHL player Milan Lucic has been hired by the Buffalo Sabres as a professional scout, transitioning from his antagonist role on the ice to a front-office position the team announced. The New Jersey Devils signed restricted free agent winger Arseny Gritsyuk to a three-year contract the Devils announced.

The Kings have added veteran free agents Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry on one-year contracts sources told ESPN. The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed veteran Ilya Mikheyev to a four-year deal the Lightning announced. The San Jose Sharks have signed Mason Marchment to a five-year, $35 million contract the Sharks announced.

The Avalanche have signed veteran forward Jaden Schwartz to a three-year contract worth $3.25 million annually a source told ESPN. The Rangers have acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from the Bruins the Rangers announced. The Red Wings are nearing a two-year deal with winger Viktor Arvidsson sources report.