NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 2:34 AM ET

NHL Free Agency Frenzy and Roster Shakeups

The NHL free agency period has seen a flurry of activity, with teams aggressively reshaping their rosters through trades and signings. The New Jersey Devils were active, submitting an offer sheet for Utah Mammoth's restricted free agent forward Barrett Hayton Devils submit offer sheet and signing RFA Arseny Gritsyuk to a three-year deal Devils sign RFA Arseny. Captain Nico Hischier also inked a five-year extension worth $58.5 million Hischier signs extension. In a significant move, the Florida Panthers acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom from the Devils as part of a five-player deal Panthers acquire Markstrom, while also bringing in Akira Schmid from Vegas for a third-round pick Panthers acquire Schmid.

The Los Angeles Kings made multiple veteran additions, signing Mats Zuccarello and Corey Perry to one-year contracts Kings add Zuccarello and acquiring Erik Haula on a two-year deal, while also re-signing another player Kings add Haula. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks were busy, signing Mason Marchment to a five-year, $35 million deal Marchment joins Sharks and acquiring defenseman Michael Kesselring, who was subsequently signed to a three-year, $13.5 million contract Sharks ink Kesselring. Veteran defenseman Jacob Trouba also landed with the Sharks on a four-year deal worth $8.25 million annually Trouba leaves Ducks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs secured veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky on a three-year deal worth $21 million Bobrovsky inks Toronto deal, and also shipped the rights to restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leafs ship rights. The Winnipeg Jets signed free agent goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract with a $3.75 million average annual value Jets sign Skinner, fueling speculation about Connor Hellebuyck's future. The Buffalo Sabres re-signed checking-line forward Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million contract Sabres re-sign Malenstyn and hired former antagonist Milan Lucic as a pro scout Sabres hire Lucic.

Defensive Reinforcements and Star Retentions

Defensive pairings were a major focus for several franchises. The Tampa Bay Lightning added veteran defenseman John Carlson to a two-year deal Lightning add Carlson, and also signed veteran Ilya Mikheyev to a four-year contract Lightning, Mikheyev agree. The Washington Capitals, while confirming they have cap room and a roster spot for Alex Ovechkin Caps room Ovechkin, also signed center Boone Jenner to a four-year, $23 million contract and defenseman Vincent Desharnais to a four-year, $16.8 million deal Capitals sign Jenner.

The Vegas Golden Knights secured defenseman Rasmus Andersson on a seven-year deal carrying an $8.5 million cap hit Andersson stays Vegas and acquired Parker Wotherspoon from the Penguins, creating over $3 million in cap space Knights acquire Wotherspoon. In Columbus, defenseman Zach Werenski ended trade speculation by vowing his commitment to the Blue Jackets Werenski aligned Jackets, and also vetoed a trade to the Dallas Stars Werenski vetoes Stars deal. The Chicago Blackhawks are signing newly acquired defenseman Bowen Byram to a six-year, $75 million extension Blackhawks' Byram gets extension. The Montreal Canadiens inked rookie star Ivan Demidov to an eight-year contract extension Habs ink Demidov.

Forward Moves and Goaltending Changes

Up front, veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen, agreed to a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers Cup champ Andersen, Oilers. The New York Rangers bolstered their goaltending by acquiring Joonas Korpisalo from the Bruins Rangers acquire Korpisalo and signed winger Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year contract Rangers sign Bjorkstrand. The Utah Mammoth, looking to build on last season's playoff appearance, acquired center Vincent Trocheck from the Rangers Rangers send Trocheck.

The Colorado Avalanche added veteran forward Jaden Schwartz on a three-year contract worth $3.25 million annually Schwartz gets Avalanche deal. The St. Louis Blues signed Dillon Dube to a free agent contract, making him the second player acquitted in the Canada 2018 World Junior sexual assault case to secure an NHL deal Dube joins Blues. The Philadelphia Flyers signed goaltender Dan Vladar to a contract extension after their second-round playoff run Flyers G Vladar gets. The Detroit Red Wings are nearing a two-year deal with winger Viktor Arvidsson Red Wings, Arvidsson near. The Anaheim Ducks signed forward AJ Greer to a four-year, $17 million deal Ducks sign Greer.

Trade Activity and Future Outlook

The trade market also saw significant movement. The Edmonton Oilers traded defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks Oilers set deal Nurse, while the Dallas Stars traded restricted free agent Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to Nashville for draft picks Stars trade Bourque. Brendan Gallagher was traded to Vancouver for future considerations Gallagher parts Habs. The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Parker Wotherspoon from the Penguins, creating over $3 million in cap space Knights acquire Wotherspoon.

discussions about potential future Hall of Famers are already surfacing, with the 2026 class recently announced and attention turning to 2027 candidates Who makes Hall. Computer simulations also provided insights into potential playoff matchups, with predictions offered for the conference finals Conference finals picks and specific Game 7 scenarios like Canadiens vs. Sabres Canadiens vs. Sabres Game 7 and Game 2 between the Golden Knights and Avalanche Golden Knights vs. Avs Game. Analysis of the recent playoff round highlighted Mitch Marner's performance NHL playoffs Round 2 winners, while also noting that the "Presidents' Trophy curse" is more a reflection of the league's inherent difficulty rather than a specific jinx No Presidents' Trophy curse. The long drought for Canadian teams in winning the Stanley Cup reached 33 years after the Canadiens' elimination Canada's Stanley Cup drought. Fantasy hockey implications of these offseason moves are also being considered Fantasy hockey implications.