Studnicka was the 53rd overall pick of the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has split time between the AHL and NHL throughout his career. The 26-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 45 points (16G / 19A) in 72 games with the Ontario Reign.

After falling out of favour with the Montreal Canadiens, Drouin took an opportunity with the Colorado Avalanche to rediscover his scoring prowess alongside Nathan MacKinnon and did just that. In 122 games with Colorado over the previous two seasons, Drouin scored an impressive 93 points (30G / 63A) after playing on back-to-back team-friendly one-year deals with the team. He joins the New York Islanders on a two-year $8 million contract.

The Dallas Stars traded Faksa's $3.25 million cap-hit to the St. Louis Blues in the previous offseason. After spending a season with the Blues, scoring 15 points (5G / 10A) in 70 games, he returns to the Stars on a three-year, $2 million AAV contract. The Stars drafted Faksa 13th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

With the departure of David Rittich, joining the New York Islanders, the Kings have signed Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3).

Dumoulin joins his fifth team in the last three years, signing a three-year deal with the Kings worth $4 million AAV. The veteran 33-year-old defenseman averaged 19:33 time-on-ice, recording 109 blocks, 74 hits, and 22 points (3G / 19A) in 80 games between the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils last season.

Ceci joins his fourth team in the previous three seasons, signing a four-year contract worth $4.5 million AAV with the Kings. The 31-year-old Ceci joined the Dallas Stars before the trade deadline last season, recording nine points (0G / 9A), 55 blocks, and 24 hits in 31 games.

In a market desperate for right-handed defenseman, Perbix was a sought-after free agent who opted to sign a two-year deal for $2.75 million AAV with the Predators. The 27-year-old Perbix scored 63 points (13G / 50A) in 220 career games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After spending his previous two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, Petry joins the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on a one-year contract worth $775K. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman averaged 18:54 time-on-ice and scored eight points (1G / 7A) in 44 games last season.

Harris joins his third NHL team, entering the 2025-26 season with the Boston Bruins on a one-year, $825K contract. The 24-year-old defenseman averaged 11:23 time-on-ice and scored five points (1G / 4A) in 33 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.

Steeves is an undrafted 25-year-old forward who played a career-high seven games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season but has spent most of his career in the AHL. He had an outstanding 2024-25 season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), scoring 62 points (36G / 26A) in 59 games.

Fanti is an undrafted goalie who has split time between the AHL and ECHL over his five-year professional career. The 25-year-old posted an impressive 1.45 GAA and .946 SV% in seven appearances with the Syracuse Crunch last season (3-1-0).

After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season, Schmidt has secured a three-year deal worth $3.5 million AAV with the Utah Mammoth. The 33-year-old Schmidt averaged 16:32 time-on-ice and scored 19 points (5G / 14A) in 80 games last season.

The Bruins were busy on July 1st, adding Eyssimont to a list of depth forwards that includes Tanner Jeannot and Sean Kuraly. The 28-year-old Eyssimont scored 16 points (9G / 7A) in 77 games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Seattle Kraken last season.

Kuraly spent the previous four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but will join his third NHL team in the 2025-26 season on a two-year deal worth $1.85 million AAV with the Boston Bruins. The 32-year-old Kuraly had 17 points (6G / 11A) in 82 games with the Blue Jackets last season, his lowest point total since scoring nine points (4G / 5A) in 47 games with the Boston Bruins in 2020-21.

Entering his 17th NHL season, the Red Wings add more veteran experience by signing van Riemsdyk to a one-year deal worth $1 million. The 36-year-old American forward scored 36 points (16G / 20A) in 71 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season. He has 665 points (327G / 338A) in 1082 career games.

Bernard-Docker was the 26th-overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and spent his first five NHL seasons with the organization before being sent to the Buffalo Sabres before the trade deadline in 2024-25. He will join his third NHL team in the 2025-26 season, with the Red Wings on a one-year deal worth $875K. The 25-year-old defenseman has 24 points (6G / 18A) in 144 career games.

Geersten was a fourth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft but has been limited to only 25 NHL games, all with the New Jersey Devils in the 2021-22 season. The 30-year-old defenseman has spent the majority of his career in the AHL, including scoring five points (0G / 5A) in 31 games with the Henderson Silver Knights last season.

Jaros has played 94 career NHL games but spent the previous four seasons playing in Europe in the KHL. The 29-year-old defenseman was a fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and returns to North America on a two-way, one-year deal with the Blue Jackets.

Clurman made his NHL debut last season, playing one game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and has signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Montreal Canadiens. The 27-year-old Clurman scored 11 points (2G / 9A) in 31 games from the blueline with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) last season.