With the selection of free-agent defensemen dwindling, the Blue Jackets acted quickly and signed Provorov to a massive seven-year extension worth $8.5 million AAV. The 28-year-old Provorov was excellent in 2024-25, his second season with the Blue Jackets, averaging 23:21 of time on ice, scoring 33 points (7G, 26A) in 82 games. He ranked in the top 30 amongst all defensemen last season with 30 even-strength points.

Lorentz matched a career-high 19 points (8G / 11A) playing 80 games in his first season with the Maple Leafs and has signed a three-year contract extension worth $1.35M AAV. The 29-year-old was a seventh-round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and averaged 10:33 time-on-ice last season.

After struggling in stints with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers last season, Kuzmenko found success in his third stop in the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A) in 22 games with the Los Angeles Kings. The 29-year-old Kuzemnko ended the season with 17 points (5G / 12A) in his last 15 games while playing on the Kings' top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Andrian Kempe.

Washington acquired the rights to Chisholm last week from the Minnesota Wild and promptly signed him to a two-year deal worth $1.6 million AAV. The 25-year-old Chisholm was a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He averaged 17:00 time-on-ice last season with Minnesota, tallying 12 points (2G / 10A) in 66 games.

Merkulov is an undrafted 24-year-old forward that has predominantly been an AHL player. He recorded one point (0G / 1A) in six NHL games with Boston last season and was dominant in the AHL, tallying 54 points (15G / 39A) in 59 games with the Providence Bruins.

Merilainen spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, but was thrust into NHL action due to recurring injuries to Ottawa's goaltenders. The 22-year-old Merilainen, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was excellent when called upon for Ottawa, posting a 1.99 GAA and .925 SV% in 12 outings (8-3-1). He had a 2.37 GAA and .913 SV% in 37 games (18-12-4) with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

After playing only 12 games in 2023-24, Berggren played a career-high 75 games last season, tallying 24 points (12G / 12A). He receives a one-year contract extension worth $1.825 million after spending most of the previous campaign on Detroit's third line, averaging 12:59 time-on-ice.

Bouchard has established himself as one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL and has earned a four-year contract extension worth $10.5 million AAV. The 25-year-old Bouchard had 67 points (14G / 53A) in 82 games with the Oilers last season. He has scored an impressive 55 combined points (13G / 42A) in 47 playoff games over the previous two postseasons.

Ekblad was expected to be a highly desired commodity in Free Agency on July 1st, but the Panthers have locked him up to an eight-year contract extension worth $6.1 million AAV. The 29-year-old Ekblad was drafted first overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with Florida. Ekblad had 380 points (118G / 262A) in 732 career games.

Johansson made his NHL debut last season, scoring nine points (3G / 6A) in 61 games with the Red Wings, and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension worth $1.125 million AAV. The 24-year-old defenseman was the 60th overall pick of the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Romanov missed portions of the 2024-25 season due to injuries, limited to only 64 games, but has signed a massive eight-year contract worth $6.25 million AAV. The hard-hitting 25-year-old defenseman has 64 points (13G / 51A), 465 blocks, and 502 hits in 221 career games with the New York Islanders.

Brisebois was drafted 66th overall by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the entirety of his career with the organization but has only played 30 NHL games. The 27-year-old defenseman has become a reliable shutdown defense at the AHL level. He had five points (2G / 3A) in 48 games with Abbotsford (AHL) last season.

In 2024-25, Raty played a career-high 33 games with Vancouver, scoring a career-high 11 points (7G / 4A). The 22-year-old Finnish forward spent most of the season in the AHL, scoring 40 points (17G / 23A) in 43 games with the Abbotsford Canucks and contributed to their Calder Cup championship with three points (0G / 3A) in six postseason games.

Sasson made his NHL debut last season, scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in 29 games with Vancouver. The undrafted 24-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Calder Cup-winning Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), scoring 32 points (13G / 19A) in 41 regular season games followed by 14 points (5G / 9A) in 24 postseason games.

Bains played a career-high 13 games with Vancouver last season, scoring his first career NHL goal, but was limited to only two games since the end of November. The 24-year-old forward spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 43 points (11G / 32A) in 50 games with the Abbotsford Canucks. He had an impressive 24 points (7G / 17A) in 24 AHL playoff games en route to a Calder Cup trophy.

The 2027 3rd round pick can become a 2029 2nd round pick if the Maple Leafs make the playoffs and Maccelli records at least 51 points during the 2025-26 season. Maccelli had a down-year in 2024-25, but in the two years prior to that he averaged 16 goals and 44 assists (60 points) per 82 games. With Mitch Marner likely on his way out, Maccelli should provide some of the playmaking from the wing that their top-6 is losing.

The Red Wings signed Tarasenko last season to play alongside Patrick Kane, but the experiment didn't last long, with Tarasenko spending portions of the season on the third and fourth lines. The former 40-goal scorer was limited to only 33 points (11G / 22A) in 80 games with the Red Wings. The 33-year-old will hope to re-establish his scoring prowess by playing alongside countryman Kirill Kaprizov.

The Oilers acquired Kapanen from the St. Louis Blues via waivers last season and have signed him to a one-year, $1.3 million contract. The 28-year-old Kapanen had 13 points (5G / 8A) in 57 games with the Oilers last season and made an impact in the playoffs, tallying six points (3G / 3A) in 12 games.

The 26-year-old Philp made his long-awaited NHL debut last season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 15 games with the Oilers. The undrafted 26-year-old spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 35 points (19G / 16A) in 55 games with the Bakersfield Condors.

The Bruins solidified their goaltending depth by signed DiPietro to a two-year contract with a $812.5K AAV. The 26-year-old netminder has impressed at every level but has not been able to establish himself in the NHL yet. Dipeitro had a solid 2.05 GAA and .927 SV% in 40 games with the Providence Bruins (AHL) this season.