Minnesota has shed $2.1 million in salary after trading Frederick Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a 2025 4th-round pick (102nd overall) on Thursday. The 32-year-old center spent four seasons in Minnesota, most recently putting up 18 goals and 37 points after appearing in all 82 games played in 2024-25. He is expected to take a bottom-six role with Seattle in the 2025-26 season.

After a successful second campaign with Grand Rapids (AHL), Antti Tuomisto has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Detroit. The 24-year-old defenseman was Detroit's 2019 2nd-round pick (35th overall) and had three goals, 27 points and 54 PIMs in 67 games in 2024-25 with Grand Rapids (AHL).

After a successful first campaign in North America with both Chicago (AHL) and Carolina, Juha Jaaska has earned himself a two-year, $1.55 million contract extension ($755,000 AAV) to remain with the Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Finnish forward made his NHL debut last season and had four assists and nine PIMs in 18 games played.

Dallas' captain will return for a 17th season with the organization after it was announced Thursday that the Stars had agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with Jamie Benn. The contract is full of bonuses, which could reach as high as $4 million AAV if all are achieved by the end of the season. In 80 games in 2024-25, the 35-year-old veteran had 15 goals, 49 points and 70 PIMs while holding down a bottom-six role.

Minutes after being acquired by Utah, JJ Peterka was announced to a 5-year extension worth $7.7M AAV ($38.5M total). The 23-year-old right-winger has made consistent 18-point jumps in each of his first three NHL seasons, finishing 2024-25 with 27 goals, 68 points and 173 SOG in 77 GP after 50 points in 82 games the year before. He is expected to take a top-six role in Utah in the upcoming season.

Two days before the NHL Draft, Buffalo has moved on from 23-year-old JJ Peterka by acquiring Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring on Wednesday night. Kesselring will join his third organization after being drafted by Edmonton in the sixth round of the 2018 draft (164th overall) and debuting with Arizona in 2022-23. The 25-year-old has the potential to be a top-four defenseman as shown by his seven goals, 29 points, 89 PIMs and 150 SOG in 82 GP with Utah in 2024-25.

After just 62 games with Utah and Arizona, Josh Doan has been acquired alongside Michael Kesselring by Buffalo for JJ Peterka on Wednesday. The 23-year-old right-winger was Arizona's 2021 2nd-round pick (37th overall) and made an impressive debut in 2023-24 with five goals and nine points in his first 11 games played. He struggled to find the same offensive spark last year, but still put up seven goals, 19 points and 88 SOG in 51 games played in his sophomore campaign.

With rumours circulating all week that Buffalo was looking to move a few key players, Utah swooped in late Thursday by acquiring the rights to JJ Peterka for forward Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring. Minutes after the trade, Utah announced they had signed Peterka to a 5-year extension worth $7.7M AAV ($38.5M total). The 23-year-old right-winger has made consistent 18-point jumps in each of his first three NHL seasons, finishing 2024-25 with 27 goals, 68 points and 173 SOG in 77 GP after 50 points in 82 games the year before.

Vegas will keep a veteran presence around after they signed forward Reilly Smith to a one-year, $2 million contract extension on Wednesday. The 34-year-old was acquired at last season's trade deadline from New York and put up three goals, 11 points and a +11 plus/minus in 21 games after returning to Vegas.

The Oilers did not retain any of Kane's $5.125 cap hit, giving them some much-needed cap space to work with this offseason. Kane missed all of the 2024-25 regular season but was solid in the Oilers' postseason run to the Stanley Cup Final, posting 12 points (6G / 6A), 47 SOG and 95 Hits in 21 games. He'll now get a chance to suit up for his hometown team, his fifth NHL franchise of his career.

New York announced on Tuesday that 16-year-veteran Matt Martin would be retiring from professional hockey. The 36-year-old Windsor native ends his time in the NHL just 13 games short of the 1000 GP mark alongside his 81 goals, 178 points and 1168 PIMs in 987 games played. Martin will remain with the Islanders' organization as he will step into the role of Special Assistant to the General Manager immediately.

Edstrom graduated to a full-time NHLer in 2024-25, and the 6-foot-7 winger had nine points (5G / 4A) in 51 games. Expect the 2019 sixth-round pick to serve as a fourth liner for the Rangers again in 2025-26.

After missing the second half of the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury, Justin Kirkland has earned himself a one-year, $900,000 contract extension to remain in Calgary. The 28-year-old forward picked up his first career point in 2024-25 with the Flames and finished the campaign early with two goals, eight points and a +6 plus/minus in 21 games played. He is expected to take a bottom-six role in 2025-26.

Fresh off a successful AHL playoffs (15 Pts in 14 GP), Kole Lind has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract to remain with the Dallas Stars. The 26-year-old is entering his eighth full AHL season after putting up 23 goals and 52 points in 71 games with Texas (AHL) in 2024-25. He has appeared in 31 career NHL games as well throughout his career, picking up two goals, eight points and a -3 plus/minus.

Philadelphia added yet another flashy forward on Monday after they acquired Trevor Zegras from Anaheim for Ryan Poehling, a 2025 2nd-round pick (45th overall), and a 2026 4th-round pick. The 24-year-old forward is in the final year of a three-year, $17,230,000 contract and will cost Philadelphia $5.75 million AAV in 2025-26. Zegras will be looking for a reset after averaging over 60 points in his first two full seasons in Anaheim, followed by only 18 goals and 47 points in his previous 88 games played across the last two years.

Poehling finds himself on his third team in seven seasons after the forward was acquired from Anaheim alongside a 2025 2nd-round pick (45th overall) and a 2026 4th-round pick from Anaheim for Trevor Zegras. The 26-year-old Poehling put up career highs in nearly all categories last season, with 12 goals, 31 points and 16 PIMs in 68 games played.

Brodie signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract last offseason but will be bought out by Chicago as they continue to clear up cap space for the July 1st free agency period. The 35-year-old will cost the Blackhawks $3.23 million in 2025-26 and $258,000 in 2026-27. Brodie's forgettable time with Chicago ends after just one season with two goals, 10 points and a -18 plus/minus in 54 games.

Brodie signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract last offseason and is expected to be bought out by Chicago as they continue to clear up cap space for the July 1st free agency period. The 35-year-old will cost the Blackhawks $3.23 million in 2025-26 and $258,000 in 2026-27. Brodie's forgettable time with Chicago ends after just one season with two goals, 10 points and a -18 plus/minus in 54 games.