One of the biggest expected off-season free agents will not be hitting the open market after Florida announced Friday that they have signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year, $64 million contract extension ($8 million AAV). The 29-year-old is coming off an impressive Conn Smythe-winning playoff performance, with 15 goals, 22 points and a +6 plus/minus in 23 games played.

The 2020 No.8 overall pick had another decent, but unspectacular season in 2024-25, scoring 15 goals with 24 assists (39 points) in 74 games. He's now averaging 45 points (18G / 27A) per 82 games for his NHL career, so the Sabres signed him to a two-year bridge deal to see if he can unlock any more offence.

Saad was signed mid-season after being bought out by the Blues and had 14 points (6G / 8A) in 29 games with the Golden Knights. At $2.0M AAV, Saad is a cheap middle-6 winger that can still provide some offence, having averaged 40 points (21G / 19A) per 82 games over the last three seasons.

Dobson was acquired from the Islanders in a sign-and-trade, so the Canadiens were able to lock him up to an eight-year deal and get a $5.5M AAV raise from his previous contract. Dobson is one of the NHL's best goal-scoring defensemen, having posted double-digit goals in four straight seasons. He ranks 14th among blueliners with 46 goals during that stretch. In Montreal, he'll have to battle with the likes of Lane Hutson for PP1 time, and his most likely path to that usage is if Montreal uses both of them on the same unit.

Lagesson provides nothing more than organization depth for the Red Wings. He spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, where he had three goals and six assists (nine points) in 23 games with Grand Rapids. He's got 107 career NHL games, including seven with the Red Wings last season, so Detroit will call on him in a pinch.

Tavares takes a massive pay-cut to stay with his hometown team. Even at age-34, Tavares looked every bit of No.2 centre in 2024-25, posting 38 goals with 36 assists (74 points) in 74 games. He'll once again settle in behind Auston Matthews on the centre depth chart in 2025-26 and will likely be a 30-30 player for the third time in four years.

Frederic was acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline but only appeared in one regular season game due to injury. He obviously made an impression on the organization during their postseason run, where he had four points (1G / 3A), 22 SOG and 85 hits in 22 games. The eight-year deal helped keep Frederic's AAV down, but it's a lot of term for a player that was on-pace for just 21 points last season.

Rybinski is coming off his third and most successful AHL season with Hershey and has earned himself a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 with Washington. The 24-year-old forward was the Capitals' 2019 5th-round pick (136th overall) and is expected to spend 2025-26 back with Hershey, where he had 10 goals and 35 points in 60 games last 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.

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.

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.

Toews has not appeared in an NHL game since April 13th, 2024, but till make his return with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. Toews, who is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion and had 883 career points (372G / 511A) in 15 seasons with the Blackhawks, could earn up to $5M in bonuses. He's expected to serve as a much-needed middle-6 centre for the Jets in 2025-26.

Fleury spent most of the 2024-25 season as the Kraken's No.7 defenseman, appearing in 14 games with the team. He did spend some time in the AHL, where he had 26 points (7G / 19A) in 39 games with Coachella Valley. Expect Fleury to serve a similar fringe roster player role over the next two seasons.

Hunt had a strong showing with Calgary in 2024-25 despite only playing in five total games with three assists and five SOG, and has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $825,000 AAV to remain with the Flames. The 29-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season and will hope to see some time with the Flames in 2025-26.