Which teams made the most of free agency?
Free agency has reshaped rosters across the NHL, but the full impact won’t be clear until the season begins. Some teams made headline-grabbing additions, while others quietly focused on retaining key players or fine-tuning their lineups.
Which moves could make the biggest difference when the puck drops? Explore the verified offseason changes that have already sparked plenty of discussion around the league.
Washington Capitals completed multiple roster additions
The Washington Capitals acquired forwards Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch before free agency and signed forward Boone Jenner to a 4-year, $23 million contract on July 2. The team also signed defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Justin Holl after the free-agent market opened.
Those transactions added experienced NHL players at forward and defense before the 2026–27 season. Washington completed several of its largest offseason moves before the opening week of training camp.
Carolina Hurricanes retained most of their championship roster
The Carolina Hurricanes entered the offseason after winning the Stanley Cup and retained most players from their championship roster. Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen departed during free agency, while the organization continued adding depth through additional contract signings.
NHL transaction records show Carolina made relatively few changes to its core lineup during the opening weeks of free agency. The Hurricanes also signed additional players to support organizational depth entering training camp.
New York Rangers added players through trades and free agency
The New York Rangers acquired Pavel Dorofeyev, Marcus Pettersson, Sean Durzi, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Joe Veleno, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo during the 2026 offseason. The organization also moved several veteran players as part of multiple roster transactions completed before free agency and during the opening weeks of July.
Those additions and departures changed the Rangers’ roster at forward, defense, and goaltender before the start of the 2026–27 season. Official transaction records show that New York remained active throughout the offseason, completing trades and free-agent signings.
New York Islanders completed relatively few transactions
The New York Islanders entered free agency with limited salary-cap space compared with several Metropolitan Division teams. During the opening weeks of the offseason, the club completed fewer notable player acquisitions than many division rivals while continuing to make smaller roster adjustments.
The Islanders also experienced veteran departures before training camp as management continued preparing the roster for the 2026–27 season. NHL transaction records show the organization remained active through signings and roster moves after free agency opened.
Edmonton Oilers completed several roster transactions
The Edmonton Oilers entered the offseason with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remaining under contract while completing additional trades and free-agent signings. Edmonton signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a 1-year, $2.8 million contract and continued roster adjustments by adding additional players before training camp.
The organization also traded defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks for Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp during the opening weeks of the offseason. Official transaction records show Edmonton remained active as teams finalized rosters for the 2026–27 season.
Buffalo Sabres re-signed Peyton Krebs before arbitration
The Buffalo Sabres signed restricted free agent Peyton Krebs to a 4-year, $18 million contract on July 13, avoiding salary arbitration. The agreement carries an average annual value of $4.5 million and keeps Krebs under contract through the 2029–30 NHL season.
Krebs played all 82 regular-season games in 2025–26 and recorded career highs with 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points. The contract was completed after Krebs filed for salary arbitration and before a hearing was scheduled.
San Jose Sharks acquired veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse
The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers during the 2026 offseason. Nurse joined San Jose after spending 12 NHL seasons with Edmonton, where he became the franchise leader in blocked shots and hits.
The Sharks also assumed Nurse’s contract, which carries a $9.25 million annual cap hit through the 2029–30 season. Edmonton received defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin and prospect Zack Sharp in the trade.
Columbus Blue Jackets added depth through free agency
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran forwards and goaltenders during the opening weeks of the 2026 free-agent period while continuing to evaluate additional roster needs. The organization also retained much of its returning roster as it prepared for the 2026–27 season.
Official transaction records show Columbus completed fewer high-profile acquisitions than several Metropolitan Division rivals during the opening stages of free agency. The club continued making roster decisions throughout July before training camp.
Pittsburgh Penguins focused on targeted additions
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2026 free-agent period after completing several offseason trades and contract decisions before July 1. The club signed forward Andrei Kuzmenko after free agency opened while continuing to evaluate additional roster moves during the offseason.
Pittsburgh also completed several depth signings rather than making numerous high-value free-agent acquisitions. Team management stated that roster construction would continue through trades and future transactions before the start of the 2026–27 season.
Utah Mammoth retained Barrett Hayton
The Utah Mammoth matched the New Jersey Devils’ 1-year, $4.775 million offer sheet for forward Barrett Hayton on July 8. Under NHL rules, matching the offer allowed Utah to retain Hayton, who cannot be traded for 1 year after the match.
Hayton recorded 25 points in 67 games during the 2025–26 regular season before agreeing to the matching contract. The decision kept the former fifth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Utah’s roster for the 2026–27 season.
NHL teams used multiple roster-building methods
NHL clubs reshaped their rosters through unrestricted free-agent signings, trades, contract extensions, qualifying offers, and arbitration agreements during the 2026 offseason. Team activity differed based on salary-cap space, roster composition, and pending free agents.
League transaction records showed that some organizations completed numerous player additions, while others primarily retained existing players under new contracts. Roster moves continued throughout July as teams prepared for training camp and the opening of the 2026–27 regular season.
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NHL offseason activity continued beyond July 1
Player movement continued after the opening day of NHL free agency through additional trades, contract signings, and arbitration-related agreements. Teams also completed roster changes involving restricted free agents, unrestricted free agents, and players acquired through trades.
Official transaction records continued to be updated throughout July as organizations finalized rosters before training camp. Additional transactions remained possible before the start of the 2026–27 regular season under the NHL’s offseason calendar.
In other news, here’s how Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers praise still shapes Edmonton’s standard.
Which team’s offseason moves stood out to you the most? Let us know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this slideshow, please like it and share your thoughts on which NHL team is best positioned for the 2026–27 season.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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