NHL Offseason Updates: Major Moves and New Contracts

The race to catch the Florida Panthers in the NHL begins this offseason as teams rework their rosters following the Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. With a significant salary cap increase to $95.5 million, teams across the league have more flexibility to make key additions and resign players.

This offseason has already seen a flurry of notable moves. The Los Angeles Kings re-signed forward Alex Laferriere to a three-year contract worth $4.1 million annually, while the Carolina Hurricanes extended Jackson Blake's contract for eight years at $45 million.

Other major signings include Kaapo Kakko’s three-year extension with the Seattle Kraken for $4.5 million annually and Gabriel Vilardi’s six-year extension with the Winnipeg Jets. The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick, emphasizing their strategic approach to building their roster.

Defenseman Josh Manson extended his contract with the Colorado Avalanche for two years at an average annual value of $3.95 million. Additionally, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard to the Edmonton Oilers, who signed him to a three-year entry-level contract.

The offseason continues to heat up with the Carolina Hurricanes securing Nikolaj Ehlers for six years at $51 million and the San Jose Sharks striking deals with Dmitry Orlov and Jeff Skinner, among others. Notably, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Matt Dumba from the Dallas Stars, illustrating the aggressive moves teams are making as they aim to compete with Florida.

With many more contracts and trades on the horizon, expect the 2025-26 season to feature a transformed NHL landscape that could shift power dynamics across the league.