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Canadiens Sign Sean Farrell, Marc Del Gaizo To Two-Way Contracts

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The Canadiens have re-signed RFA forward Sean Farrell to a two-way contract and also added Group VI free agent defenseman Marc Del Gaizo on a two-way deal, per a team announcement yesterday. Both are one-year agreements.

Farrell’s deal pays him an NHL salary of $775K and an AHL salary of $90K with a $110K guarantee, per PuckPedia. Del Gaizo’s contract is far richer; PuckPedia reflects he’s landed an AHL salary of $375K with a $450K guarantee.

Farrell, 23, was a fourth-round pick in 2020 out of the USHL’s Chicago Steel. A high-scoring pivot who can flex to the left wing, his size was the main reason he slipped in the draft, checking in at just 5’9″ and 174 lbs. He had an extremely productive two-year run at Harvard, including a spectacular 53-point sophomore season that earned him ECAC Player of the Year honors.

Although Farrell had already represented the United States at multiple senior national tournaments and was coming off a spectacular collegiate season, he hasn’t yet received an NHL opportunity since signing his entry-level contract with Montreal in 2023. In 114 games for AHL Laval over the past two seasons, he has 29 goals, 43 assists, and 72 points with a plus-eight rating.

Farrell could have accepted his qualifying offer, which included a $874,125 NHL salary for 2025-26. That QO only included an $80K minors salary, though, so he’ll take the higher guarantee in exchange for a lower salary if he ends up spending time on the NHL roster. He did break out for 20 goals in 67 games with Laval last year, so there is still a path for the undersized pivot to reach NHL minutes and see if he can convert his elite lower-level offensive production into big-league offense.

Del Gaizo, 25, makes the move to Montreal after spending his first four full professional seasons in the Predators organization. He was a fourth-round pick by Nashville out of UMass in 2019 and has spent most of his time with AHL Milwaukee since turning pro in 2021, although he did spend a slight majority of last season on the NHL roster.

After making his NHL debut in a nine-game call-up in 2023-24, Del Gaizo made 46 appearances for Nashville last year. He was serviceable in bottom-pairing minutes, recording nine points and a minus-three rating while averaging 16:45 per game. The 2021 NCAA championship winner also had an 8-4–12 scoring line with a +10 rating in 30 games with Milwaukee.

While he’s likely worth a shot as someone’s No. 7/8 option, Del Gaizo wasn’t going to get that in Nashville. The Preds were looking to get either bigger or younger on defense, and the 5’11” lefty doesn’t really fit either of those bills as he nears the precipice of his development.

He’ll fight for a spot on Montreal’s roster with names like unsigned RFA Jayden Struble, although if top prospect David Reinbacher earns a spot out of camp, that would presumably box Del Gaizo out of an NHL role with eight defenders ahead of him on the depth chart. Montreal still has 11 contract spots remaining and three unsigned RFAs in Struble, Jakub Dobes, and Willliam Trudeau.

Sharks Re-Sign Pavol Regenda To Two-Way Deal

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The Sharks have re-signed winger Pavol Regenda on a two-way contract, according to a team release.

San Jose acquired Regenda from the Ducks in January in a swap of minor-league forwards, sending Justin Bailey the other way. He didn’t see an NHL recall following the trade or at all this season, for that matter, after getting brief looks with Anaheim in 2022-23 and 2023-24. In 19 games over those two seasons, he scored a goal and two assists while averaging 10:49 per night.

The 25-year-old wasn’t an RFA this summer because he’d accrued enough professional experience for Group VI UFA status while playing less than 80 career NHL games. He could have signed anywhere else – including Europe – but instead returns to the Sharks organization on a deal that pays him $350K in the minors with a $400K guarantee, per PuckPedia.

The 6’4″, 212-lb winger from Slovakia signed with Anaheim as an undrafted free agent in 2022 on the backs of a strong showing at the Olympics and World Championship. Regenda now has three full AHL seasons under his belt and seems content in his minor-league role. He has 45 goals, 55 assists, 100 points, and 189 PIMs in 176 career AHL games, including a good 9-16–25 scoring line in 36 games with the Barracuda after the trade to San Jose.

With younger, higher-ceiling names likely taking priority for a call-up this upcoming season, Regenda should be on track to spend most, if not all, of 2025-26 down with the Barracuda if he clears waivers.

Capitals Sign Louie Belpedio, Calle Rosen, Graeme Clarke To Two-Way Deals

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The Capitals have added depth for their AHL affiliate with a trio of two-way signings, announcing deals for defensemen Louis Belpedio, Calle Rosen, and forward Graeme Clarke yesterday.

All three contracts carry NHL cap hits and salaries of $775K, the team said. Clarke and Rosen signed one-year deals, while Belpedio landed a two-year commitment. He also earns the priciest AHL salary of the trio at $575K, while Rosen will earn $525K and Clarke will earn $350K.

Belpedio, a third-round pick of the Wild in 2014, joins his fourth NHL organization. After spending time with Minnesota and Montreal, primarily in the minors, he landed with the Flyers in the 2022 offseason and has been in Philly on two-way deals ever since. He’s been an alternate captain for AHL Lehigh Valley for the last three years, and the 29-year-old righty recorded a 5-23–28 scoring line in 66 games last year with 88 PIMs and a +15 rating.

The Illinois native last saw NHL action in 2023-24, skating in a career-high 12 games with the Flyers. He notched two goals and two assists, his first points at the top level since he had two assists in his NHL debut for Minnesota in April 2018.

Rosen, 31, has 93 games of NHL experience compared to Belpedio’s 16. He’ll be the earlier call-up option if the Caps need a more offensive-minded defenseman on the roster. The 6’1″ lefty is three years removed from sniffing a full-time role with the Blues, recording 18 points and a +19 rating for them in 49 games in 2022-23 while averaging 15:36 per game.

The Swede played just six NHL games the following season, though, and didn’t see any NHL ice last year while on a two-way deal with the Avalanche. He’ll presumably take his talents to Hershey with no roster spots up for grabs on Washington’s blue line. The one-time AHL All-Star had 10 goals, 24 assists, 34 points, 24 PIMs, and a +22 rating in 62 games for the Colorado Eagles last season.

While the other two signings were outright UFAs, the 24-year-old Clarke joins the Caps organization after being non-tendered by the Wild. Minnesota picked the 2019 third-rounder up the prior offseason in a trade with the Devils as high-ceiling minor-league depth, but the 6’0″ winger ended up taking a step back offensively and didn’t land an NHL recall. He put together a 16-21–37 scoring line with a -13 rating in 64 games for AHL Iowa last season and has three games of NHL experience, all with New Jersey in 2023-24.

Devils Turn Attention To Luke Hughes Extension

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With the initial wave of free agency behind them, New Jersey Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald is now making an extension with restricted free agent defenseman Luke Hughes his top priority, per team reporter Amanda Stein.

While the Devils have made a flurry of signings over the last 48 hours (headlined by re-signing goalie Jake Allen, and adding forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov), and acquired the signing rights to RFA forward Thomas Bordeleau from the Sharks in exchange for Shane Bowers, Fitzgerald made it clear that his attention now shifts to Hughes. When asked if progress has been made on extension talks with his young defender, Fitzgerald stated, “No. But that’s my number one priority now.” When later asked if the club was still in the market for additional forward support, Fitzgerald doubled down by stating, “My number one priority now is signing Luke Hughes.”

This echoes Fitzgerald’s previous statements regarding his outlook for the offseason. At the beginning of June, Fitzgerald sat down with NHL.com’s Mike Morreale to discuss the team’s priorities heading into the offseason and acknowledged then how important it was for the team to extend Hughes.

He said at the time: “We’re just trying to figure out what’s best for Luke and for us and how do we make our team better with the funds that we have available… Both parties are in agreement… We’re going to get this done.”

Hughes skated in 71 games last season, posting seven goals and 44 points. He was injured in Game 1 of the team’s first-round matchup against the Hurricanes and underwent shoulder surgery in May. Fitzgerald noted today that Hughes’ recovery is progressing well and that he is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Hughes is projected to sign a long-term deal with a price tag north of $9MM by CapWages. The Devils currently have just north of $6MM in cap space (per PuckPedia), so even if Hughes signs for under that projection, Fitzgerald will likely have to make some moves to fit the extension into the fold.

Brent Burns Signs One-Year Deal With Avalanche

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed veteran defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year contract, per a team release. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting the deal comes with a $1MM base, with games-played bonuses that could secure him another $3MM.

Burns, 40, comes to the Avalanche after registering 29 points in 82 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. While his offensive numbers dipped considerably in 2024-25, he still logged a hefty 20:57 of ice time per game on the season. He added five points in 15 playoff contests.

Burns’ 21-year career has been filled with accolades, including six all-star appearances and the 2016-17 Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. He has produced 910 career points over 1,497 games and has added 80 points in 135 career playoff contests. And despite his age, Burns has skated in 925 consecutive games, the fourth-longest mark in league history.

Burns joins a Colorado blue line that has openings on the second or third pairing, giving him a chance to compete for a regular role. While Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson are locked into spots, the depth thins out beyond that, with Sam Malinski the only other defenseman on a one-way contract.

After an illustrious 11-year run with the Sharks, Burns was traded to the Hurricanes in July of 2022, and produced 133 points in 246 games with Carolina. His move to Colorado draws parallels to that of Hall of Fame defenseman Raymond Bourque, who was traded to the Avalanche during the 2000-01 season at the age of 39 and went on to win his long-awaited Stanley Cup.

Senators Sign Hayden Hodgson, Hunter Shepard, Jackson Parsons

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The Ottawa Senators announced a flurry of free agent signings today, including a two-year, two-way deal with forward Hayden Hodgson and a one-year, two-way deal with goaltender Hunter Shepard, per a team release. The terms of those deals are not immediately known. Additionally, the team confirmed the previously reported signing of forward Arthur Kaliyev, along with forwards Wyatt Bongiovanni and Olle Lycksell, whose deals had also been reported earlier.

Hodgson, 29, returns to the Senators organization after appearing in two games with Ottawa and 43 more with the AHL’s Belleville Senators last season. For his career, the 6’2″, 220-pound winger has appeared in nine career NHL games spanning three seasons, producing a goal and two assists.

Bongiovanni, 25, also remains in the Senators’ franchise after appearing in 54 games with Belleville last season, where he produced 22 goals and 33 points. While he has yet to appear in an NHL game, his production last season was a major step in the right direction, as he nearly doubled his previous highs in goals and points at the AHL level.

Lycksell, 25, comes to Ottawa after spending his entire professional career within the Flyers organization, which selected him in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL draft. Last season, Lycksell appeared in a career-high 19 games for the Flyers, registering five assists while averaging 11:53 of ice time per night. In 43 games for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season, he produced 19 goals and 44 points.

Shepard’s one-year deal comes a year after he appeared in 39 games for the AHL’s Hershey Bears, where he compiled a 23-11-4 record, 2.80 goals against average, and a .891 save percentage. The 29-year-old Shepard, who was named an AHL all-star last season, has appeared in five games at the NHL level across two seasons with the Washington Capitals, including one start last season.

Additionally, the Sens signed goaltender Jackson Parsons to a three-year, entry-level contract. Parsons, 20, appeared in 52 games for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, registering a 37-12-3 record, 2.24 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage. A native of Ottawa, Parsons received several key accolades for his play last season, including Goaltender of the Year in both the OHL and the Canadian Hockey League and the Leo Lalonde Trophy as the OHL Overage Player of the Year.

Kings Sign Samuel Bolduc, Logan Brown, Cole Guttman

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The LA Kings continue to bolster their depth on the second day of free agency, signing defenseman Samuel Bolduc and forwards Logan Brown and Cole Guttman to two-way contracts, per a team release. In that same release, the team also confirmed the signing of forward Taylor Ward, who was previously reported to have inked a one-year, two-way deal with the team.

Bolduc’s one-year deal comes with an $775K AAV at the NHL level. Bolduc, 24, appeared in just one game for the New York Islanders last season, spending most of the season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. In 52 career games at the NHL level, the 6’4″, 220-pound defender has produced four goals and eight assists. However, he had produced far better offensive numbers in the AHL, including last year when he secured nine goals and 35 points in 69 games for Bridgeport.

Brown, 27, was selected 11th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has appeared in 99 NHL games over six seasons, posting seven goals and 27 points. However, he hasn’t appeared at the top level since a 30-game stint with the St. Louis Blues during the 2022-23 season. He spent last season in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization but only secured playing time in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he posted 29 points in 33 games. His contract is a one-year deal with a $775K AAV.

Guttman’s two-year deal also comes with a $775K AAV at the NHL level. Guttman, 26, last appeared in the NHL with the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season, where he posted four goals and eight points in 27 games. While he didn’t appear in an NHL game last season, Guttman had his best year as a professional, posting 23 goals and 57 points for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Canucks Sign Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year contract worth $775,000, per a team release.

The former first-round pick (23rd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft) joins Vancouver after skating in 194 career games over five NHL seasons. Joseph spent time with both the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins last season, the latter reacquiring him midway through the year. In 47 games between the two teams, he recorded just three assists and finished with a minus-22 rating.

During the 2022–23 season with the Penguins—his first full NHL campaign—Joseph displayed the potential that made him a first-round pick, setting career highs in games played (75), goals (five), points (21), and plus/minus (plus-eight). However, he has been unable to replicate that level of success in the seasons since.

It’s worth noting that Jim Rutherford, now the Canucks’ president of hockey operations, was the Penguins’ GM when they brought in Joseph as part of the trade that sent Phil Kessel to the Coyotes. The deal also reunites Joseph, 26, with former teammate Marcus Pettersson. The Canucks appear set in their top four with Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, and Pettersson, but Joseph could compete for a role on the third pairing or, at the very least, provide the organization with a reliable depth option on the blue line.

“Pierre-Olivier has good speed and mobility and will add to our depth on the back end. His addition gives us a player with some solid NHL and pro hockey experience, he is comfortable playing both sides, and he won a world championship with Tyler Myers in 2023. We look forward to getting him here to start working with our group,” said GM Patrik Allvin.

Jets Sign Gustav Nyquist

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The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.25MM contract with winger Gustav Nyquist. The deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Nyquist, 35, spent last season split between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. His year began in a top-six role with the Predators where he managed nine goals and 21 points in 57 games. But, like many Predators veterans, Nyquist struggled to prevent the barrage on defense, and wound up being traded at the Trade Deadline in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. He finished his year with seven points in 22 games with the Wild.

On the season, Nyquist combined for just 28 points and a minus-24 in 79 games played. That number is a sharp, sharp fall from the career-year he posted on the Predators last season. He formed a formidable pairing with playmaking center Ryan O’Reilly on the 2023-24 Predators, and reached a career-high 75 points in 81 games while operating from a second-line role. His 52 assists on the season fell 14 higher than his previous career-high. It was an electric performance, with Nyquist reaching new heights at an age where many players often consider retirement.

That flash of upside will earn Nyquist a 14th NHL season with Winnipeg next year. He’s a perennial scorer, and has reached the 50-point mark in three of his last six seasons. In the years he fell short of the mark, Nyquist still managed a serviceable 42, 27, and 28 points respectively. Across his full career in the NHL – which spans back to the 2011-12 season in Detroit – Nyquist has averaged 20 goals and 50 points per 82 games played. That average falls to 16 goals and 46 points when looking at 2021-22 and beyond.

Nyquist recorded a 10.7 shooting percentage last year, one percent lower than his career average and nearly five percent lower than the mark he reached in his career year. That could set him up for a boost in scoring next season. He’ll have every chance to reach new heights, likely set on filling the top-six role vacated by Nikolaj Ehlers — assuming Ehlers doesn’t re-sign. He may need to compete with Alex Iafallo, Nino Niederreiter, and Cole Koepke for minutes next to Jonathan Toews, who will make his return to the league in a middle-six center role with the Jets.

Flames Sign Morgan Frost To Two-Year Extension

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The Calgary Flames have signed centerman Morgan Frost to a two-year, $8.75MM contract extension per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal was first reported by Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK News. It will carry an annual cap hit of $4.38MM and an up-front signing bonus of $500,000 per PuckPedia.

The Flames acquired Frost alongside Joel Farabee partway through this season in a deal that sent Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick (Shane Vansaghi), and a 2028 seventh-round pick back to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Frost quickly slotted into Calgary’s third-line center role, but struggled to maintain the heights that he had reached with the Flyers. After beginning the year with 11 goals and 25 points in 49 games with Philadelphia, Frost finished it off with just 12 points in 32 games with Calgary. Despite the dip in scoring, he remained an active presence in all other areas of the ice, recording a positive faceoff win-rate, 21 blocked shots, and 34 hits with the Flames.

Frost’s cumulative 37 points on the season fall just shy of the pair of strong seasons he posted in Philadelphia over the last two years. Playing through his first full year in the NHL in 2023-24, Frost managed an impressive 19 goals and 46 pionts in 81 games while splitting time between the second and third lines. He followed that performance up with 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games last season, this time in a much more clear-cut third-line role.

There seems to be heaps of untapped offensive upside in Frost’s game. He’s recorded 147 points in 310 games in the NHL, to go with 48 points in 65 career games in the AHL. He was even tracking for a 50-point season to kick off this year, before being knocked off course by a what seemed to be a sudden trade. That fact could make this short-term deal an interesting bet for the Flames. He will enter unrestricted free agency on the other side of this contract, providing Frost a chance to either earn a pay raise in Calgary or find new pastures should he flame out. He’ll head for the third-line center role on the Flames lineup next season, behind Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund.

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