ESPN staff3 Minute Read
Greg Wyshynski’s names to watch ahead of NHL free agency
Greg Wyshynski evaluates the free agent class and identifies the big names hitting the market.
The 2023 NHL offseason might seem a little compressed, with the draft taking place on June 28 and 29 this year, but the start of free agency is back to its usual date of July 1 (after a late start in 2022).
Every NHL general manager is hoping to land game-changing players, either via free agent deals, or via trade.
Here is our continuously updated tracker, featuring a list of every player signed, along with analysis of the biggest deals and buzz on what could happen next. On Saturday, be sure to check out our stream of TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy on ESPN+.
Note that the newest deals are on top, denoted by date.
More: Free agent rankings
Team-by-team guides
Draft recap: Every pick | Winners, losers
July 1
After having his contract bought out by the Jets this week, veteran forward Blake Wheeler has signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Rangers (with $300,000 available in potential bonuses).
25-year-old forward Lane Pederson has come to terms with the Oilers on a two-year, $1.55 million contract.
After the Flyers failed to move him ahead of the trade deadline, veteran James van Riemsdyk officially has a new team, signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Bruins.
After finishing the 2022-23 season with the Maple Leafs, center Ryan O’Reilly is headed to the Predators via a four-year, $18 million contract.
After not issuing qualifying offers for RFAs Michael McLeod and Nathan Bastian, the Devils re-signed both players: one year, $1.4 million for McLeod, two years, $2.7 million for Bastian.
Former Jets forward Kevin Stenlund has landed with the Panthers by way of a one-year, $1 million contract.
Seeking to add some size to their lineup, the Maple Leafs have signed forward Ryan Reaves to a three-year, $4.05 million deal.
The Predators have reached an agreement with veteran defenseman Luke Schenn on a three-year, $8.25 million deal.
Goaltender Antti Raanta is back with the Hurricanes via a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
After having his contract bought out by the Canucks earlier this week, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Panthers.
