The free-agent shuffle kept moving on July 2, with a batch of familiar names landing new deals as clubs continue filling out depth charts and stocking their AHL affiliates.
San Jose was among the busiest teams of the day. The Sharks announced four more signings, bringing in goaltender Kyle Keyser, forwards Brett Leason and Tye Felhaber, and forward Alex Barré-Boulet. Keyser, Leason and Felhaber each signed one-year, two-way contracts, while Barré-Boulet agreed to a two-year, two-way deal.
Vancouver also added to its organizational depth, signing Matthew Stienburg to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season. Stienburg missed much of the 2025-26 campaign and finished with two goals and three points in eight games for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
Toronto made a more notable commitment on the back end, with PuckPedia confirming the Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Cole McWard to a two-year, $1.75MM contract. The deal is one-way in both seasons. McWard spent last year with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders and put up six goals and 27 points in 63 games, along with a -11 rating.
The Rangers also got in on the action, landing former first-round pick Dennis Cholowski on a two-year, $1.75MM contract, according to PuckPedia. Cholowski has played 173 NHL games, recording 13 goals and 42 points with a -60 rating while averaging 16:30 of ice time. New York also announced a separate signing, bringing in forward Glenn Gawdin on a two-year, two-way contract.
Anaheim continued building out its defensive depth by signing Travis Mitchell to a one-year, two-way contract. Mitchell made his NHL debut and otherwise spent most of last season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders, where he had one goal and 17 points in 58 games with a +3 rating.
Buffalo added another forward option in Aidan McDonough, who signed a one-year, two-way deal. McDonough is coming off his best pro season, finishing with 23 goals and 44 points in 63 games for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Florida announced a one-year, two-way contract for defenseman Casey Fitzgerald for the 2026-27 season. Fitzgerald previously spent time in the Panthers organization two years ago, when he scored four goals and 21 points in 69 games for the Charlotte Checkers and posted a +22 rating.
Winnipeg signed Henry Thrun to a one-year, two-way contract. Thrun played most of last season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he had five goals and 23 points in 55 games with a -1 rating. He then added two goals and nine points in 24 playoff games as the Marlies won the Calder Cup.
New Jersey also kept a depth piece in the fold, re-signing Group Six UFA Xavier Parent to a one-year, two-way deal, per PuckPedia. Parent appeared in five games for the Devils last season and contributed 20 goals and 19 assists in 63 games for AHL Utica.
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After seven seasons in South Florida, Sergei Bobrovsky is finally talking about the end of his run with the Panthers, and the tone is unmistakably appreciative. The veteran goalie said he was grateful for the organizations support during his time in Florida, even as the sides were unable to work out an extension, closing the book on a stretch that made him one of the defining figures of the franchises recent rise.
Bobrovsky also sounded energized about what comes next, describing the move to Toronto as the next chapter in a long career. There was even a small welcome from first overall pick Gavin McKenna, who made a gesture involving Bobrovskys jersey number, a reminder that even amid a major transition, the little details can help ease the shift into a new room. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Contract Details Put Two Depth Moves Under The Microscope
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For Florida, the details matter as much as the names. A one-way deal for Schwindt signals real NHL commitment, and Petrovics contract suggests the Panthers value stability and familiarity in the back end as they sort through the rest of their depth chart. Around the league, there was plenty of other movement too, from Alex Ovechkins new one-year deal in Washington to Jakub Dobes extension in Montreal, but these are the kinds of quieter signings that can still shape a teams day-to-day roster picture. [Read more 🡒]