The number is in on the new contract for Florida Panthers forward Cole Schwindt. Schwindt’s new two-year contract, which will take him right to unrestricted free agency, is a one-way deal that carries a $875,000 cap hit. Schwindt will make $850K this year and $900K in 2027-28. He played in 29 games for the Panthers after being claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights, producing five goals and seven points.
The details are also in for the new deal with returning defenseman Alex Petrovic. Petrovic also inked a two-year contract with an $875K cap hit. way contract. Like Schwindt, Petrovic will make $850K this year and $900K in 2027-28. Petrovic, 34, put up ten points in 54 games with the Dallas Stars in 2025-26.
Alex Ovechkin has decided to keep playing, so the Panthers will see The Great 8 at least three more times next season. The Washington Capitals announced that the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, has signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million against the salary cap. After a slow start, Ovechkin finished the 2025-26 campaign with 32 goals and 32 assists.
The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with goaltender Jakub Dobes on a three-year contract extension wthat carries an average annual value of $5,357,575. The deal, which runs from 2027-28 through 2029-30 seasons, keeps the 25-year-old puck stopper in Montreal beyond his current entry-level contract, which has one more year rto go.
Former Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson has inked a one-year, $1.75 million contract to return to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2026‑27 season. The 34-year-old appeared in 37 games for the Blue Jackets last season.
The Minnesota Wild had a busy Thursday acquiring forward Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta in a trade with the Calgary Flames and re-upping defenseman Zach Bogosian ($1.25 million) and right winger Nick Foligno ($900K) to one-year deals. The Wild also signed forward Maxim Shabanov after he shook free from the New York Islanders.
Calgary acquired defenseman Jake Middleton and three draft picks in the trade with Minnesota, including a second-rounder in 2029. Calgary also agreed to retain 50% of the $4.9 million Coleman is owed in the final year of his contract.
The Ottawa Senators signed goalie Levi Meriläinen to a new one-year contract worth $1.1 million. Meriläinen stepped into the backup role in 2024-25 following an injury to Linus Ullmark, and did well, posting an 8-3-1 record, a .925 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Goaltender David Rittich has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old Rittich went 14-10-3 with a 2.76 GAA for the nearby Islanders in 2025-26.