NHL Offseason Shakes Up Rosters Ahead of 2025-26 Season

The NHL offseason is progressing with multiple roster moves shaping teams for the 2025-26 season. Key recent trades include the Minnesota Wild acquiring defenseman Chase Priskie and a fourth-round draft pick from the Washington Capitals in exchange for defenseman Declan Chisholm and a sixth-round pick. The Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks swapped forwards Oskar Olausson and Danil Gushchin recently, reflecting ongoing adjustments to team rosters. Several signings from entry-level contracts to multi-year extensions have been finalized, including the Anaheim Ducks securing Lukas Dostal for five years and the Boston Bruins extending players such as Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand following Florida Panthers’ second straight Stanley Cup victory.

Contract talks continue with several notable restricted free agents, with New Jersey Devils prioritizing signing defenseman Luke Hughes under a contract that balances short-term cost with long-term value. Calgary Flames are negotiating with forward Connor Zary but progress reportedly remains slow. Anaheim is facing ongoing contract discussions with Mason McTavish, which have drawn attention due to a lack of public updates. These holdouts and signings are significant as training camps are scheduled to open in about five weeks, marking a critical deadline for teams to finalize their rosters.

The Colorado Avalanche remain an intriguing team heading into the new season after signing veteran defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year deal. Burns, at 40 years old and entering his 22nd NHL season, expressed strong motivation to win his first Stanley Cup, citing the team’s leadership around stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar as a major factor. Colorado also looks forward to a fully healthy season from forward Gabriel Landeskog, who missed significant time due to a knee injury, as well as from goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, both of whom were acquired last season.

Several teams are quietly rounding into shape through a series of smaller signings and re-signings. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed William Villeneuve to a one-year, two-way contract, while the Vancouver Canucks kept Vitali Kravtsov under a similar deal. These moves are characteristic of the offseason pace as teams fill out their rosters beyond their marquee players.

The overall NHL landscape reflects a mixture of veteran signings, emerging young talent commitments, and strategic trades as teams prepare for a competitive season. The core focus is balancing immediate competitiveness with managing salary cap considerations, especially in the context of a rising cap and the desire to retain promising restricted free agents. Observers expect the intensity to ramp up as training camp approaches and unresolved contract situations demand resolution.

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