NHL Free Agency Frenzy Roundup: The Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: D+

Key Signings: Connor Clifton (D)

The Bruins are in a bit of an awkward spot in their contention window, not really finding themselves as a reliable playoff team, let alone a true contender, despite a team that includes one of the league's best goal scorers in David Pastrnak, most underrated defensemen in Charlie McAvoy, and top netminders with Jeremy Swayman.

Instead, the Bruins have been rather quiet, with a few small depth signings including Brian Halonen, European FA Attilio Biasca, and Ivan Ivan (acquired for Fabian Lysell), all of whom should be key pieces in Providence, but are unlikely to remain with Boston outside of a cup of tea.

The lone signing who should make an impact on the NHL roster is Connor Clifton, who returns to Massachusetts, where he played his best years, after a few seasons split between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Signed for $2.25 million per season for two years, it's a fine deal for an NHL fixture who should help run the Bruins' penalty kill. However, if you are a Boston fan, you'd likely want a bit more to chew on than that and the acquisition of fellow down-the-lineup blueliner Will Borgen via trade.

On the bright side, the departure of Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers has allowed for a vacuum for the backup job behind Swayman. At the moment, it's looking like a two-way battle between reigning AHL goalie of the year Mikey DiPietro and recently the resigned RFA Simon Zajicek (one-year, $0.875 million just before July 1st), both of whom could realistically come out with the job and run with it. – Jacob Titus

Buffalo Sabres: C-

Key Signings: Olen Zellweger (D), Conor Sheary (F)

After breaking one of the longest-standing playoff droughts in all of North American professional sports, Buffalo’s free agency period has left a lot to be desired.

After acquiring him at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft for the 45th overall pick and prospect Anton Wahlberg, Olen Zellweger is a nice upside bet for the Sabres’ blue line with the departure of Bowen Byram. Zellweger is known for his tenacious offensive play, but his upside remains in question due to Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power—both of whom are former first overall picks—getting their respective minutes. The contract is rather low-risk at three years with an AAV of $3,100,000, but Zellweger will remain as the third option on a stacked blueline barring any unexpected injuries.

Based on current roster projections, Conor Sheary is poised to slot in as a bottom-six forward option. Having averaged 41 games played per season over the last three years of his NHL career, Sheary is not a player who is expected to dress every night. – Nathan Leger

Detroit Red Wings: C

Key Signings: Daniil Tarasov (G), Viktor Arvidsson (F), Jacob Bryson (D)

First, it was the Yzerplan, then it was concepts of the Yzerplan, now it's just throwing darts blindly at people's heads. The Red Wings are in free fall, and yet they still flap wildly as if it's going to soften the blow.

To start with the good, Daniil Tarasov was one of the better goaltending signings available. At just $2.0 million for one season, it's a great bet on a goaltender who started to come into his own late in the season. At his best, he's a guy you re-sign and keep in the system as the future foil for Augustine. At worst, he's a cheap and temporary stopgap.

There's also Viktor Arvidsson, who secured a two-year, $5.0 million-per-year contract off a bounceback season. He was frankly a demon five-on-five last season, with 45 of his 54 points coming at even strength. I think there's good reason that this could sustain somewhat next season, replacing Patrick Kane in the lineup. Meanwhile, Jacob Bryson adds some depth on the back end for under a million.

This is, however, another case of the moves being good, but their wait-and-see approach continues to rot the organization from within, with captain Dylan Larkin setting his sights elsewhere. Eventually, the question must be asked: is it patience, or has the heartbeat left long ago? – Jacob Titus

Florida Panthers: A

Key Signings: Sam Lafferty (F), John Beecher (F), Lars Eller (F), Radko Gudas (D), Alex Petrovic (D), Eetu Luostarinen* (F), Donovan Sebrango* (D)

The Florida Panthers have operated with clear intentions, maximizing value out of depth pieces while paying the team's core.

Eetu Luostarinen recently became a member of that coveted club, earning himself a healthy eight-year, $5.0 million AAV extension starting in 2027-28. Offensively, he's been spotty, but he's one of the league's best matchup forwards defensively, and is also effective shorthanded. Plus, if he can unlock the offensive touch seen in the Panthers' last playoff run in 2024-25, there's real boom potential for a deal that will already look like a steal with cap inflation in just a few years.

On the blueline, they arranged the return of Radko Gudas to the Sunshine state, signing the 36-year-old to a lengthy six-year deal worth $1.5 million per season, raising the eyebrows of fans who decried cap circumvention. He remains a capable, physical, bottom-four shutdown defenseman who is coming off captaining the Ducks to their first playoff berth since 2018.

Sam Lafferty and Lars Eller provide championship pedigree and are both cost-effective shutdown solutions down the lineup, with Eller still showing signs of a low-pace playmaking game net-front at 37 years old.

After that, it's been a lot of backfilling with cheap depth. Bringing back RFA defenseman Donovan Sebrango, reuniting with Alex Petrovic (who recently became an NHL regular again in Dallas), and adding former first-rounder John Beecher, all below the $1.0 million mark.

Held back last year by injuries, these pieces, alongside the additions of Brady Tkachuk and goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and current RFA Akira Schmid, should help get Florida back into at least a playoff spot, if not contention again.– Jacob Titus

Montreal Canadiens: B

Key Signings: Ivan Demidov* (F), Jakub Dobes* (G)

Les Habitants had themselves one of the more quiet free agencies this year.

With some of the most team-friendly contracts in the league already set in stone, many expected a team coming fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals berth to be bigger spenders than they were on July 1st. After all, their playoff window seems more open than ever with many of their young stars just now entering their primes.

Instead, the Montreal Canadiens opted to take care of business in-house by extending two key players; forward Ivan Demidov and goaltender Jakub Dobes. Demidov cashed in an eight-year, $9,150,000 AAV deal on the first day of free agency; meanwhile, Dobes was rewarded greatly for backstopping the Habs through two playoff series wins with a three-year, $5,357,575 AAV contract. While paying over $9 million annually to a forward who has yet to record a point-per-game season may seem steep, Demidov is only 20 years old and has already shown great potential to become a star player for the Canadiens. – Nathan Leger

Ottawa Senators: C-

Key Signings: Samuel Ersson (G), Leevi Merilainen* (G), Claude Giroux* (F)

There was plenty happening in the nation's capital on July 1st—just not in the NHL

Similar to the Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators were one of the league’s quietest teams this free agency. After having sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to Toronto for the veteran netminder’s RFA rights, the Senators signed Samuel Ersson to a two-year, $2,200,000 AAV contract after netminder Leevi Merilainen—who signed a one-year, $1,100,000 AAV deal with the Senators on July 2nd—struggled mightily as the team’s backup last season. Merilainen was eventually sent down to the AHL due to his on-ice struggles.

After initial reports from David Pagnotta said that a reunion between Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers was all but certain, Giroux would make his decision to return to Ottawa just 72 hours later. At 38 years of age, Giroux projects to be an effective third liner with special teams minutes for the Senators this upcoming season; a role he has not just embraced, but thrived in over the past few years. – Nathan Leger

Tampa Bay Lightning: B

Key Signings: Jeffrey Viel (F), Ilya Mikheyev (F), John Carlson (D)

Tampa Bay showed the rest of the league on July 1st that they have no intentions of taking a step back.

The Lightning made a pair of decent depth signings by adding both Jeffrey Viel and Ilya Mikheyev to their roster. Mikheyev was signed to a four-year, $3,850,000 AAV deal; meanwhile, Viel inked a five-year, $2,500,000 AAV deal. One of Tampa Bay’s biggest flaws last season was a lack of depth at the forward position. With their abundance of star forwards, the team walked into free agency with a clear plan and stuck to it.

Now, for the splash heard across the Bay Area: John Carlson.

Unquestionably one of the biggest names on the market this year, Carlson will begin the 2026-27 season with a team not named the Washington Capitals for the first time in his NHL career. There’s a good chance Carlson will see top-line minutes with time on the first power-play unit; a role franchise legend Victor Hedman seemed to have relinquished to Darren Raddysh last season. Carlson showed he was capable of producing in a different system when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks ahead of last season’s trade deadline. Assuming this trend continues, Tampa Bay looks to be in good shape entering next season. – Nathan Leger

Toronto Maple Leafs: B-

Key Signings: Sergei Bobrovsky (G), Jack Roslovic (F), Colton Sissons (F), Teddy Blueger (F), Brandon Duhaime (F), Zack MacEwan (F), Gavin McKenna* (F)

If there's one word to describe the beginning of John Chayka's tenure as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it'd be busy.

This has remained the same since July 1st, blowing wads of cash as the Leafs look to bring in reinforcements up and down the lineup.

The biggest one is no doubt Gavin McKenna, signing his entry-level contract, who Leafsland can only hope grows to fill the Marner-sized hole offensively. As for other affiliated players of note, Emil Andrae could prove to be a decent swing within the bottom four, signing a $1.55 million deal over two years after his rights were acquired earlier this Summer.

Where Chayka let loose, however, was on the open market.

He dropped a bag on the biggest goaltender available, Sergei Bobrovsky, signing the soon-to-be 38-year-old veteran netminder to a three-year deal for $7.0 million per season. You can read more about our thoughts on the deal here.

Colton Sissons ($4.25 million, two years) is one of the toughest pills to swallow. A faceoff specialist with strong 5-on-5 defensive metrics, but has been a black hole offensively for years and isn't reliable on special teams. At best, it's an overpay; at worst, it's another David Kampf, with a modified no-trade.

Brandon Duhaime ($2.6 million, three years) is likely going to be more impactful in fans' hearts than on the ice. He's an admirable competitor, a constant physical presence, and a defensive specialist, but generally these types do not have a long shelf life after their late 20s. His no-trade clause may cause some issues down the line.

Teddy Bleuger ($2.5 million, two years) is a good fit for a third-line caliber, defense-first bottom-sixer.

Lastly, the Leafs signed Zack MacEwan to a two-year, $0.875 million deal. He suited up in only three games last season due to a knee injury, but he's an NHL tweener with a heavy shot and can be a physical presence. Consistent engagement has been his biggest issue. 

The Leafs seem keen on a quick turnaround for this retool, and these moves may mostly get them back to where they were just two seasons ago. However, with Morgan Rielly's decline due to age, and Auston Matthews' regression due to his injuries. The Leafs still seem far out from re-emerging as the contenders they thought they were going to be in the Matthews era. – Jacob Titus