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Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 free agency live blog
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Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
TLN Staff
Jul 1, 2025, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 2, 2025, 09:43 EDT
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Welcome to The Leafs Nation’s free agency live blog, where we’ll keep you posted immediately on all the transactions around the league. It’s been an eventful lead-up for the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of Canada Day, and we’re in the middle of the summer of Brad Treliving.
Matthew Knies reportedly signed a six-year extension worth $7.75 million on Saturday, while John Tavares inked a four-year pact worth $4.38 million on June 27. Knies and Tavares’ team-friendly deals have certainly brightened the Leafs’ short and long-term outlook, while the team will look to allocate roughly $13.5 million in cap space to several forwards, who will augment the team’s core group led by Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Mitch Marner was widely considered the best available free agent on this year’s market but he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he signed an eight-year deal worth $12 million annually. Toronto received Nicolas Roy in return. Ahead of Canada Day, a potential deal appears to have fallen through and Marner will leave the Maple Leafs with nothing in return. As a result, the Maple Leafs will move on from the Core Four era in earnest and look to re-tool their roster, with an emphasis on changing the team’s DNA.
Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz are also free agents and are among the top 75 players on Daily Faceoff’s board. And while we’re here, make sure to tune into Daily Faceoff’s Free Agency Special, where host Tyler Yaremchuk will be joined by Carter Hutton, Jeff Marek, Matthew Barnaby, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, PuckPedia’s Hart Levine, along with other insiders and experts from The Nation Network!
The Leafs Nation’s staff previewed key topics ahead of free agency, with some ideas and banter about Knies, Treliving, top targets for the Maple Leafs and more.
Friendly reminder that Leafs Morning Take will be live at 2pm today instead of the regular 11am eastern time slot!
We’ll keep you posted throughout Canada Day, with more than a billion dollars in new contracts expected to be handed out in the first 90 minutes!
**note that all timestamps are in Eastern standard time
5:48 pm: Riley Stillman is joining the Edmonton Oilers on a two-year deal worth $775,000, with a $475,000 AHL salary. For more on the Stillman signing, Zach Laing of Oilers Nation has you covered.
5:38 pm: We’re no strangers to sign-and-trades here, and the Rangers sent defenceman K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes, where he promptly signed an eight-year, $60-million extension. Congrats to Miller on securing the bag, where he’ll join a Hurricanes team that is desperately looking to get over the proverbial wall. Chris Johnston reports that the Rangers will receive a conditional (top-1o protected) 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 2nd-round pick and defenceman Scott Morrow in exchange for Miller.
5:06 pm: Will Cuylle re-signed with the New York Rangers on a two-year contract worth $3.9 million, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. Cuylle is a physical presence and this is a tidy piece of business from the Rangers to retain an essential part of their core group. He has often been likened to Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies and Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson.
5:05 pm: Ryan McLeod is re-signing with the Buffalo Sabres on a four-year deal worth $5 million annually, the team announced. McLeod is coming off a career-best year where he recorded 20 goals and 53 points in 79 games.
4:25 pm: The Anaheim Ducks have taken another big fish off the board, signing forward Mikael Granlund to a three-year deal worth $7 million annually, according to The Athletic’s Eric Stephens. He was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Dallas Stars and registered 21 points in 31 games for the Stars, along with five goals and five assists in 18 playoff games.
4:19 pm: The first regular Leafs roster player not named Marner is off the board, with Pontus Holmberg headed to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.55. Holmberg was one of a few players not tendered a new contract by the Maple Leafs, likely because the team didn’t want to risk paying him more than they wanted to via arbitration. Now he plays for a division rival.
4:18 pm: The San Jose Sharks have signed longtime Leafs legend John Klingberg to a one-year contract worth $4 million (I’m joking, deep breaths). He was a member of the Edmonton Oilers after signing with them following the trade deadline, appearing in 11 regular season games and 19 playoff games.
4:17 pm: Kyle Dubas is up to some of his textbook tidy business in Pittsburgh, with the Penguins signing both former Leaf Connor Dewar and forward Philip Tomasino to one-year deals.
4:17 pm: The Ottawa Senators have added a veteran to the fold, bringing in centre Lars Eller on a one-year contract worth $1.25 million. The 36-year-old had six goals and 15 points in 63 games in his second stint with the Washington Capitals this past season.
3:33 pm: The Seattle Kraken announced the signing of goaltender Matt Murray, who has been with the Maple Leafs since 2022-23, to a one-year contract worth $1 million. He will likely serve as a third goaltender to Philipp Grubauer and Joey Daccord, but could emerge into a bigger role if he plays well with the ice time he’s given.
3:08 pm: Veteran Tanner Pearson is headed to the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year contract worth $1 million. He had 12 goals and 27 points in 78 games for the Vegas Golden Knights this season. They also announced the signing of forward Cole Koepke to an identical deal.
2:43 pm: Jonathan Drouin is continuing his journeyman tour around the league, signing a two-year contract with the New York Islanders worth $4 million annually. Nice little pay jump for a guy who had 37 points in 43 games for the Colorado Avalanche last season.
2:36 pm: The Los Angeles Kings have announced a trio of signings, bringing in defencemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin on deals that combine for $8.5 million total. Additionally, they added goaltender Anton Forsberg on a two-year contract. Not sure if this is the best approach to defeating the Oilers in the first round, but they’re certainly making moves!
2:30 pm: You make one joke about the Florida Panthers and they make you regret it instantly. Jeff Petry is heading to the Panthers on a league-minimum contract with bonuses, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. Petry will be the Nate Schmidt replacement. Tidy business from Panthers general manager Bill Zito once again.
2:27 pm: TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that Nick Perbix will be heading to the Nashville Predators on a two-year deal. Perbix is a physically imposing defenceman who is a stellar third-pairing option and seemed like a good fit for the Maple Leafs, but will now have some term and security in Nashville. Daily Faceoff’s Anthony DiMarco reports that Perbix’s new deal comes in at an average annual value of $2.75 million.
2:23 pm: I guess the Florida Panthers can’t re-sign everyone from their champion squad! Nate Schmidt is heading to the Utah Mammoth on a three-year deal worth $3.5 million annually, Chris Johnston reports.
2:21 pm: How is this about the Leafs, you may be wondering! James van Riemsdyk is heading to the Detroit Red Wings, Frank Seravalli reports. Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but the veteran forward will certainly add some experience for a Red Wings team that can no longer be satisfied looking outside of the playoffs.
1:54 pm: The Utah Mammoth have signed forward Brandon Tanev to a three-year contract worth $2.5 million annually. The younger brother of Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev was a target of theirs, but opts for a deal with one of the younger teams in the NHL.
1:53pm: The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Sammy Blais to a one-year contract at league minimum, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston.
1:30 pm: St. Louis Blues beat reporter Jeremy Rutherford reports that the Blues have signed forward Nick Bjugstad to a two-year contract worth $1.75 million annually.
1:29 pm: The New York Islanders announce the signing of former Maple Leafs goaltender David Rittich to a one-year contract.
1:23 pm: The Seattle Kraken are signing defenceman Ryan Lindgren to a four-year contract per Elliotte Friedman. The blueliner spent his entire six-year career with the New York Rangers before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche last year.
1:22 pm: Frank Seravalli reports that the Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender Kaapo Kakhonen. The Finnish netminder played one game for the Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25. TSN’s Chris Johnston confirms the deal is one year at $1.15 million.
1:04 pm: The Boston Bruins stay with the evergreen bruiser reputation, signing forward Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract.
1:00 pm: The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed their first free agent of the day, bringing in Montreal Canadiens enforcer Michael Pezzetta on a two-year contract worth $775,000 in the first year and $800,000 in the second. The deal will be league minimum and gives the Leafs a depth forward with some snarl, albeit likely not one who will play every game.
12:51 pm: Sportsnet’s Gene Principe reports that former Leafs forward Connor Brown, who spent the last two years with the Edmonton Oilers, is signing a four-year contract with the New Jersey Devils. Elliotte Friedman confirms the terms.
12:49 pm: The New York Rangers and defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov are in agreement on a seven-year contract worth $7 million annually, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports. The big Russian blueliner was one of the biggest names on the board on defence, and the Rangers will add a big, physical shutdown presence as they look to return to the playoffs in 2025-26.
12:42 pm: The Philadelphia Flyers have signed goaltender Dan Vladar to a two-year contract. Vladar served as the Flames’ backup behind Dustin Wolf in 2024-25.
12:40 pm: The Los Angeles Kings follow up the signing of Perry by inking Joel Armia to a contract, per Frank Seravalli. Pierre LeBrun confirms the terms.
12:37 pm: Bob McKenzie reports live on TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy that the Los Angeles Kings are signing forward Corey Perry, who was on the Edmonton Oilers for their two trips to the finals. The term will be in the ballpark of $3.5 million.
12:30 pm: The San Jose Sharks announce a three-year extension for William Eklund worth $5.6 million annually. A bridge deal for a young forward who contributed 58 points in 77 games this season.
12:28 pm: In a crazy turn of events, the Vancouver Canucks appear to be re-signing forward Brock Boeser, who was one of the top names of the class. Not only is the reunion itself surprising, it comes at a reasonable number for both sides at $7.25 million annually. It seemed all but certain Boeser was on his way out, but certainly the Canucks will be thrilled with the outcome.
12:16 pm: The Colorado Avalanche have announced a four-year extension for forward Parker Kelly. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the deal is for four years, worth $1.7 million annually.
12:15 pm: The Dallas Stars have announced the hiring of Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach. He was last an NHL head coach for the Calgary Flames in 2017-18 and has served as an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers since.
12:11 pm: Friedman immediately follows the Ehlers news by breaking the Flyers’ signing of forward Christian Dvorak.
12:09 pm: Seems like there won’t be an update on one of the biggest fish of the free agent class, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
12:08 pm: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Dallas Stars have re-signed forward Colin Blackwell to a two-year contract. Blackwell played post-deadline with the Maple Leafs in 2021-22 after the team acquired him along with Mark Giordano. He spent last season with Dallas and the previous two with the Chicago Blackhawks.
12:03 pm: CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that the Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenceman Noah Juulsen to a one-year contract worth $900,000.
12:00pm: The NHL’s free agency window officially opens
11:45 am: The Chicago Blackhawks acquire forward Sam Lafferty from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, per TSN’s Chris Johnston. Lafferty was originally acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Blackhawks at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal with Jake McCabe, and spent time with the Vancouver Canucks and Sabres before returning to Chicago.
11:40 am: The Buffalo Sabres announce a three-year extension for defenceman Ryan Johnson worth the league’s minimum of $775,000 annually.
11:32 am: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Montreal Canadiens are trading defenceman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues. TSN’s Chris Johnston later confirms that forward Zachary Bolduc, who was a first-round pick of the Blues in 2021, is headed the other way.
11:10 am: ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports that goaltender Jake Allen has signed a contract extension with the New Jersey Devils. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the deal is for five years, worth $1.8 million annually.
11:07 am: Irfaan Gaffar reports that the Edmonton Oilers have traded forward Viktor Arvidsson to the Boston Bruins. Frank Seravalli confirms that the Bruins are sending a 2027 fifth-round pick back to Edmonton. No salary retained on Arvidsson’s contract.
11:00 am: Per TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Carolina Hurricanes announce an eight-year extension for forward Logan Stankoven worth $6 million annually. An extremely tidy piece of business considering the rising cap situation.
10:32 am: The Calgary Flames announce a two-year contract extension for defenceman Joel Hanley, per TSN’s Chris Johnston. The 34-year-old will earn $1.75 million annually during the deal.
10:25 am: The New York Islanders announce the re-signing of defenceman Tony DeAngelo on a one-year contract worth $1.75 million.
10:00 am: In the same breath as the Demko extension, the Canucks announce a six-year extension for forward Conor Garland. The deal will pay him $6 million per year.
10:00 am: The Vancouver Canucks announce a three-year extension for goaltender Thatcher Demko. The contract is worth $8.5 million annually.
9:23 am: The Florida Panthers continue to keep the gang together, re-signing forward Tomas Nosek to a one-year deal worth $775,000. The Czechia-born forward had three assists in 16 playoff games with the Panthers.
9:08 am: The Maple Leafs announce a six-year contract extension for forward Matthew Knies worth $7.75 million annually. The deal was originally reported on Sunday afternoon. Knies had 58 points in 78 games in his second NHL season.
9:00 am: The Maple Leafs officially confirm the Mitch Marner-for-Nicolas Roy swap. Marner heads to Vegas with an eight-year contract worth $12 million a year, while Roy comes to Toronto with two years remaining on a contract that pays him $3 million annually.
Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on DailyFaceoff.com and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.
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