Free Agency Buzz: Kulikov signs 4-year deal to stay with Panthers

Welcome to the NHL Free Agency Buzz. Free agency began Monday, and teams are either signing their players, trading them away or making plans to move on without them. Here's a look around the League at the latest doings:

Florida Panthers

Dmitry Kulikov signed a four-year contract to stay with the Panthers on Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 33-year-old defenseman was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. He had 20 points (one goal, 19 assists) in 76 regular-season games last season and two assists in 24 playoff games to help the Panthers win the Cup.

"That’s almost a statement that lends itself to the, ‘We’re trying to get guys to want to be here.’ And he’s all in," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "He’s all in 100 percent. He has a reasonable number, and I suspect he could’ve had a better financial picture somewhere else, and he said, ‘I’m all in. I want to stay.’ That’s really, it’s priceless, and to have a commitment from a guy like that with everything that he leaves out on the ice. It’s encouraging."

Selected by Florida in the first round (No. 14) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Kulikov has 234 points (46 goals, 188 assists) in 948 regular-season games for the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres, and 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 53 playoff games.

Tomas Nosek signed a one-year contract as a UFA. The 31-year-old forward had six points (two goals, four assists) in 36 games for the New Jersey Devils last season.

A.J. Greer joined the Panthers on a two-year contract as a UFA. The 27-year-old forward had 12 points (six goals, six assists) for the Calgary Flames last season.

"We're trying to get other people in here who can contribute who are good people who are good team guys, so A.J. Greer and Tomas Nosek fit in," Zito said. "They have flexibility. They have a little grit. They have hockey sense. They can play a lot of different roles and that's what we're trying to do there."

Forward Rasmus Asplund signed a one-year, two-way contract.

Goalie Chris Driedger signed a one-year contract.

NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti and independent correspondent George Richards contributed to this report

Colorado Avalanche

Jonathan Drouin signed a one-year contract to stay with the Avalanche. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 29-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent who had an NHL career-high 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 79 regular-season games for the Avalanche last season and three assists in three playoff games.

"He came in and took $825K or whatever it was to sort of reestablish himself and show the type of player that he can be," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said May 23. "The hands and the skill, which we were the beneficiaries of this year, in large part to his credit. He took advantage of the situation and had an incredible year and again, at this time, I'd be lying to you if I said it won't be a challenge to get something done.

"But 'Jo' is certainly a guy that a lot of teams would love to have last year's Jonathan Drouin. He's young, he's skilled, he was dialed in and took advantage of the opportunity that was presented to him."

Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Drouin has 337 points (96 goals, 241 assists) in 564 regular-season games for the Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Lightning, and 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 36 playoff games.

The Avalanche also retained UFA forward Joel Kiviranta, signing the 28-year-old to a one-year contract. He had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 58 regular-season games last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in eight playoff games.

Defenseman Calvin de Haan signed a one-year contract as a UFA. The 33-year-old had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 82 blocked shots in 59 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and no points in one playoff game.

NHL.com independent correspondent Ryan Boulding contributed to this report

Ottawa Senators

David Perron signed a two-year contract with the Senators.

The 36-year-old unrestricted free agent forward had 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) in 76 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season.

Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (No. 26) of the 2007 NHL Draft, Perron has 768 points (310 goals, 458 assists) in 1,131 regular-season games for the Red Wings, Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, and 61 points (24 goals, 37 assists) in 104 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Perron won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

Ottawa also signed Noah Gregor to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old forward had 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 63 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season and no points in two playoff games. He has 63 points (32 goals, 31 assists) in 241 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks after he was selected by the Sharks in the fourth round (No. 111) of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Michael Amadio signed a three-year contract. The 27-year-old forward had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 73 regular-season games for the Golden Knights last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in four playoff games.

Detroit Red Wings

Jack Campbell signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Red Wings on Monday.

The 32-year-old goalie was 1-4-0 with a 4.50 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in five games for the Edmonton Oilers last season and was placed on unconditional waivers June 30 for the purpose of a buyout. He joins Cam Talbot, a 36-year-old goalie who signed a two-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million average annual value).

Campbell did not play in the NHL after Nov. 4, when he made 29 saves in a 5-2 loss to the Nashville Predators in Edmonton. He has three seasons remaining on a five-year, $25 million contract ($5 million AAV) signed July 13, 2022. He was sent to Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Nov. 8, one day after being placed on waivers, and went 18-13-1 with a 2.63 GAA, .918 save percentage and three shutouts in 33 games.

Selected by the Dallas Stars with the No. 11 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Campbell is 164-93-52 with a 2.76 GAA, .909 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 176 regular-season games (164 starts) for the Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Oilers.

Forward Christian Fischer signed a one-year, $1.125 million contract to stay with the Red Wings. The 27-year-old had 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 79 games last season.

Defenseman William Lagesson signed a one-year, $775,000 contract after splitting last season between the Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks.

Los Angeles Kings

Warren Foegele and Joel Edmundson signed with the Kings, each as an unrestricted free agent.

Foegele, a 28-year-old forward, received a three-year, $10.5 million contract ($3.5 million average annual value). He had NHL career highs of 20 goals and 41 points in 82 regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers last season and eight points (three goals, five assists) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help them advance to the Stanley Cup Final, a seven-game loss to the Florida Panthers.

Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the third round (No. 67) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Foegele has 163 points (80 goals, 83 assists) in 431 regular-season games for the Oilers and Hurricanes, and 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in 80 playoff games.

Edmundson, a 30-year-old defenseman, was given a four-year, $15.4 million contract ($3.85 million AAV). He had six points (one goal, five assists) in 53 regular-season games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals last season, including no points in nine games and one assist in seven playoff games after he was traded to the Maple Leafs by the Capitals on March 7.

A second-round pick (No. 46) of the St. Louis Blues in the 2011 NHL Draft, Edmundson has 110 points (29 goals, 81 assists) in 530 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, Capitals, Montreal Canadiens, Hurricanes and Blues and 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 82 playoff games.

Edmundson won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.

Trevor Lewis and Pheonix Copley each signed a one-year contract as a UFA to stay with the Kings.

Lewis, a 37-year-old forward, received $800,000. He had 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in 82 regular-season games last season and no points in five playoff games. He has 225 points (98 goals, 127 assists) in 974 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames and Kings, and 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 104 playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014.

Copley's deal is for $825,000. The 32-year-old was 4-1-2 with a 3.16 GAA, .870 save percentage and one shutout in eight games last season before having season-ending ACL surgery in December. He was an unlikely catalyst in helping Los Angeles qualify for the 2023 playoffs, when he went 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA, .903 save percentage and one shutout in 37 games (35 starts).

Edmonton Oilers

Connor Brown signed a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Oilers on Monday.

The 30-year-old forward could have been an unrestricted free agent at noon ET. He had 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 71 regular-season games for the Oilers last season and six points (two goals, four assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Edmonton lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to the Florida Panthers.

"Yeah, of course, this is where I want to be," Brown said June 26. "I think my heart is here and everything that we went through, and on top of that, just the fans and patience they showed me and the way the treated me when I scored (first goal). It's a really special place to play and I think I'm starting to see that. You hear about it, but it feels like a team getting better and better and so many committed, motivated determined guys, the kind of guys you want to be around. "

Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round (No. 156) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Brown has 228 points (94 goals, 134 assists) in 519 regular-season games for the Oilers, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators and Maple Leafs, and 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 39 playoff games.

"My heart's in Edmonton," he said. "I'm a competitor and the way that I want to play. It's easier for me to commit to my role when you're on a good club like this, to commit to defense, penalty-killing and the type of game that I think the depth guys on our team did a good job on when you're playing for things that seem meaningful and you're not on the outside looking in at the playoffs."

Viktor Arvidsson signed a two-year, $8 million contract ($4 million AAV) with Edmonton. The 31-year-old forward was a UFA who had 15 points (six goals, nine assists) and was limited to 18 games for the Los Angeles Kings last season because injuries. He had three assists in five playoff games.

Defenseman Troy Stecher signed a two-year, $1.575 million contract ($787,500 AAV) to stay with the Oilers.

NHL.com staff writer Derek Van Diest contributed to this report

Toronto Maple Leafs

Joseph Woll signed a three-year, $10.98 million contract with the Maple Leafs. It has an average annual value of $3.66 million and begins in the 2025-26 season.

The 25-year-old goalie was 12-11-1 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 25 games (23 starts) for the Maple Leafs last season and 2-2 with a 0.86 GAA and .964 save percentage in three Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Selected by Toronto in the third round (No. 62) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Woll is 21-13-1 with a 2.76 GAA, .912 save percentage and one shutout in 36 NHL games, all with the Maple Leafs, and 3-2 with a 1.78 GAA and .933 save percentage in seven playoff games.

Toronto also signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a four-year, $14 million contract ($3.5 million AAV). The 32-year-old had 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 80 regular-season games and six points (two goals, four assists) in 22 playoff games for the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Buffalo Sabres

Jason Zucker signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Sabres.

The 32-year-old unrestricted free agent forward had 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 69 regular-season games for the Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes, including seven points (five goals, two assists) in 18 games after he was acquired by the Predators in a trade with the Coyotes on March 8.

He had three points (one goal, two assists) in six Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round (No. 59) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Zucker has 370 points (196 goals, 174 assists) in 697 regular-season games for the Predators, Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Wild, and 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 52 playoff games.

The Sabres also signed Sam Lafferty to a two-year, $4 million contract ($2 million AAV).

The 29-year-old forward was a UFA who had 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 79 regular-season games for the Vancouver Canucks last season and no points in 11 playoff games. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks with forward Ilya Mikheyev by the Canucks on June 26 for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract as a free agent, and Jacob Bryson signed a one-year, $900,000 contract to stay with the Sabres.

Aube-Kubel, a 27-year-old forward who was a UFA, had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 60 regular-season games for the Washington Capitals last season and no points in three playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.

Bryson, a 26-year-old UFA defenseman, had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 36 games last season.

Washington Capitals

Connor McMichael signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract with the Capitals ($2.1 million AAV) in lieu of becoming a restricted free agent.

The 23-year-old forward had an NHL career-high 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Capitals last season and one goal in four Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Selected by Washington in the first round (No. 25) of the 2019 NHL Draft, McMichael has 51 points (27 goals, 24 assists) in 155 regular-season games and two points (one goal, one assist) in eight playoff games.

Taylor Raddysh signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Capitals. The 26-year-old forward, who was an unrestricted free agent, had 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 73 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

Brandon Duhaime signed a two-year, $3.7 million contract ($1.85 million AAV). The 26-year-old forward was a UFA who had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 80 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild last season, including five points (one goal, four assists) in 18 games after he was acquired by the Avalanche in a trade with the Wild on March 7. He had one goal in 11 playoff games.

St. Louis Blues

Kasperi Kapanen signed a one-year, $1 million contract to remain with the Blues.

The 27-year-old forward had 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in 73 games for the Blues last season. He was a unrestricted free agent.

Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (No. 22) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Kapanen has 208 points (84 goals, 124 assists) in 460 regular-season games for the Blues, Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 38 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Philadelphia Flyers

Erik Johnson signed a one-year, $1 million contract to stay with the Flyers.

The 36-year-old defenseman, who was an unrestricted free agent, had six points (five goals, one assist) in 67 games for the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres last season, including three points (two goals, one assist) in 17 games after he was acquired by Philadelphia in a trade with Buffalo on March 8.

"We wanted another veteran guy around, kind of like the same role that that Marc [Staal] had last year," Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said. "It's been clear with Erik, what kind of role he's going to play. His leadership in the room was amazing when he came in. I played with him, and I knew how he was, how he was going to be in the room. He was fantastic.

"Some of the players loved him, the coaches all loved him. It's the intangibles that he brings. At the end of the day, he's also a 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman. Just kind of like Marc, he's not going to be in the way, slowing the growth of our young guys. He's there to help them grow. That's the way we see it."

The No. 1 pick by the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL Draft, Johnson has 343 points (93 goals, 250 assists) in 987 regular-season games for the Flyers, Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Blues, and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 55 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Johnson won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

Garnet Hathaway signed a two-year, $4.8 million contract ($2.4 million average annual value) that begins during the 2025-26 season. The 32-year-old forward had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 82 games last season, his first with the Flyers.

"The way he played for us, how hard he played every single night, how miserable he made it out there," Briere said. "When we heard last year, you heard me say it, other teams are telling us we're hard to play against, he's a big reason why. Coming into Philadelphia, having to face players like him, it's not fun. He's been great in the room as well. He proved to us that he deserved an extension. I think he was just as excited as we were to commit to a couple more years of him in Philadelphia."

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report

Dallas Stars

Sam Steel signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract to stay with the Stars.

The 26-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent. He had 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 77 regular-season games last season and five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Stars advance to the Western Conference Final for the second consecutive season. They lost in six games to the Edmonton Oilers.

"Sam was an integral member of our team during the regular season and playoffs," Stars general manager Jim Nill said. "He's a player we can trust in any situation. We're looking forward to bringing him back for another season in Dallas."

Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round (No. 30) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Steel has 117 points (43 goals, 74 assists) in 339 regular-season games for the Stars, Minnesota Wild and Ducks, and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 24 playoff games.

The Stars also re-signed Nils Lundkvist to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

The 23-year-old defenseman was a UFA who had 19 points (two goals, seven assists) in 59 regular-season games last season and one assist in 12 playoff games.

"Nils took positive strides in his development last season," Nill said. "He put in the work each day to improve his game at both ends of the ice, and we’re pleased to have him back as part of our defensive core for the upcoming season."

Goalie Casey DeSmith signed a three-year, $3 million contract ($1 million AAV). The 32-year-old, who was a UFA, was 12-9-6 with a 2.89 GAA, .896 save percentage and one shutout in 29 games (27 starts) for the Vancouver Canucks last season and 1-1 with a 2.02 GAA and .911 save percentage in two playoff games.

DeSmith is expected to back up Jake Oettinger after Scott Wedgewood signed a two-year, $3 million contract ($1.5 million AAV) with the Nashville Predators.

"Casey's a veteran who has a proven track record as a backup goaltender," Nill said. "He has the ability to step up when called upon, and we're excited to have him join our team."

Utah Hockey Club

Ian Cole signed a one-year contract with Utah. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 35-year-old defenseman, who was an unrestricted free agent, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 78 regular-season games for the Vancouver Canucks last season and two assists in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Ian is a proven winner and a true professional on and off the ice," Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He has a great work ethic and is an excellent role model for our younger players. We're thrilled to have him signed to our organization."

Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (No. 18) of the 2007 NHL Draft, Cole has 193 points (34 goals, 159 assists) in 826 regular-season games for the Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Blues, and 31 points (three goals, 28 assists) in 129 playoff games.

Cole won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He joins a Utah team that traded for defensemen Mikhail Sergachev (Tampa Bay Lightning) and John Marino (New Jersey Devils), and signed defenseman Sean Durzi to a four-year contract Sunday.

Kevin Stenlund left the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to sign a two-year contract with Utah as a UFA. The 27-year-old forward had 15 points (11 goals, four assists) in 81 regular-season games for the Florida Panthers last season and one assist in 24 playoff games.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Matt Grzelcyk signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Penguins.

The 30-year-old defenseman was an unrestricted free agent. He had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 63 regular-season games for the Boston Bruins last season and no points in three Stanley Cup Playoff games. He joined the Penguins after they traded forward Reilly Smith to the New York Rangers for a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Selected by Boston in the third round (No. 85) of the 2012 NHL Draft, Grzelcyk has 135 points (25 goals, 110 assists) in 445 regular-season games and 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 66 playoff games.

New York Islanders

Mike Reilly signed a one-year contract to stay with the Islanders.

The 30-year-old defenseman, who was a unrestricted free agent, had NHL career-highs of six goals and 24 points in 61 regular-season games for the Islanders and Panthers last season and two points (one goal, one assist) in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Forward Anthony Duclair signed a four-year contract as a UFA. The 28-year-old had 42 points (24 goals, 18 assists) in 73 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks last season, including 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 17 games after he was acquired by the Lightning in a trade with the Sharks on March 7.

Calgary Flames

Ryan Lomberg signed a two-year contract to return to the Flames. The 29-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent who had seven points (five goals, two assists) in 75 regular-season games last season and no points in eight Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Panthers win the Cup.

Signed by Calgary as an undrafted free agent March 19, 2017, Lomberg has 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists) in 257 regular-season games for the Panthers and Flames and three goals in 32 playoff games.

Jake Bean signed a two-year contract as a UFA. The 25-year-old defenseman had 13 (four goals, nine assists) in 72 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season.

Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round (No. 13) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Bean has 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) in 197 regular-season games for the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes and one goal in 11 playoff games.

Anthony Mantha, a 29-year-old forward, signed a one-year contract as a UFA. He 44 points (23 goals, 21 assists) in 74 regular-season games for the Vegas Golden Knights and Capitals last season, including 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 18 games after he was acquired by the Golden Knights in a trade with the Capitals on March 5.

Winnipeg Jets

Eric Comrie signed a two-year, $1.65 million contract ($825,000 AAV) to return to the Jets.

The 28-year-old goalie, who was an unrestricted free agent, went 2-7-0 with a 3.69 GAA and .874 save percentage for the Buffalo Sabres last season. He was selected by the Jets in the second round (No. 59) of the 2013 NHL Draft and is 12-8-1 with a 2.94 GAA, .909 save percentage and one shutout in 24 games (21 starts) with Winnipeg, including 10-5-1 with a 2.58 GAA and .920 save percentage in 2021-22 after playing for the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils.

Kaapo Kahkonen, a UFA, signed a one-year, $1 million contract. The 27-year-old goalie was 7-24-3 with a 3.64 GAA, .898 save percentage and one shutout in 37 games for the San Jose Sharks and Devils last season. He will compete with Comrie to back up Connor Hellebuyck, who won the Vezina Trophy voted as the top goalie in the NHL for the second time.

Laurent Brossoit left to sign a two-year, $6.6 million contract ($3.3 million AAV) with the Chicago Blackhawks as a UFA.

"For us you want to have as much strength as you can in the goaltending position," Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said. "We kind of talk about it in the room there on free agency day. It's the goalie carousel and you just don't know where it falls and where it stops. You make a couple decisions. Some guys are left maybe in situations where you didn't think there was going to be an opportunity, so we thought that having a competition for the backup is a healthy thing for the organization."

NHL.com independent correspondent Darrin Bauming contributed to this report