The Florida Panthers have re-signed Sam Bennett to an 8-year contract with an $8 million cap hit.
The contract is front-loaded with a full no-movement clause for the first 5 seasons and a limited no-trade clause for the last 3.
Bennett, 29, had 25 goals and 26 assists in 76 regular games with the Panthers this season. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
The Montreal Canadiens have acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for Emil Heineman and 2 first round picks (16th and 17th overall) in tonight’s draft.
Dobson also signed an 8-year contract with a cap hit of $9.5 million. The contract includes some no-trade protection and is heavy on signing bonuses, as Renaud Lavoie reports.
The Islanders are widely expected to try to trade up into the top-10 to draft James Hagens, and the 2 picks in the teens should give them some ammunition to accomplish that.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed John Tavares to a 4-year contract with a $4.38 million cap hit.
The contract includes a full no-movement clause for 2 seasons, and Tavares needs to allow a trade to 5 teams in the final 2 seasons of the deal.
There is some salary deferral on the contract.
Tavares, 34, had 38 goals and 36 assists in 75 games for the Leafs last season.
The Dallas Stars have re-signed Jamie Benn to a 1-year contract with a base salary of $1 million with $3 million in potential performance bonuses.
Benn’s bonuses are in increments. He can get an additional $2 million in bonuses for games played, reaching the maximum at 60 games. He would get an addition $500,000 if the Stars reach the Cup Final and another $500,000 if he wins the Cup.
As an over-35 player on a 1-year contract, Benn’s bonuses can be carried on the 2026-27 cap if the Stars can’t fit them under their 2025-26 cap.
Benn, 35, had 16 goals and 33 assists in 80 games for the Stars last season. Their captain hit a rut in the playoffs, however, with only 3 points in 18 playoff games.
The Utah Mammoth have acquired J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring.
The Mammoth have signed Peterka to a 5-year contract with a cap hit of $7.7 million. The contract will cover 4 RFA years and 1 UFA year.
Peterka had reportedly wanted out of Buffalo, but the Sabres had been hesitant to move the young winger. He is set to be a RFA July 1.
Peterka, 23, had 27 goals and 41 assists in 77 games for the Sabres last season.
Doan, 23, had 7 goals and 12 assists in 51 games for Utah last season. Kesselring, 25, had 7 goals and 22 assists in 82 games for the club.
The Vegas Golden Knights have re-signed Reilly Smith to a 1-year contract worth $2 million. The deal includes a no-trade clause.
Smith, 34, had 13 goals and 27 goals in 79 games between the Rangers and Golden Knights. He won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023.
The Vancouver Canucks have acquired Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers for a 2025 4th round pick.
Kane, 33, has 1 more season left on his contract at a cap hit of $5.125 million. The Oilers needed to clear cap space as they look to make improvements to their roster this summer.
Kane, 33, had 6 goals and 6 assists in 21 games for the Oilers in the playoffs after missing the regular season due to injury.
The Anaheim Ducks have traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Poehling, a 2nd round pick in 2025 and a 4th in 2026.
Zegras, 24, has 1 season left on his contract with a cap-hit of $5.75 million. He will be a RFA after this season if no contract is reached by that time. He is eligible to sign a new contract on July 1.
The forward had 12 goals and 20 assists in 57 games with the Ducks last season.