NHL Transactions
Stay up to date with the latest NHL player movements including trades, free agent signings, contract extensions, and roster changes. This page is updated daily with official transactions from around the league.
Recent Transactions
May 24, 2024
Contract Extension
Colorado Avalanche signed D Cale Makar to an eight-year, $84 million contract extension.
Injury Reserve
New York Rangers placed F Filip Chytil on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Recall
Boston Bruins recalled F Georgii Merkulov from Providence (AHL).
May 23, 2024
Trade
Edmonton Oilers acquired D Troy Stecher from Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick.
Signing
Nashville Predators signed F Mark Jankowski to a one-year, two-way contract.
Assignment
Florida Panthers assigned G Spencer Knight to Charlotte (AHL).
May 22, 2024
Waiver Claim
Vancouver Canucks claimed F Jack Studnicka off waivers from Seattle Kraken.
Contract Extension
Toronto Maple Leafs signed F Bobby McMann to a two-year, $2.7 million contract extension.
Understanding NHL Transactions
Types of NHL Transactions
- Free Agent Signings: Teams can sign unrestricted free agents (UFAs) to new contracts. This typically happens after July 1 each year.
- Trades: Teams can exchange players, prospects, and draft picks. The NHL trade deadline usually falls in late February or early March.
- Waivers: Players must clear waivers before being sent to the AHL in certain situations, allowing other NHL teams to claim them.
- Recalls/Assignments: Moving players between the NHL roster and minor league affiliates.
- Injured Reserve: Players placed on IR must miss at least 7 days; Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) requires at least 10 games and 24 days absence.
- Contract Extensions: Teams can extend the contracts of their own players before they reach free agency.
NHL Transaction Rules
- Salary Cap Compliance: All transactions must keep a team compliant with the NHL's salary cap.
- Trade Deadline: Players traded after the deadline are ineligible for that season's playoffs.
- Waiver Eligibility: Determined by age, years of professional experience, and games played.
- Emergency Recalls: Teams can exceed the 23-player roster limit in certain injury situations.
- No-Trade/No-Movement Clauses: Certain contracts include provisions that limit a team's ability to trade or waive a player.
- Expansion Draft Protection: Teams must adhere to specific rules about protecting players from selection in expansion drafts.
Important NHL Dates to Know
- July 1: Start of free agency period
- Late February/Early March: NHL trade deadline
- April: End of regular season
- June: NHL Entry Draft and buyout period begins
- October: Regular season begins, final roster decisions made
- December 19-27: Holiday roster freeze (limited transactions)