One of the busiest and most important days in the hockey calendar is upon us.
It’s July 1, and the start of NHL free agency is upon us. However, in some ways, the name of the day is a misnomer. While NHL teams increasingly have their players signed and in place well before they hit free agency, the AHL is very different.
NHL organizations can expect to see their depth charts at the AHL level change significantly. High-quality players are available, and in a league where fortunes can change dramatically from one season to the next, a strong performance by the front office this week could set its AHL offspring up for significant success over the fall, winter, and next spring.
FloHockey has it all covered. Stay tuned here as we bring up the new signings, explain what they mean, and more.
Syracuse Crunch Brings Clark Bishop
Captain of the Calgary Wranglers Clark Bishop he goes to the Syracuse Crunch.
The Crunch offered the 30-year-old a one-year AHL contract after he went 14-13-27 in 72 games for the Calgary Wranglers.
Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Two Veterans
Two key veterans remain in the Montreal Canadiens organization.
Forward Alex Belzile and the goalkeeper Kaapo Kähkönen each has new one-year extensions with the Habs and should be important parts of the Laval Rocket lineup. Kähkönen received a one-way contract while Belzile’s contract was two-way.
Belzile is 34 years old, but had the most goals (29) and points (62) of his career for Laval when he returned to the Montreal organization. Kähkönen guided Jacob Fowler and was 21-9-7 | 2.73 | .895 in 38 games.
Laval also keeps a defender Vincent Arseneau and forward Xavier Simoneau on one-year AHL contracts.
Columbus Blue Jackets Rework Goaltending Depth Chart
Ivan Fedotov’s audition failed, so the Columbus Blue Jackets turned to a stable veteran to stabilize themselves at the AHL level. Fedotov will not return, and Zach Sawchenko is an unrestricted free agent.
So they signed Pheonix Copley to a one-year contract that they should have. Copley is 34 years old, but has been providing reliable work for his AHL teams. He spent the last four seasons in the Los Angeles Kings organization and worked with Erik Portillo. In 33 games with the Dominions, he was 21-11-1 | 2.59 | .901.
Anaheim Ducks Award Judd Caufield
Judd Caufield’s career season with the San Diego Gulls earned him a two-year contract with the parent Anaheim Ducks.
Caufield posted career bests in goals, assists, and points (17-21-38) in the Gulls’ only single-season game.
Vancouver Canucks Sign Akil Thomas
As the Vancouver Canucks rebuild, there is also work to be done with the Abbotsford Canucks.
To that end, Vancouver signed forward Akil Thomas to a one-year contract.
Thomas is 26 years old and his career is getting back on track after shoulder problems. He split this past season between the Ontario Reign and Springfield Thunderbirds, finishing 9-13-21 in 39 games. He went on to add 3-3-6 in 12 playoff games for the Thunderbirds.
Devon Levi Goes to Edmonton Oilers
Devon Levy he may have gotten his NHL break after the Edmonton Oilers acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres.
Levi is only 24 years old and has been working with the Rochester Americans. In 52 games for the Amerks in 2025-26, he was 23-20-9 | 2.83 | .904.
You join the competition with Tristan Jarry, Matt Tomkinsagain Connor Ungar on Edmonton’s depth chart.
The Dallas Stars are bringing in Brandon Halverson
The Texas Stars should see the net after the signing Brandon Halverson on a one-year, two-way contract with the parent Dallas Stars.
Halverson, 30, will join the incumbent Remi Poirier on the Dallas depth chart. He left 24-11-6 | 2.42 | .905 in 43 games with the Syracuse Crunch and was shutout six times. A second round pick of the New York Rangers in 2014, he rebuilt his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization after injury problems derailed his career.
He had 56 saves in a triple-overtime playoff loss to Cleveland that ended Syracuse’s season.
Sandis Vilmanis Repeats With Florida Panthers
Forward Sandis Vilmanis signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers;
After two seasons with the Charlotte Checkers, the 22-year-old Vilmanis appears to be ready to play full time in Florida. He played in 19 games with the Panthers (3-2-5) while also ranking third in Charlotte scoring with 17-21-38 in 48 games. He also represented Latvia at the Winter Olympics and the IIHF World Championship.
Boston Bruins, New York Rangers Deal
Goalkeeper Joonas Korpisalo he’s on his way from the Boston Bruins to the New York Rangers and forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round draft pick
Korpisalo, 32, played 31 games for Boston and was 14-9-6 | 3.15 | .894 while also winning a bronze medal with Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
But what does this move mean for hope Dylan Garandwho just signed a two-year extension with the Rangers on June 21? Garand is 24 years old and finally got his NHL start late in the season after nearly four full campaigns with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He played in 36 games for the Wolf Pack and was 16-15-2 | 2.83 | .896.
Vaisanen, 23, was 3-1-4 in 51 games for the Wolf Pack.
Detroit Red Wings Retain Carter Mazur
Forward Carter Mazur remains in the new Detroit Red Wings organization two-year contract.
Injuries cut short his playing time in 2025-26, but the 24-year-old finished 11-5-16 in 16 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins before going 5-1-6 in eight Calder Cup Playoff games. He also played eight games with the Red Wings.
Jarred Tinordi Stays With Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch keep size and experience on their blue line, bringing back a defenseman Jarred Tinordi on a one-year AHL contract.
Tinordi, 34, has played in 205 NHL games. He joined the Crunch last December and played in 44 regular season games (2-6-8).
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