10 Best NHL Contract Extensions Signed in 2026 So Far

The 2026 NHL offseason has been vastly different from several other offseasons. With a weak free-agent pool, an increasing cap, and several trade candidates, there were tons of moves made on June 23, NHL draft day, and July 1.

However, while some teams lost several players through free agency or trades (see the Anaheim Ducks), some have done well in retaining their team-controlled talent. Restricted free agency (RFA) has become more active over the years, but some skillful general managers have been savvy enough to extend young talent who were close to (or even at) RFA status.

To rank these contracts, I set the qualifier to deals three years or longer, while giving exceptions to Evgeni Malkin and Tony DeAngelo. I also excluded any players who were traded after the Stanley Cup Final and signed new contracts (ex., Bowen Byram, Mavrik Bourque). With that, I counted 22 contract extensions given out after the last game of the Stanley Cup Final. Here are the 10 best extensions signed so far in the 2026 offseason.

No. 10: Dan Vladar, Philadelphia Flyers

Contract: Five years, $27.5 million ($5.5 million AAV)

We start with a good goalie deal, something that is not easy to do. The Flyers needed to retain Dan Vladar on a reasonable deal. With their goaltending woes in recent years, they took a flyer on Vladar last offseason, and he rewarded them with a stellar season in net.

Through 51 games, Vladar notched a 29-14-7 record, a .906 save percentage (SV%), and a 2.42 goals-against average (GAA). That season earned him consideration for the Vezina Trophy, and he was even better in the playoffs, with a .922 SV% and 2.18 GAA.

It’s a little risky, given that before last season, he had a career .895 SV% and 2.99 GAA. However, with the Flyers trading for Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll, Vladar won’t have to be the undisputed No. 1 goaltender anymore. Plus, the team in front of him could improve significantly, with several young emerging talents and the hope they get Leo Carlsson from the Ducks via offer sheet.

No. 9: Arseny Gritsyuk, New Jersey Devils

Contract: Three years, $9.75 million ($3.25 million AAV)

The New Jersey Devils needed to give 25-year-old Arseny Gritsyuk a bridge deal at minimum, with his pending RFA status looming. They did just that, and it was a great deal for both parties.

Gritsyuk is a solid two-way winger who forechecks well and contributes off the rush. Last season, he had 13 goals and 18 assists through 66 games, with a minus-3 plus/minus due to the Devils’ goaltending issues. He’s also becoming a fan favorite. He could get more playing time if the Devils decide to move on from Dawson Mercer, but he’s solid middle-six depth, and the contract reflected that.

No. 8: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

Contract: One year, $5.5 million

It was a foregone conclusion when the Pittsburgh Penguins made the playoffs to extend him. It would’ve been weird to see Malkin in a different uniform, and it’s good that the Penguins got it done, even though everyone expected it.

Separate from team loyalty, it’s a great deal regardless. Malkin had 19 goals and 42 assists through 56 games last season, and if he had played a full season, he would’ve approached 90 points. Despite his slow skating speed due to age, he’s still one of the best passers of all time.

It’s a shame that suspensions and a mid-season injury prevented him from having a bigger impact, but the 39-year-old doesn’t look like he’s lost a step in his offensive creativity at all. He also had a plus-13 plus/minus, which was the highest tally he’s earned since 2017-18. It’s a bargain all around, and the Penguins are clearly trying to run it back one more time with Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

No. 7: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

Contract: Five years, $58.5 million ($11.7 million AAV)

The Devils also needed to work out a new deal with their captain, Nico Hischier, who was floated around in trade rumors early on in the offseason. Thankfully, they did, and it was a perfectly reasonable contract.

Hischier is exactly what you want out of a $11.7 million-per-year player. He’s a first-line center with an awesome two-way game. He’s averaged over 30 goals and 40 assists a season in his last four seasons while earning votes for the Selke Trophy each time. He’s also played over 70 games in each of those last four seasons, so he stays healthy.

The Devils now don’t have to worry about unrestricted free agent (UFA) status until he’s 33. While that is an interesting question down the road, especially if he keeps playing well and staying healthy, this is a great deal anyway. With the increasing cap space, $11.7 million isn’t as much as it used to be, and the Devils used it well.

No. 6: Jakub Dobeš, Montreal Canadiens

Contract: Three years, $16.1 million ($5.3 million AAV)

We have another goalie deal, and it comes from the Montreal Canadiens and general manager Kent Hughes, who’s been on a heater recently (more on that later).

In 2024-25, Dobeš was stuck behind Samuel Montembeault, who posted respectable numbers as the No. 1 goaltender for the Canadiens for the last three seasons. However, he burst onto the scene this past season. He posted a 29-10-4 record, a .901 SV%, and 2.78 GAA, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team.

There was some doubt he’d reach those numbers in the playoffs, but he played better than everyone expected. In 19 games, he had a .908 SV% and 2.66 GAA. He outdueled Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This deal is great, but the only knock on it is the term. If it were for four or five seasons, this could’ve been the best goaltender contract of the class. It’s rare to see a goaltender deal done this well, and even with prospect Jacob Fowler emerging, Dobeš should continue to improve as well.

No. 5: Tyson Foerster, Philadelphia Flyers

Contract: Eight years, $56.8 million ($7.1 million AAV)

Tyson Foerster is one of the most underrated wingers in the game. He is a great two-way goal-scoring forward, with 61 goals and 39 points through 195 career games. He’s maintained a minus-1 plus/minus in his career, although that was due to having a minus-9 in 2024-25. His plus/minus doesn’t tell the full story, as he has an expected plus/minus of 18.9 through his career.

It’s a good deal for Foerster, but he’s gotta stay healthy. He suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 1, 2025, that took him out for nearly three months. If he stays healthy, he could approach 30-35 goals a season while playing on both special teams.

No. 4: Jordan Spence, Ottawa Senators

Contract: Four years, $20 million ($5 million AAV)

Jordan Spence is an underrated defenseman due to his lack of size, standing at just 5-foot-11 and weighing 188 pounds. The Ottawa Senators were keen on his talent, so they pried him from the Los Angeles Kings for a third- and sixth-round pick.

However, he somehow gave them even more value than expected. He had seven goals and 24 assists in 72 games while maintaining a plus-15 plus/minus, but his final stretch of play was where he made his biggest impact. With elevated minutes, he had three goals and nine assists in his last 17 games.

Rumors swirled that the Senators would trade him, but I’m glad they decided to retain him. Ottawa has a loaded defense core, but Spence showed last season he’s a vital part of it. He plays a smart and simple game and does the little things well.

No. 3: Brandt Clarke, Los Angeles Kings

Contract: Five years, $37 million ($7.4 million)

The Los Angeles Kings could’ve had a nice nucleus of young defensemen with Brandt Clarke and Spence. However, while Spence is valuable in his own right, Clarke has the makings of a very good first-pairing defenseman.

This past season, he had eight goals and 27 assists in 82 games, with a plus-11 plus/minus. He showed some defensive weaknesses early on, but he’s improved massively from his rookie season, and the Kings have isolated him well. I expect him to get over 50 points and maybe towards 60-65 this season.

This deal is also good due to the timing. GM Ken Holland was able to get this deal done before the Ducks extended Pavel Mintyukov and the Calgary Flames extended Simon Nemec. They both got around the same deal, with Mintyukov getting five years at $36 million and Nemec five years at $36.25 million. The fact that Clarke is only making a little more than those two is astonishing, and the deal should be a major steal for the Kings.

No. 2: Zach Benson, Buffalo Sabres

Contract: Seven years, $52.5 million ($7.5 million)

This is a ticker-tape parade for draft experts who liked Zach Benson despite his size. He’s a playmaking forward who’s a pest to play against, reminiscent of a young Brad Marchand.

Last season, he took a major step forward in development, with 13 goals and 30 assists in 65 games and an astonishing plus-27 plus/minus. In the playoffs, he had a team-leading five goals and earned four assists through 13 games.

Benson’s breakout in the playoffs could be a sign of better things to come. I think he could get to 60 points this season, and if he can improve his finishing abilities, he has the talent to record 70 points a season. Regardless, this is a major bargain of a deal. He has so much time to develop, since he’s only 21.

No. 1: Ivan Demidov, Montreal Canadiens

Contract: Eight-year, $73.20 million ($9.1 million)

This is the biggest reason for this article. Ivan Demidov is a burgeoning superstar and has the potential to be well over a point-per-game player for the Montreal Canadiens.

Last season, he earned 19 goals and 43 assists through 82 games. If it weren’t for Matthew Schaefer, he would’ve won the Calder Trophy. He’s underrated defensively, and if he develops as a sniper, he could be a top 10 player in the NHL.

With Dobeš and Demidov’s contracts, along with deals to Juraj Slafkovsky (eight years, $60.8 million), Nick Suzuki (eight years, $63 million), and Lane Hutson (eight years, $70.8 million), the Canadiens have their core all signed to incredibly budget-friendly terms. Hughes has constructed the team to become a Stanley Cup contender for many seasons to come, and the Demidov deal is another home run from him.

Extensions to Young Talent Matter Heavily

The truth is, this free agency isn’t opening or closing a championship window for most teams. There were only a few first-pairing defensemen or top-six wingers on the market, and most of the top talent acquired was through either sign-and-trades or straight-up trades.

However, some of these GMs got a jump on extending the important members of their core to lucrative contracts. Hughes has set his team up for success for many years, signing the most important members of his core to long-term deals without overpaying. He avoided offer-sheet drama as well.

Holland did well in signing Clarke and Quinton Byfield, although Byfield stalled last season. The Flyers and Danny Briere have the resources to tender a five-year, $90 million deal to Carlsson because of deals like the Foerster one. The Carolina Hurricanes and Eric Tulsky did well in signing Logan Stankoven (eight years, $48 million) and Jackson Blake (eight years, $40.9 million). All of these GMs understand the value of retaining young talent at a good price.

There are still some players in need of new deals. The Jason Robertson saga hasn’t been resolved with an extension yet, and players like Cutter Gauthier, Connor Bedard, and Adam Fantilli need new deals. These extensions will be important for GMs to get right.