Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
July 1 marks the start of the free agency period in the NHL and AHL, which is the first step for teams to build depth charts, focus on developing prospects and winning.
Whether it’s an NHL two-way agreement or an AHL contract, a deep organizational talent pool is critical to individual development and building a team capable of competing for the Calder Trophy. Veterans can help AHL teams win, help develop younger teammates and provide valuable recall help. If given the right opportunity, whether by design or circumstance, free agency can also be their path to becoming a regular in the NHL.
take Alex Steves. He scored 36 goals with the Toronto Marlies in the 2024-25 season before signing with the Boston Bruins. He spent the early part of the season with the Providence Bruins and excelled. He was quickly recalled to Boston, performed reliably, and is now a regular in the NHL.
or Brandon BuseyHe entered free agency a year ago after a solid tenure in Providence. Of course, Busey’s career has since taken a very special path. He signed with the Florida Panthers as a free agent last summer before the Carolina Hurricanes acquired him on waivers during training camp. Since then, he has become a full-time goaltender for the Hurricanes, taking over the net in the Stanley Cup Final and scoring the buzzer-beater in the Carolina Cup Final.
You never know in hockey.
start early
Three players avoided free agency Tuesday with new contracts.
Vancouver Canucks retain guard Guillaume Brisbois Signed a new one-year two-way contract. The move returns the veteran defenseman, who has played 306 regular season AHL games and 30 games in the NHL with the Vancouver organization, back for his 10th professional season. He was a big part of the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup championship, but a lower-body injury kept him out for much of the 2025-26 season.
Captain of the Tucson Roadrunners Austin Poganski After his eighth professional season, he signed a two-year contract with the AHL. He set personal bests in goals (23), assists (33) and points (56) for the Roadrunners.
providence striker Alexis Gendron He will remain with the team on an AHL contract after Boston acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers on March 6. In 2025-26, he had 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 57 games between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Providence.
AHL All-Star players hit the market
Several AHL All-Stars will try their luck on the open market.
Twice selected to the first team All-Star blue line, Jack Akan (Colorado Eagles) and Zach Jones (Rochester American), both available. Jones leads all AHL defensemen with 62 points (10 goals, 52 assists) in 60 games. He is followed by Akhjan with 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists). There’s offensive help, too. Perennial playmaker Alex Barre-Bright Colorado is having another great season. Arthur Kaliyev The Belleville Senators lead the AHL with 40 goals. Tanner RaczynskiHe should be an attractive target after being named to the AHL’s second All-Star team with 64 points (22 goals, 42 assists) in 62 games for the Henderson Silver Knights.
Start with the Internet
While expectations are too high for another free agent goaltender to replicate Busey’s path, he did show the value of goaltending depth to an NHL organization.
veterans Laurent Brosuite (San Jose), Phoenix Copley (Ontario), Luis Domingue (Charlotte), Brandon Halvorson (Syracuse), kapo kahkonen (Laval), Jiri Patera (Abbotsford), Carl Peterson (Iowa), Calvin Pickard (Bakersfield), Ivan Provetov (Calgary), Hunter Shepard (Laval), Mads Sogard (Belleville) and Matt Villalta (Tucson) is one of a few established choices. Zach Sochenko He took over Cleveland’s starting spot in the playoffs and performed well. Amir Miftakhov Appeared for the Chicago Wolves during the playoffs and helped them reach the Calder Cup Finals. Samuel Hlavage (Iowa) also performed well in international competitions representing Slovakia.
solidify blue line
There are plenty of defenders to choose from besides Akan and Jones. This group has quality, quantity and diversity.
Henderson has an interesting name Dylan Coghlan Go to free agency. He joined the Vegas Golden Knights during the Stanley Cup playoffs and quickly became a trusted member of their defense. After scoring 44 points in the regular season with the Silver Knights and playing 13 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he will likely return to the NHL full-time.
Ahcan, Coghlan and Jones are among the top 20 defensemen in the AHL scoring list. The series also features Dominic Fenthal (Chicago), Eric Gustafson (Grand Rapids), Daniel Mirromanov (Calgary), Jordan Austell (Milwaukee), and Scott Perunovich (Tucson).
Benning Brothers, Calder Cup Champions Matt Benning (Toronto) and Mike Benning (Charlotte), everybody needs new contracts. Colorado’s Jacob McDonald He returned from hip surgery at the end of the regular season and quickly adjusted to help the Hawks reach the Western Conference Finals. Christian Wolanin (Providence) and Huget (San Jose) has been outstanding every season since winning the Calder Cup with Abbotsford in 2025. In terms of leadership, Kathy Fitzgerald (Hartford), Kevin Gravel (Milwaukee) and Jared Tinordi (Syracuse) All have been AHL captains.
As always, the linebackers represent a rich talent pool. Depth is of the essence at this position, and defensemen always leave quickly in July.
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Vinny LettieriHe was there, having just helped Toronto win the Calder Trophy with a league-leading 26 points in the playoffs.
Providence is also back on the market Matthij Blumel. Injuries slowed him down last season, but he leads the AHL with 39 goals in 2024-25. He is a sniper. The same is true Martin Falk (Calgary), and Raphael Lavoie (Henderson). Lavoie also missed some time, but he returned in the second half and scored 30 goals in just 45 games. Adam Beckman (Bridgeport), Trey Fix-Wolansky (Hartford) and Riley Tuft (Providence) all scored 30 or more goals.
TJ Tynan One of the best playmakers in the AHL over the past decade. The same goes for Barry Bright, who knows how to find the net. Georgy MerkulovProvidence’s all-time leading scorer may also get a new home.
About two decades in the American Hockey League, TheAHL.com feature writer Patrick Williams also currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. In 2016, he received the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of the league.
