Canes 2026 Free Agency Live Blog

Stay tuned to this page to remain up to speed on who is signing where as the 2026 NHL Free Agency period opens.

Transactions will be added throughout the summer as the respective NHL clubs officially announce them.

July 9 | 11:00 a.m.

Fresh off his second season in North America and a trip to the Calder Cup Finals, RFA Aleksi Heimosalmi is ready to run it back.

Still just 23 years old, the 2021 second-rounder signed a one-year, two-way deal to return to the Canes' organization after putting up 17 points on the Chicago Wolves' blue line in 2025-26.

July 4 | 5:45 p.m.

Carolina added some goaltending depth to its pipeline on Saturday, welcoming back Zach Sawchenko on a one-year contract worth $850K at the NHL level.

Sawchenko was previously with the organization during the 2022-23 season, backstopping the Chicago Wolves in 41 games.

A veteran of 135 AHL games over the course of his career, the 28-year-old is a nice piece to have behind Brandon Bussi, Pyotr Kochetkov, and the current restricted free agent Cayden Primeau.

July 2 | 8:41 a.m.

The second day of free agency begins with a veteran minor leaguer taking his talents overseas.

Forward Givani Smith, who came to the Canes' training camp on a PTO last season and earned himself a one-year contract after dropping the gloves a few times, is headed to the KHL, joining the Shanghai Dragons.

Post-training camp, fans wondered if we'd see him in Raleigh when more rough stuff arose, but, unfortunately, the 28-year-old was injured for most of the season, limited to just 25 games with Chicago (AHL).

July 1 | 11:59 p.m. ET

After the Canes were unable to turn the acquisition of John Carlson's negotiating rights into a contract for 2026-27 (and potentially beyond), the veteran blueliner chose to take his talents to Tampa on a two-year deal with the Lightning.

July 1 | 8:36 p.m. ET

The first of the team's 2025-26 Stanley Cup Champions to depart, Frederik Andersen elects to sign with the Edmonton Oilers for the 2026-27 season.

Having lifted the Cup for the first time last month, "Zilla" departs as the Canes' all-time leader in playoff wins (32), playoff shutouts (5) and playoff GAA (2.07), as well as the longest postseason winning streak (8) after he backstopped consecutive sweeps this spring. 

Andersen went 98-49-10 in five regular seasons with the team, picking up the fifth-most wins in franchise history.

July 1 | 4:51 p.m. ET

Another member of the Canes' 2019 NHL Draft class has found a new home. Ryan Suzuki, the team's first-round pick that year, put pen to paper on a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Suzuki led the Chicago Wolves in scoring with 18 points in 21 games during their run to the Calder Cup Finals last month, following up a steady 48-point effort in the regular season.

The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens star Nick Suzuki, Ryan appeared in a pair of NHL games for the Canes in 2024-25.

July 1 | 4:45 p.m. ET

The first Canes-related domino falls in free agency, as defenseman Domenick Fensore inks a one-year deal with the Avalanche.

The 24-year-old skated in three NHL games as a Hurricane after being selected by the team in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

At the AHL level, he posted career bests in goals (10), assists (25) and points (35) with the Chicago Wolves before tacking on six points in 18 playoff games as the team captured the Western Conference Championship. With a crowded blue line expected at Allstate Arena next year, Fensore moves to a new opportunity out west.