NHL Contract Roundup: Six Players Enter New Chapters

Alex Newhook and Vince Dunn battle for the puck during a matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on October 28, 2025.

Written by Gina Anton

With NHL training camps approaching, several players have secured their futures, while others are preparing for an entirely new chapter.

From young stars receiving long-term commitments to veterans proving they still have something to give, the latest wave of contracts carries different meanings for each player. For some, it is about establishing themselves as a cornerstone. For others, it is about earning another opportunity after years of proving their value.

Cutter Gauthier: Six More Years to Become a Star in Anaheim

Cutter Gauthier's next chapter in Anaheim is officially secured.

The 22-year-old signed a six-year contract with the Ducks after a breakout 2025-26 season in which he recorded 41 goals, 28 assists and 69 points in 76 regular-season games. He also led Anaheim with 12 playoff points as the Ducks returned to the postseason for the first time since 2017-18.

The contract comes with a different kind of pressure than Gauthier faced entering last season. He is no longer simply a young player trying to establish himself. Anaheim has now made a significant commitment to him as part of its young core.

That gives Gauthier the opportunity to build on a season that showed how much offense he can provide. His goal-scoring ability has already become an important part of Anaheim's identity, but the next six years give him time to develop into the complete player the Ducks believe he can become.

For Gauthier, the deal is not just about being rewarded for what he has already accomplished. It is about having the security to continue growing while knowing Anaheim sees him as part of its future.

Chris Kreider: A Sudden Ending Creates a New Beginning

Chris Kreider's situation is very different.

The Anaheim Ducks terminated the 35-year-old forward's contract after he went unclaimed on unconditional waivers, making him an unrestricted free agent. Kreider had one year remaining on his previous seven-year, $45.5 million contract.

The move was financially motivated for Anaheim, which needed salary-cap flexibility after committing significant money elsewhere, including Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson. Kreider was coming off a 50-point season with the Ducks, including 22 goals in 75 regular-season games.

But the end of his Anaheim contract did not mean the end of Kreider's NHL career. Montreal quickly gave him another opportunity, signing him to a one-year $2.15 million contract.

For a veteran who has spent 14 seasons in the NHL, that opportunity means something different than a long-term extension. Kreider now has another chance to bring his experience, physicality and scoring ability to a Canadiens team that can use a veteran presence.

Instead of choosing retirement after an unexpected contract termination, Kreider gets to bring his expertise to a new team.

Luke Evangelista: New Team, New Investment

Luke Evangelista is also entering a new chapter after recently being acquired by the New Jersey Devils.

New Jersey signed the 24-year-old forward to a five-year, $36.25 million extension that carries an average annual value of $7.25 million beginning in 2027-28. The Devils acquired Evangelista from Nashville on Sept. 1.

That timing makes the contract especially significant. Evangelista is not simply being rewarded by the team that developed him. New Jersey acquired him and then quickly committed to keeping him around long term.

The move gives Evangelista stability as he adjusts to a new organization and raises expectations for what he can become within the Devils' lineup.

After four NHL seasons with Nashville, he now has an opportunity to establish himself somewhere new, with the organization making it clear that it sees him as more than a short-term addition.

Jordan Staal: The Captain Gets Another Chance

Jordan Staal's new contract is perhaps the clearest example of a player being rewarded for what he continues to bring beyond the scoresheet.

The 38-year-old Carolina Hurricanes captain signed a one-year contract worth up to $10 million for the 2027-28 season. The deal includes a $900,000 base salary, a $4 million signing bonus and up to $5.1 million in performance bonuses.

Staal is coming off one of the most memorable seasons of his career. He recorded 36 points during the regular season before adding 12 points in 19 playoff games while captaining Carolina to the Stanley Cup. He was also awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The contract gives Staal another season to lead the team he has captained since 2019.

At this stage of his career, his value is not only measured in goals and assists. He has spent more than a decade in Carolina, helping shape the culture around the team. His continued presence gives younger players another opportunity to learn from a veteran who has experienced both championship success and the challenges that come with trying to maintain it.

After lifting the Cup, Staal now gets another opportunity to chase it again.

Ryan Leonard: Washington Makes a Long-Term Commitment

Ryan Leonard's eight-year, $84 million extension represents a massive commitment to a player who is still at the beginning of his NHL career.

The 21-year-old forward's contract carries a $10.5 million average annual value and keeps him in Washington through the 2034-35 season. Through 84 NHL games, Leonard has recorded 46 points.

But Leonard's story extends beyond those NHL numbers. Before turning pro, he starred at Boston College and represented the United States internationally, including serving as captain and winning tournament MVP honors at the 2025 World Junior Championship.

Washington is betting on what Leonard can become, not just what he has already been.

That can create a different kind of pressure for a young player. An eight-year contract provides financial security and a clear place within the organization's future, but it also comes with expectations. Leonard now has years to grow into one of Washington's central players while knowing the organization believes he can reach another level.

Alex Newhook: Finding Stability in Montreal

Alex Newhook's four-year, $22.2 million extension gives him another opportunity to establish himself as an important part of Montreal's future.

The contract carries a $5.55 million average annual value and begins in 2027-28. Newhook recorded 13 goals and 12 assists in 42 regular-season games last season before producing 10 points in 19 playoff games.

His postseason performance was particularly important. Newhook led Montreal with seven playoff goals and scored the game-winning goal in both Game 7s that sent the Canadiens through their first two series.

That gives the new contract a different feel from simply rewarding regular-season production.

Newhook has already shown Montreal that he can make an impact when the pressure increases. Now, the extension gives him stability and an opportunity to continue building confidence in a Canadiens organization that expects him to remain part of its core.

More Than Numbers on a Contract

These deals may all look different on paper, but they share one important element: each contract changes what comes next for the player.

Gauthier and Leonard are being trusted with long-term roles as young players continue developing into stars. Evangelista is beginning a new chapter after changing organizations. Newhook gets the stability to continue proving himself in Montreal. And Staal, after reaching the highest point of the sport, gets another opportunity to lead.

Even Kreider's contract termination ultimately became the beginning of something new.

For the players involved, these moves are about more than money or term. They determine where they will play, what will be expected of them and, in many cases, how they will be viewed when they step onto the ice later this month.