The St. Louis Blues announced they have re-signed forward Nikita Alexandrov to a one-year, two-way contract. 

The contract will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 at the AHL level with a $350,000 guarantee. 

The 24-year-old recorded 21 goals and 49 goals in 48 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds last season. 

A second round selection of the Blues in 2019, Alexandrov has appeared in 51 career NHL games with the Blues and has three goals and six assists. 

The Burgwedel, Ger., native has been nearly a point per game player at the AHL level over the past three seasons and has 58 goals and 129 points in 170 career AHL games and 10 points in 23 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Nikita Alexandrov has signed a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/f1Yf0dl7YU#stlblues

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 26, 2025

The Blues have a deep forward which will make it difficult for Alexandrov to make the team out of camp but he will be relied upon to drive the offense for the Thunderbirds. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.  

Photo Credit: © Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images

The Henderson Silver Knights have re-signed defenseman Artur Cholach to a one-year deal, it was announced earlier this week. 

Cholach, a product of Lviv, Ukraine, finished his first full season of professional hockey in 2024-25, splitting time between Henderson and the ECHL's Tahoe Knight Monsters. Although he went pointless in five AHL games, Cholach scored seven goals and added 16 assists for 23 points in 54 ECHL games. 

Drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Cholach played his junior hockey in the OHL (Barrie Colts) and the USHL (Sioux Falls Stampede) before making the jump to the pro game. His best season offensively came with the Colts in 2022-23, where he put up 21 points in 60 regular season games. 

With Cholach extending for another year, he has proven he is a valuable member of the Golden Knights organization. His play should earn him a longer look in the AHL this year, and he could even snag a full-time spot before the season is over. 

Defenseman John Ludvig has signed a contract with Czechia's HC Dynamo Pardubice, the team announced Wednesday.

Ludvig recorded two assists in eight games with the Colorado Avalanche and 12 points in 31 games with the Colorado Eagles last season.

The 24-year-old appeared in 33 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season and has seven points in 41 career NHL games. He has six goals and 37 points in 105 career AHL games with the Eagles, Syracuse Crunch, Charlotte Checkers, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Originally a third round selection of the Florida Panthers in 2019, Ludvig was claimed off waivers by the Penguins prior to the 2023-24 season and by the Avalanche prior to the 2024-25 season. He was not issued a qualifying offer by Colorado this off-season. 

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐆 🫵🏻 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 pic.twitter.com/iOdFJA8xH0

— HC DYNAMO PARDUBICE (@HCPCE) July 23, 2025

This is a somewhat surprising move for the young defender given his NHL experience over the past two seasons but he will play a significant role in Pardubice where his father, seven-year NHL veteran Jan Ludvig, currently serves as a skills coach.

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.   

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Defenseman and Calder Cup champion Max Lajoie has signed with the KHL's Avangard Omsk, the team announced Tuesday.

Lajoie recorded four goals and 34 assists in 70 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds last season, leading the team in assists

The 27-year-old scored the Calder Cup winning goal and led the playoffs in goals by defensemen with the Chicago Wolves in 2022. He represented the Central Division at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game while serving as captain of the Wolves. 

Originally a fifth round selection of the Ottawa Senators in 2016, Lajoie has 34 goals and 194 points in 378 career AHL games with the Firebirds, Belleville Senators, Chicago Wolves, and Toronto Marlies. 

In 77 NHL games with the Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs he had seven goals and 16 points. 

A talented puck mover and smooth skater, Lajoie was one of the top remaining unsigned free agent defensemen and joins a growing wave of AHLers who have signed in the KHL this summer. 

Captain coast-to-coast 😮‍💨@max_lajoiepic.twitter.com/5LuACMzKo5

— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) April 12, 2023

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.   

Photo Credit: © Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Henderson Silver Knights have re-signed defenseman Lucas Johansen to a one-year deal, it was announced earlier this week. 

A 2016 first-round pick of the Washington Capitals, Johansen spent all of last season with Henderson, collecting 11 assists in 38 regular season games. The 27-year-old has played in 295 career AHL regular season games with the Silver Knights and the Hershey Bears, accumulating 20 goals and 103 points. 

Having turned pro in 2017, Johansen has gotten into nine career NHL games, all with the Washington Capitals. In that time span, he has put up two assists. 

With Johansen re-signing with Henderson, he adds more depth to the Vegas Golden Knights' system. While he would not be able to receive an NHL call-up on his current deal, Johansen has proven he can fill in at the NHL level in the past and could be an option should Vegas be hit hard by injuries on the back end. 

The Ottawa Senators have re-signed forward Xavier Bourgault to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced Saturday. 

The contract will pay him $775,000 at the NHL level and $90,000 at the AHL level.

Bourgault had 12 goals and 26 points in 61 games with the AHL's Belleville Senators last season. 

The 22-year-old was acquired by the Senators along with Jake Chiasson in exchange for Roby Jarventie and a fourth round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in July 2024. 

The 22nd overall selection by the Oilers in the 2021 draft, Bourgault's offensive talent has not yet translated from the QMJHL, he has 33 goals and 80 points in 178 career AHL games with the Senators and Bakersfield Condors. 

The #Sens have signed Xavier Bourgault to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2025-26 NHL season.

📰 Read more: https://t.co/7ud8V8zsZdpic.twitter.com/9IvitggOCe

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) July 19, 2025

The L'Islet, Que., native was instrumental in the Shawinigan Cataractes' 2022 QMJHL Championship after posting 22 points in 16 playoff games. He finished his junior career with 206 points in 197 games.

The Senators have made several signings to improve their AHL squad and hope Bourgault is part of the improvement next season. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.         

Photo Credit: © Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Former Bridgeport Islanders forward Cole Bardreau has signed a one-year deal in Italy with HC Pustertal, it was reported earlier this week. 

Having finished his sixth season in the New York Islanders organization in 2024-25, Bardreau spent the entire year in Bridgeport, scoring four goals and adding 14 assists for 18 points in 65 regular season games. 

Having turned pro at the end of the 2014-15 season, Bardreau has appeared in 11 career NHL games, all with the Islanders, putting up a goal and an assist. Over his 10-plus seasons of pro hockey, Bardreau has gotten into 535 AHL regular season games with Bridgeport and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, collecting 97 goals and 216 points. 

With Bardreau heading off to the ICEHL, this will be his first venture overseas. While his numbers have taken a dip in over the past few AHL seasons, Bardreau is still very much capable of making an offensive impact and will be a force for HC Pustertal. 

Former Hershey Bears forward Pierrick Dube has signed a one-year deal in Russia with Traktor Chelyabinsk, it was announced earlier this week. 

Dube, whose 2024-25 season was his second in the Washington Capitals organization, spent the entire year with the Bears. Over 58 regular season games, he scored 19 goals and added 21 assists for 40 points. With the Bears having made the playoffs, Dube put up three points in eight games. 

Over his brief professional career in the Caps system, Dube did manage to make his NHL debut in 2023-24, but he went pointless in three games. Prior to making the jump to the pro game full time, Dube played in the QMJHL with the Quebec Remparts, Chicoutimi Sagueneens and the Shawinigan Cataractes. 

With Dube off to the KHL, he could still realistically earn another opportunity to play in the NHL. Having proven to be a productive in the AHL, Dube has the skills needed to be a top-tier player in the KHL and draw the interest of NHL teams come next off-season. 

The Carolina Hurricanes announced the yhave re-signed forward Skyler Brind'Amour and defenseman Domenick Fensore to one-year, two-way contracts for the 2025-26 season.

The deals will pay both players $775,00 at the NHL level, Brind'Amour $90,000 at the AHL level and Fensore $70,000 at the AHL level, both are guaranteed $100,000.

Brind'Amour recorded 16 goals and 24 points in 68 games with the Chicago Wolves last season and appeared in two games for the Hurricanes where he scored his first career NHL goal. 

The 25-year-old has 19 goals and 32 points in 119 career AHL games. 

Originally a sixth round selection of the Edmonton Oilers in 2017, Brind'Amour signed a two-year AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers after leaving Quinnipiac University before joining the Hurricanes on a PTO after mutually parting ways with the Checkers in Sep. 2024. 

Son of Hurricanes' head coach Rod Brind'Amour, Skyler was named ECAC Best Defensive Forward and helped lead Quinnipiac to the NCAA Frozen Four Championship in 2023. 

Inked 🖊️

The #Canes have signed forward Skyler Brind’Amour and defenseman Domenick Fensore to one-year, two-way contracts.

Details » https://t.co/bhLeoyuugApic.twitter.com/viOOj06u29

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 16, 2025

Fensore notched nine goals and 32 points in 67 games for the Wolves last season and went pointless in two game with the Hurricanes, the first two NHL games of his career. 

A third round selection of the Hurricanes in 2019, Fensore joined the Wolves in 2023-24 after four seasons at Boston University where he served as captain in 2022-23. He has 11 goals and 48 points in 106 career AHL games and 10 points in nine career ECHL games. 

The 23-year-old will remain a focal point of the Wolves' powerplay next season and will look to take on more responsibility in all-situations. 

Keep an eye on The Hockey News' Carolina Hurricanes team site for more roster updates. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.     

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Kieffer Bellows has signed a one-year contract with Brynas IF of the SHL, the team announced Sunday.

The 27-year-old recorded 15 goals and 31 points in 44 games with the Milwaukee Admirals and four points in 19 games with the Nashville Predators last season before adding nine points in 10 Calder Cup Playoff games. 

A native of Edina, Minn., Bellows has 79 goals and 140 points in 233 career AHL games and 16 goals and 32 points in 114 career NHL games split between the Predators, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers.  

Varmt välkommen till Gävle och Brynäs IF, Kieffer Bellows! ✍️✅

Den 27-årige forwarden som senast kommer från spel i Nashville Predators organisation har skrivit på ettårskontrakt som sträcker sig över den kommande säsongen, 25/26.

🗞️ Läs mer på https://t.co/MR7GswpDsOpic.twitter.com/eiHYT0a2OL

— Brynäs IF (@Brynas) July 13, 2025

A first round pick of the Islanders in 2016, Bellows has been a stellar AHL player over parts of the past three seasons but was not able to translate his offensive production to the NHL.

Now qualifying as an AHL veteran after appearing in over 260 career professional games Bellows  joins a long line of recent AHL alumni who have signed in Europe after reaching the veteran threshold. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.       

Photo Credit: © Ryan Sun-Imagn Images