NHL Player News

Ersson was not given a qualifying offer by the Senators on Monday, Julian McKenzie of The Athletic reports.

While the decision will allow Ersson to test free agency Wednesday, according to McKenzie, the Senators are still working to re-sign the 26-year-old backstop after acquiring him from the Maple Leafs on June 26. If he does return to Ottawa, Ersson will likely battle for the No. 2 spot alongside Leevi Merilainen.

Samson was not given a qualifying offer from the Lightning on Monday, which means he will become an unrestricted free agent, per PuckPedia.

Samson picked up five goals and 18 points over 40 games between AHL Lehigh Valley and Syracuse in 2025-26. The defenseman was a sixth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2021 and has never appeared in an NHL game.

Thrun will become an unrestricted free agent after not receiving a qualifying offer from Toronto on Monday, according to PuckPedia.

Thrun appeared in just four games with the Maple Leafs this past season. However, he helped AHL Toronto win a Calder Cup championship, producing two goals and nine points over 24 postseason outings. The left-shot blueliner also had five goals and 23 points over 55 regular-season games with the Marlies in 2025-26.

Montreal did not present a qualifying offer to Chiasson on Monday, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent, per PuckPedia.

Chiasson played with AHL Belleville and ECHL Allen in 2025-26. He didn't appear in a game with AHL Laval after being dealt to Montreal from Ottawa in March. The 23-year-old has never suited up in an NHL game.

Schmid was dealt from the Golden Knights to the Panthers on Monday in exchange for a 2028 third-round pick.

Considering that the Panthers' goaltending duo of Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov is set to become unrestricted free agents, Schmid might have an opportunity to command a sizable role in 2026-27. It will be worth monitoring what the Panthers do with their goaltending situation when free agency begins, but Schmid could be an intriguing sleeper for fantasy managers this coming season, even if he's working in tandem with another netminder. The 26-year-old Schmid went 16-10-6 with a 2.59 GAA and an .893 save percentage over 34 regular-season games with Vegas in 2025-26. He will need a new contract as well, as he is a restricted free agent.

Olausson was not tendered a qualifying offer from Minnesota on Monday, PuckPedia reports.

Olausson is now an unrestricted free agent, so he can sign with any team July 1, however, he signed a contract with Frolunda of the SHL in May. The Swedish winger contributed 12 goals and 29 points across 63 appearances with AHL Iowa this past season. The No. 28 overall pick in 2021 has just four games of NHL experience to his name.

The Wild chose not to give a qualifying offer to Butler on Monday, according to PuckPedia.

Butler is eligible to sign with a new organization when free agency starts Wednesday. The 24-year-old played in both the AHL and ECHL in 2025-26. Butler has played in one NHL game in his career, which came during the 2023-24 campaign with Columbus.

Brink was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Wild on Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent, per PuckPedia.

The Wild have little cap space to work with and have several spots to fill on their roster, which probably explains why the team did not present Brink with a qualifying offer. The right-shot winger was dealt from Philadelphia to Minnesota at the 2026 trade deadline and posted a total of 15 goals, 30 points, 104 shots and 80 hits between the two teams in 2025-26. The 2026 free-agent class is slim, so Brink should have no issue finding a new team to sign with come July 1 if the Wild don't circle back to him in time.

Milne was not tendered a qualifying offer from the Red Wings on Monday, according to PuckPedia.

Milne, a third-round pick by the Wild in 2022, played for three different AHL teams in 2025-26, in addition to suiting up in five ECHL regular-season games. He made his NHL debut in 2024-25 with Minnesota.

The Red Wings did not present a qualifying offer to Mazur on Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent, PuckPedia reports.

Mazur did not register a point over eight games with Detroit in 2025-26. The 24-year-old showed well with AHL Grand Rapids, though, producing 11 goals and 16 points over 16 regular-season games. He also had five goals and an assist in eight playoff contests with the Griffins. Mazur was a third-round selection (No. 70 overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.