Free Agent Frenzy Live Blog
Published
Keep up to date with all the latest news and rumours leading up to the opening of free agency at Noon ET and throughout the day with TSN.ca's Live Blog.
Columbus in for Gaudreau?
While it's been widely expected that Johnny Gaudreau intends to head close to home, don't count out the Columbus Blue Jackets just yet.
The Athletic's Aaron Portzline reports the team has made "a major play" for the services of the 28-year-old winger who just finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting.
Deslauriers signs with Flyers
Nicolas Deslauriers has a four-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The deal will pay the 31-year-old winger $6.5 million over the course of the deal. A native of LaSalle, Que., Deslauriers has appeared in 506 NHL games over nine seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild.
Malgin returns to Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have turned to a familiar face.
The team has signed Denis Malgin to a one-year deal believed to be in the $700,000 range, Kevin Weekes reports.
Malgin, who played in his native Switzerland last year, spent part of 2019-20 with the Leafs, appear in eight games.
Kubalik joins Wings
The Detroit Red Wings stayed busy on Wednesday with the addition of Dominik Kubalik on a two-year, $5 million deal.
Kubalik was non-tendered by the Chicago Blackhawks earlier in the week.
Smith unlikely to return
The Edmonton Oilers intend to have Jack Campbell and Stuart Skinner as their goaltending tandem next season, Ken Holland confirmed, leaving Mike Smith as the odd man out.
But Holland doesn't believe that Smith, who is under contract for one more season, will play next season.
"He's got a lot of health issues," Holland said.
Staal Brothers Unite in Florida
The Florida Panthers have signed defenceman Marc Staal to a one-year, $750,000 contract and forward Eric Staal to a professional try-out agreement, according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie.
Burakovsky headed to Seattle
The Seattle Kraken are signing forward Andre Burakovsky to a five-year, $27.5 contract.
The 27-year-old had a career season in 2021-22 with the Colorado Avalanche with 22 goals and 61 points in 80 games. He added three goals and eight points in 12 playoff games as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.
Chiarot to Motor City
Ben Chiarot is staying in the Atlantic Division.
After splitting last season between the Florida Panthers and the Montreal Canadiens, the veteran defenceman has a four-year, $19 million deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
Gudbranson wears new Jacket
It's been a pretty decent Wednesday for Erik Gudbranson.
The 30-year-old blueliner has signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gudbranson spent last season with the Calgary Flames.
Avs all in on Artturi
The Artturi Lekhonen era continues in Denver.
The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche have signed the 27-year-old RFA forward to a five-year, $22.5 million extension.
Lekhonen scored the series-winning goal for the team in the Western Conference Final to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2001.
All quiet in Calgary
Last night began with the news that Johnny Gaudreau was on his way out of Calgary and the day began with very little movement by the team.
Trevor Lewis has been re-signed and Kevin Rooney has been added, but nothing of real consequence so far for the Flames. All eyes remain on Calgary.
Lindblom swims with Sharks
Oskar Lindblom has found his new home.
The former Philadelphia Flyers forward has signed a deal with the San Jose Sharks.
Blackwell to Blackhawks
Another Toronto Maple Leafs free agent is headed elsewhere.
Acquired as part of the Mark Giordano trade with the Seattle Kraken at the deadline, Colin Blackwell has signed a two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Marchment joins Stars
Mason Marchment is headed to Texas.
The former Florida Panthers forward has signed a four-year, $18 million deal with the Dallas Stars.
Kuemper lands in DC
Just as expected, the Washington Capitals have found their new goaltender.
After moving on from Ilya Samsonon and Vitek Vanacek, the team has announced the signing of Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Darcy Kuemper on a five-year, $26.25 million deal.
Bolts stay busy
If you're in the Tampa Bay area today, you might wanna see if you can get an eight-year extension from Julien BriseBois.
On top of Sergachev, the team has also signed Erik Cernak and Anthony Cirelli to eight-year extensions.
The 24-year-old Cirelli's deal comes with a $6.25 million AAV, while Cernak, 25, is set to earn $5.2 million per year.
Klingberg, Stars talking deal
It certainly didn't seem likely during the season, but John Klingberg might be extending his stay in Texas.
Darren Dreger reports the veteran defenceman is once again talking a new deal with the Dallas Stars.
Bolts lock up Sergachev
Mikhail Sergachev is getting paid.
Agent Dan Milstein announced his client has signed an eight-year max extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
TSN Hockey Insider reports the 24-year-old defenceman will make $8.5 million a season.
Kulak stays with Oilers
Brett Kulak isn't going anywhere.
The defenceman has signed a four-year, $11 million deal to stay with the Edmonton Oilers.
Kulak, 28, was a deadline day acquisition from the Montreal Canadiens.
Leafs land Gaudette
Make it a third non-tendered free agent heading to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The team announced a one-year, $700,000 deal for forward Adam Gaudette, who wasn't qualified by the Ottawa Senators earlier this week.
Burns deal done
We have the full Brent Burns deal from Pierre LeBrun.
Burns and Lane Pederson head to the Carolina Hurricanes with Steven Lorentz, goaltending prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round pick in 2023.
The Sharks will retain 33 per cent of Burns' remaining deal.
Mikheyev joins Canucks
A lotta former Leafs in the news today.
Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced the team has signed a four-year, $19 million deal with the team.
Mikheyev had a career-high 21 goals last season.
Lyubushkin heads down QEW
Ilya Lyubushkin isn't going far.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman has agreed to a deal with the Buffalo Sabres.
Coyotes get in on the fun
John Gambadoro reports a trio of veterans are heading to the desert.
The Arizona Coyotes are set to add forward Nick Bjugstad, as well as defencemen Josh Brown and Troy Stecher.
Blackhawks add pair
The Chicago Blackhawks haved dipped their toes into the market.
The Athletic's Scott Powers reports the team has signed forwards Andreas Athanasiou and Max Domi.
Aube-Kubel signs with Leafs
Like they did with Ilya Samsonov, the Toronto Maple Leafs have added another player who wasn't qualified by his previous team earlier this week.
Stanley Cup-winning forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel has signed a one-year deal with the team.
The 26-year-old ex-Colorado Avalanche player will earn $1 million.
Copp goes home to Detroit
Forward Andrew Copp is headed home.
The Ann Arbor, MI native, who split last season between the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, has signed a five-year, $28.125 million deal.
Trocheck headed to Broadway
The New York Rangers appear set to add forward Vincent Trocheck.
Trocheck, 29, spent the past two-plus seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes.
UPDATE: The deal is for seven years and $39.375 million.
Flames add Rooney
It's not the big swing that Calgary Flames fans might have hoped for with the expected departure of Johnny Gaudreau, but Kevin Rooney has signed with the club.
The 29-year-old spent the past two seasons with the New York Rangers.
Jays fire Charlie Montoyo
Not NHL and not free agency-related, but a huge move in Toronto.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports the Blue Jays have fired Charlie Montoyo.
The wooing of Kadri begins
Arguably the most sought-after free agent on the market, Nazem Kadri has started listening to offers.
Kadri is reportedly ready to field offers from anybody who has one.
Samsonov joins Leafs
After taking a chance on Matt Murray, the Leafs have, in fact, done the same on Ilya Samsonov.
It will be a one-year, $1.8 million deal for Samsonov, who will become the first ever Russian-born goaltender to play for the Leafs.
Giroux heads to Sens
Like Jack Campbell to the Edmonton Oilers, Claude Giroux's rumoured move to the Ottawa Senators has also been confirmed
It's a three-year, $19.5 million deal for the former Philadelphia Flyers captain to head home to the place he's lived since he was a teen.
Campbell to the Oilers
As expected, Jack Campbell is joining former teammates Zach Hyman and Tyson Barrie in Edmonton.
The 30-year-old netminder has signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Oilers.
Greiss to sign the Blues
Thomas Greiss is headed to Missouri.
The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford reports the veteran netminder is signing a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues.
Greiss, 36, spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The 13-year vet has also played for the San Jose Sharks, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.
Burns-to-Carolina set to be multiplayer deal
The Carolina Hurricanes have won the race for Brent Burns, but it appears to be a bigger deal than first imagined.
Pierre LeBrun reports that there are a number of players involved in this potential deal.
Samsonov set for Leafs?
The talk of Ilya Samsonov joining Matt Murray in the Toronto Maple Leafs' crease continue to grow.
The Athletic's Arthur Staple reports that the 25-year-old netminder who was not qualified by the Washington Capitals earlier in the week looks headed for Toronto.
Samsonov is 53-23-10 for his career with a 2.82 goals against average and .903 save percentage over three seasons.
Stars, Canes still in on Burns
Brent Burns's services are a hot commodity.
While Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes are close to acquiring the veteran defenceman, Darren Dreger notes the Dallas Stars are still on the 37-year-old Burns.
A native of Barrie, Ont., Burns is set to embark on a 17th NHL season, having spent the past 11 with the San Jose Sharks after six seasons with the Minnesota Wild.
Manson sticking around in Denver
Just like Darren Helm, Josh Manson is staying with the Colorado Avalanche.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun confirms the report of The Athletic's Peter Baugh that the 30-year-old defenceman has re-signed with the team on a four-year, $4.5 million deal.
Acquired at the deadline by the Avs, Manson spent the first seven-plus seasons of his career with the Anaheim Ducks.
Zacha traded to Bruins
It's not a free-agent signing, but it could be the precursor to one.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports Pavel Zacha has been traded to the Boston Bruins.
Zacha, 25, is a restricted free agent.
Originally taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Zacha had 15 goals and 21 assists in 70 games last season.
Could this set up the Devils for a run at Johnny Gaudreau?
Helm staying put
He just won a Stanley Cup there and it appears Darren Helm is staying in Denver.
TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun report the veteran forward is re-signing with the Colorado Avalanche on a one-year, $1.25 million deal.
Helm, 35, had seven goals and eight assists in 68 games last season. He added two goals and three assists in 20 playoff games. He heads into a 16th NHL season after having spent the first 14 years of his career with the Detroit Red Wings.
Gaudreau going home?
Johnny Gaudreau is from Salem County, NJ, which is only about an hour south of Philadelphia.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports that the Flyers are very interested in the 27-year-old forward's services, but there's a hitch: They're going to need to move salary. Trading winger James van Riemsdyk and the $7 million he's owed this season seems like the clearest path forward.
But that might not be easy.
Kaplan's ESPN colleague Greg Wyshynski notes that there's currently nothing going on a JVR trade as we approach noon.
Canadiens Re-Sign Three
The Montreal Canadiens took care of some business on Wednesday morning, signing forwards Alex Belzile, Joël Teasdale and Nate Schnarr all to one-year, two-way deals.
Oil Rush
Despite re-signing Evander Kane on a four-year deal late Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers still have a long to-do list on Wednesday, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
The Oilers are targeting signing Jack Campbell when the free agent market opens, but Dreger adds the team is expected to add more pieces on the day. He points to acquiring Connor Brown via trade or signing Mason Marchment, Ryan Strome or Dylan Strome as potential options for the team.
Dreger adds that in addition to those potential moves, the Oilers are also considering trading Jesse Puljujarvi and Warren Foegele off their roster.
Latest on Weegar
While trade rumours continue to link MacKenzie Weegar to the Ottawa Senators, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports the Florida Panthers are continuing to discuss an extension with the blueliner.
Weegar, signed through next season at a $3.25 million cap hit, is slated to become a restricted free agent next summer. He had eight goals and 44 points in 80 games last season, adding one assist in 10 playoff games.
Staying with the Panthers, Dreger reports pending unrestricted free agent Mason Marchment is not expected to re-sign with the team. Marchment, 27, has 18 goals and 47 points in 54 games during his breakout season this year and Dreger reports he has "a ton of interest" on the free agent market.
Copp Cashing In
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports that all indications are Andrew Copp will sign with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
Dreger reports Copp will command roughly $5 million on a four-to-six year term in Detroit.
The 27-year-old had a career year in 2021-22, registering 21 goals and 53 points in 72 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers. Copp spent seven seasons with the Jets before being dealt to the Rangers in March for Morgan Barron and two draft picks.
Burns on the Move?
It appears we could also see some trade action today as TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars continue to discuss a potential trade with the San Jose Sharks for Brent Burns.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger adds, however, that a large gap remains between the Stars and Sharks in trade talks.
Burns, 37, has three years remaining on the eight-year, $64 million contract he signed to stay with the Sharks in November of 2016. Carrying a cap hit of $8 million, he turned in 10 goals and 44 assists in 82 games last season.
Landing Spots?
While no players can officially sign until Noon ET, multiple players appear to have their destinations already set.
TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie points matches between the Edmonton Oilers and Jack Campbell, Washington Capitals and Darcy Kuemper, Detroit Red Wings and Andrew Copp, as well as the Ottawa Senators and Claude Giroux as examples.
Sens to Land Giroux?
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that "all signs point to the Ottawa Senators being the front runners" to sign Claude Giroux when the market opens at Noon ET.
Giroux netted 21 goals and 44 assists over 75 games split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Panthers in 2021-22, scoring three goals and adding 20 assists in 18 games after being traded to Florida. He added three goals and five assists over 10 playoff games as the President Trophy-winning Panthers were swept in the second-round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 34-year-old has 294 goals and 923 points in 1,018 career games since being selected 22nd overall in the 2006 NHL Draft by the Flyers.
The Senators have among the biggest the busiest teams over the past week, acquiring Alex DeBrincat and Cam Talbot via trades, moving Matt Murray in a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs and buying out forward Colin White and defenceman Michael del Zotto to open cap space.
Ottawa enters the day with $22.5 million in projected cap space, per CapFriendly, with Alex Formenton, Josh Norris, Mathiueu Joseph and Erik Brannstrom in need of new deals as restricted free agents.
Kadri Still Talking with Avs
Nazem Kadri's agent Darren Ferris is still talking to Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic in the hours ahead of the free agency, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
Dreger notes that keeping Kadri feels like a long-shot for the Avalanche, though the team does want him back.
Dreger reported Tuesday that Kadri intends to hear out all offers should he reach the open market before making a final decision on his next contract.
The 31-year-old scored 28 goals and had a career-high 87 points in 71 games with the Avalanche last season. He added seven goals and 15 points in 16 playoff games en route to winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado.
Goalie Watch
While nothing is set in stone until pen meets paper, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reiterated Tuesday on Insider Trading that the Edmonton Oilers are the favourites to land Jack Campbell, while Darcy Kuemper is expected to sign the Washington Capitals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to officially close the door on Campbell's return earlier this week when they acquired Matt Murray from the Ottawa Senators. Toronto is, however, expected to be looking for a new backup goaltender when the market opens today.
"They’re being a little bit cagey about their plans after the Matt Murray trade," TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said on Insider Trading. "I can tell you that the expectation is that the Leafs will be bringing in a second option in net at the NHL level. They have a little bit of a budget here but they also have some wiggle room, $7.5 million in cap space as we’re talking right now to make that move.
"The Leafs are not wanting to go into next year with Erik Kallgren and Joseph Woll being in top position behind Matt Murray, so I do expect them to jump into the market for another goalie."
Kane, Malkin Staying Put
Two names came off the free agent board late Tuesday as Evgeni Malkin and Evander Kane both signed four-year deals to stay with their respective teams.
Malkin reached a four-year, $24.4 million deal to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Kane signed a four-year, $20.5 million to return to the Edmonton Oilers.