Welcome to NHL free agency day 2018, and stay tuned to The Hockey News for minute-by-minute analysis of the day's biggest deals.
Entering Sunday, the biggest name on the board – John Tavares – remains available, but the news keeps rolling in as the NHL's free agent interview period seems to have set a few players up with contracts before signing season officially opens.
Dig into the top available free agents with our list of the Top 30 free agents, and keep an eye on this tracker throughout July 1, as we break down the deals signed as free agency opens. THN's Transaction List has information on all deals signed prior to July 1. All contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.com.
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C JOHN TAVARES signs seven-year deal worth $77 million with MAPLE LEAFS.
THN's Take: Toronto makes a monumental signing, one that could alter the future of the franchise forever.
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C PAUL STASTNY signs three-year deal worth $19.5 million with GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
THN’s Take: Vegas isn't resting on its laurels after earning a Stanley Cup final berth in Year One. The expansion club is an expansion club no longer, and they get arguable the second-best center on the market in Stastny.
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G CARTER HUTTON signs three-year deal worth $8.25 million with SABRES.
THN’s Take: Hutton turns his career year into a three-year deal to become the Sabres' new No. 1. He'll be tasked with providing the stability that Robin Lehner couldn't.
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D JACK JOHNSON signs five-year deal worth $16.25 million with PENGUINS.
THN’s Take: Given early reports, the annual value of the deal isn't all that bad, but a five-year term for Johnson comes as a surprise.
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LW JAMES van RIEMSDYK signs five-year deal worth $35 million with FLYERS.
THN’s Take: Philadelphia GM Ron Hextall hasn't been awfully aggressive in free agency in the past, but signing 'JVR' is a significant move that should immediately inject some offense into the lineup.
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C LOGAN COUTURE re-signs with SHARKS on eight-year, $64-million deal.
THN’s Take: Couture is a major piece of San Jose's future, and the Sharks ensured one piece of their core will remain in town for the long haul with a big-money deal.
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LW DAVID PERRON signs four-year deal worth $16 million with BLUES.
THN’s Take: He's not the biggest fish, but Perron lands a four-year deal at a decent price given he's coming off of a career-high 66-point season. A nice signing for St. Louis.
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C DEREK RYAN signs three-year deal worth $9.375 million with FLAMES.
THN’s Take: It's a smart signing for Calgary, and it may turn out to be one of the smarter deals of the summer. Ryan has set new career-bests in consecutive seasons and is great on the dot.
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C JAY BEAGLE signs four-year deal worth $12 million with CANUCKS.
THN’s Take: Vancouver spends big on the veteran to add some strength in the circle to their bottom six.
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LW ANTOINE ROUSSEL signs four-year deal worth $13 million with CANUCKS.
THN’s Take: It's a big spend on Roussel, particularly given he's a bottom-six winger, but he can bring some peskiness and scoring.
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RW THOMAS VANEK signs one-year deal worth $3 million with RED WINGS.
THN’s Take: The Red Wings add some much-needed scoring and make it clear they're not interested in embracing the tank mentality.
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D MIKE GREEN signs two-year deal worth $10.75 million with RED WINGS.
THN's Take:Detroit brings back its No. 1 defenseman on a two-year deal at a reduced price. Thought to be gone at the deadline, he's back for another go-round with the Red Wings.
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G JONATHAN BERNIER signs three-year deal worth $9 million with RED WINGS.
THN's Take:Detroit needed a goaltender to backup and push incumbent Jimmy Howard. Bernier fits the bill, and the three-year deal means he could be the full-time start by next season.
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D NIKLAS HJALMARSSON re-signs with COYOTES on two-year, $10 million deal.
THN’s Take: Coyotes bring back one of their top defenders, but pay the price on a short-term deal. The next two seasons will go a long way in determining Hjalmarsson's long-term future.
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D THOMAS HICKEY re-signs with ISLANDERS on four-year, $10-million deal.
THN's Take: New York's defense is in need of a serious refresh, but bringing back Hickey is a worthwhile move. The price is right and he was one of the better blueliners available on the open market.
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LW MICHAEL GRABNER signs three-year deal worth $10.05 million with COYOTES
THN's Take:The speedy winger brings some scoring the desert. It's an expensive addition, but Arizona needed to add goals after finishing as the second-lowest scoring team last season. Grabner does that.
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D IAN COLE signs three-year deal worth $12.75 million with AVALANCHE.
THN's Take:The Avalanche overpaid for Cole to add to their thin blueline, and it could be a particularly big spend if he doesn't leave the third pairing.
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RW BLAKE COMEAU signs three-year deal worth $7.2 million with STARS.
THN's Take: Contributed 13 goals and 34 points in a fourth-line role with Colorado last season and should add some punch to the Stars' bottom two lines.
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RW VALERI NICHUSHKIN signs two-year deal worth $5.9 million with STARS.
THN's Take: His surprising departure two seasons ago to the KHL has allowed him to grow as a player, and the hope is the 2013 10th-overall pick can now be a top-six player in Dallas.
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LW RYAN REAVES signs two-year deal worth $5.55 million with GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
THN's Take: Bruising winger lands himself a nice pay raise after a noteworthy post-season performance. He could have headed elsewhere, but he's staying put in Vegas.
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G ANTON KHUDOBIN signs two-year deal worth $5 million with STARS.
THN's Take: Ben Bishop isn't losing his starting gig, but Khudobin comes in as Kari Lehtonen's replacement after Dallas let the longtime netminder walk in free agency. A solid backup addition.
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G CAM WARD signs one-year deal worth $3 million with BLACKHAWKS.
THN's Take: Young backups failed Chicago last season, so Ward gives them a veteran presence in goal. That said, his track record isn't great and he might not prove to be a major upgrade.
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RW AUSTIN CZARNIK signs two-year deal worth $2.5 million with FLAMES.
THN's Take: He had a tough time cracking the Bruins and it could be just as difficult to keep a spot in the bottom six with the Flames.
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LW CHRIS KUNITZ signs one-year deal worth $1 million with BLACKHAWKS.
THN's Take: It's a low-risk move for Chicago that can bring some scoring into the fold, but the Blackhawks get older and slower in the process.
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D BRANDON MANNING signs two-year deal worth $4.5 million with BLACKHAWKS.
THN's Take: The Blackhawks needed help on the back end and Manning can provide that at a low cost. There's some offense there, too, which doesn't hurt matters.
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D GREG PATERYN signs three-year deal worth $6.75 million with WILD.
THN's Take: Minnesota adds to its blueline by inking Pateryn, who played well in a second-pairing role with Dallas last season.
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RW BRIAN FLYNN signs one-year, two-way deal worth $650,000 with BLUES.
THN's Take: Low-risk signing for St. Louis who can contribute in a limited role.
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D RYAN McDONAGH re-signs with LIGHTING on seven-year, $47.25 million deal.
THN's Take: The Lightning lock up a rearguard who can help them contend for the next few seasons, but it could be a difficult deal to move in the long run if they need to free up money.
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C JOSH JOORIS signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with MAPLE LEAFS.
THN's Take: Toronto's biggest center signing of the day. We jest, of course, but Jooris can help the bottom six as an injury replacement.
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G PETR MRAZEK signs one-year deal worth $1.5 million with HURRICANES.
THN's Take: Once heralded as the Red Wings' future in goal, Mrazek now finds himself on his third team in a few months. Hopes are high he can get his game together in Carolina.
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C NIC DOWN signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with CAPITALS.
THN's Take: Defending Stanley Cup champions get a cost-effective option to center their fourth line in the wake of losing Beagle.
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D KEVIN GRAVEL signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with OILERS.
THN's Take: He was a fill-in with the Kings in recent years, and a two-way deal gives Edmonton flexibility when it comes to how they build their blueline.
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LW MIKE LIAMBAS signs two-year deal worth $650,000 with WILD.
THN's Take: He'll bounce back and forth between the minors in all likelihood. A tough customer, but don't expect much offense.
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D JOHN MOORE signs five-year deal worth $13.75 million with BRUINS.
THN's Take: Not the top name out there, but a serviceable puck-moving rearguard who can be an asset in Boston.
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C TRAVIS BOYD re-signs with CAPITALS on two-year, $1.6-million deal.
THN's Take: He's an injury-replacement option for Washington, and he's familiar with the staff. Got into one playoff game during Capitals' Stanley Cup run.
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LW MATT CALVERT signs three-year deal worth $8.4 million with AVALANCHE.
THN's Take: Having lost Blake Comeau to the Stars earlier in the day, the Avalanche add more depth on the wing and get a bit younger, too.
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RW ERIK CONDRA signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with STARS.
THN's Take: A depth signing and one that comes cheap for Dallas. Crowded wings are going to make it tough for Condra to crack the opening night roster.
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G SCOTT WEDGEWOOD signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with SABRES.
THN's Take: He's bounced around as a backup and now he lands in Buffalo where he'll play third-string for the Sabres.
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LW MATT HENDRICKS signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with WILD.
THN's Take: A dressing room leader and a do-anything-to-win veteran. He's beloved by teammates, but he's unlikely to be much more than a bottom-six fill-in.
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C TYLER BOZAK signs three-year deal worth $15 million with BLUES.
THN's Take: After shipping out Stastny and missing out on Tavares, St. Louis wanted to add down the middle. Bozak does exactly that, though it's a steep price to pay for a middle-six pivot.
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D NICK SEELER signs three-year deal worth $2.175 million with WILD.
THN's Take: He saw some action with the Wild in the playoffs, but he's far from a fixture of the backend. He'll get a chance to show he can stick around this year, though.
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G JAROSLAV HALAK signs two-year deal worth $5.5 million with BRUINS.
THN's Take: Losing Khudobin meant the Bruins had to find a new backup for starter Tuukka Rask. Halak is a nice veteran option, though he had his struggles last season with the Islanders.
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C TOMAS PLEKANEC signs one-year deal worth $3.5 million with CANADIENS.
THN's Take: Bonus-laden deal that carries a salary of $2.25 million. No surprise to see Plekanec return "home" to Montreal.
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D ROMAN POLAK signs one-year deal worth $1.3 million with STARS.
THN's Take: Veteran rearguard brings some grit to the Dallas blueline, though one could argue the Stars defense would have been just as good without this addition.
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D ERIC GRYBA signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with DEVILS.
THN's Take: New Jersey's defense is an issue and Gryba is far from the solution. Another addition necessary.
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RW BRIAN FLYNN signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with BLUES.
THN's Take: The 29-year-old journeyman isn't going to light the world on fire. He's a depth addition who will bounce between the NHL and AHL.
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D XAVIER OUELLET signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with CANADIENS.
THN's Take: Bought out earlier this off-season, Ouellet is young and still has some untapped potential. Whether he reaches it is another question.
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C MATTHEW PECA signs two-year deal worth $2.6 million with CANADIENS.
THN's Take: A lot to pay for a relatively unproven asset. Only 20 games over the past two seasons.
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RW J.T. BROWN signs two-year deal worth $1.375 million with WILD.
THN's Take: Waived by the Lightning, picked up by the Ducks and now off to the Wild. Brown is a solid bottom-six winger.
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LW JOAKIM NORDSTROM signs two-year deal worth $2 million with BRUINS.
THN's Take: He has some versatility and can skate bottom-six minutes, but he's not going to provide much offensively.
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G CHAD JOHNSON signs one-year deal worth $1.75 million with BLUES.
THN's Take: Thin goaltending market made Johnson an attractive backup option for the Blues, who lost former No. 2 Carter Hutton to the Sabres.
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C NIC DOWD signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with CAPITALS.
THN's Take: The Capitals might have a committee to fill the fourth-line center role. Dowd adds to their options in that spot.
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C KYLE BRODZIAK signs two-year deal worth $2.3 million with OILERS.
THN's Take: A quietly effective year saw Brodziak score 10 goals and 33 points last season. Similar production would be very welcome in Edmonton.
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D MATT BARTKOWSKI signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with WILD.
THN's Take: Depth defenseman and nothing more for Minnesota, who have a solid stable on the blueline already.
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D TOMMY CROSS signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with BLUE JACKETS.
THN's Take: Unlikely to make his way into the NHL.
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C MICHAEL CHAPUT signs two-year deal worth $1.35 million with CANADIENS.
THN's Take: Hasn't produced much outside of the AHL, but he can be a somewhat effective fourth-line hand.
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LW KENNY AGOSTINO signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with CANADIENS.
THN's Take: He'll act as an injury replacement for the Canadiens.
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G MAXIME LAGACE signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
THN's Take: Vegas is happy to bring the netminder back, but they hope they don't have to see him often and this year brings with it more health in goal.
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LW SCOTT WILSON signs two-year deal worth $2.1 million with SABRES.
THN's Take: He had a nice little year in Buffalo after joining mid-season. A contributing third- or fourth-liner.
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G MICHAEL HUTCHINSON signs one-year deal worth $1.3 million with PANTHERS.
THN's Take: The one-year deal gives Hutchinson a chance to fight for an NHL job. He earned it with outstanding AHL performance.
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RW TOBIAS RIEDER signs one-year deal worth $2 million with OILERS.
THN's Take: There's serious upside here for Rieder, but he needs to find consistency. If nothing else, he can make an effective, speedy all-situations player.
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LW DANIEL CARR signs one-year deal worth $750,000 with GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
THN's Take: He's been productive when he's been up in the NHL, but he needs to fine tune his game.
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C VLADISLAV NAMESTNIKOV re-signs with RANGERS on two-year, $8-million deal.
THN's Take: It's a bridge deal for Namestnikov to prove he has what it takes to put up 20 goals again without the help of his former high-scoring Tampa Bay Lightning teammates.
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D FRDERIK CLAESSON signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with RANGERS.
THN's Take: He stood out during the Senators' playoff run two seasons ago, but fell back to earth this past campaign. Hope yet that he can be a useful hand.
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G LAURENT BROSSOIT signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with JETS.
THN's Take: Steve Mason out. Michael Hutchinson out. Brossoit in. Simple math in the crease for the Jets, who needed a backup.
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D TYLER WOTHERSPOON signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with BLUES.
THN's Take: He'll ply his trade in the AHL, where he has spent several campaigns.
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C ERIC FEHR signs one-year deal worth $1 million with WILD.
THN's Take: Late addition to the Sharks last season proved he could still be effective. Wild are hoping for more of that.
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C TIM SCHALLER signs two-year deal worth $3.8 million with CANUCKS.
THN's Take: The Canucks further strengthen their bottom six, but Schaller does nothing to improve production at the top of the lineup.
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D ADAM CLENDENING signs one-year deal worth $700,000 with BLUE JACKETS.
THN's Take: Nice little depth addition, but he hasn't proven himself as an everyday NHLer yet.
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D STEFAN ELLIOTT signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with PENGUINS.
THN's Take: He got a shot at playing for Team Canada at the Olympics, but it's likely back to the AHL for Elliott next season.
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C MATT CULLEN signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with PENGUINS.
THN's Take: He just keeps going. One more year for the 41-year-old, who scored 11 goals and 22 points last season and reunites with his old mates in Pittsburgh.
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D NICK HOLDEN signs two-year deal worth $4.4 million with GOLDEN KNIGHTS.
THN's Take: A puck-moving pickup for Vegas, who can use Holden as a depth defenseman to fill in on the third pairing.
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G ANDREW HAMMOND signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with WILD.
THN's Take: A third-string option. He hasn't been back to being 'The Hamburglar,' but there's always hope.
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D DILLON SIMPSON signs two-year deal worth $1.35 million with BLUE JACKETS.
THN's Take: Another add on the blueline for Columbus, but he's likely to remain a top-unit AHL rearguard.
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RW JIMMY HAYES signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with PENGUINS.
THN's Take: His 19-goal, 35-point season seems like it was forever ago. This is a chance for Hayes to find his game again.
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D ZACH TROTMAN signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with PENGUINS.
THN's Take: He'll be tasked with filling out the AHL roster and maybe get a taste of the NHL if injuries necessitate it.
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G JOHN MUSE signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with PENGUINS.
THN's Take: Here's your AHL netminder for Pittsburgh. He won't crack the big club.
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D CAMERON GAUNCE signs one-year deal worth $650,000 with LIGHTNING.
THN's Take: Not likely to break into the Lightning blueline, but he will play an important role in the AHL.
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C RILEY NASH signs three-year deal worth $8.25 million with BLUE JACKETS.
THN's Take: He'll get the chance to shine and prove he can move up the lineup in Columbus. Nice addition here.
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LW SVEN BAERTSCHI signs three-year deal worth $10.1 million with CANUCKS.
THN's Take: 47 goals and 92 points over the past three seasons earns Baertschi a nice raise. He offers some middle-six scoring in Vancouver.
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LW LEO KOMAROV signs four-year deal worth $12 million with ISLANDERS.
THN's Take: Pesky winger can play up and down the lineup and is a veteran presence. One question: why add more sandpaper to an already gritty lineup?
