Welcome one and all to the NHL Free Agent Frenzy of 2023.

Stay tuned to The Hockey News as we track the opening day of the NHL free agency period, starting at noon ET. Keep refreshing your page as we break down some of the big signings of the day.

With contributions from Jacob Stoller, Ryan Kennedy, Mike Stephens and Jonathan Tovell

Philadelphia Flyers: Garnet Hathaway, 2 years, $2,375,000

THN's Take: Hathaway is a fantasy hockey machine who hits, blocks shots and occasionally chips in for goals. His hard-hitting effort fits Philadelphia's ideal style of play as they look to make life difficult for opponents next year, win or loss.

Nashville Predators: Alexandre Carrier, 1 year, $2,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Carrier wasn't an RFA for very long, and he and the Preds agreed on a prove-it deal to see if the defenseman is worth the big bucks. The AAV is a nice raise from his past contract, worth $733,333 annually. Considering Carrier followed up a 30-point season with nine points in 43 games, the Preds need to be convinced more on Carrier's long-term value.

Colorado Avalanche: Andrew Cogliano, 1 year, $825,000 AAV

THN's Take: There was still room for the Avalanche to bring back the 1,219-game veteran after bringing in Miles Wood and Jonathan Drouin while re-signing Bowen Byram. Nineteen points turned out to be his best season total since 2017-18, but Cogliano remains a decent depth option.

Detroit Red Wings: Shayne Gostisbehere, 1 year, $4,125,000 AAV

THN's Take: The defenseman gets a slight decrease in pay from his six-year deal worth $4.5 million per season. He still got a nice 41 points this past year, and the Red Wings can benefit from his offensive skill on the blueline. Just don't ask him to shut down every opposing play.

Arizona Coyotes: Alexander Kerfoot, 2 years, $3,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Kerfoot is moving on from the Maple Leafs after three seasons with the team, and he gets a fresh start with the Coyotes. This is his chance to stand out in Arizona and raise his value for the future as the Coyotes try to raise their competitiveness.

Colorado Avalanche: Jonathan Drouin, 1 year, $825,000 AAV

THN's Take: From Quebec to Colorado, Drouin's looking to make a good first impression on a prove-it deal. The 28-year-old joins former Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon, and GM Chris MacFarland said MacKinnon convinced them to take a change on a low-risk, high-reward forward. Drouin's looking to bounce back after four straight seasons of 29 points or fewer after notching 53 in 2018-19.

San Jose Sharks: Fabian Zetterlund, 2 years, $1,45,000 AAV

THN's Take: Zetterlund had a fantastic November 2022, with 10 points in 14 games for the New Jersey Devils. Even the five points in 10 games in February weren't that bad. But after being traded to the Sharks in the Timo Meier trade, Zetterlund only posted three assists in 22 games. This new deal gives the 23-year-old another chance to try to find a fit in San Jose.

Seattle Kraken: Brian Dumoulin, 2 years, $3,150,000 AAV

THN's Take: The Kraken finished fourth in the NHL during the regular season for goals for but were tied for 14th in goals against. Dumoulin has been a shutdown defender before and will come in to help the Kraken in their own zone, but he did have a career-high 25 points in 2022-23.

New York Rangers: Erik Gustafsson, 1 year, $825,000 AAV

THN's Take: Gustafsson joins his seventh team entering the eighth season of his NHL career. His production is a far cry from his 60-point season with Chicago in 2018-19, but Gustafsson actually had a solid 42 points in 70 games in 2022-23 between the Capitals and Maple Leafs. He's not as strong defensively, and the Rangers still need to re-sign K'Andre Miller.

Toronto Maple Leafs: John Klingberg, 1 year, $4,150,000 AAV

THN's Take: Klingberg is one of the most one-dimensional players in the NHL. The 30-year-old is a fantastic puck-mover from the back end, producing elite numbers in the offensive zone while quarterbacking any team's power-play unit. But he's not as solid defensively, and he'd need to be sheltered to avoid exposing his deficiencies in his own end.

New York Islanders: Scott Mayfield, 7 years, $3,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Mayfield was one of the more underrated defensemen on the market, and the Islanders do well to keep him. A seven-year contract for a 30-year-old risks giving too much term to someone likely exiting their prime, but a $3.5-million cap hit is a fair amount even if Mayfield were to drop off more toward the end of the deal.

New York Islanders: Semyon Varlamov, 4 years, $2,750,000 AAV

THN's Take: The 35-year-old netminder is under contract for four more years. At first glance, it feels like a ton of term and money for a backup goalie. But having Varlamov being able to take a fair share of games to keep Sorokin has rested up as possible is a strategy worth attempting if the Islanders want to take a step up and go far.

New York Islanders: Ilya Sorokin, 8 years, $8,250,000 AAV

THN's Take: This extension comes into effect in the 2024-25 season, but it's a Long Island-sized deal. Goalies on long-term contracts can be a huge risk to take, but the Islanders clearly see strong promise in the 27-year-old netminder to keep up his elite play. Sorokin has a career .924 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average, which matched his stats from this past season.

New York Islanders: Pierre Engvall, 7 years, $3,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: While that’s a pretty digestible cap hit — especially with the cap slated to go up — it’s a lot of term for an enigma like Pierre Engvall. There’s no questioning the smooth-skating 6-foot-5 forward's toolbox. However, consistency has been Engvall’s enemy since he entered the league. But hey, maybe that’s just the going rate now for back-to-back 30-point scorers. 

Pittsburgh Penguins: Lars Eller, 2 years, $2,450,000 AAV

THN's Take: It's a busy day for president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, who brings in a center who can play on the penalty kill and win faceoffs. It sounds like Eller has found a fit for his bottom-six role.

Colorado Avalanche: Bowen Byram, 2 years, $3,850,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is a nice bridge deal for Byram and the Avalanche. Byram's had concussion issues in the past and has been limited to 91 games in three seasons. But with 24 points in 42 games this season, he's still a promising young player.

Vancouver Canucks: Teddy Blueger, 1 year, $1,900,000 AAV

THN's Take: Not exactly sure how Blueger is worth nearly $2 million dollars, but nothing the Canucks do these days is all-that-sensible, anyway. Bleuger is a bottom-six role player who is probably best utilized as a fourth-line forward on a contending team. Vancouver will probably play him on their third line, though.

Arizona Coyotes: Troy Stecher, 1 year, $1,100,000 AAV

THN's Take: That’s probably fair market value for a bottom-pairing defenseman. Stecher signed with Arizona last off-season, too, but was dealt to Calgary ahead of the deadline last season. The Coyotes are probably gambling on Stecher carrying forward the decent run he had with Calgary — seven points in 20 games — at the end of the year. 

Nashville Predators: Cody Glass, 2 years, $2,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Glass — the sixth overall pick at the 2017 draft — was trending toward bust territory heading into the 2022-23 season, but after posting a 35-point season — there’s no doubt that the 6-foot-3 center still possesses some untapped potential. Glass is a cerebral, two-way center who is capable of complementing skilled players in the top six. 

Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Nedeljkovic, 1 year, $1,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: We've seen the high end in Nedeljkovic, but it was rather fleeting, dating back to his time in Carolina. In Detroit, behind a lesser defense corps, he struggled. A smaller netminder in an era that usually punishes lack of stature, 'Ned' will nonetheless get a shot at the backup role in Pittsburgh, where starter Tristan Jarry just re-signed, as did returning back-up Casey DeSmith.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Noel Acciari, 3 years, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: Kyle Dubas obviously knows Acciari from their days together in Toronto, as fleeting as they were. But it's clear to anyone who has seen Acciari play what he brings to the table: Grit, hard work and great two-way play in a bottom-six role. He's hard on pucks and has some offense to his game. Now north of 30 years old, Acciari gets some nice security with this deal and the cap hit is very manageable for the Penguins.

Arizona Coyotes: Nick Bjugstad, 2 years, $2,100,000 AAV

THN's Take: Returning to the Coyotes after a stop in Edmonton, Bjugstad showed himself to be an excellent defensive center with the Oilers, using his admirable size to his advantage as a trade deadline add. With Arizona, he comes back to a team still in need of veterans and in love with size. At 6-foot-6 and 198 pounds, Bjugstad fits the bill.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Luke Glendening, 2 years, $800,000 AAV

THN's Take: The 34-year-old veteran has carved out a career as a defensive forward who can play all three positions, mainly with Detroit and recently with Dallas. You're not going to find much offense with Glendening but the Bolts already have guys who can score. Glendening is an easy fourth-liner and this is the type of contract you give to pros like that.

Dallas Stars: Sam Steel, 1 year, $825,000 AAV

THN's Take: Highly touted out of junior, Steel never found his offensive groove in Anaheim but showed some life in Minnesota. He still needs to figure out how to create on a consistent basis at the NHL level, but the skills are there. On a Stars squad loaded with talent, Steel will have to fight for a roster spot. But if he succeeds, then Dallas benefits greatly.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Tristan Jarry, 5 years, $5,380,000 AAV

THN's Take: Well, there you have it. They’re sticking with Jarry. Ever since the 2019-20 season, Jarry’s first as a No. 1 netminder, the 28-year-old has posted a .915 save percentage. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas made it clear in his introductory press conference that he would do everything he could to maximize the rest of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang’s primes, and re-signing Jarry is their step toward doing that. 

Boston Bruins: Kevin Shattenkirk, 1 year, $1,050,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is another one of those low-risk, high-reward signings. Shattenkirk, 34, has fared pretty well in a second-pairing role for Anaheim over the last three years — but he’s probably more of a bottom-pairing defenseman on a contending team. Shattenkirk provides Boston with a solid No. 5 defenseman who can bring value to a second power-play unit. 

Winnipeg Jets: Laurent Brossoit, 1 year, $1,750,000 AAV

THN's Take: The ‘you’re a backup’ chant from the playoffs may not age well for Jets fans. Unless the Jets plan on entering the 2023-24 season with Connor Hellebuyck, a pending UFA, as the No. 1 — Brossoit looks poised to be the starter. At least at this point in time. 

Anaheim Ducks: Alex Kilorn, 4-year, $6,250,000 AAV

THN's Take: Hey, good on Alex Kilorn for securing the bag. He’s long been a really important complementary piece in Tampa and has two rings to show for it. But, uh, Anaheim? What are you doing here? That’s a pricey contract, with a pretty long term for the soon-to-be 34-year-old. Kilorn isn’t going to drive a line on his own, and even if they envision him riding shotgun and supplementing someone like Trevor Zegras, this contract probably won’t age well.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Conor Sheary, 3 years, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: Tampa Bay has been prone to sign bottom-six pieces to longer termed contracts to bring the AAV down. Coming off a 19-goal, 43-point campaign, Sheary has some top-six utility — he can be the puck-hound on a line of skilled players — if the Lightning need someone in a pinch.

Vancouver Canucks: Carson Soucy, 3 years, $3,250,000 AAV

THN's Take: OK, Vancouver just can’t help themselves. This is extremely reminiscent of when they signed Tucker Poolman to a four-year contract ($2.5 million AAV) ahead of the 2021-22 season. Soucy is a solid third-pair defenseman, but a price tag north of $3 million is quite steep, especially for an organization that needs to sign Elias Petterson at top dollar next off-season if they want any chance of keeping their franchise center. 

Nashville Predators: Gustav Nyquist, 2 years, $3,185,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is a solid buy-low move by Nashville. Nyquist is coming off a down year — 27 points in 51 games split between Columbus and Minnesota. But he recorded five assists in six playoff games, and before last season, he was scoring at least at a 40-point clip dating back to the 2014-15 season.

Detroit Red Wings: Daniel Sprong, 1 year, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is a great low-risk, high-reward type signing for Detroit. Dating back to the start of the 2020-21 season, only Auston Matthews, Jakub Vrana, David Pastrnak, Max Pacioretty and Filip Forsberg have scored more 5-on-5 Goals per 60 minutes than Sprong has. Sprong has been extremely efficient while averaging 10:32 per game at 5-on-5, but can he continue scoring at that rate while playing more minutes? To be determined. But for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, it’s worth a gamble.

Arizona Coyotes: Jason Zucker, 1 year, $5,300,000 AAV

THN's Take: For a Coyotes team that’s apparently trying to be more competitive next year — while still focusing on acquiring draft capital and maintaining cap flexibility — this deal makes sense. Zucker — who recorded 27 goals and 48 points with the Pittsburgh Penguins last year — provides a top-six piece to Arizona, one that they could flip at the deadline for a decent haul (if they retain salary) if their season goes south. The AAV may seem bonkers, but hey, it helps Arizona get to the cap floor. 

New York Rangers: Nick Bonino, 1 year, $800,000 AAV

THN's Take: Bonino had 19 points in 62 games last season, split between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins. He can slot right into the fourth line for the Rangers.

Carolina Hurricanes: Michael Bunting, 3 years, $4,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: From Bunting’s point of view, it probably makes sense to cash in on this type of dollar while he can. In other free agency classes, I’m not sure he would garner the same level of interest. Nevertheless, Bunting is a scrappy, tenacious forward who can produce offense — scoring 112 points in 161 games over the last two seasons — and complement elite talent. 

Dallas Stars: Matt Duchene 1 year, $3,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is a steal for Dallas. Dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, Duchene ranks tied for 54th in league scoring with 142 points. Dallas will insert Duchene into a forward core that already features Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Tyler Seguin and Wyatt Johnston. Not too shabby.

Vancouver Canucks: Ian Cole, 1 year, $3,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: Cole is a stay-at-home defenseman who logged second-pair minutes with Tampa Bay last season. The 34-year-old has been a steady presence among some of the NHL’s best bluelines — the Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes – and he’ll bring some stability to a Vancouver Canucks squad that intends on squeaking its way into the post-season next year. 

Boston Bruins: Milan Lucic, 1 year, $1,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: How much NHL utility Lucic has left in the tank remains to be seen, but the return of the legendary Bruin, in even a limited role, will surely appease Boston sports fans.

Detroit Red Wings: Justin Holl, 3 years, $3,400,000 AAV

THN's Take: Despite being deployed in a top-four role with the Leafs over the past few years, Holl is probably best suited as a third-pair defenseman. For that reason alone, the price tag seems kind of steep; however, there’s a currency to defensemen like Holl that can play up in the lineup if needed.

Buffalo Sabres: Connor Clifton, 3 years, $3,330,000 AAV

THN's Take: Clifton is a great addition to a young Sabres team that looks poised to be perennial post-season participants for years to come. Clifton may stand at 5-foot-11, but he’s not a prototypical ‘undersized’ defenseman. He’s renowned as being hard to play against — be it below the hash marks, net front or in one-on-one battles — and he’ll improve Buffalo’s penalty kill, which finished 28th last season. 

Boston Bruins: Morgan Geekie, 2 years, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: The Seattle Kraken opted not to qualify Geekie, who recorded a career-high 28 points in 69 games last season. The 6-foot-3 forward recorded 1.01 primary assists during 5-on-5 play last year, placing him in the 96th percentile among skaters that played at least 500 minutes last season, according to naturalstattrick.com. 

Buffalo Sabres: Erik Johnson, 1 year, $3,250,000 AAV

THN's Take: After 13 years with the Colorado Avalanche, Erik Johnson is switching postal codes. Johnson, a Stanley Cup winner with the Avalanche and the first overall selection by the St. Louis Blues in 2006, brings a lot of experience to a youthful Sabres squad on the cusp of playoff contention.

Detroit Red Wings: James Reimer, 1 year, $1,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Reimer is coming off the worst season of his career after posting a .890 save percentage in 43 games with the San Jose Sharks next year. Maybe Detroit hopes the 35-year-old can be above-average if he’s playing closer to 30 games a year than more than 40? 

Edmonton Oilers: Connor Brown, 1 year, $4,000,000 AAV ($775,000 cap hit and $3,225,000 in performance bonuses)

THN's Take: This makes a lot of sense for a lot for a lot of reasons. After a torn ACL limited Brown to just four games with the Washington Capitals last season, the 29-year-old has lots to prove. In Edmonton, Brown could be reunited with former junior teammate Connor McDavid in a top-six role, or he could provide some utility in the middle six. This match is made in heaven, with the Oilers getting more weapons to surround their core forwards with, and Brown puts himself in a prime situation to earn a bigger payday when the cap is expected to rise next season. 

Washington Capitals: Max Pacioretty, 1 year, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: When Pacioretty plays, he is stellar. But he, unfortunately, has had numerous injury issues throughout his career, including two Achilles injuries in the past two seasons. He's only played 43 games in the past two seasons. If he plays at least 70 games this season, he could have a huge effect for the Capitals who want to rebound after missing the playoffs.

Dallas Stars: Craig Smith, 1 year, $1,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: Smith is five years past the 51-point campaign he produced with the Nashville Predators, and he was limited to 16 points in 64 games in 2022-23 between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. The Stars didn't re-sign Max Domi before free agency opened, and they still have some roster spots to fill, so it appears they found their replacement in Smith.

Nashville Predators: Ryan O’Reilly, 4 years, $4,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Even at 32, O’Reilly remains one of the best defensive centers in the league. While his offensive output dipped this year, he’s still a safe bet to finish around 50 points year in and year out. And there’s no shortage of talented wingers for him to play with in 'Smashville.' Subbing out Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene for O’Reilly down the middle is a solid first step for Barry Trotz. 

New York Rangers: Jonathan Quick, 1 year, $825,000 AAV

THN's Take: It’s unclear how much Quick has left in the tank. He’s been on the decline for the last few years and while he’s got loads of experience, it’s pretty wishful thinking to think he can play 30 games a year. Maybe New York plans on playing Shesterkin for 60+ games. Granted, there’s much less travel in the East than there is in the West — which could bode well for the 37-year-old netminder.

New York Rangers: Blake Wheeler, 1 year, $800,000 AAV

THN's Take: Getting one of the best passers over the last decade on near league minimum deal? Yep, that’s a steal for the Rangers. The 36-year-old's foot speed is declining, but he could provide some real value in a middle-six role at 5-on-5, and he can set up New York’s snipers on the man advantage. 

Buffalo Sabres: Tyson Jost, 1 year, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: The 25-year-old is a fourth-line center, and with that said, the AAV seems a little bit steep for that kind of player.

New Jersey Devils: Michael McLeod, 1 year, $1,400,000 AAV

THN's Take: McLeod fits perfectly into the bottom six of a Devils team that plays a run-and-gun style of play. Coming off a career-high 26 points, the 25-year-old forward is poised to provide New Jersey with some solid secondary scoring and penalty-kill utility next season. McLeod will be an RFA after this year.

New Jersey Devils: Nathan Bastian, 2 years, $1,350,000 AAV

THN's Take: Bastian is a bargain at that price. He’s one of the NHL’s best defensive forwards, and he’s an exceptional penalty-killer, too. Bastian is coming off a career-high 0.35 points per game this season. He provides some toughness to an ultra-skilled Devils team that looks poised to become the NHL’s next powerhouse. 

Boston Bruins: James van Riemsdyk, 1 year $1,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: James van Riemsdyk will provide some solid secondary scoring and perhaps even some upside on the power play for a Bruins squad that just gave up Taylor Hall. JVR won’t give Boston the type of output Taylor Hall did, but he costs a sixth of the price, and he could really thrive in a sheltered role. 

Carolina Hurricanes: Dmitry Orlov, 2 years, $7,750,000 AAV

THN's Take: Arguably the top defenseman in the free agent market is now off the board. The Hurricanes had a strong defense group this past season, and they now added someone with 36 points in 66 games. He played 20 fewer games for the Bruins than the Capitals last season but only had two fewer points; with the Hurricanes finishing second in the past regular season, Orlov can continue to thrive in a solid lineup.

Anaheim Ducks: Radko Gudas, 3 years, $4,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: The 33-year-old is one of the most physical players in the NHL and is a major net-front presence, throwing the body with the best of them and setting the tone in his own end on most nights. But that comes with a lot of physical toll on the body, and he was outchanced in his zone during the playoffs. If he can be a positive presence for the Ducks as they try to move forward out of a rebuild, then it could pay off well.

Ottawa Senators: Joonas Korpisalo, 5 years, $4,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: The deal finally gives the Senators the No. 1 option in net that they've been searching for quite some time and adds a capable puck-stopper behind a blueline that now features Jakob Chychrun. But the Sens thought they had their No. 1 goalie in Matt Murray before, and then it was Cam Talbot. Does it work out this time?

Carolina Hurricanes: Anti Raanta, 1 year $1,500,000 AAV

THN's Take: Raanta has been a solid backup for two straight seasons in Carolina, combining for a .911 save percentage and six shutouts in 55 regular-season games.

Carolina Hurricanes: Jesper Fast, 2 years, $2,400,000 AAV

THN's Take: This is a tidy little bargain for Carolina (what else is new). Fast is an exceptional forechecker and penalty-killer who has posted strong underlying numbers at 5-on-5 over the past three seasons. 

Toronto Maple Leafs: Ryan Reaves, 3 years, $1,350,000 AAV

THN's Take: The Leafs find a new tough guy for their fourth line, but a three-year signing at 36 years old seems risky. He can bring a huge physical presence to the lineup, but 15 points in 73 games last season as a forward isn't mind-blowing.

Nashville Predators: Luke Schenn, 3 years, $2,750,000 AAV

THN's Take: After Schenn arrived to the Leafs at the trade deadline, he moves on to his next team in Nashville. The hard-hitting blueliner gets a big raise from his last contract, which was $800,000 per year, and the Preds had lots of cap flexibility to make it work.

Florida Panthers: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 1 year, $2,250,000 AAV

THN's Take: Who likes being bought out, anyway? This is Ekman-Larsson's opportunity to shine in a Florida Panthers team that caught fire when it mattered this past season. Considering the Panthers also signed Niko Mikkola and Mike Reilly, they looked toward cheaper options to shore up their defense this off-season. It may be a lower risk, but the potential for a huge improvement on 22 points from this past season seems unlikely.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Nieto, 2 years, $900,000 AAV

THN's Take: Nieto is a defensive specialist who will probably be tasked with fourth-line duties in Pittsburgh. Long renowned for his speed, Nieto’s ability to play with pace makes him a sensible top-nine stop-gap if an injury occurs.

Detroit Red Wings: Klim Kostin, 2 years, $2,000,000 AAV

THN's Take: Kostin recorded 21 points and averaged 10:04 of ice time in 57 regular-season games with the Edmonton Oilers last year. The 6-foot-3 power forward reportedly leveraged a KHL offer during contract discussions with the Oilers.

Detroit Red Wings: Gustav Lindstrom, 1 year, $950,000 AAV

THN's Take: Lindstrom is a depth defenseman who was in and out of the Red Wings lineup last year. Detroit didn’t qualify him ahead of July 1 – but that didn’t stop the Red Wings from convincing the 2017 second-round pick to return for $100,000 more than he earned the last two seasons. 

- Top 30 UFAs (by Mike Stephens)

- Top 15 RFAs (by Ian Kennedy)

- Five intriguing RFAs who didn't receive qualifying offers (by Adam Proteau)

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