The Hockey News Podcast: 2022 Free Agency Preview Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkwODQ0Nzc1MDQ4NDIyOTkz/2022_free_agency_1500x1000.jpg] Welcome to NHL free agency day 2022, and stay tuned to The Hockey News for a minute-by-minute analysis of the day’s biggest deals. Keep an eye on this tracker throughout July 13 as we break down the deals signed as free agency opens. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: C Cameron Hughes signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: After spending his entire pro career with the Boston Bruins organization, he's on the move. Hughes had a career-high 45 points in the AHL last year and should immediately step into a decent role with Coachella Valley. ------------------------------ Anaheim Ducks: C Glenn Gawdin signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: This deal could be sneaky good. Gawdin had a fantastic season with Calgary's AHL affiliate and the second year of his contract is a one-way deal. Maybe this turns out to be something. ------------------------------ Carolina Hurricanes: G Zach Sawchenko signs a two-way contract. THN's Take: Just before the clock hit midnight, the Hurricanes added a solid depth goalie to the fray. Sawchenko played seven games for the Sharks this year, and while his numbers were nothing special, both of San Jose's teams were lousy. ------------------------------ Anaheim Ducks: C Ryan Strome signs a five-year, $5 million AAV deal THN's Take: The Ducks have clearly made an effort to surround their young stars with offensive depth this summer and so far have accomplished just that, with Strome being the biggest addition of the bunch. The 29-year-old is coming off an impressive season for the New York Rangers in which he racked up 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points in 74 games while logging over 18 minutes of ice time. Strome also played a key role in the playoffs as well, chipping in nine points in 19 games during the Rangers' surprise run to the Eastern Conference final. ------------------------------ New York Rangers: D Andy Welinski signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: After playing parts of three years with the Anaheim Ducks, he made his way over to the Stockton Heat and had a solid season. He has had a solid AHL career to date, and likely will remain there. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: D Josh Jacobs signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Jacobs got some spot duty with the Devils, but he's really just a depth option at this point. He's coming off of a Calder Cup championship, so he's riding high. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: RW Spencer Smallman signs a two-year $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Smallman scored a career-high 27 points with the Chicago Wolves, but still hasn't made it to the NHL. That shouldn't change this coming year. ------------------------------ Columbus Blue Jackets: LW Johnny Gaudreau signs a seven-year, $9.7-million AAV deal THN's Take: Gaudreau is among the best players to test free agency in recent memory. coming off a season in which he racked up an absurd 40 goals and 75 assists for 115 points while earning serious consideration for the Hart Trophy and leading the Flames to their best season in years. The Blue Jackets are not quite as deep as that Flames team was last season, but will assuredly benefit from Gaudreau entering the fold, and, after re-signing their remaining RFAs, should be a contender to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: D Nikita Zadorov signs a two-year, $3.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Zadorov has bounced around the past few years, but teams like his physical play and he even had a career-high of 22 points this past season. Good signing by the Flames, who didn't have much to get overly excited about today. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: RW Reilly Smith signs a three-year, $5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Smith is coming off of a 38-point season where he, had he remained healthy, likely would have hit the 50-point mark for the sixth time in his career. Smith had a career-high 60 points with the Golden Knights in the team's debut season in 2017-18 and led the team in playoff scoring with 23 points that year. The Golden Knights are in a tough spot where the roster they built to win immediately has ended up forcing them to move many of the key pieces to make cap space. The Golden Knights aren't done yet, either. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: C Brett Howden signs a one-year, $1.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Howden had a respectable 20 points in 47 games last year and has 69 points over 225 games. When the team needed a cheap player with a solid shooting percentage to play at a cheap price, they got it. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: LW Jonas Rondbjerg signs a three-year, $766,666 AAV deal THN's Take: Rondbjerg split the year between Vegas and Henderson, and with the Golden Knights close against the cap, having Rondbjerg on a three-year deal gives them some flexibility. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: C Byron Froese signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV THN's Take: Froese has played over half of an NHL season on two occasions, but it's been a while now. He'll likely stick in Henderson, but his NHL experience could come in handy in a pinch. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: LW Jack Dugan signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Dugan sticks with Henderson, where he has had an up-and-down two years. He never really found his footing in pro after a good two-year run with Providence College, but he's still young at 24. ------------------------------ New Jersey Devils: D Tyler Wotherspoon signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: It's been five years since Wotherspoon last played an NHL game, but he did represent Canada at the Olympics during a solid year with the Utica Comets. The Devils liked him with Utica, so he'll head back. ------------------------------ Pittsburgh Penguins: LW Drake Caggiula signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Caggiula is not a big point producer, but he's willing to get into the dirty areas and has some good speed to boot. ------------------------------ New Jersey Devils: C Brian Pinho signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Pinho joins the Devils organization after spending the past four years with the Capitals. This is likely just an AHL situation. ------------------------------ San Jose Sharks: D Matt Benning signs a four-year, $1.25-million AAV deal THN's Take: Definitely an interesting term, but he has over 360 games of NHL experience with Edmonton and Nashville and can do a decent job on the bottom pairing. ------------------------------ San Jose Sharks: D Markus Nutivaara signs a one-year, $1.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: A nice pickup for the Sharks, Nutivaara played just one game due to an injury last year. If he can get back to being healthy, he's a solid third-pairing option. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: D Haydn Fleury signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: With Rutta and McDonagh out of the picture, Fleury gives the Lightning some extra defensive depth after five years of NHL action. He might not be an everyday player, but he's definitely an option and moves decently for a 6-foot-3 defender. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: D Andreas Englund signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Englud has 33 games of NHL experience, but he returns to the Avalanche organization after solely playing with the Eagles last year. He's a physical, in-your-face defender and the Eagles clearly liked what he brought to the table. ------------------------------ Washington Capitals: C Marcus Johansson signs a one-year, $1.1-million AAV deal THN's Take: The Caps definitely love MoJo. He's not a 50-point player anymore, but the Caps get good depth out of him, and he's cheap. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: C Ryan Winterton signs a three-year entry-level contract THN's Take: Winterton had a good season with the Hamilton Bulldogs and put up over a point-per-game at the Memorial Cup. He's still got some years left in his development, but the Kraken like what they're seeing here. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: RW Jacob Melanson signs a three-year entry-level contract THN's Take: A fifth-round pick by the Kraken in 2021, Melanson had a nice 56-point regular season with Acadie-Bathurst this past year. Not sure about his NHL potential, but the Kraken need prospects in the system. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: G Jon Gillies signs one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: The once prized Flames prospect never really figured things out, but he did play in a career-high 20 games with St. Louis and New Jersey this year, while also playing with two AHL clubs and even the ECHL's Maine Mariners. Albeit, if it wasn't for injuries and generally poor play, he likely wouldn't have seen so much action this year in New Jersey. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: D Joshua Brown signs a two-year, $1.275-million AAV deal THN's Take: Brown is solely a depth defenseman, but he has managed to find work over the past four years. In Arizona, he might be a more consistent face throughout the year. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: LW Phillip Di Giuseppe signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Di Giuseppe stays within the Canucks pipeline, where he played some decent hockey with Abbotsford. The 2021-22 season was the first in which he didn't play an NHL game since his debut with the Hurricanes in 2015. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: G Michael Hutchinson signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: After some up and down moments in the NHL the past few years, Hutchinson has solidified himself mainly as an AHLer that can play a couple games any time he's called up. Inconsistent play hurts him, though. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: C Adam Brooks signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Brooks played for three NHL teams and an AHL club last year, and didn't have much to show for. Maybe, if he can stick with the Flyers organization all year long, he can get back on track and show why he was a coveted forward for the Toronto Marlies. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: C Cooper Marody signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Marody never could crack it full-time with the Oilers, but a handful of tremendous seasons with the Bakersfield Condors should excite Phantoms fans. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: D Kevin Connauton signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Connauton has found a way to stick around in the NHL over the past eight or so years, even if he hasn't played a whole ton. The Flyers liked what they saw from his 26-game stint last year and decided to bring him back. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: G Troy Grosenick signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Grosenick has made a good career for himself in the AHL and has looked really solid in spot NHL duty. As questions remain about the status of Ivan Fedotov, Grosenick will bolster Lehigh Valley's goalie crop. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: G Alex Lyon signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Lyon won the Calder Cup with Charlotte and took home the Harry Holmes Memorial Award as top goalie this past season, so the Panthers are getting a strong goalie in the pipeline. ------------------------------ Carolina Hurricanes: RW Ondrej Kase signs a one-year, $1.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Kase suffered yet another concussion midway through the season and missed the entire final stretch of the schedule. He returned for the playoffs and looked fine in Toronto's seven-game first-round exit versus Tampa, but he was already playing with fire before he went down in the first place. Another fall or bump on the head could not only derail his hockey career, but seriously impact his ability to lead a normal life, as well. If he can stay healthy, the Hurricanes just added a valuable middle-six forward for pennies on the dollar. But that's a big "if" at play there, though the risk is softened by the one year of term. ------------------------------ San Jose Sharks: C Nico Sturm signs a three-year, $2-million AAV deal THN's Take: Fresh off of a Stanley Cup win with Colorado, Sturm is a good, speedy puck-mover who can bring energy to a bottom-six. Don't expect many points, though. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: RW Matt Luff signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Luff has bounced around between the NHL and AHL the past few years and has had nice splashes of offense at points. At the AHL level, he's capable of a point-per-game, but he might have a chance to surprise in Detroit. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: C Austin Czarnik signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Czarnik has managed to earn 142 games of NHL action since joining the Boston Bruins in 2016-17, but spent most of last year in the AHL. He's one of those guys that are probably too good for the AHL, but just haven't produced much in the NHL – although he did have seven points in 17 NHL games this past year. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: LW Bo Imama signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Imama returns to the Coyotes after a four-game NHL stint last year. He's a tough guy in the AHL, where he'll likely spend most of the year. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: G Martin Jones signs a one-year, $2-million AAV deal THN’s Take: Jones is far from the starting goalie he was in San Jose, and his end days with that club were ugly, to say the least. At 32, the big goaltender is on a heavy decline, but the Kraken believes he can get the job done. If you can limit his playing him, you can get some value in him in bursts. The Kraken already has Philip Grubauer and Chris Driedger under contract, so look for Seattle to make some noise on the trade market. ------------------------------ Vegas Golden Knights: RW Sakari Manninen signs a deal. THN's Take: Don't ignore this pickup for Vegas. Manninen is a power-play mastermind, and you know the Golden Knights need that. Manninen was a key part of Finland's gold medals at the World Championship and Winter Olympics this year and should provide some cheap scoring depth. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: D Nick DeSimone signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: DeSimone hasn't played an NHL game yet, but he's a solid AHLer with good size and mobility. Still, expect him to spend the season in the minors. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: D Colton Poolman signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: This is the third straight one-year deal for Poolman for the Flames, and like the past two years, don't expect him to play in the NHL. ------------------------------ Pittsburgh Penguins: RW Josh Archibald signs a deal. THN's Take: After missing games due to vaccine requirements and a heart condition, Archibald was limited to just eight games last year. Let's see how the hard-nosed winger bounces back with the Penguins, where he got his career started in 2015-16. ------------------------------ Dallas Stars: D Colin Miller signs a two-year, $1.85-million AAV deal. THN's Take: With the Stars not re-signing John Klingberg, they needed to add some extra defensive depth. Miller isn't a proper replacement, but he gets the job done. ------------------------------ Pittsburgh Penguins: C Johan Larsson signs a deal. THN's Take: You can do much worse in a bottom-six forward than Larsson. In fact, his run near the end with Washington was pretty solid. He's one of the more underrated defensive forwards around. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: D Louis Belpedio signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Belpedio was a star with Laval next week, and they'll deeply miss him. Leigh Valley are winners here. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: C Clark Bishop signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Bishop has been an AHL stalwart for a while, but does have eight points in 47 career NHL games with Carolina and Ottawa. This is definitely a boost for Stockton. ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: Chase Priskie signs a one-year, $800,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Priskie makes Buffalo's AHL depth better, and he did get into a handful of NHL games with Florida last year, too. Don't expect too much here, but he should be a leader with the Americans. ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: D Jeremy Davies signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Davies had a good year in the AHL with Milwaukee and has earned AHL call-ups the past two years, too. The offensive numbers he produced in college never really translated to the NHL, but he could turn some heads in the Sabres system. ------------------------------ Ottawa Senators: D Kristians Rubins signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Rubins showed some promising signs with the Toronto Marlies last year and earned himself a three-game NHL callup. He's not going to produce much in the AHL, but he's got a handle on things there. ------------------------------ Ottawa Senators: C Jacob Lucchini signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Lucchini will return to Belleville, where he put up a career-high 20 goals and 51 points. He still hasn't played an NHL game yet, and with Ottawa's depth, he likely won't for a while. ------------------------------ Ottawa Senators: RW Scott Sabourin signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Sabourin only really draws into the Ottawa lineup when they need someone to cause trouble. He does that very well in the AHL, and he'll definitely get a few NHL games again, too. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: D Justin Braun signs a one-year, $1.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Braun returns to Philly after bolstering the Rangers' lineup for the playoffs. He was a solid shutdown guy on the team's third pairing and injuries/COVID-19 subtractions in the lineup allowed Braun to play more minutes at different points, too. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: G Oscar Dansk has signed a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Dansk is back after spending last year in the KHL. A long-time AHLer, Dansk also has six NHL games to his credit, posting a 4-1-0 record with a shutout in Vegas. A definite call-up option. ------------------------------ Minnesota Wild: C Steven Fogarty signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Fogarty has played at least one NHL game over the past five years with the Rangers, Sabres and Bruins and could be a call-up again. He's a good AHL playmaker. ------------------------------ Minnesota Wild: LW Brandon Baddock signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Baddock got into his first NHL game with the Montreal Canadiens this year, but he's really just an AHLer – and one that already has experience with Iowa. ------------------------------ Philadelphia Flyers: RW Nicolas Deslauriers signs a four-year, $1.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: An interesting term length, but the Flyers like physicality, and Deslauriers brings it. He won't put up many points, but he's a pain to line up against. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: D Brogan Rafferty signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Canucks fans were hopeful that Rafferty would become something, only for him to play just three games with the team. He had an OK season with San Diego last year, but could see some key minutes with Coachella Valley. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: RW Jesper Froden signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Froden made his NHL debut this year after spending the past few years back home at Sweden. Froden had a decent year in th AHL, and as Seattle continues to build Coachella Valley, Froden will be a big piece early. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: G Magnus Hellberg has signed a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Hellberg's had a busy year last season, playing in Sweden, the Olympics and even got a start late in the year with Detroit. The Kraken needed some depth goalie options, and they got a guy who has NHL experience already. ------------------------------ Boston Bruins: D Daniel Renouf signs a two-year, $762,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Renouf has 23 NHL games to his credit, but, like Connor Carrick, this is just a depth signing to bolster the Providence Bruins. ------------------------------ Boston Bruins: D Connor Carrick signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Carrick has 241 games on his NHL resume, but he's essentially an AHLer at this point. But still, if injuries arise, the Bruins know what they have in Carrick. ------------------------------ Boston Bruins: G Keith Kinkaid signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Kinkaid has seen spot NHL duty over the past two years with the New York Rangers and was once sharing full-time duties in New Jersey. Now, he's simply AHL fodder. ------------------------------ Edmonton Oilers: G Calvin Pickard signs a two-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Pickard has made a name for himself as a decent backup/third-stringer that can hold his own for a few games each year. Pickard gives the Oilers an AHLer with Mike Smith expected to go on LTIR and Stuart Skinner taking his place. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: C Luke Philip signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Philip was a cool story after earning an NHL contract with Calgary in 2019 following his U Sports career. He never made it to the NHL, though, and will likely spend the year with the IceHogs. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: LW Brett Seney signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Seney has had some runs in the NHL with New Jersey and Toronto over time, but his true value is in the AHL, where he had 59 points in 62 AHL games. That's a nice pickup for the IceHogs. ------------------------------ Toronto Maple Leafs: RW Denis Malgin signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Malgin had a fantastic season with the Zurich Lions and was a standout at the World Championship with Switzerland. Malgin had zero points in eight games in 2019-20, but after the retirement of Jason Spezza, Malgin enters the season as a speedy depth option. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: G Collin Delia signs a one-year, $750,000 deal THN's Take: Delia spent the past five years between the Blackhawks and AHL IceHogs, and now has a chance to battle for starts with the Abbotsford Canucks. Or, heck, maybe he battles Spencer Martin for the backup spot? ------------------------------ Boston Bruins: C Vinni Lettieri signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Lettieri has played just 82 games over the past five years, registering a career-high 10 points in 31 games this year while putting up nearly a point-per-game with the San Diego Gulls. He also played the full World Championship slate with USA, failing to hit the scoresheet. ------------------------------ Winnipeg Jets: C Kevin Stenlund signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Stenlund has 20 points in 71 games with the Blue Jackets, but the Jets are going to likely use him more as a call-up option from Manitoba. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: C Mitchell Stephens signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Stephens is likely headed back to the AHL after posting six points in 27 games with the Detroit Red Wings last year. In spurts, though, he's a good, energetic forward who can win faceoffs. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: LW Anthony Richard signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: An AHL lifer, Richard is a small forward with solid speed. Won't put up a ton of points in the AHL, but Laval will be a good home for him. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: D Madison Bowey signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: After years of trying to become a full-timer with Washington and Detroit, he has essentially become an AHLer at this point. He was hurt by only playing four games total in 2020-21, but he did have a solid season with the Abbotsford Canucks. Bowey should play a key role with the Rocket. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: D Anthony Bitetto signs a one-year, $750,000 deal THN's Take: After spending six years in the NHL, Bitetto didn't see any action with the Rangers or Sharks last year, instead plying his physical play to the AHL. Likely staying in the AHL again. ------------------------------ Los Angeles Kings: D Tobie Paquette-Bisson signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: A big moment for Paquette-Bisson, who signs his first NHL contract at 25. The big-bodied defender brought physicality and defensive smarts to the Laval Rocket the past two years. ------------------------------ Los Angeles Kings: G Pheonix Copley signs a one-year, $825,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Copley was Washington's backup in 2018-19, but has otherwise spent most of his career as a third-stringer. He's been a steady presence in the AHL for years now. ------------------------------ Las Vegas Golden Knights: RW Sheldon Rempal signs a one-year deal. THN's Take: Rempal, 26, has just four games of NHL experience, but he led the Abbotsford Canucks with 33 goals and 69 points last year. Maybe he earns a call-up in Vegas? ------------------------------ Minnesota Wild: C Nic Petan signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Once a dominant scoring forward in the WHL, Petan never really figured it out at the NHL level, but is one of the best in the AHL and can bring energy and speed to a bottom-six if needed. ------------------------------ Minnesota Wild: D Andrej Sustr signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Sustr split the year between Tampa Bay, Anaheim and AHL Syracuse after spending two years before that with Kunlun in the KHL. He had runs with both NHL teams previously, so Minnesota is finally a new home for him. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: C Nick Cousins signs a two-year, $1.1-million AAV deal THN's Take: Cousins has bounced around a bit throughout his career without finding the success that made him so dominant in junior. Still, he hasn't played in the AHL since 2016, so he's had a good career. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: C Andrew Poturalski signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Over the past five years, only T.J. Tynan (311) has more points in the AHL than Poturalski's 270. That's a good guy to have in the system, and Ron Francis – the former GM of Carolina, where Poturalski once played – knows that. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: LW David Perron signs a two-year, $4.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Perron once again showed he isn't slowing down, scoring 57 points in 67 games before becoming St. Louis' most valuable forward during the playoffs. ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: D Kale Clague signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Clague had a rough season with Los Angeles and Montreal and never really turned into much after a promising end to his junior career. Let's see how things work out in Buffalo. ------------------------------ Edmonton Oilers: LW Greg McKegg signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: McKegg spent last year with the Rangers, recording five points in 43 games. He's really just a depth guy, but it's worth noting that he hasn't been more in the NHL than AHL the past few years. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: LW Dominik Kubalik signs a two-year, $2.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Kubalik was a 30-goal scorer as a rookie, but a pair of ugly seasons meant the Blackhawks weren't interested in keeping him around. In Detroit, he'll have tons of chances to create offense. ------------------------------ Winnipeg Jets: G David Rittich signs a one-year, $900,000 AAV deal THN's Take: It wasn't that long ago that Rittich was Calgary's starter and worthy of an NHL all-star game spot. But since 2020, Rittich's career has spiraled quickly, bouncing between the Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs and, most recently, the Nashville Predators. His last game with the Preds saw him pulled after allowing five goals on 13 shots in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he won't need to be that busy with the Jets. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: G Jonas Johansson signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: The Avalanche needed a goalie to replace Hunter Miska in the system, so they went for a familiar face. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: C Shane Wright signs a three-year entry-level contract THN's Take: Wright has the potential to become Seattle's first star, and they won't have to wait long for him now. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: RW Juraj Slafkovsky signs a three-year entry-level contract THN's Take: The Habs got the man they wanted at the draft, and now they've got him under contract. Will he make the team immediately? ------------------------------ Washington Capitals: D Erik Gustafsson signs a one-year, $800,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Once viewed as an impressive offensive defenseman, his defensive numbers leave a lot to be desired. He's a decent depth signing for the Capitals, though. ------------------------------ St. Louis Blues: RW Will Bitten signs a two-year, $762,000 AAV deal THN's Take: This deal is to solidify the Springfield Thunderbirds, who got a huge playoff performance out of Bitten. ------------------------------ Columbus Blue Jackets: D Erik Gudbranson signs four-year, $4-million AAV deal THN's Take: Gudbranson had 17 points – a career-high – and 68 PIM while averaging 18:08 with the Calgary Flames last season. Gudbranson, 30, brings a physical force to the Blue Jackets' blueline that makes him tough to play against. This definitely feels like an overpay for the Blue Jackets, but he's a veteran presence that isn't afraid to drop the gloves and get dirty. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: LW Artturi Lehkonen signs a five-year, $4.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Lehkonen is one of the best trade deadline acquisitions in recent memory. His counting stats might not jump off the page initially, as the 26-year-old racked up a respectable 19 goals and 38 points in 74 games between the Canadiens and Avalanche last season, but Lehkonen really turned on the jets in the playoffs to become a key piece of Colorado's Cup-winning attack. It's Lehkonen's versatility and defensive mastery, though, that really make those who coach him fall in love, as his skill as a penalty killer and his forechecking might make him a threat to be reckoned with. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: LW Andre Burakovsky signs a five-year, $5.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Coming off a career-best season, Burakovsky now cashes in at the height of his value. The 27-year-old set personal highs across the board in 2021-22, racking up 22 goals and 41 assists for 61 points in 80 games for the Avalanche while logging a touch over 16 minutes of ice time per night. ------------------------------ New York Rangers: G Louis Domingue signs a two-year, $775,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Domingue made some waves in Pittsburgh's crease during the Stanley Cup playoffs, stepping in for Case DeSmith after his injury in Game 1. The two-year deal gives him a bit of stability. ------------------------------ San Jose Sharks: LW Oskar Lindblom signs a two-year, $2.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: At just $2.5 million for the next two years, he gives the Sharks a promising young asset with room left to grow who can help fill in their middle-six in the immediate future. After overcoming the daunting odds just to live a normal life, it's nice to see Lindblom be rewarded for his courage and success. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: D Marc Staal signs one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Marc, 35, spent the past two years in Detroit after playing over a decade with the New York Rangers. A physical defenseman, Marc is far from the player to be, but his 16 points last year was his highest total since 2014-15. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: D Dennis Gilbert signs two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: The Flames continue to add depth guys and Gilbert is another. He was part of Colorado's minor system the past two years after spending 22 games with the Blackhawks over two years. He's another player bound for the AHL. ------------------------------ Washington Capitals: D Matt Irwin signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: A depth defender, he's sticking in Washington. He had a four-point season last year and has a career-high total of 14 with the Nashville Predators in 2016-17. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: RW Colin Blackwell signs a two-year, $1.2-million AAV deal THN's Take: Blackwell has shown flashes of scoring ability in limited roles throughout his career, but bounced around teams before signing the two-year deal today. Maybe he'll find a good home with the Hawks. ------------------------------ St. Louis Blues: C Noel Acciari signs a one-year, $1.25-million AAV deal THN's Take: A nice value pick, Acciari hasn't played much the past two years, but he scored 20 goals in 2019-20, his last full season. He's not going to do a ton offensively, but Acciari is a nice pickup here. ------------------------------ Dallas Stars: LW Mason Marchment signs a four-year, $4.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Marchment broke out in a big way for the Florida Panthers last season after spending his early career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 54 games in 2021-22, Marchment racked up an impressive 18 goals and 47 points in just 54 games on a stacked Panthers squad, logging a smidge over 14 minutes per night and developing as a penalty killer, as well. ------------------------------ Washington Capitals: G Charlie Lindgren signs a three-year, $1.1-million AAV deal THN's Take: The 2021-22 season was a great one for Lindgren, who won all five of his NHL games and helped the Springfield Thunderbirds make the Calder Cup finals. Lindgren has never been a full-season NHLer, but he has quickly become one of the better in-betweeners -- a guy capable of bouncing between the NHL and AHL and playing good in bursts when called upon. Look for him to earn some time as the backup. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: C Nick Bjugstad signs a one-year, $900,000 AAV deal THN's Take: The Panthers were banking on big things they signed Bjugstad to a six-year, $4.1-million AAV deal in 2015. After recording 49 points in 2017-18, Bjugstad has only recorded 58 points in the past 178 games. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: C Charles Hudon signs a two-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Hudon was one of the best players on the AHL's Syracuse Crunch and he'll be one of the best on the Colorado Eagles, too. He has 125 NHL games played, recording 41 points with the Montreal Canadiens from 2015-20. ------------------------------ Pittsburgh Penguins: D Xavier Ouellet signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Ouellet was once an everyday player in Detroit, but didn't play in more than 19 games over the past three years with Montreal. He had a good season in the AHL, and that's where he'll likely end up again. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: C Laurent Dauphin signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Dauphin had some solid moments in 38 games with the Canadiens last year, recording 12 points. He returns to the Coyotes, where he started his NHL career, and should get some playing time this year. ------------------------------ Boston Bruins: LW AJ Greer signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Greer has played parts of five seasons in the NHL, recording two assists in nine games with the Devils this season. He's a good tweener that can bounce between the NHL and AHL, and after scoring nearly a point-per-game in 53 AHL games last year, his value will be with the Providence Bruins. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: C Dakota Joshua signs a two-year, $762,500 AAV deal THN's Take: Joshua played a career-high 30 games with the St. Louis Blues last year, recording eight points. Joshua had a solid impact with the Springfield Thunderbirds en route to an AHL final performance and should stay in the AHL this year, too. ------------------------------ St. Louis Blues: G Thomas Greiss signed a one-year, $1.25-million AAV deal THN's Take: Greiss has made a good career for himself as someone capable of playing 30-plus games a year, mainly as a 1B. His last season in Detroit, though, wasn't great, and at 36, he'll be relegated to backup duty moving forward. Ironically, Greiss replaces Ville Husso in St. Louis, who replaced Greiss via a trade to Detroit last week. ------------------------------ Los Angeles Kings: LW Brendan Lemieux signs a one-year, $1.3-million AAV deal THN's Take: It's a slight overpay for a player with a skill set that could likely be found on the open market at a cheaper price. But the Kings have put together a phenomenal off-season with the addition of Kevin Fiala and are opting for the familiarity of a known asset over the unpredictability of an external piece. ------------------------------ Columbus Blue Jackets: D Denton Mateychuk signs a three-year, $950,000 AAV deal THN's Deal: After a good season with the Moose Jaw Warriors, the offensively inclined defender is already one of the Blue Jackets' top defensive prospects. ------------------------------ Columbus Blue Jackets: D David Jiricek signs a three-year, $950,000 entry-level contract THN's Take: The Blue Jackets didn't waste much time signing their first pick from the 2022 draft. One of the best defenders out of this year's class, Jiricek won't need too long to become a full-time NHLer. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: D Wyatt Kalynuk signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: With just nine points in two years with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks are bringing in the Manitoba native to be an AHLer. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: G Alex Stalock signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: After a heart condition kept Stalock from playing with the Oilers for most of the year, he was moved to San Jose, where he kicked off his career. He had a rough season, but the summer off should allow him to get his mojo back. ------------------------------ Pittsburgh Penguins: G Dustin Tokarski signs a one-year, $775,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Very few goaltenders have a career year at 32, but with 29 starts for the Buffalo Sabres, he was much busier than usual. In a perfect world, he would have been in Rochester working with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but a multitude of injuries, plus flashes of good play, meant Tokarski stayed with the big club all year long. Expect him to be an AHLer next year, but the Pens can feel comfortable calling him up. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: D Nicolas Meloche signs a one-year, $950,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Meloche has eight points over two years with the San Jose Sharks. This is another depth signing for the Flames. ------------------------------ Washington Capitals: G Darcy Kuemper signs a five-year, $5.25-million AAV deal. THN's Take: With strong stats during the regular season and a Stanley Cup to his credit Kuemper enters the year as the clear No. 1 in Washington. The key thing will be Kuemper's health, especially after it came out he had to go to the optometrist 2-3 times a day during the Cup final to "re-train his eye". ------------------------------ Toronto Maple Leafs: RW Adam Gaudette signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: There are some tools there with Gaudette, clearly. But the constant upheaval he's experienced over the past 48 months has likely prevented him from earning a consistent spot on any NHL roster, and now leads to him signing a league-minimum deal with the Maple Leafs. After the signing of Nicolas Aube-Kubel mere minutes before, the Maple Leafs are clearly revamping their fourth-line with a few young assets that bring speed and skill in stark contrast to their veteran-laden unit from last season. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: D Nathan Staios signs a three-year, $950,000 AAV entry-level contract THN's Take: After a tremendous season with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, one of the best undrafted prospects found a home. Interestingly enough, he already has six games in the AHL under his belt with the Utica Comets. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: RW Vladislav Namestnikov signs a one-year, $2.5-million AAV THN's Take: Namestnikov heads back to the city where he had a career-high 44 points in 2017-18. Since leaving the Bolts, he has bounced around five teams with limited success, so this is a chance for him to find his groove again. ------------------------------ St. Louis Blues: D Nick Leddy signs a four-year, $4-million AAV deal THN's Take: Leddy is an interesting player to evaluate. The 31-year-old racked up 24 points in 75 games between the Blues and Detroit Red Wings last season, putting up decent defensive numbers while also continuing to struggle moving the puck out of his own end. The veteran is a valued member of the Blues' locker room and fills a specific role on their back-end that the team clearly covets. But for $4 million per year until his age-35 season, that's a risky bet to make on a player whose value seems to be decreasing on a yearly basis. ------------------------------ Edmonton Oilers: D Brett Kulak signs a four-year, $2.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Kulak is a very good second-pair defender with the ability to push possession and disrupt the cycle in his own zone. The 28-year-old racked up a decent five goals and 21 points for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens last season, thriving in Edmonton after arriving at the deadline and playing key minutes for the team as they marched all the way to the Western Conference Final. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: D Erik Cernak signs an eight-year, $5.2-million AAV deal THN's Take: Cernak has 59 points in 226 games with the Lightning and led the team in hits with 165 in just 55 games. Cernak has become a vital piece of Tampa's core, willing to lay down the body and sacrifice himself to make a play. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: C Anthony Cirelli signs an eight-year, $6.25-million AAV deal THN's Take: Cirelli had 43 points in 73 games, with another eight points in the playoffs. A hard-working center, Cirelli is a good defensive forward that has gotten physically stronger over the past few years. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: D Mikhail Sergachev signs an eight-year, $8.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: Sergachev had 38-points in his fifth year with the Lightning, playing a key role in the team's two Stanley Cup championships and third playoff run this past season. A big-bodied blueliner, Sergachev can dominate the game physically and is confident when moving the puck. ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: G Eric Comrie signs a two-year, $1.8-million AAV deal THN's Take: Comrie had a strong year in Winnipeg, posting a 10-5-1 record with a .920 save percentage. Comrie has always been a backup, but with Malcolm Subban and Craig Anderson in Buffalo's court, he'll have an opportunity to fight for more starts in the best opportunity of his career. ------------------------------ Arizona Coyotes: D Troy Stecher signs a one-year, $1.2-million AAV deal THN's Take: Stecher played 29 games with the Red Wings and Kings last year, recording three points in the regular season. He had a strong playoffs with four points in four games with the Kings in the opening round. Still, his offense is pretty limited and he's just a depth signing. ------------------------------ New York Rangers: G Jaroslav Halak signs a one-year, $1.55-million AAV deal THN's Take: Halak hasn't played a ton over the past two years, but he's generally viewed as a decent, cheap backup option. At 37, will this be the last contract for the veteran puck stopper? Regardless, he's a great backup to Igor Shesterkin. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: D Olli Maatta signs a one-year, $2.25-million AAV deal THN's Take: Maatta never lived up to the hype as a first-round pick, but he is a decent depth option and gives Detroit some much-needed help on the blueline at a fair price. ------------------------------ Toronto Maple Leafs: RW Nicolas Aube-Kubel signs a one-year, $1-million AAV deal THN's Take: Aube-Kubel will not move the needle on his own. But for a team like the Maple Leafs, who are capped-out and looking to re-work their fourth line, he's a perfect value add that should give their bottom-six some tenacity and possession-driving ability without coming in at an outrageous price. ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: D Ilya Lyubushkin signs a two-year, $2.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Lyubushkin split the season between Arizona and Toronto, recording 15 points and 51 PIM in 77 games. A physical presence, the Sabres are getting someone who's tough to play against, can play a shutdown role and isn't afraid to go 1-on-1 against a team's top players. ------------------------------ Florida Panthers: C Colin White signs a one-year, $1.2-million AAV deal THN's Take: The Panthers have done an excellent job in reclamation projects in the past, so this could be an opportunity for White to find his game again after showing promise as a rookie in 2018-19. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: LW Ilya Mikheyev signs a four-year, $4.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: Mikheyev has seen his overall game count limited due to injuries during his care, but he's a tough player to play against. Mikheyev has 72 points in 146 career games, mainly acting as a buzzsaw middle-six energy forward with the Leafs. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: LW Andreas Athanasiou signs a one-year, $3-million AAV deal THN's Take: Athanasiou is a speedy forward coming off a 17-point season in 28 games with the Kings. Athanasiou had a career-high 54 points with the Red Wings in 2018-19 but has mostly been a depth scoring piece everywhere else. For the Blackhawks, this is a solid pickup. ------------------------------ Chicago Blackhawks: C Max Domi signs a one-year, $3-million AAV deal THN's Take: It's been a long few years since Domi scored 28 goals and 72 points with the Canadiens in 2018-19. He had just 39 this year, but spent most of the season on a bad Blue Jackets team before joining the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline. He won't have a great lineup to work with in Chicago, but he'll have more than a few opportunities to play key minutes. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: C Andrew Copp signs a five-year, $5.625-million AAV deal THN’s Take: Copp was such a big piece of the Rangers' playoff run this year and had over a point-per-game in 16 regular season games, too. Don't expect him to be a consistent 50-point scorer, but he brings more to a team than offense. ------------------------------ New York Rangers: C Vincent Trocheck signs a seven-year, $5.625-million AAV THN’s Take: Remember Trocheck's 75-point season in 2017-18? He hasn't come close since, but he hit the 51-point mark during the regular season this year and was one of Carolina's better forwards during the playoffs. There's a lot to like here. ------------------------------ Calgary Flames: LW Kevin Rooney signs a two-year, $1.3-million AAV THN's Take: Rooney will provide the team with some cheap depth as they enter an uncertain summer with Johnny Gaudreau on the way out. ------------------------------ Vancouver Canucks: RW Curtis Lazar signs a three-year, $1-million AAV deal THN's Take: Lazar has been hailed as a terrific teammate for practically his entire career, earning rave reviews for his attitude and work ethic behind the scenes throughout each of his stops in Ottawa, Calgary, Buffalo, and Boston. The 27-year-old will not put up massive offensive numbers, coming off a year during which he produced just eight goals and 16 points in 70 games, but Lazar is a responsible defensive asset who can be trusted to push possession in-depth minutes. ------------------------------ St. Louis Blues: C Robert Thomas signs an eight-year, $8-million AAV deal THN's Take: A two-way master, Thomas is cemented as a huge piece of St. Louis' future as the team hopes to remain in Stanley Cup contention. ------------------------------ New Jersey Devils: D Brendan Smith signs a two-year, $1.1-million AAV deal THN's Take: Smith is coming off an eight-point campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes, his lone season with the club. Smith won't produce a ton of points, but he is a decent physical presence that isn't afraid to drop the gloves. ------------------------------ Seattle Kraken: D Justin Schultz has signed a two-year deal. THN's Take: Schultz is a decent bet. The 32-year-old is not the 50-point defender that he once was during his heyday, but Schultz can still move the puck at a decent pace, putting up 23 points in 74 games for the Capitals last season while remaining largely healthy for the first time since before COVID. Worryingly, though, Schultz saw his usage plummet in 2021-22 as the season wore on. ------------------------------ Tampa Bay Lightning: D Ian Cole signs one-year, $3-million AAV deal THN's Take: Last year with the Hurricanes, Cole had two goals and 19 points while bringing a physical presence to the blueline. With Jan Rutta a UFA, Cole gives the Lightning some solid defensive depth. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in in the lineup, but he's a good pickup at a decent price. ------------------------------ Detroit Red Wings: C Marco Kasper signs three-year, entry-level contract THN's Take: Detroit's first-round pick last week, Kasper is going to be a big piece of Detroit's future as a speedy, skilled two-way center. How long until he kicks off his NHL career? ------------------------------ Toronto Maple Leafs: G Ilya Samsonov signs a one-year, $1.8-million AAV deal THN’s Take: The Leafs enter the season with two goalies needing a big bounce-back effort. Risky, for sure, but Samsonov, in particular, was highly regarded early in his career and a fresh start could be exactly what he needs. ------------------------------ Ottawa Senators: RW Claude Giroux signs a three-year, $6.5-million AAV deal THN’s Take: Giroux instantly bolsters the Senators in a big way. The team has DeBrincat, Drake Batherson, Connor Brown, Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Thomas Chabot and Jake Sanderson, among others. Throw in Giroux, and the team's top-six gets even stronger, and the young club gets a huge veteran presence out of it. ------------------------------ Edmonton Oilers: G Jack Campbell signs a five-year, $5 million AAV deal THN’s Take: Campbell battled injuries last year, that limited his overall play near the end of the regular season, but he proved he can be a valuable netminder. He was in Vezina Trophy discussions over the first half of the year and is a great story after starting slow in his NHL career to become a legit No. 1 starting option. Is this the piece that really pushes the Oilers forward? ------------------------------ Buffalo Sabres: LW Victor Olofsson signs a two-year, $4.75-million AAV deal THN's Take: A valuable goal-scorer for Buffalo sticks around on a two-year deal. Olofsson is a two-time 20-goal scorer and was about to hit 50 points in the regular season for the first time. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: D Josh Manson signs a four-year, $4.5-million AAV deal THN's Take: A great price for a good physical defenseman coming off a great playoff run. Manson can be a bit overly aggressive and take dumb penalties, but he got the job done in Colorado and the team clearly felt he was too valuable to let go. ------------------------------ Nashville Predators: G Devin Cooley signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: When Connor Ingram went up to the NHL for the playoffs, Cooley filled in nicely. This gives Milwaukee more goalie depth. ------------------------------ Nashville Predators: C Jimmy Huntington signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Huntington hasn't played an NHL game and should stick in the AHL as a good piece with the Milwaukee Admirals. ------------------------------ Edmonton Oilers: LW Evander Kane signs a four-year, $5.125-million AAV deal THN's Take: On the ice, Kane's impact couldn't be ignored this past season. He was one of the best goal-scorers in the playoffs and gave the team another scoring option after relying so much on McDavid and Draisaitl in the past. ------------------------------ Colorado Avalanche: LW Darren Helm signs a one-year, $1.25-million AAV deal THN’s Take: The ultimate glue guy played an important part in Colorado’s Cup run and it’s nice to see him get rewarded for it. Helm has managed to be a valuable depth player for well over a decade and the Avs clearly believe in him. ------------------------------ Toronto Maple Leafs: G Dennis Hildeby signs a three-year, $843,333 AAV entry-level contract THN's Take: It's rare that the first player signed out of the NHL draft is a fourth-round pick, but that's what the Leafs did with Hildeby. After not qualifying Ian Scott, Hildeby is another body in the Leafs system. He's already under contract with Färjestad BK and should return to Sweden. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: RW Alex Belzile signs a one-year, $700,000 AAV deal THN's Take: A valuable piece of Laval's playoff effort, Belzile will return to the Rocket for 2022-23 for the fifth year. He has one assist in 13 career regular season games with Montreal and will likely be a call-up option again. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: RW Joel Teasdale signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Another signing for Laval, Teasdale is coming off of his entry-level contract with the Canadiens, but never made it into a game. Expect him to remain in the minors. ------------------------------ Montreal Canadiens: C Nathan Schnarr signs a one-year, $750,000 AAV deal THN's Take: Schnarr is more fodder for the AHL, having split last year between Utica and Laval with no NHL games played. That likely won't change any time soon.
