The NHL's free agency period is open.
We'll track all of the trades and buyouts and talks around the league, and we'll keep you posted on all of the signings.
I have quite a few primers that are relevant to this time of year and may answer some of your questions:
• No-movement, no-trade clauses
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FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2019
• 2:10 p.m.: The Sabres re-signed Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year deal.
We have signed forward Zemgus Girgensons to a one-year contract with an AAV of $1.6 million.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 5, 2019
Details: https://t.co/yqLe0WbLt6 pic.twitter.com/59r1207Hzl
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THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019
• 5:10 p.m.: The Hurricanes have signed former Penguin Brian Gibbons to a one-year contract:
The #Canes have signed Brian Gibbons to a one-year, two-way contract
More Info » https://t.co/1dVMahImuZ pic.twitter.com/CdLSTGQpsa
— Carolina Hurricanes (@NHLCanes) July 4, 2019
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019
• 5:35 p.m.: Things have quieted down, despite free agents like Derick Brassard, Jason Pominville, Joe Thornton, and Matt Moulson still being available. David Pagnotta reports that there are some interested teams that just need to put together trades before signing the top unrestricted free agents.
Word around League right now is some teams interested in some of the remaining top UFA crop are trying to create extra cap room/cushion. Partially why things are quiet at the moment.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 3, 2019
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TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2019
• 1:45 p.m.: Former Penguins prospect Jayson Megna is heading to Colorado:
The @Avalanche have signed free agents T.J. Tynan, Jayson Megna and Dan Renouf #NHLFreeAgency
Details: https://t.co/ItwfSMvdlz pic.twitter.com/JcgA1H4OlD
— AHL (@TheAHL) July 2, 2019
• 12:30 p.m.: That Kachina jersey is looking sharp:
Now at @TheCoyotesDen. ?#KachinaKessel pic.twitter.com/yvKXxDlzQ7
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) July 1, 2019
• 12:15 p.m.: The Hurricanes will reportedly match the five-year, $8.454 million average annual value offer sheet tendered to Sebastian Aho by the Canadiens:
Just talked to Tom Dundon. Says Canes will match the Aho offer. Announcement should come soon. Says Canes "love the player."
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) July 2, 2019
The move leaves the Hurricanes with $11.1 million in cap space with 10 forwards, five defensemen, and two goaltenders under contract.
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MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019
• 7:15 p.m.: The Blues signed Derrick Pouliot to a one-year, two-way deal.
The #stlblues have agreed to terms on two-way contracts with five players. https://t.co/NAy0ZOiopW
— St. Louis Blues ? (@StLouisBlues) July 1, 2019
• 7:05 p.m.: Huge blockbuster trade here:
Avalanche make trade official:
To COL: C Nazem Kadri, D Calle Rosen, 2020 3rd RD pick
To TOR: D Tyson Barrie, RW Alex Kerfoot, 2020 6th RD pick
Avs retaining 50% of Barrie contract
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
Tyson Barrie was with Paul Bissonnette when the news broke. Language warning on this video:
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) July 1, 2019
• 6:55 p.m.: Ethan Prow signed with the Panthers. I have a full story on that here.
• 6:15 p.m.: The Capitals have re-signed goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a three-year, $2.15 million contract. The first year of Vanecek’s contract will be a two-way deal worth $700,000, and the final two years will be one-way worth $700,000 and $750,000.
• 6:07 p.m.: The Hurricanes re-signed goaltender Petr Mrazek to a two-year deal worth $3 million in 2019-20 and $3.25 million in 2020-21.
• 6:05 p.m.: Goaltender Semyon Varlamov signed a four-year deal with the Islanders.
• 5:50 p.m.: Goaltender Robin Lehner signed a one-year deal with the Blackhawks worth $5 million.
• 4:53 p.m.: The Coyotes have signed Beau Bennett to a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. Bennett played just five games in the KHL last season.
Can’t wait til the hockey season starts. Really excited about the opportunity with the @ArizonaCoyotes. I go where Phil goes.
— Beau Bennett (@BeauBennett19) July 1, 2019
• 4:52 p.m.: I can't even begin to understand this quote from Wild general manager Paul Fenton on Mats Zuccarello:
"I told him when I was talking to him that he's like a lizard, the way a lizard takes his tongue and sticks it as far as it does and retrieves what it was trying to do." — GM Paul Fenton on @Zuccarello36
? → https://t.co/2V4Lig6AeV #mnwild pic.twitter.com/2tjfFXo1GJ
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) July 1, 2019
• 4:47 p.m.: The Islanders have re-signed forward Anders Lee. The contract is for seven years and carries an average annual value of $7 million.
• 2:57 p.m.: The Canadiens have extended an offer sheet to Hurricanes restricted free agent Sebastian Aho for a five-year deal with an average annual value of $8.454M. If the Hurricanes don't match the exact offer and Aho signs with the Canadiens, the Canadiens will have to give the Hurricanes a a first-, second- and third-round pick in 2020
• 1:50 p.m.: It's a busy day around the Metropolitan Division. The Devils signed Wayne Simmonds to a one-year deal worth $5 million.
#NJDevils news:
The club has agreed to terms with right wing Wayne Simmonds on a one-year contract worth $5,000,000. pic.twitter.com/6HrpsM99Xt
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) July 1, 2019
• 1:10 p.m.: Sergei Bobrovsky's deal with the Panthers is official. Seven years, $10 million per year.
• 1:06 p.m.: Right wing Alex Chiasson signed two-year deal with the Oilers. The deal carries a $2.150 million cap hit.
• 1:06 p.m.: Goaltender Curtis McElhinney signs a two-year deal with the Lightning with an average annual value of $1.3 million.
• 1:01 p.m.: The Blue Jackets signed 29-year-old forward Gustav Nyquist to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $5.5 million.
• 12:58 p.m.: The Avalanche signed forward Joonas Donskoi to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $3.9 million.
• 12:55 p.m.: Forward Valtteri Filppula signed a two-year extension with the Red Wings. $3 million per year.
• 12:52 p.m.: The Panthers signed forward Brett Connolly to a four-year deal with a cap hit of $3.25 million.
• 12:51 p.m.: The Tyler Myers deal with the Canucks is official. Five years, $6 million per year.
• 12:50 p.m.: The Capitals signed 28-year-old forward Richard Panik to a four-year deal worth $2.5 million per year.
• 12:45 p.m.: Matt Duchene to the Predators is official. Seven years, $8 million per year.
• 12:34 p.m.: Defenseman Jordie Benn signed a two-year deal with the Canucks worth $2 million per year.
• 12:33 p.m.: Goaltender Cam Talbot signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Flames. He played for the Flyers last season.
• 12:33 p.m.: The Sabres signed former Penguins prospect Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year, one-way deal worth $700,000.
• 12:29 p.m.: The Artemi Panarin deal with the Rangers is official. Seven years, $11.642 million per year. Wow.
• 12:23 p.m.: The Wild signed wing Ryan Hartman. Two years, $1.9 million per year.
• 12:19 p.m.: The Wild signed wing Mats Zuccarello. Five years, $6 million per year.
• 12:18 p.m.: Jason Spezza is a Maple Leaf. One year, $700,000.
• 12:13 p.m.: The Canadiens signed goaltender Keith Kinkaid to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million. Kinkaid played for the Blue Jackets last season.
• 12:12 p.m.: The Sharks re-signed restricted free agent wing Timo Meier to a four-year deal worth $6 million per year.
• 12:12 p.m.: The Capitals signed forward Garnet Hathaway to a four-year deal worth $1.5 million per year. Hathaway played for the Flames last season.
• 12:09 p.m.: The Blue Jackets re-signed defenseman Ryan Murray to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4.6 million.
• 12:09 p.m.: The Corey Perry deal with the Stars is official. One year, $1.5 million base salary, plus up to $1.75 million in performance bonuses.
• 12:07 p.m.: And then there's this:
Brandon Tanev (6x3.5m with Pittsburgh) is an offensive black hole with some defensive upside and a decent shot.
Look at your life, look at your choices, oh my god. pic.twitter.com/O6VBjDxWhJ
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) July 1, 2019
• 11:59 a.m.: Darren Dreger says Brandon Tanev is signing a five-year contract with the Penguins.
• 11:47 a.m.: Darren Dreger and David Pagnotta both report that the Rangers will sign Artemi Panarin.
• 11:20 a.m.: The Sabres acquired forward Jimmy Vesey from the Rangers in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick. The move frees up $2.275 in cap space for the Rangers, bringing their total cap space to $20.4 million.
• 11:06 a.m.: Brandon Tanev is a 27-year old wing. He had 14 goals and 15 assists in 80 games for the Jets last season.
Still time for change, but looking like the Penguins are a good bet for Brandon Tanev.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
• 10:25 a.m.: The Blue Jackets re-signed goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to a one-year contract extension worth $1.15 million.
• 9:25 a.m.: Bob McKenzie reports that the Senators will sign Ron Hainsey.
• 7:50 a.m.: The latest on Tyler Ennis:
Sounds like Tyler Ennis is close to signing a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
• 7:40 a.m.: The latest on Artemi Panarin:
Still so much uncertainty around the Panarin situation. Sounds like the Isles made a late push to try and acquire his rights for the 8th yr. NYR aren’t out of the fight yet.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
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SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2019
• 11:25 p.m.: The Stars are going to be busy on Monday:
Looks like Joe Pavelski will sign a three-year contract with Dallas tomorrow. Sounds like the AAV will be in the neighborhood of $7M.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
• 10:05 p.m.: Cam Talbot looks to be heading to the Flames:
Goaltender Cam Talbot to sign 1 yr deal with Calgary #Flames for $2.75 million
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 1, 2019
• 9:56 p.m.: Corey Perry will be a Star:
Corey Perry is heading to the Dallas #Stars on a one-year deal. Expectation is a $1.5 million salary with performance bonuses attainable. #TSN
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019
• 9:55 p.m.: It sounds like the Lightning will sign Luke Schenn:
Expect Luke Schenn to sign a one-year deal with #tblightning in neighbourhood of $700k.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019
• 9:35 p.m.: The latest on Sergei Bobrovsky:
Barring a last minute sneak-play by another team, sounds like Sergei Bobrovsky has made his decision and will be signing with Florida tomorrow. Unconfirmed, but hearing 7-years in the neighborhood of $9.5M AAV.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
• 9:20 p.m.: It sounds like Matt Duchene will be signing with the Predators tomorrow.
It sounds like Matt Duchene will join the #preds. Expect his contract to come in with an $8M AAV.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2019
• 9:15 p.m.: The latest from Minnesota:
In addition to Mats Zuccarello coming to the #mnwild on a five-year deal at a shade north of $6 million annually, #mnwild looking to add Ryan Hartman on a two-year deal at a shade under $2 million annually
Free agency opens at 11 a.m. CT Monday
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2019
• 9:10 p.m.: Around the division:
Sounds like Richard Panik will be heading to WSH on a four-year contract. AAV could be somewhere north of $2.5M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019
• 7:20 p.m.: Former Penguins draft pick Kenny Agostino, traded in the Jarome Iginla deal, will reportedly sign with the Maple Leafs tomorrow.
Source: Kenny Agostino to sign two-year, one-way deal with Leafs @ColHockeyNow
— Adrian Dater (@adater) June 30, 2019
• 6:45 p.m.: The Canadiens traded forward Nicolas Deslauriers to the Ducks for a 2020 fourth-round pick, shedding his $950,000 cap hit. The Canadiens now have $13.556 in cap space. The Ducks have $10 million in cap space.
• 5 p.m.: The Canadiens traded Andrew Shaw and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Blackhawks for a 2020 second-round pick, 2021 third-round pick, and a 2020 seventh-round pick. The move increased the Canadiens' cap space to $12.6 million with 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and two goaltenders.
• 12:40 p.m.: At least he's honest?
An NHL GM on what he’s trying to accomplish today: “I’m trying to move out bad contracts so I can give out some more tomorrow.”
— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) June 30, 2019
• 12:15 p.m.: As expected, the Panthers put Scott Darling on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. The buyout will last for the next four seasons, and carry cap hits of $1.233 million, $2.333 million, $1.183 million and $1.183 million.
• 12:05 p.m.: The Flyers put defenseman David Schlemko on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. The buyout will carry a cap hit of $900,000 in 2019-20 and $600,000 in 2020-21. The move saves the Flyers $1.2 million in cap space in 2019-20.
• 12:01 p.m.: The Hurricanes acquired goaltender James Reimer from the Panthers in exchange for goaltender Scott Darling and a sixth-round pick in 2020. The Panthers intend to buy out the contract of Darling.
• 12 p.m.: The Oilers put defenseman Andrej Sekera on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. The buyout will carry a cap hit of $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons, and a cap hit of $1.5 million for the two seasons after that. The move saves the Oilers $3 million in each of the next two seasons.
