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Predators, Juuse Saros Agree To Eight-Year Extension

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July 1: The Predators have indeed signed Saros to his eight-year deal as rumored, per the league.

June 27: The Predators and goaltender Juuse Saros can’t officially reach an agreement on a new deal until Monday.  It appears they’re getting close to having a deal in principle, however, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the two sides are believed to be closing in on an eight-year contract extension.  Financial terms are not known but Friedman adds that the AAV will apparently start with a seven if the deal is finalized; Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic suggests (Twitter link) that the cap charge should check in around $7.74MM.  Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that while some details are being worked out, the framework of the agreement is in place.

The 29-year-old has worked his way from being a little-used backup at the start of his career to one of the NHL’s true workhorse netminders in recent years.  Saros has led the league in appearances in each of the last three years, facing the most shots and making the most saves in both 2022-23 and 2023-24, making him a bargain player with a $5MM AAV which runs through the 2024-25 campaign.

This season, Saros played in 64 games, posting a 2.86 GAA with a .906 SV%, numbers that were the worst of his career.  However, given the workload and the fact that Nashville had several newcomers after shaking up their roster over the summer, it’s not surprising that he got off to somewhat of a quieter start.  However, following the All-Star break, Saros was more effective, putting up a .912 SV% which helped lead the team to a franchise-best 18-game point streak.  That stretch helped propel the Predators into a playoff spot where they were eliminated in the opening round by Vancouver.

Despite his performance in recent years, there was some speculation that Saros could be in play on the trade front this summer.  The team has Yaroslav Askarov in the system, one of the NHL’s best goalie prospects and he’s not too far away from being NHL-ready.  This potential agreement will now call into question Askarov’s long-term future with the franchise although the two netminders could work together for a few years at least, allowing the 22-year-old to ease into the NHL somewhat gradually.  In the meantime, the team is expected to pursue a backup netminder in free agency, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli (Twitter link).

While the Predators generally are hesitant to hand out trade protection in their contracts, GM Barry Trotz indicated earlier this week that if a new deal gets reached, it would have some no-trade provisions in there although it would be limited.

Assuming the price tag comes in around the $7.5MM mark as reported, that will be around $750K lower per season than what Connor Hellebuyck received from Winnipeg back in the fall, a contract that many felt would serve as a direct comparable for negotiations.  Instead, it appears Saros is content to come in a little below that amount to ensure he’ll be sticking around for the long haul, giving the Predators long-term stability at that position in the process.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Canadiens Sign Juraj Slafkovsky To Eight-Year Extension

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The Canadiens have signed 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year extension, the team announced. The deal, which begins with the 2025-26 season, carries a $7.6MM cap hit.

This is an outcome that wouldn’t have seemed possible just a few months ago.  The 2022 first-overall pick struggled considerably in his rookie season, recording just ten points in 39 games before missing the rest of the season due to injury.  Then, he struggled even more out of the gate last season, picking up only one goal and one assist in his first 15 outings.

While many felt that a trip to AHL Laval would be the best course of action, Montreal basically took the exact opposite route.  Instead of sending him down to play a bigger role with the Rocket, they moved him up to the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.  It didn’t take long for Slafkovsky to find his footing and he wound up finishing the year with 20 goals and 30 assists in 82 games.

Clearly, his performance in the second half of the season was enough to convince management to commit to a max-term agreement, one that buys out Slafkovsky’s four remaining RFA years while adding four more seasons of club control.  The deal is likely to carry some form of trade protection in those final four seasons; he’s ineligible for trade protection in any of his RFA years.

Notably, this price tag comes in below Suzuki’s $7.875MM cost, keeping their internal cap in place for skaters as no one yet is set to make more than the captain (aside from Carey Price’s LTIR contract).  It also keeps Montreal’s top line under contract through at least the 2028-29 season with all three players making below $8MM.

As is often the case with these types of early extensions off an entry-level deal, the price is likely to be on the high side early on in the deal.  However, if Slafkovsky is able to progress and live up to his first-overall billing, the hope for the Canadiens is that this agreement will become a team-friendly one in the end.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Avalanche Sign Joel Kiviranta, Calvin De Haan, Jacob MacDonald, Chase Bradley

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The Avalanche are re-signing Joel Kiviranta to a one-year deal, per a team announcement. They’ve also agreed to terms with UFA defenseman Calvin de Haan on an undisclosed deal, Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports. Per The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, de Haan’s deal is worth $800K. Additionally, they’ve brought defenseman/winger Jacob MacDonald back into the organization on a two-year, two-way deal worth $775K NHL/$525K AHL each season, per PuckPedia.

They’ve also signed forward Chase Bradley to a two-year, entry-level deal with an $872.5K cap hit, per PuckPedia. Bradley, 22, was a 2020 seventh-round pick of the Red Wings but became a free agent earlier today after leaving his school with one year remaining of eligibility, something he was eligible to do since it has been four years since he was drafted.

Kiviranta joined Colorado last season, inking a one-year deal in mid-November after playing with the Eagles before that.  The 28-year-old played in 56 games, primarily on their fourth line where he picked up three goals, six assists, and 78 hits in a little under nine minutes per game.  He suited up in eight playoff contests, recording a goal and an assist in just under 12 minutes per contest.  He’ll have a shot to battle for a fourth-line spot again with the Avs next season.

As for de Haan, he’s joining his fourth team in as many years.  The 33-year-old had a depth role with Tampa Bay last season, playing in 59 games with the Lightning.  He picked up 10 points along with 82 blocks and 96 hits along the way while averaging 16:38 per game, up by more than three minutes a night compared to his average the year before with Carolina.  At the moment, de Haan projects to have more of a regular role with Colorado but that could change depending on what other depth options are brought in.

MacDonald, meanwhile, spent parts of five seasons between the Avalanche and Eagles before being moved to San Jose in January 2023.  The 31-year-old spent last season with the Sharks but battled multiple injuries which helped limit him to just 34 games where he had seven goals and two assists in just over 12 minutes a game.  He also cleared waivers back in February, resulting in six AHL appearances with the Barracuda before being recalled at the trade deadline for the rest of the season.  He could be in the mix for a depth spot on the back end as things stand.

As for Bradley, he spent the last three years at the University of Connecticut, setting new personal bests with 11 goals and 11 assists in 31 games.  A report from April suggested he didn’t want to sign with Detroit and instead wanted to test free agency; he didn’t waste much time finding a new home as Colorado adds to their prospect pool with his signing.

Canucks Sign Vincent Desharnais, Jiří Patera

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Adding to their defensive core for the 2024-25 NHL season, the Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Vincent Desharnais away from the Edmonton Oilers on a two-year, $4MM agreement. Additionally, the Canucks have agreed to terms with depth netminder Jiří Patera on a two-year, two-way contract, per a team announcement.

Desharnais has been a late bloomer as the 28-year-old didn’t make his NHL debut until 2022-23 and only became a full-time regular last season.  He played in 78 games in 2023-24, picking up a goal and 10 assists to go along with 122 blocks and 135 hits while averaging a little under 16 minutes per game.  He took a regular turn for the Oilers on the penalty kill, making him more than just a big (he’s 6’7) third-pairing player.  He also got into 16 playoff contests where he averaged more than two hits and blocks per game in just over 17 minutes a night.

Desharnais will be counted on to help anchor Vancouver’s third pairing behind recently-re-signed blueliners Filip Hronek and Tyler Myers.  With Nikita Zadorov (Boston) and Ian Cole (Utah) both departing via free agency, he will be asked to help replace some of the physicality that those two brought to the table.  After being a full-time minor leaguer just two years ago, this contract represents a nice reward for Desharnais’ decision to stick it out in the minors.

As for Patera, he was one of the more intriguing Group Six free agents from this year’s class.  He has eight games of NHL experience under his belt with Vegas but spent most of the year with AHL Henderson where he posted a 2.99 GAA with a .903 SV% in 25 games.  It was believed that Vancouver was open to signing a veteran netminder to play behind Thatcher Demko but instead, it looks as if Patera will try to unseat Arturs Silovs for that role with the one not getting the job heading to play at AHL Abbotsford.

Sabres Sign Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Jacob Bryson, Dennis Gilbert, Jack Rathbone

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The Sabres have added to their flurry of depth signings today, confirming deals for UFA winger Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (one year, $1.5MM), defenseman Jacob Bryson (one year, $900K) and defenseman Dennis Gilbert (one year, $825K). The team also confirmed the previously reported signings of Jason Zucker and Sam Lafferty.

PuckPedia later reported that the Sabres also inked depth defenseman Jack Rathbone to a one-year, two-way deal worth $775K NHL/$500K AHL.

Aubé-Kubel’s stock has improved after being an early-season waiver claim two years ago.  Since then, he became a regular role player for the Capitals.  Last season, the 28-year-old played in 60 games for Washington, recording six goals and ten assists along with a career-high 159 hits while logging a little over 12 minutes a night.  With the Sabres looking to add some grit to their bottom six group, they’ve elected to reunite Aubé-Kubel with Beck Malenstyn, who was acquired back at the draft.

As for Bryson, his stint in unrestricted free agent was short-lived after being non-tendered by the team yesterday.  The 26-year-old had a limited role with Buffalo last season, getting into just 36 games where he had eight points while averaging a little under 15 minutes a night.  His $1.85MM contract helped get him through waivers unclaimed, resulting in him seeing action in ten games with AHL Rochester as well.  Bryson is likely to still have a depth role with the Sabres next season but it will be at a much more manageable price point this time around.

Gilbert, meanwhile, spent all of last season at the NHL level with the Flames but playing time was hard to come by.  While he missed a handful of games with a concussion, he was also a frequent healthy scratch.  In the end, the 27-year-old played in 34 games, picking up a goal and six assists along with 49 blocks and 59 hits while logging a little more than 12 minutes a night.  He could battle for an end-of-roster spot with Buffalo in training camp but could also be earmarked for a key role with AHL Rochester.

In 2021-22, Rathbone picked up 40 points in 39 games with AHL Abbotsford and it looked like a full-time promotion to the NHL could soon be forthcoming.  However, that didn’t come to fruition.  The 25-year-old was moved to Pittsburgh last year in an early-season trade but played exclusively with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording 24 points in 67 games.  He’ll be ticketed for a regular role with the Americans where he’ll hope to play his way into his first NHL action since 2021-22.

Islanders Sign Anthony Duclair, Mike Reilly

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The Islanders have signed winger Anthony Duclair to a four-year deal and re-signed defenseman Mike Reilly to a one-year deal, the team said in separate announcements. Duclair’s deal carries a $3.5MM cap hit, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Duclair is reunited with head coach Patrick Roy who he played for back in junior; Roy called to recruit him to the Islanders.  The 28-year-old speedster has bounced around over the years as this will be the ninth NHL organization he has played for as he enters his 11th season.

Last summer, Florida moved Duclair to San Jose in a cost-clearing move.  While he rebounded a bit after a tough showing in 2022-23, he was on a Sharks team who struggled considerably from a scoring perspective although he still managed 16 goals and 11 assists in 56 games.  Tampa Bay picked him up at the trade deadline and the fit was seamless as he added eight goals and seven assists in 17 contests down the stretch before adding a pair of assists in five playoff contests.  He should give the Isles some more secondary scoring on the wings moving forward.

As for Reilly, he started last season with Florida after being bought out by Boston, who is still paying him $1.333MM in cash for the upcoming season.  However, he was waived less than two months into the season after playing in just two games and was claimed by the Islanders who were dealing with injury issues at the time.

The change of scenery was certainly beneficial for both Reilly and the Isles.  He immediately stepped into a regular role and held it for the rest of the season, picking up six goals and 18 assists along the way while logging more than 17 minutes a night.  That was enough to convince GM Lou Lamoriello to keep him around at a $250K raise from the $1MM he made last season.  Reilly should reprise his role on the third pairing with some secondary power play time next season.

Flames Sign Ryan Lomberg, Martin Frk

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Free agent enforcer Ryan Lomberg is heading back to where his NHL career began, signing a two-year deal with the Flames. Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, it carries a $2MM cap hit. They’ve also inked winger Martin Frk, who boasts one of the hardest shots in the world, to a one-year, two-way deal, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. It has a $775K cap hit, the team announced.

Lomberg had a very limited role in Calgary in his first stint with the team when he was primarily a minor leaguer.  However, he eventually worked his way into a full-time spot with Florida.  The 29-year-old had 12 goals and eight assists in 2022-23, becoming one of the more valuable fourth liners that year.  However, he wasn’t able to produce at a similar level last season, being held to five goals and two assists in 75 games although he did record a career-best 179 hits.  Lomberg also got into eight playoff games along the way to Florida’s first Stanley Cup title.

Florida had hoped to re-sign Lomberg but pulled out of talks when it became clear he was going to cost more than what they could afford.  Considering this is a 150% increase on his previous contract, this was clearly out of the Panthers’ price range.  Lomberg should have a regular role on Calgary’s fourth line and will give them some grit and energy as they kick off what looks to be a multi-year rebuilding process.

As for Frk, he returns to North America after spending last season in the Swiss NL where he had seven goals and nine assists in 33 games with Bern and Rapperswil.  The 30-year-old has 124 career NHL appearances, the last of which came back in 2021-22 with Los Angeles.  Frk has been relatively productive in that limited action, collecting 2o goals and 21 assists, which could give him a chance to break camp with the Flames in a depth role.  If that doesn’t happen, he should be a key scorer with the Wranglers next season.

Flyers Sign Garnet Hathaway To Two-Year Extension

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The Flyers have inked grinder Garnet Hathaway to a two-year extension worth $2.4MM annually, per a team announcement. He’s entering the final season of a two-year deal at a slightly cheaper $2.375MM cap hit. His new contract will take effect with the 2025-26 season.

The 32-year-old had a decent first year in Philadelphia after coming over in free agency from Boston.  Offensively, he had seven goals and ten assists in 82 games while collecting a career-high 132 penalty minutes and 326 hits, the most of any forward in the NHL.  Hathaway averaged 12:29 per game and played a secondary role on the penalty kill.  For his career, Hathaway has 65 goals, 74 assists, 622 penalty minutes, and 1,672 hits in 539 NHL contests between four teams.

Still, it’s somewhat surprising that the Flyers elected to get an extension done this quickly with Hathaway.  For someone who produces at closer to a fourth-line level, the price point is a little high (as his current deal is) but they clearly value the grit he brings to the table with a younger core group up front.  Hathaway is now signed through the 2026-27 campaign, meaning he’ll be 35 when this new agreement expires, making him subject to 35-plus contract rules.

Stars Sign Matt Dumba, Ilya Lyubushkin, Two Others

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The Stars are landing free-agent defenseman Matt Dumba, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports. He adds it’s a two-year deal worth $3.75MM per season. Dallas also announced they’ve inked enforcer Brendan Smith, who can play both defense and wing, to a one-year, $1MM deal. Additionally, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports they’ve signed defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to a two-year deal with a $3.25MM cap hit. They’re also bringing back non-tendered RFA Nils Lundkvist on a one-year, $1.25MM deal, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Dumba was a free agent for the second straight season after having to settle for a one-year deal last summer when multi-year offers weren’t to his liking.  Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go as planned in Arizona as instead of showing that he could return to his earlier offensive success, the 29-year-old was limited to just 10 points and 150 hits in 58 games before being moved to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline.  He had a more limited role with the Lightning, notching just two assists down the stretch before logging less than 16 minutes a night in their opening-round loss to Florida.

With that in mind, it’s interesting to see that Dumba had a strong enough market to land a similar price tag to last year with an extra year.  While his stock is seemingly down, Dumba has long been a capable top-four blueliner who can log some hard minutes.  He’ll be asked to do so with Dallas following the departure of Chris Tanev to Toronto.

As for Smith, the 35-year-old comes over after spending the last two years in New Jersey, playing more of a regular role after being a depth player in previous seasons.  He collected 15 points in 63 games last season while setting new career highs in blocks (101) and hits (117).  His versatility should come in handy although at first glance, it seems as if most of his playing time should come on the back end.

Lyubushkin will also be counted on to shore up the right side of the Stars’ back end.  The 30-year-old is a bit more limited in what he can provide compared to Dumba but he can kill penalties and play on the third pairing.  Last season, Lyubushkin had eight assists, 168 blocks, and 176 hits in 74 games between Anaheim and Toronto and will likely fill a similar role to the one Jani Hakanpaa held in recent years; Hakanpaa coincidentally landed with Toronto later in the day.

Lundqvist, meanwhile, was non-tendered by the Stars on Sunday, making his return a bit more of a surprise.  Things haven’t gone quite according to plan after Dallas parted with a first-round pick to get him from the Rangers.  The 23-year-old had 19 points in 59 games last season but barely averaged 14 minutes a game.  In the playoffs, he was a frequent scratch and logged less than five minutes a night when he was in the lineup.  However, he’ll get one more chance to prove his worth with this deal although he is still controllable for three more years through restricted free agency if they want to qualify him with arbitration rights next summer.

Devils Sign Stefan Noesen, Mike Hardman

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ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the New Jersey Devils have signed forward Stefan Noesen to a three-year, $8.25MM contract. It will be Noesen’s second stint with the Devils organization. They’ve also signed 25-year-old depth forward Mike Hardman to a two-year, two-way deal worth $775K NHL/$350K AHL annually, per PuckPedia.

Noesen spent parts of three seasons with New Jersey the first time around but aside from a good showing in 2017-18, he was largely limited to a depth role.  That continued for a few seasons after he moved on to the point where he was primarily a full-time AHL player, not an NHL player.

However, after a dominant showing with AHL Chicago in 2021-22, Noesen got a full-time opportunity with the Hurricanes the following year.  He certainly made the most of it, picking up 13 goals and 23 assists in 78 games.  The 31-year-old then followed it up with a similar showing last year, tallying 14 goals and 23 helpers in 81 contests despite averaging less than 12 minutes a game of ice time.

The follow-up year was clearly enough to show potential suitors that his late breakout wasn’t a one-off but was rather a sign of things to come, giving him a strong enough market to get more than a 300% increase in salary.  Noesen will likely have a similar role with the Devils as he did in Carolina, playing in their bottom six at five-on-five with the hopes that he can provide some consistent depth scoring.

As for Hardman, last season was the first time in his four-year professional career that he didn’t see any NHL action.  The 25-year-old played exclusively with AHL Rockford, picking up 22 goals and 15 assists in 63 games, all career-highs.  Hardman has 37 career NHL appearances under his belt with Chicago where he has a goal and four assists.  He’s likely earmarked to play with AHL Utica next season.

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