Snapshots: Kane, Tatar, Khusnutdinov
With winger Patrick Kane recovering from hip resurfacing surgery, he isn’t expected to be signing a contract in the foreseeable future. When the time does come for him to sign, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski relays that the veteran is expected to ink a one-year deal. Kane is coming off a bit of a down season by his standards although he still put up 21 goals and 57 points in 2022-23 and was one of the highest-scoring UFAs. Accordingly, it’s quite possible that he could have landed a multi-year commitment. Instead, he appears to be looking for a one-year pact, one that could allow him to join a contender but he’ll likely be leaving money on the table to do so as he won’t be eligible for performance bonuses on this deal since it will be his age-34 season.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Todd Reynolds, the agent for UFA winger Tomas Tatar, told Wyshynski in that same column that there has been strong interest in his client so far, even with teams currently being squeezed by the salary cap. The 32-year-old had to wait a little while to sign in his last trip through free agency in 2021, eventually inking a two-year deal with New Jersey. He was relatively productive in that stretch, picking up 35 goals and 43 assists in 158 games, showing he can still hold down a top-four role. Even so, it seems likely that Tatar will have to take a cut on his previous $4.5MM AAV, even if a team is able to clear out a player or two to make room for him on their roster.
- Wild prospect Marat Khusnutdinov is heading into the final year of his contract in the KHL and he may not be seeing any AHL time once it’s done. Player development director Brad Bombardir told Joe Smith of The Athletic (subscription link) that organizationally, they feel the 20-year-old is ready to step into Minnesota’s lineup at any point from this point. Khusnutdinov was a second-round pick back in 2020 (37th overall) and has over 100 KHL appearances and 55 points under his belt, showing that he’s capable of producing in the pros. He could be a candidate to sign late in the season with Minnesota depending on how far they and SKA St. Petersburg go in their respective playoffs should they get there.
2023 Free Agency Update
Now that a full week has passed since the free agent market opened up on July 1st, there are still quite a few quality players left on the market. Unfortunately for most of these players, the fact that the salary cap only went up to $83.5MM for the 2023-24 season, has severely limited teams from adding more talent to their roster.
There are a few teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vegas Golden Knights that are currently too close to the cap to make any more significant additions; however, there are a number of teams that still have some financial wiggle room. In this list, we will go through some of the top remaining names left on the market organized by position.
Forwards
Patrick Kane – His long-time teammate, Jonathan Toews, is most likely headed towards retirement, but thus far, there has been no indication to suggest that Kane will join him down that path. During the 2021-22 season, Kane continued displaying incredible offensive talent, which has spanned over the last decade, evidenced by his 92 points in 78 games. Unfortunately for Kane, a nagging hip injury seemed to follow him around, as he was only able to muster a total of 35 points in 50 games for the Chicago Blackhawks, only nine of those being goals. As the league grew closer to the trade deadline, speculation grew that Kane may not be moved at all.
To prove the doubters wrong, in his last five games wearing a Blackhawks uniform, Kane scored three goals and seven assists in five games and was promptly moved to the New York Rangers. Needing some time to adjust to a new environment, Kane put up a respectable 12 points in 19 games for the Rangers during the regular season. Even more importantly, Kane did continue his impressive career-long playoff success, scoring six points in seven games for New York.
Vladimir Tarasenko – Now one of Kane’s former teammates with the Rangers, Tarasenko is also suffering from a depressed year according to his standards. Just a season ago, Tarasenko finished with 82 points in 75 games, looking to be setting himself nicely to hit the market this offseason. Much like Kane, Tarasenko’s offensive numbers took a dive, only scoring 10 goals in 38 games for the St.Louis Blues, before he was also traded to New York before the deadline.
In 31 games for the Rangers, Tarasenko did see a slight offensive output improvement, but not by much. In 31 games in New York, he scored eight goals and 13 assists, adding another four points in seven playoff games. Tarasenko had been heavily linked to the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes towards the opening of the market, but was so underwhelmed by his offers, that he switched his representation to CAA Hockey.
Tomas Tatar – One of the more interesting names still available in the free agency market, Tatar has made it difficult for teams to gauge exactly what kind of player they are going to get. In the regular season, he is typically good for 20 goals, and anywhere from 25-35 assists. Last season playing for the New Jersey Devils, Tatar scored 20 goals and 28 assists in 82 games, impressively carrying a rating of +41 at season’s end.
Not only does he carry above-average offensive output for the majority of his career, his possession numbers are solid too, evidenced by his career marks of 60.6 CF%. The major problem for Tatar is the completely different player that seems to come out during the playoffs. In 52 career playoff games, Tatar carries a horrid seven goals and six assists, and an even worse -14 rating. This fact about Tatar has likely driven playoff teams away from his camp, and even rebuilding teams as well, as they likely wouldn’t receive much interest for his services at the trade deadline.
Defensemen
Mathew Dumba – One of the focal points to the Minnesota Wild’s defense over the last decade, Dumba has seemingly become a different player after his impressive 2017-18 season. The offensive numbers have taken the biggest hit, only scoring 94 points in the last 209 games wearing a Wild jersey. Things are not all bad though for Dumba, as he regularly played over 20 minutes a game in Minnesota, saw ice time on the penalty kill, and still carries an oiSV% of 90.5.
Because of their cap situation, it is more than likely that Dumba has played his last game for the Wild, and the two most interested teams find themselves well out of the playoff picture for the next couple of seasons. The Arizona Coyotes have reportedly been linked to Dumba, giving him better access to power-play time; and the San Jose Sharks have considered adding him as well, citing Dumba as a possible replacement for Erik Karlsson.
Goaltenders
Martin Jones – The 2023 free agency class was always considered thin, and the goalie market may have been the thinnest of all positions. Most quality names have already signed up to this point, making Jones one of the better options still available.
During the 2022-23 season, Jones had a back-and-forth season. During a stretch in early January for Seattle, Jones produced a record of 7-0-0, carrying a .926 SV% during that stretch. The win streaks that the Kraken were able to achieve with Jones in the net ultimately put the team in the playoffs, but the overall picture of Jones’ year doesn’t look promising. Although finishing with a great record of 27-13-3, Jones finished the year with a .886 SV% and a 2.99 GAA. The underlying numbers don’t bode well for Jones either, as his GSAA finished at -21.4.
Ottawa Senators Re-Sign Travis Hamonic
The Ottawa Senators are bringing back defenseman Travis Hamonic for two more seasons. Per PuckPedia, the 32-year-old UFA defenseman signed a two-year contract worth $1.1MM per season. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman adds he’s receiving a full no-movement clause in the deal.
While an afterthought on this year’s market, Hamonic actually had one of his best seasons in quite some time in 2022-23. While he saw his ice time dip from his normal 19 to 21 minutes per game, his 21 points were his most in a season since 2015-16 with the New York Islanders.
It’s a fine deal for Hamonic, who will slot in behind Jakob Chychrun and Artem Zub on the team’s right side, likely in a third-pairing role. He still doesn’t provide a ton of value defensively, at least not compared to his heyday, and he likely won’t see anything more than sheltered minutes for the rest of his NHL career.
Hamonic was coming off a two-year, $6MM contract he signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021. This is the lowest-paying contract of his career, save for his entry-level deal.
Senators general manager Pierre Dorion offered a statement:
Travis is a key component of our group. He routinely sets a good example for our younger players with work ethic and accountability, his fearlessness and with a determination level that he seems to exceed each time he steps on the ice. He’s a leader with strong character and someone we’re very pleased to see returning.
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent once again in 2025, although not eligible for a 35+ contract, given his August birthday.
Day One Free Agent Recap: Pacific Division
We wrap up our look at how teams fared over free agency’s opening weekend with the Pacific Division. Make sure to check back on our previous lists for the Atlantic, Metropolitan, and Central Divisions.
Anaheim Ducks
D Trevor Carrick (one year, two-way $775K)
F Alex Killorn (four years, $25MM, $6.25MM AAV)
D Radko Gudas (three years, $12MM, $4MM AAV)
Calgary Flames
*F Dryden Hunt (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
*D Colton Poolman (one year, two-way, $775K)
*D Jordan Oesterle (one year, $925K)
*F Martin Pospisil (one year, two-way, $775K)
*July 2 signing
Edmonton Oilers
D Noel Hoefenmayer (one year, two-way, $845K)
F Connor Brown (one year, $4MM w/ bonuses, $775K cap hit)
F Lane Pederson (two years, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
F Drake Caggiula (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
*D Ben Gleason (two years, two-way $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
*July 2 signing
Los Angeles Kings
D Andreas Englund (two years, $2MM, $1MM AAV)
F Jaret Anderson-Dolan (one year, $775K)
F Mikhail Maltsev (one year, two-way, $775K)
G David Rittich (one year, $875K)
G Cam Talbot (one year, $2MM w/ bonuses, $1MM cap hit)
F Trevor Lewis (one year, $775K)
D Steven Santini (one year, two-way, $800K)
*D Joe Hicketts (one year, two-way, $775K)
*July 2 signing
San Jose Sharks
G Mackenzie Blackwood (two years, $4.7MM, $2.35MM AAV)
F Givani Smith (two years, $1.6MM, $800K AAV)
F Fabian Zetterlund (two years, $2.9MM, $1.45MM AAV)
F Ryan Carpenter (one year, two-way, $775K)
D Kyle Burroughs (three years, $3.3MM, $1.1MM AAV)
F Scott Sabourin (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
Seattle Kraken
D Jimmy Schuldt (one year, two-way, $775K)
F Marian Studenic (one year, two-way, $775K)
D Brian Dumoulin (two years, $6.3MM, $3.15MM AAV)
F John Hayden (one year, two-way, $775K)
*F Kailer Yamamoto (one year, $1.5MM)
*July 2 signing
Vancouver Canucks
F Teddy Blueger (one year, $1.9MM)
D Carson Soucy (three years, $9.75MM, $3.25MM AAV)
D Matt Irwin (one year, two-way, $775K)
G Zachary Sawchenko (one year, two-way, $775K)
D Ian Cole (one year, $3MM)
F Tristen Nielsen (two years, two-way, $1.9MM, $870K cap hit)
*D Akito Hirose (two years, two-way, $1.575MM, $787.5K cap hit)
*July 2 signing
Vegas Golden Knights
F Mason Morelli (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K cap hit)
F Gage Quinney (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K cap hit)
F/D Mason Geertsen (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K cap hit)
*G Jiri Patera (one year, two-way, $775K cap hit)
*July 2 signing
Contract info courtesy of CapFriendly
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Will Butcher
Per PuckPedia, the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed UFA defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year, two-way deal. He’ll earn $775K in the NHL and $425K in the minors.
After five seasons in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres, Butcher found himself limited to an AHL-only role last season after signing a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars. He did well enough in his first AHL season, posting 43 points in 65 games with the Texas Stars, along with a +11 rating.
The contract marks a slight raise for Butcher, who only earned his $325K guaranteed salary on last season’s two-way deal. Butcher, 28, does have 275 NHL games to his name, including a 44-point rookie season with the Devils in 2017-18. He’s yet to hit a level of play anywhere close to what he displayed that year, however.
With a logjam of younger defensemen that includes Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ty Smith, Butcher isn’t a candidate to make the Penguins out of camp. He is, however, one of the more capable call-up options in the league if injuries strike the Pittsburgh blueline.
The left-shot American will be an unrestricted free agent again in a year’s time.
Nashville Predators Sign Jasper Weatherby
The Nashville Predators got some fortification for their center depth chart today, signing UFA forward Jasper Weatherby to a one-year, two-way contract. Per the team, the contract carries the league minimum $775K cap hit. PuckPedia reports he’ll earn $115K at the AHL level.
A 2018 fourth-round selection of the San Jose Sharks, Nashville will be Weatherby’s third NHL organization in a matter of months. The 25-year-old Oregon product was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in January after a beyond-disappointing AHL showing with the San Jose Barracuda to start 2022-23.
Weatherby actually captured a stable fourth-line spot on the Sharks for the better part of 2021-22, recording five goals and 11 points in 50 games. It was impressive work for a late-round pick in his first professional season after wrapping up a three-year stint at the University of North Dakota, which saw him record 24 points in 29 games during his final season.
This past season was rather unkind to Weatherby, however. He failed to make the Sharks out of camp and proceeded to score just three goals and six points in 39 games to start the season with the Barracuda, spearheading the move to Detroit. With the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, Weatherby still posted just 11 points in 31 games.
He’ll aim for a career reset in Nashville, looking to play a more integral role down the middle for their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. With the team signing Ryan O’Reilly and needing to save spots for promising youngsters down the middle like Cody Glass, Thomas Novak, and Juuso Parssinen, Weatherby’s chances of making the roster are slim, even with his 50 games of NHL experience in San Jose.
Weatherby will be a restricted free agent again next offseason, this time with arbitration rights. Detroit opted not to issue him a qualifying offer last week, making him available to all 32 teams on the open market.
Day One Free Agent Recap: Central Division
This year’s July 1 was a doozy, with over 150 signings taking place on the opening day of free agency. With most hockey fans still trying to work through and process their team’s signings, we’re breaking down the long list of signings by division. You can check back and see what teams in the Atlantic Division and Metropolitan Division did.
Here, you can see how Central Division teams have fared on the open market so far:
Arizona Coyotes
D Troy Stecher (one year, $1.1MM)
F Alex Galchenyuk (one year, two-way, $775K)
F Travis Barron (one year, two-way, $775K)
F Jason Zucker (one year, $5.3MM)
F Alexander Kerfoot (two years, $7MM, $3.5MM AAV)
F Nick Bjugstad (two years, $4.2MM, $2.1MM AAV)
G Matt Villalta (one year, two-way, $775K)
*D Montana Onyebuchi (two years, two-way, $1.9MM, $950K AAV)
*F John Leonard (one year, two-way, $775K)
*July 2 signings
Chicago Blackhawks
F Ryan Donato (two years, $4MM, $2MM AAV)
Colorado Avalanche
D Corey Schueneman (one year, two-way, $775K AAV)
F Andrew Cogliano (one year, $825K)
F Miles Wood (six years, $15MM, $2.5MM AAV)
D Bowen Byram (two years, $7.7MM, $3.85MM AAV)
F Jonathan Drouin (one year, $825K)
D Jack Ahcan (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
G Arvid Holm (one year, two-way, $775K)
F Chris Wagner (one year, two-way, $775K)
F Riley Tufte (one year, two-way, $775K)
*G Justus Annunen (one year, two-way, $775K)
*D Jack Johnson (one year, $775K)
*July 2 signings
Dallas Stars
F Matt Duchene (one year, $3MM)
D Joel Hanley (two years, $1.575MM, $787.5K AAV)
F Craig Smith (one year, $1MM)
F Sam Steel (one year, $850K)
*D Gavin Bayreuther (one year, $775K)
*July 2 signing
Minnesota Wild
F Vinni Lettieri (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
F Jake Lucchini (one year, two-way, $775K)
Nashville Predators
F Gustav Nyquist (two years, $6.37MM, $3.185MM AAV)
D Luke Schenn (three years, $8.25MM, $2.75MM AAV)
F Cody Glass (two years, $5MM, $2.5MM AAV)
F Anthony Angello (two years, two-way, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
F Ryan O’Reilly (four years, $18MM, $4.5MM AAV)
G Troy Grosenick (one year, two-way, $775K)
D Alexandre Carrier (one year, $2.5MM)
St. Louis Blues
F Mackenzie MacEachern (two years, $1.55MM, $775K AAV)
D Wyatt Kalynuk (one year, two-way, $775K)
D Joshua Jacobs (one year, two-way, $775K)
G Malcolm Subban (one year, two-way, $775K)
Winnipeg Jets
G Collin Delia (one year, $775K)
F Vladislav Namestnikov (two years, $4MM, $2MM AAV)
F Jeffrey Viel (one year, $775K)
G Laurent Brossoit (one year, $1.75MM)
Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly
Detroit Red Wings Sign Nolan Stevens
A strong showing in the minors has earned former St. Louis Blues forward prospect Nolan Stevens another NHL contract. The Detroit Red Wings have nabbed the unrestricted free agent on a one-year, two-way deal, with CapFriendly reporting it’s worth $775K in the NHL and $150K in the AHL.
The 26-year-old center scored 15 goals and 33 points in 48 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets on a minor-league contract last season, setting a career-high in both categories. The Blues cut ties with Stevens during the 2021-22 season, trading him to the Minnesota Wild in a minor-league swap for forward William Bitten. Minnesota then opted not to re-sign Stevens when he became a UFA under Group VI rules last offseason.
Now with 119 points in 237 AHL games to his name, Stevens is slated for usage with the Grand Rapids Griffins, who will be his fifth AHL squad. Detroit’s affiliate struggled last season, posting a 28-36-8 record and missing the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second straight season. Stevens was on pace for 50 points in a full 72 AHL games last season, which would’ve placed him second on the 2022-23 Griffins squad. Needless to say, he’ll be an important cog in helping Detroit’s farm team return to postseason play.
An NHL contract provides the 6-foot-2 center a chance at his NHL debut, something he hasn’t achieved in five seasons since turning pro. The former Northeastern University captain was selected by the Blues with the 125th overall pick in 2016.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Axel Jonsson-Fjallby
The Winnipeg Jets are bringing back one of their players who hit the open market Saturday. Group VI UFA left wing Axel Jonsson-Fjallby is returning to the team on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $775K. Per the Jets, the deal is a two-way contract in 2023-24 and a one-way contract in 2024-25. PuckPedia adds his AHL salary this season will be $225K.
Winnipeg acquired Jonsson-Fjallby via waiver claim just before the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He went on to spend most of the season on the NHL roster, playing a career-high 50 games and recording six goals and 14 points in a fourth-line role.
Originally a 2016 fifth-round selection of the Washington Capitals, Jonsson-Fjallby’s only previous NHL experience came with them in 2021-22, scoring two goals and four points in 23 games. It came after Washington briefly lost him to the Buffalo Sabres in October 2021, also via a waiver claim, before the Capitals reclaimed him on the waiver wire a few weeks later.
The 25-year-old isn’t likely to play an everyday role in the Jets’ lineup, though, at least not this season. Winnipeg getting three NHL players back from the Los Angeles Kings in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade could push Jonsson-Fjallby down to press box status, although a potential Mark Scheifele trade later on this offseason could generate more playing opportunities for the Swedish winger.
At league minimum, he’s a perfectly fine option for the Jets in a limited role. He’s a speedy forechecker who’s also responsible defensively, and while he doesn’t have much long-term offensive upside, you don’t have to worry about him as a liability at the bottom of the lineup.
Winnipeg would risk losing him on waivers if he doesn’t make the team, although awarding him a two-year deal (with a one-way salary attached in 2024-25) significantly lowers the likelihood of a claim. There’s a bit of a jam at the bottom of Winnipeg’s forward depth chart, with Jonsson-Fjallby battling with Rasmus Kupari, Jansen Harkins, David Gustafsson, and Dominic Toninato for roster spots on the Jets’ fourth line. All five would require waivers to be assigned to the AHL.
Seattle Kraken Sign Connor Carrick
The Seattle Kraken have brought back a familiar face. Defenseman Connor Carrick is returning for his second stint with the organization, signing a one-year, two-way deal with a $775K average annual value.
Carrick, 29, joined the Kraken a couple of months before the team played their first game, signing a one-year pact with them in free agency in August 2021. He didn’t appear in an NHL game for them, though, instead spending the entire season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers, Seattle’s affiliate for their inaugural season.
This is Carrick’s third straight one-year, two-way deal as he continues his career as a high-end AHL depth piece with some significant NHL experience. He spent last season with the Boston Bruins, leading their AHL affiliate in Providence in points from defensemen with 44 in 63 games. He made one NHL appearance with the Bruins in 2022-23, registering an assist, a +3 rating, two shots on goal, and playing 16:54 in an April 9 game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carrick, a right-shot defender, also did well in Charlotte, recording 10 goals and 32 points in 59 games. The past two seasons were Carrick’s first full-time AHL campaigns since 2015-16 with the Hershey Bears and Toronto Marlies, as he’d mainly stuck in the NHL as a seventh defenseman since then.
In his eight-season, 242-game NHL career, Carrick’s played for the Bruins, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals. He’s amassed 13 goals, 37 assists, 50 points, and a -19 rating.
Seattle’s NHL defense corps is filled up after signing former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin to a two-year contract on July 1. Because of that, Carrick is likely destined for another significant AHL role, this time with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Seattle’s minor-league affiliate advanced to Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final in their inaugural campaign last year, losing to Hershey in overtime. Within the Kraken organization, he replaces the role of defenseman Brogan Rafferty, who led Firebirds defensemen in regular-season scoring with 51 points in 72 games and signed with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.