Calgary Flames Extend Jonathan Huberdeau
10:20 PM: We have some more details on the contract. Here’s the financial structure of the deal, per Friedman.
2023-24: $7MM signing bonus, $3.5MM salary
2024-25: $7MM signing bonus, $3.5MM salary
2025-26: $7MM signing bonus, $3.5MM salary
2026-27: $9.5MM signing bonus, $1MM salary
2027-28: $9.5MM signing bonus, $1MM salary
2028-29: $7MM signing bonus, $3.5MM salary
2029-30: $9.5MM signing bonus, $1MM salary
2030-31: $5MM signing bonus, $5.5MM salary
The deal carries a full no-move clause, and the final two years have a partial no-move clause that allows him to be dealt to 12 teams.
The Flames have also now officially announced the deal.
9:54 PM: Before he’s even played a game for the team, Jonathan Huberdeau has chosen to remain with the Calgary Flames for the next nine seasons. Per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Flames and Huberdeau have agreed on an eight-year, $10.5MM AAV deal, a contract that is the richest in Calgary Flames franchise history.
This is a legitimately massive extension, and it already bodes well for Flames GM Brad Treliving’s bold decision to acquire two at-the-time pending unrestricted free agents (along with a prospect and a pick) for Matthew Tkachuk. Huberdeau is one of the most talented players in the NHL, and he’s perhaps the closest comparable to Johnny Gaudreau that Treliving could have acquired.
A pass-first winger, Huberdeau was a crucial part of a Florida Panthers offensive attack that seemed to score at will in 2021-22. Huberdeau scored 30 goals and 115 points, numbers that would have won Art Ross and potentially Hart trophies just a few years ago, in the days before the dominance of players such as Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.
Huberdeau is one of the rare wingers in the NHL who can drive a line. When Huberdeau is at his best, he functions as a rising tide that lifts everyone else who shares the ice with him. The Panthers have had many breakout success stories in recent years, such as Carter Verhaeghe, Jonathan Marchessault, and Anthony Duclair, to name a few, and Huberdeau’s presence helped each of those players reach new heights in their careers.
While nobody will mistake Huberdeau for a Selke Trophy contender, the reality is he has put increased effort into polishing his two-way game. Former interim Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette frequently used Huberdeau on the penalty kill, and in Calgary he should be able to help there in a pinch, although they should already have specialists more suited for those minutes.
With his full on-ice value in the picture, getting Huberdeau under contract beyond this season is a major win for the Flames, even at a $10.5MM cost. Huberdeau’s 115-point season earned him that kind of hefty cap number, and the Flames, still reeling after the loss of Gaudreau and Tkachuk, have to be eagerly willing to pay it.
Will this deal look the best in 2028, 2029, or 2030? No, it probably won’t. Huberdeau is 29 and isn’t getting any younger. But the Flames had a strong regular season last year, and clearly want to win a Stanley Cup in the immediate future. This contract will take Huberdeau into his late thirties. With Gaudreau and Tkachuk now gone, they needed to acquire players like Huberdeau. Once they got one, they needed to find a way to hold on to him. Now they have.
In all fairness, there is the possibility that Huberdeau could regress. But on the flip side, he could age like his former teammate, Claude Giroux, who has scored well as he’s aged and recently earned a large, multi-year contract from the Ottawa Senators despite the fact that he’ll turn 35 in January.
Any way you slice it, this is a deal the Flames simply had to make. Some might quibble about the term, the cap hit, et cetera, and that’s fair. This is a lot of money to commit to a player for a long time. But NHL teams don’t have the luxury of getting picky with their 115-point players.
Paying a little bit too much for a little bit too long is simply the nature of shopping at the top of the market in the NHL. The reality is nearly every team would rather pay a star a bit too much than have nobody worth paying. This is a big win for Calgary and extremely welcome news for a Flames fanbase that just a few weeks ago felt completely hopeless.
Picture courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
New Jersey Devils Sign Jesper Bratt
The New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday morning that the team has signed right winger Jesper Bratt to a one-year deal worth $5.45MM prior to reaching arbitration. He will again be a restricted free agent next offseason.
The deal comes in right under the wire, as Bratt’s arbitration hearing was scheduled for this morning. Per CapFriendly, he will still have arbitration rights next offseason.
Fresh off his 24th birthday, Bratt has already transformed into likely the biggest steal of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Taken in the sixth round by New Jersey that year, Bratt played his rookie season just one year later in 2017-18. He had registered between 30 and 35 points in each of his first four NHL seasons. With six seasons having passed since that draft, Bratt already ranks seventh in scoring among his draft peers despite being selected 162nd overall.
But 2021-22 was a breakthrough campaign for Bratt, showcasing his potential as a bonafide first-line winger. In 76 games, Bratt tied for the team lead with 26 goals and led the team outright with 47 assists and 73 points. All of those marks were personal career highs. It didn’t seem like a huge shooting bender boosting his numbers, either, as his 13.2% shooting percentage wasn’t even the highest mark of his career.
Bratt’s new cap hit comes in just above what a “split the difference” decision would’ve been in arbitration, as The Athletic’s Arpon Basu notes that the halfway point between the two arbitration filings was $5.325MM.
With Bratt signing today and Tyce Thompson signing yesterday, the Devils have just two RFAs remaining — left wing Miles Wood and center Fabian Zetterlund. Wood, who played just three games in 2021-22 due to injury, has an arbitration hearing set for August 6. Zetterlund, who’s a candidate to crack the opening night lineup after eight points in 14 NHL games last year (and 52 points in 58 AHL games), is not eligible for arbitration.
With just Wood left to sign to hit a full 23-man roster, CapFriendly lists the Devils as having roughly $3.25MM in cap space.
Anaheim Ducks Sign John Klingberg
The market for John Klingberg this offseason never did materialize as he had hoped, so he will try again next summer after signing a one-year, $7MM contract with the Anaheim Ducks. GM Pat Verbeek released the following statement about the signing:
We are extremely excited to add John to our group. John is a gifted player who can quarterback a power play and give us needed scoring from the blueline. He also adds veteran leadership and character to our team.
It didn’t take long for Klingberg’s new agency to get a deal worked out, after he switched to Newport Sports Management earlier this week. The 29-year-old defenseman had been looking for a seven-year deal on the open market but after two weeks of waiting, he’ll have to settle for a one-year, high-money contract to set himself up for next season.
There’s little doubt that Klingberg can be a difference-making offensive weapon but with a history of inconsistent defensive play and a tough season results-wise (he finished a -28, the worst of his career), there may have been hesitation from teams willing to hand out long-term deals. Players like Ben Chiarot and Erik Gudbranson, two heavy, physical defensemen, were able to secure multi-year contracts at a hefty price but the offensive-minded Klingberg will have to settle for the one-year deal and try to prove he can still be a top-pairing option.
Heading to Anaheim is an interesting choice, given what the team already has in place. Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie Drysdale are already good puck-moving options on the right side, and Cam Fowler was the team’s leader on the powerplay in 2021-22. While Shattenkirk has just one year remaining on his deal and Drysdale is still just 20 years old, one has to wonder how the team will fit Klingberg into the mix, at least in terms of deployment.
In terms of potential upside? The Ducks are certainly that, with plenty of young talent buzzing all over the ice and a need for some veteran playmakers to add to the mix. The team already brought in Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano in free agency, showing that they’re ready to start competing again after adding some top prospects to the mix.
Most notably for Anaheim, perhaps, is that Klingberg could potentially be a top trade chip at the deadline, should the team not be quite ready to make the playoffs this season. Adding that kind of chip–a trade with retained salary would likely net at least a first-round pick–for nothing but a little offseason cap space is a savvy move from Verbeek. It’s worth noting that the deal only contains a no-trade clause until January 1st, PuckPedia reports. After that, it turns into a 10-team no-trade clause. The team wasn’t in any danger of putting themselves in a tricky cap situation, as before signing Klingberg they had nearly $26MM in space. It makes perfect sense for the team to spend some of it to add an asset to the organization, even if it will be for only a few months.
There is also the chance that Klingberg could sign an extension in Anaheim, though that would have to wait until January 2023 now.
Overall, this seems like a player who is trying to make the best out of a disappointing free agent result, and a team capitalizing on having cap space in a market that is so tight.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Florida Panthers Acquire, Extend Matthew Tkachuk
The Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames have completed a massive, blockbuster trade.
The teams have each announced the swap: Matthew Tkachuk and a conditional fourth-round pick are going to the Florida Panthers, while Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick will head to Calgary.
With the trade completed, the Panthers announced that Tkachuk has agreed to an eight-year extension carrying a $9.5MM average annual value. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the breakdown of Tkachuk’s contract each season is uniform – a base salary of $1MM and a signing bonus of $8.5MM.
That settles the Tkachuk contract situation and closes off any talk of Tkachuk joining the St. Louis Blues, which had been heavily rumored in the days leading up to this trade.
Overall, this is the sort of trade that we just don’t see all that often. It involves three superstar players, two wingers who crossed the 100-point threshold last season and one late-blooming defenseman who has blossomed into a true top-pairing, all-situations minutes-eater. A trade involving three stars doesn’t happen very often, making this swap all the more interesting to unpack.
For the Flames, the rationale for making this deal was quite simple. The team had barely any time to recover from the loss of Johnny Gaudreau to the Columbus Blue Jackets before Tkachuk informed them of his intentions to test free agency in a year’s time. GM Brad Treliving was backed into a corner, and he needed to find a way to revive his team’s competitive prospects despite his leverage decreasing and assets’ values dwindling. This trade is Treliving’s way of jump-starting the Flames’ hopes for next season after a nightmarish start to their offseason.
One could very easily argue that, on a player-for-player basis, the Flames got significantly better through this trade. Yes, Tkachuk is a superstar, combining incredible skill with physicality and peskiness to provide a package of tools few players can rival. On a line with Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm, Tkachuk smashed past his career highs in 2021-22, scoring 42 goals and 104 points. But in exchange for Tkachuk, the Flames are getting a player who also blew past his career highs and reached new heights in production – Huberdeau. In 80 games, Huberdeau scored 30 goals and 115 points, helping power a Panthers offense that scored at will. And it’s not just offense with him either, Huberdeau also saw nearly two minutes of short-handed ice time per game and has made great strides in refining his 200-foot game.
But that’s not all the Flames are getting. They’re also receiving Mackenzie Weegar, a 28-year-old former seventh-round pick who’s quickly risen to be one of the most reliable, impactful, underrated two-way defensemen in hockey. Weegar scored 44 points this season and averaged 2:46 in short-handed ice-time per game. When Aaron Ekblad was struggling to stay in the lineup, Weegar became a true number-one defenseman on the best regular-season team in hockey, a true feat. It’s fair to call Weegar a number-one defenseman and he should instantly be expected to slot into that role on an already talented Flames blueline.
In addition to Weegar, the Flames are getting prospect center, Schwindt. Schwindt is 21 years old and was drafted 81st overall at the 2019 draft. The former Mississauga Steelheads star has adjusted well to professional hockey, and had 40 points in 70 games as a rookie in the AHL. Schwindt represents the future-oriented part of the return, along with the lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick the Flames also received from the Panthers.
So, for Calgary, this trade works on two levels. On one level, it helps them recover from the loss of Gaudreau and compete for a Stanley Cup next season. They are adding an MVP-level, line-driving, 100-plus point winger to replace their lost 100-point winger. They’re also adding a minute-munching, all-situations number-one defenseman as well. Instantly, their team is better. They also receive a solid prospect to develop at their new Calgary-based AHL affiliate, and a nice first-round pick as well.
The true beauty of this trade for Calgary, though, is on its second level. See, this trade gives Treliving something that is all too rare in today’s flat cap world: flexibility. Let’s say, for whatever reason, Huberdeau and Weegar aren’t great fits. The team could struggle out the gate, and it could become clear that expecting the 2022-23 Flames to compete for a Stanley Cup is unrealistic. Well, if that ends up happening, Treliving will have Huberdeau and Weegar on expiring contracts. He will be able to immediately pivot to a rebuilding planfor his club and jump-start it with two players who will likely be the most coveted assets on the deadline trade market.
Treliving would be able to, essentially, orchestrate an auction for Huberdeau and Weegar’s services next season and accumulate a significant stockpile of draft picks and prospects in the process. When added on to the prospect and draft pick already received in this deal, it’s not a bad way to begin an organizational reset, especially when it comes at the cost of a player who had already communicated his intentions to leave in free agency. So for Treliving, this trade gives him and the entire Flames organization the flexibility to be able to effectively pursue either a cup-or-bust competitive window or a future-oriented reset.
Yes, there is some risk for the Flames, there’s no doubt about that. If a rebuild is, in fact, off the table, then adding two players with just a single year of team control each as the main return for Tkachuk is a gamble. If Weegar and Huberdeau both leave as free agents next summer, and the Flames don’t win a Stanley Cup, the initial good feelings generated from this trade could evaporate. But for a Calgary team that badly needed optimism and direction after such a bad month, this is the sort of gamble they’re prepared to make.
From the Panthers’ side of the equation, the motivations behind making this trade are a bit less immediately clear. This is a team that just won the President’s Trophy, so swapping one superstar winger for another at the cost of a top-pairing defenseman might not seem like the wisest choice, especially when they need to surrender a talented prospect and a first-rounder for their trouble. But one look at the Panthers’ cap sheet can give a bit more insight into why GM Bill Zito and the Panthers made this swap.
With major cap hits for Aleksander Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Ekblad, and Sam Reinhart already on the books, the Panthers were looking at a very realistic scenario that either Huberdeau, Weegar, or even both would leave as free agents next summer. That was seen as a necessary risk for a team intent on winning the Stanley Cup, of course, but Zito seemingly decided that that risk was too much to bear. So, he decided to trade both Huberdeau and Weegar at a time when they were still extremely valuable assets in order to secure a younger superstar winger who he can lock into a long-term deal.
With Weegar gone and Tkachuk swapped for Huberdeau, it’s difficult to say that the Panthers are an improved team for next season. But if this trade as well as the departure of interim head coach Andrew Brunette tells us anything, it’s that the Panthers were extremely displeased with their second-round loss at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers clearly believe that they need a change in how their group plays, to play with more physicality, fire, and passion. There are few 100-point wingers who offer those three attributes more plentifully than Tkachuk, and even at this steep price, it’s easy to understand why Zito wanted him in Sunrise. If his presence in the lineup and locker room can help augment their team’s identity, it’ll be assets well spent.
This trade will be an extremely interesting one to track, and the storylines it creates could dominate the hockey headlines for months to come. Tkachuk is now in the same division as his brother, Brady, who captains the Ottawa Senators. The Flames have recently had to deal with questions over their ability to retain star players, and they’ve now added two star players who will, in just a year’s time, be free agents. Will the Flames be able to keep them? Will the new-look Flames be as good as last year’s club? Will Zito’s no-holds-barred chase of superstar talent, at the cost of the team’s first-round picks for the next three seasons, result in a Stanley Cup victory for the Panthers?
Those are definitely questions to ponder, and it’ll be extremely interesting to see how they end up answered.
Sportsnet’s Eric Francis was first on the trade. Pictures courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Seattle Kraken Acquire Oliver Bjorkstrand
After today’s signing of Patrik Laine, the Blue Jackets badly needed to create cap space. They’ve now done so, sending winger Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick.
This trade is another example of just how difficult it is for teams trading established players to get large compensation packages in return. Bjorkstrand is a 27-year-old forward who just set career highs in production in 2021-22. Bjorkstrand scored 28 goals and 57 points in 80 games last year, which ranked second on the Blue Jackets behind Jakub Voracek. Bjorkstrand’s contract is $5.4MM for the next four seasons, taking him to his age-31 campaign.
That’s a reasonable, affordable cost for a player like Bjorkstrand, which is perhaps why he’s the player Columbus had to trade. The trade of Bjorkstrand indicates that the team may have found there was not much appetite for their other highly-priced forwards like Voracek and Gustav Nyquist, despite Nyquist and Voracek each being productive and having less term on their contracts than Bjorkstrand.
For Columbus, this is a deal fans won’t be celebrating, but it’s also one they’ll understand as the cost of doing business at the top of the free agent market. The Blue Jackets landed perhaps the most talented player in their franchise’s history, Johnny Gaudreau, on a major contract earlier this month. It’s likely that seeing Gaudreau light the lamp repeatedly in Columbus will ease the pain of losing a reasonably-priced top-six winger for just two mid-round picks.
For the Kraken, adding Bjorkstrand at such an affordable asset cost is another solid addition for a team desperate to improve on last season’s lackluster scoring attack. With Bjorkstrand in the fold and free agent signing Andre Burakovsky arriving from Colorado, Dave Hakstol will have no shortage of options for who he wants to flank his two highly-drafted young centers in Matty Beniers and Shane Wright.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Patrik Laine
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Patrik Laine to a four-year contract worth a total of $34.8MM. The $8.7MM average annual value will make him the team’s second highest-paid forward, coming in a little behind Johnny Gaudreau and just ahead of Jakub Voracek. Though he qualified for it, Laine had decided not to file for salary arbitration this year. His $7.5MM qualifying offer was set to expire today but the two sides have come to an agreement on a longer deal. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the full contract details:
- 2022-23: $7.5MM
- 2023-24: $9.1MM + 10-team NTC
- 2024-25: $9.1MM + 10-team NTC
- 2025-26: $9.1MM + 10-team NTC
Laine, 24, has already completed six seasons in the NHL, meaning a deal of this length buys out three years of unrestricted free agency. Had he instead decided to accept the qualifying offer or go to arbitration, he could have reached the open market as a 25-year-old. With that in mind, a deal like this actually may seem like something of a bargain for the Blue Jackets, given the outstanding goal-scoring ability of the Finnish forward.
Since entering the league in 2016-17, Laine sits 14th in the league with 176 goals just behind Nikita Kucherov and former Winnipeg Jets teammate Kyle Connor. His career-high of 44 was set in just his sophomore year, before a little bit of inconsistency slipped into his game. Now firmly established in Columbus after a trade last year, he was outstanding this season for the Blue Jackets, scoring 26 goals and 56 points in 56 games including seven game-winners.
The upside for the 6’5″ winger was always tremendous but the circumstances of this free agent period have Blue Jackets fans even more excited for what might be on the horizon. After general manager Jarmo Kekalainen secured one of the league’s best playmakers in Gaudreau, the idea of the pair hitting the ice together should be a frightening thought for opponents and goaltenders alike. With young talents like Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson already making an impact before they even turn 20, the Blue Jackets forward group should be as dangerous as anyone over the next several years.
Still, this is a cap league and one that is still dealing with the fallout from the previous shutdowns. The cap ceiling increased only barely this season and the Blue Jackets will now be forced to make a move to get back under it. At the moment, the team projects to be about $2.35MM over the cap, with Emil Bemstrom still to sign. There are some ways they could drop that amount but recent reports already have the team trying to cut a much bigger chunk of salary before the start of the year.
At any rate, getting Laine signed is a huge win for the Blue Jackets, and a deal like this actually doesn’t present much risk. While there is a chance he doesn’t quite live up to a cap hit that high, a four-year deal means that he will be just 28 at its expiry, likely still in his prime as an NHL talent. Laine will be able to sign another massive deal at that point but the Blue Jackets are not yet at risk of having an anchor contract on the books as he enters his thirties.
Nearly everyone on the roster will see their contracts expire by the time Laine is ready for another deal, including recent free agent signing Erik Gudbranson, who is also signed through 2025-26. If the team needs to make a mega-offer for their Finnish star at that point, they will likely have the flexibility to do so.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Nashville Predators Sign Nino Niederreiter
The Nashville Predators have landed one of the top free agents remaining, signing Nino Niederreiter to a two-year, $8MM contract. The $4MM average annual value comes in quite a bit below the $5.25MM cap hit he had carried for the last five years, and the two-year term will leave him as a UFA again at the age of 31.
There is a lot to like about this deal for the Predators, who now have the opportunity to reunite Niederreiter with former linemate Mikael Granlund if they choose. Getting a 24-goal scorer for such a reasonable contract perhaps shows how tight the market has become in the days since free agency opened, as this move presents very little risk for Nashville general manager David Poile.
With Filip Forsberg taken care of, the Predators had nearly $8.5MM in cap space to add to the current roster, with only Yakov Trenin left to re-sign. Putting Niederreiter in the mix gives them another versatile, physical winger to move up and down the lineup, one that comes with a strong history of goal-scoring.
Over a career that spans parts of 11 seasons and 732 games, Niederreiter has scored at almost exactly a 20-goal pace and most of his damage comes at even-strength. On last year’s Carolina Hurricanes team, for instance, his 20 even-strength goals trailed only Sebastian Aho (23) and Andrei Svechnikov (21) for the team lead.
Adding that kind of player–who also comes with 1,115 career hits–will help to lengthen out a Predators offensive group that suddenly looks rather imposing. After Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen‘s incredible bounce-back performances in 2021-22, the emergence of Tanner Jeannot and Philip Tomasino, and now Niederreiter’s addition, the team should be able to ice three lines that can produce offensively. Add in Ryan McDonagh on the back end and the Predators are setting up to be a real contender in the Central Division.
For the player, this is a rather stunning contract, given how similarly productive wingers like Rickard Rakell had landed much longer and more lucrative contracts. Still, Niederreiter has set himself up to hit the market again in two years when the cap will be starting to increase and at a young enough age to land another long-term deal. For the next two, he should provide solid value for the Predators as they continue to chase their first Stanley Cup.
Matthew Tkachuk Tells Flames He Won’t Sign Long-Term
6:12 pm: Sportsnet’s Eric Francis contested the reported list of teams that Tkachuk will sign a long-term extension with, saying the trade list of St. Louis, Vegas, Florida, Nashville, and Dallas is “not accurate”.
1:16 pm: What has been apparent for a while is now official, as Matthew Tkachuk has told the Calgary Flames that he will not sign a long-term contract, according to Jeremy Rutherford and Hailey Salvian of The Athletic. The report indicates that a trade is “likely to happen soon” and that Tkachuk has provided the team with a list of where he would agree to a long-term extension.
According to The Athletic, that list includes the St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars, with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers also expressing interest in the past.
The Flames filed for salary arbitration earlier this week, taking the threat of an offer sheet off the table and giving them some time to potentially work out an extension, or trade the restricted free agent before he accepted his $9.0MM qualifying offer. It appears to be the latter, as an arbitration award would only take Tkachuk directly to unrestricted free agency a year from now, allowing him to take his services wherever he wanted without the Flames receiving anything in return.
After losing Johnny Gaudreau last week, Calgary must cash in the Tkachuk chip before they run out of time. While that doesn’t necessarily need to be right now, allowing Tkachuk to work out a long-term deal with an acquiring club would likely maximize the return for the Flames.
Like Gaudreau, Tkachuk is coming off a massive career-best season, where he notched 42 goals and 104 points while playing in all 82 games. He received Hart and Selke trophy votes, was named a second-team All-Star, and finished eighth in league scoring. With Tkachuk part of arguably the best line in the NHL alongside Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm, the Flames outscored teams 108-49 with him on the ice at even-strength.
Still just 24, he is a year away from unrestricted free agency due to how quickly he entered the NHL. After being the sixth-overall pick in 2016, he jumped right into the league and scored 48 points as a rookie. Now through six seasons, he has 152 goals and 382 points in 431 games, with nearly 600 hits.
This is the kind of franchise-altering talent that almost never gets to the open market and one that is worth mortgaging some of your future for in a trade package. Tkachuk’s overall impact on the game can be felt in several ways, and he could help a contender looking for the edge, or a younger squad hoping to add some rocket fuel to their rebuild.
Where this leaves the Flames on that spectrum isn’t exactly clear. If they do part ways with Gaudreau and Tkachuk in the span of a few weeks, the entire core of their offensive attack has essentially disappeared. While Lindholm is an excellent player on an outstanding contract, Blake Coleman adds versatility and experience to the middle-six, and Andrew Mangiapane has expressed a desire to be part of the long-term solution, it’s hard to know if that is really enough to stay competitive.
A decision that front should inform any potential return, and whether the Flames would then dive into what’s left in free agency to try and give themselves a boost for next season. With only Coleman, Rasmus Andersson, and Jacob Markstrom signed for more than two years, there would at least be an opportunity for a rebuild, if the team wanted. But with so many complementary pieces in place on reasonable deals, it’s hard to see general manager Brad Treliving tearing it down at this point.
Either way, while Flames fans will be frustrated with Tkachuk’s unwillingness to stay, they can at least be happy that he told them early enough to still land a substantial trade package in return.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
PHR’s 2022 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
Originally published July 12th.
What an offseason it has been already. A 40-goal scorer, an 85-point powerhouse, and a two-time Stanley Cup champion were all dealt within a few days of each other, as Alex DeBrincat, Kevin Fiala, and Ryan McDonagh all found new homes. The draft brought its own fireworks, with Juraj Slafkovsky completing his rocketship rise to be selected first overall, and players like Alexander Romanov, Kirby Dach, and Zack Kassian all finding themselves on the move.
After all of that, the focus is now on the free agent market and this week’s feeding frenzy. Wednesday afternoon a huge number of players will hit the open seas, able to pursue money and glory with a new team. Depending on what happens over the next 48 hours there are first-line players, future Hall of Famers, and award winners available, along with plenty of depth options. With the salary cap only barely inching upward, teams will have to carefully decide which veteran to pay and which to let go.
After giving teams plenty of time to announce extensions (you couldn’t wait a few days to sign, Valeri Nichushkin?), it’s time to unveil our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agent List. The rankings were voted on by the PHR writing team, based on a combination of talent and projected demand, not necessarily their total dollar amounts.
All predictions are independent and have no bearing on each other, while each player is presumed to be signing a one-way contract. Retirement, Europe, and professional tryouts are real possibilities for many of them, but those options have not been used as predictions. The voting was done after Colin White was bought out but before the qualifying offer deadline, meaning players like Dylan Strome and Ilya Samsonov were not included.
1. Johnny Gaudreau – Philadelphia Flyers – 7 years, $70.0MM ($10.0MM AAV)
A unanimous selection in the top spot, Gaudreau is one of the best players to ever make it to unrestricted free agency in their prime. His career-best 115-point season was good enough for second in the NHL (tied with Jonathan Huberdeau), and he won’t turn 29 for another month. Gaudreau should become one of the highest-paid players in the league on Wednesday–or before if he’s able to work out a deal with Calgary–and is the jewel on top of an impressive group of free agents this year.
Signed in Columbus, 7 years, $68.25MM ($9.75MM AAV)
2. Nazem Kadri – Seattle Kraken – 6 years, $48.0MM ($8.0MM AAV)
Kadri established himself as a quality number two center in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, hitting a career-high 61 points in 2016-17. This year, however, Kadri had a true breakout season, becoming a star with 28 goals and 87 points, followed up with a tremendous playoff en route to a Stanley Cup. Soon to be 32 years old, Kadri is in line for a major payday from what should be a long list of suitors but could see his term reigned in a bit given his age.
Signed in Calgary, 7 years, $49MM ($7.0MM AAV)
3. Patrice Bergeron – Boston Bruins – 1 year, $5.0MM
This Boston Bruins legend will find himself in the Hockey Hall of Fame someday, but until then, his future remains a question. Bergeron left it up in the air at the end of the season, with some recent reports suggesting he would return to the Bruins on a one-year deal, though nothing has materialized yet. If there was any indication that the legendary center would be willing to go somewhere other than Boston, he likely ends up in the second spot on our list. As it stands, he’ll have to settle for third place.
Re-signed with Boston, one year, $2.5MM in base salary and $2.5MM in games played bonuses
4. Evgeni Malkin – Washington Capitals – 3 years, $21.0MM ($7.0MM AAV)
A career-Penguin, Malkin’s tenure in the Steel City may be coming to an end shortly, with no new deal in place. The three-time Cup champ has dealt with his share of injuries the past few seasons and though that may affect his value, his production has not dropped off when he is on the ice, recording 144 points in his last 129 regular-season games. At 36 (on July 31st), Malkin may not get a long-term deal but brings plenty of value to a team looking to add a dynamic veteran to their lineup.
Re-signed in Pittsburgh, 4 years, $24.4MM ($6.1MM AAV)
5. John Klingberg – Carolina Hurricanes – 6 years, $42.0MM ($7.0MM AAV)
Regarded as one of the better puck-moving defensemen of his generation, Klingberg is set to hit the open market for the first time in his career this summer, and recent reports suggest will not be returning to Dallas. Klingberg’s production has fallen off a bit since his 67-point 2017-18, but as a heads-up, veteran right-handed defenseman he will always be a valuable commodity in the NHL.
Signed in Anaheim, 1 year, $7MM
6. Claude Giroux – Ottawa Senators – 3 years, $19.5MM ($6.5MM AAV)
Giroux was a part of one of the biggest trade deadline blockbusters in recent history when he was dealt to the Florida Panthers, ending his time in Philadelphia after exactly 1,000 games (and 900 points). The veteran has been linked to a handful of teams already and rightfully so, given his still-stellar production. He may not be capable of being the centerpiece for a team at this point in his career but could be the extra weapon an established group needs to take the next step, much as he was expected to be for Florida this spring.
Signed in Ottawa, 3 years, $19.5MM ($6.5MM AAV)
7. Vincent Trocheck – Pittsburgh Penguins – 6 years, $36.0MM ($6.0 AAV)
Far from the biggest name on this list, Trocheck has been one of the most proven commodities in the league throughout his career. The veteran center peaked in 2017-18 with a 75-point season, and though he hasn’t hit that since he has shown he can be a point-producing two-way pivot capable of playing in a team’s top-six, something NHL teams have shown to value highly year after year.
Signed with Rangers, 7 years, $39.375MM ($5.625MM AAV)
8. Darcy Kuemper – Washington Capitals – 4 years, $22.0MM ($5.5MM AAV)
If there was ever a time for Kuemper to be a free agent, this is it. The 32-year-old goaltender was given the net in Colorado and didn’t disappoint, recording a .921 save percentage and 2.54 goals-against average in 57 games before helping to lead the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup Championship, contributing despite several postseason injuries. The fact that the goaltending market is incredibly thin this year should only drive his price skyward, and land him a contract that will take him close to retirement.
Signed in Washington, 5 years, $26.25MM ($5.25MM AAV)
9. Andrew Copp – New Jersey Devils – 5 years, $30MM ($6.0MM AAV)
Copp has spent his career as a gritty middle-six forward that could contribute a little bit on offense. This season was a different story with that little bit growing to 53 points. Eighteen of which came in just 16 games after a trade to the New York Rangers, adding another 14 in 20 playoff games in a deep run. The forward will now look to cash in on his strong performance this offseason.
Signed in Detroit, 5 years, $28.125MM ($5.625MM AAV)
10. Ondrej Palat – Detroit Red Wings – 3 years, $15.9MM ($5.3MM AAV)
As an NHLer, Palat has only ever known the Tampa Bay Lightning, appearing in 628 regular season games and 138 playoff games, which has included four Stanley Cup final appearances, winning two of them. Despite the Lightning clearing some cap space by moving McDonagh, it’s still a tight squeeze in Tampa Bay. Palat is coming off another quality regular season and the strongest playoff performance of his career, where he had 21 points in 23 games. Now, he will have the chance to choose where he brings his Stanley Cup pedigree.
Signed in New Jersey, 5 years, $30MM ($6.0MM AAV)
11. Ryan Strome – Dallas Stars – 5 years, $29.0MM ($5.8MM AAV)
Drafted fifth overall in 2011, Strome failed to live up to the lofty expectations associated with being a high pick and was eventually dealt by the New York Islanders to the Edmonton Oilers in 2017. After a subsequent trade to the New York Rangers, Strome broke out in 2019-20, establishing himself as the team’s number two center, and one of the best in that role in the entire league. After three consecutive strong seasons in Manhattan, Strome will hit the market looking to provide offense up the middle to a team willing to pay.
Signed in Anaheim, 5 years, $25MM ($5.0MM AAV)
12. Andre Burakovsky – Buffalo Sabres – 4 years, $20.0MM ($5.0MM AAV)
Burakovsky never put up more than 38 points in a single season with the Washington Capitals before being dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in 2019. He took a step forward out west, hitting 45 and 44 points in 58 and 53 games respectively, taking another step this season, notching 61 points in 80 games. The winger’s production should lead to a contract with both appealing salary and term, however questions regarding his consistency could play a factor in just how much he can get on the open market.
Signed in Seattle, 5 years, $27.5MM ($5.5MM AAV)
13. David Perron – St. Louis Blues – 2 years, $12.0MM ($6.0MM AAV)
In his career, Perron has played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Vegas Golden Knights. As a veteran who is almost always good for at least 50 points per season, Perron will be expected to have plenty of demand should he reach the open market, which may make it hard to predict where he goes. But in trying to answer that question, it’s worth remembering that, despite playing for five different teams, he has only ever signed an NHL contract with the Blues. That’s not a guarantee, but it certainly is food for thought.
Signed in Detroit, 2 years, $9.5MM ($4.75MM AAV)
14. Jack Campbell – Edmonton Oilers – 5 years, $27.5MM ($5.5MM AAV)
One of the highest-drafted goaltenders over the past 15 years, Campbell went 11th overall to the Dallas Stars in 2010. After struggling for years to put it all together, the 30-year-old netminder found his groove in Los Angeles and then became the starter in Toronto. Now sitting with a career .915 save percentage in 142 appearances, there are some betting on him as a true starter and that’s likely what will drive a big payday this week.
Signed in Edmonton, 5 years, $25MM ($5.0MM AAV)
15. Evander Kane – Edmonton Oilers – 5 years, $32.5MM ($6.5MM)
If you looked at nothing but numbers, you might wonder why a 30-year-old winger who scored at a near 50-goal pace last season would be ranked this low. It’s anything but numbers for Kane though, and his drop down the list represents how the market sees him. Among some teams in the league, he is completely off-limits, while even the Edmonton Oilers–where he found instant chemistry with Connor McDavid–are worried about offering him a long-term contract. There’s no doubt that he can be a force in the league, but with a grievance hearing still weighing over his free agency and a history of off-ice concerns, his market isn’t anywhere near as big as it could be.
Re-signed in Edmonton. 4 years, $20.5MM ($5.125MM AAV)
16. Josh Manson – Anaheim Ducks – 4 years, $16.0MM ($4.0MM AAV)
Watching Manson in Colorado’s defense-activating system, you could be forgiven for thinking he was known more for his offense than anything else. During the team’s Stanley Cup run he was routinely jumping into the rush and ended up scoring three goals on 39 shots, showing that he might be a little more than the stay-at-home role he’d settled into for the Anaheim Ducks. Manson still isn’t an excellent puck-mover but brings a high level of physicality, strong defensive instincts, and now the experience from a successful Stanley Cup run. The fact that he’s right-handed and 6’3″ only adds to his profile and should intrigue plenty of teams around the league.
Re-signed in Colorado, 4 years, $18MM ($4.5MM AAV)
17. Reilly Smith – Vegas Golden Knights – 3 years, $15.0MM ($5.0MM AAV)
An original misfit, Smith found a home with the Vegas Golden Knights, operating as a top-six winger for the last five seasons and racking up 230 points in 321 games. His outstanding penalty-killing ability is part of what makes him stand out as a free agent option, a talent that many offensive players don’t possess. His versatility and popularity make him a good fit to return to Vegas, though until a deal is actually announced, there will be teams circling like sharks, hoping to get a chance.
Re-signed in Vegas, 3 years, $15MM ($5.0MM AAV)
18. Mason Marchment – Calgary Flames – 5 years, $22.5MM ($4.5MM AAV)
This should have been the best moment of Marchment’s life. Cashing in on a huge payday after working his way from undrafted minor league free agent playing in the ECHL, to a near point-per-game performer for the Florida Panthers. Unfortunately, the unexpected death of his father and San Jose Sharks scout Bryan Marchment has put a dark cloud over the proceedings. No one would fault the 27-year-old free agent for taking his time before signing a deal but there will certainly be teams calling, wanting to add an in-your-face physical winger that showed he was capable of hanging with the big boys, posting 18 goals and 47 points in 53 games this season.
Signed in Dallas, 4 years, $18MM ($4.5MM AAV)
19. Nino Niederreiter – New York Islanders – 4 years, $16.8MM ($4.2MM AAV)
Speaking of versatile, physical wingers, Niederreiter had a nice bounce-back campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes this season, racking up 24 goals and 44 points in 75 games. While he may not be a dynamic first-line player, there’s a lot to be said about a big, fast, forward that is capable of scoring 20+ goals and racking up 100+ hits every year. He doesn’t penalty kill, and he won’t drive offense on a line, but if you want to add some juice to the middle six, this Swiss forward still has plenty of game left.
Signed in Nashville, 2 years, $8MM ($4MM AAV)
20. Ben Chiarot – Los Angeles Kings – 3 years, $10.5MM ($3.5MM AAV)
It’s safe to say that the Florida Panthers might regret paying a first-round pick (and more) for Chiarot at the deadline, given he ended up averaging just 17 minutes a night for them in the postseason. That doesn’t mean his market will be limited this summer though, as teams look at the length, mobility, and frankly the meanness of this 31-year-old defenseman. Chiarot can be brutally effective in front of his own net, is coming off a career-high 26 points, and has the experience of a Stanley Cup run under his belt. Even if Florida wasn’t a perfect fit, teams will be calling.
Signed in Detroit, 4 years, $19MM ($4.75MM AAV)
21. Ilya Mikheyev – Tampa Bay Lightning – 3 years, $11.4MM ($3.8MM AAV)
When agent Dan Milstein called Mikheyev the best undrafted KHL free agent since Artemi Panarin, many people scoffed at the notion. He just might have been correct though, as the 27-year-old has developed into a valuable two-way presence that is among the most effective penalty-killers in the league and just scored 21 goals in 53 games. With blinding speed and an active stick, Mikheyev is able to disrupt just about any kind of play and quickly counterattack. If his offensive skills were just a little more polished, we might be looking at a dominant player. As it is, he’ll fit into most team’s middle-six and change the makeup of their short-handed units.
Signed in Vancouver, 4 years, $19MM ($4.75MM AAV)
22. Paul Stastny – Colorado Avalanche – 1 year, $3.0MM
Stastny and Winnipeg appeared to be a perfect fit but the veteran center has expressed a desire to play for a contender as his career starts to inch near completion. The Jets don’t look like they’re going to be that over the next few years, meaning the 36-year-old might go chasing a deal somewhere else. It might surprise some to know that Stastny had 21 goals and 45 points this season, while still being an excellent faceoff option (even if he’s not always playing the middle anymore). For teams looking for some experience a little further down in the lineup, you could certainly do worse than a pivot with 800 points in his career.
23. Phil Kessel – Nashville Predators – 2 years, $4.0MM ($2.0MM AAV)
A lot of the same things could be said about Kessel, who just continues to suit up for every game his team plays, and rack up points at a strong pace. The iron man hasn’t missed a game in more than a decade, and still had 52 points in 2021-22 despite now being 34 years old. He’ll turn 35 before next season begins, has always been questioned on his conditioning, and isn’t the same offensive talent he was in his prime, but Kessel still deserves a spot somewhere around the league, snapping passes around on the powerplay and firing bullets past goaltenders from his off-wing.
24. Evan Rodrigues – Minnesota Wild – 3 years, $9.0MM ($3.0MM AAV)
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Rodrigues, who has only just established himself as a top-six player this season, racking up 19 goals and 43 points while playing a ton of minutes with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Can the undrafted forward be relied on to produce with less-skilled linemates, or is he a product of opportunity in Pittsburgh? That’s the risk involved with any multi-year deal for the 28-year-old, and a question that could keep his pricetag reasonable this week.
25. Nick Leddy – Anaheim Ducks – 3 years, $9.6MM ($3.2MM AAV)
It’s now 851 regular season games and another 130 playoff contests for the 31-year-old Leddy, who continues to long big minutes wherever he goes. Still a smooth skater that can glide around the ice or carry the puck through the neutral zone, it was an up-and-down year for him in Detroit and then St. Louis, following a deadline trade. Because of that and the seven-year, $38.5MM contract that he’s coming off of that seemed like an overpayment by the end, there might be a bit of a buy-low opportunity here for a savvy front office to add experience at a decreased cost. Leddy isn’t really a difference-maker anymore but he can certainly still carry a regular role.
Re-signed in St. Louis, 4 years, $16MM ($4.0MM AAV)
26. Frank Vatrano – New York Rangers – 4 years, $14.0MM ($3.5MM AAV)
While the focus was on some of the other trade deadline acquisitions in New York, Vatrano made one of the biggest impacts, scoring eight goals and 13 points in just 22 games down the stretch. The versatile winger can chip in from the third line or hold his own as a complementary piece in the top six, and has done nothing but find the net over the past four seasons. Since the start of the 2018-19 campaign, Vatrano has 76 goals in 277 games–an 82-game pace of 22 goals–despite averaging just over 14 minutes a night.
Signed in Anaheim, 3 years, $10.95MM ($3.65MM AAV)
27. Nikita Zadorov – Columbus Blue Jackets – 3 years, $9.0MM ($3.0MM AAV)
There was a time that Zadorov was a frustrating mix of defensive lapses, brutal giveaways, and huge open-ice hits. The hits are still there but after work with Flames coach Darryl Sutter this season, it appears as though the first two issues may have been corrected. Zadorov was part of a very effective third-pairing in Calgary and the team outscored opponents 49-38 with him on the ice. He even reached a career-best 22 points, and racked up 106 shots on net in 74 games. Still, his inconsistent history might make teams a little wary of giving him a long-term deal.
Re-signed in Calgary, 2 years, $7.5MM ($3.75MM AAV)
28. Brett Kulak – Edmonton Oilers – 2 years, $5.0MM ($2.5MM AAV)
One of the more underappreciated parts of the Oilers’ long playoff run might have been the performance of Kulak, who continued to provide quite, effective defense whenever he was on the ice. The 28-year-old is never going to be a big, bruising, force on the backend, but instead uses his mobility and reach to shutdown rush chances. It was also a good time to record a career-high of 21 points, though teams won’t be after him for his offense.
Re-signed in Edmonton, 4 years, $11MM ($2.75MM AAV)
29. Calle Jarnkrok – Detroit Red Wings – 2 years, $6.0MM ($3.0MM AAV)
In 2016, after a breakout 16-goal season, Jarnkrok took security over everything and accepted a six-year, $12MM contract with the Nashville Predators. It ended up costing him some serious money, as he became a consistent two-way presence who certainly could have landed more than $2MM per season through his arbitration years, not to mention his first few eligible UFA seasons. Now 30, it’s been seven straight seasons of double-digit goals for the pending free agent, who can play both center and winger effectively enough to help any team.
Signed in Toronto, 4 years, $8.4MM ($2.1MM AAV)
30. Max Domi – Toronto Maple Leafs – 1 year, $2.5MM
Domi’s 28-goal, 72-point 2018-19 campaign seems like ancient history as he heads to market, following a season that saw his playing time drop to just 13 minutes a night. The idea that he can be relied on as a full-time center has been forgotten, and some of the goal-scoring issues from his early career have returned. There’s no one doubting his ability to create for teammates when he is engaged, but too often he settles for perimeter play despite having the strength and toughness to compete in more difficult areas. Still, as one of the younger options on the market–Domi only turned 27 in March–there will likely be teams tantalized by his previous results and confident they can get him back to that level.
Signed in Chicago, 1 year, $3.0MM
31. Alexander Edler – Calgary Flames – 1 year, $3.0MM
Remember when it seemed like Edler might be ready for retirement after struggling throughout the 2020-21 season? It doesn’t seem so dire for the 36-year-old defenseman this time around, after registering 19 points in 41 games with the Los Angeles Kings in a depth role. He’s not going to log 24 minutes a night anymore but there is something to be said for 966 games of NHL experience. To paraphrase Mike Babcock, when speaking about a similarly-aged Ron Hainsey: “he knows where to stand.”
Re-signed in Los Angeles, 1 year, $750K salary + $750K performance bonuses
32. Ilya Lyubushkin – Toronto Maple Leafs – 2 years, $3.0MM ($1.5MM AAV)
Lybushkin couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity just before free agency than he received this year. A midseason trade took him from the floundering Coyotes (where he had spent his entire career to that point) to the playoff-bound Maple Leafs, where he had a chance to showcase himself on a wider stage. While his weaknesses still showed–namely his footspeed, or lack thereof–Lyubushkin proved he could be a reliable depth option on the right side, capable of suppressing offense and adding physicality.
Signed in Buffalo, 2 years, $5.5MM ($2.75MM AAV)
33. Andreas Athanasiou – Arizona Coyotes – 2 years, $5.0MM ($2.5MM AAV)
He’s probably not ever going to come close to the 30-goal season he had in 2018-19 but Athanasiou’s blazing speed remains intriguing as he gets set to hit the open market again. In his injury-shortened season, he managed 11 goals in 28 games and there is still something to be said for a player who can generate regular odd-man rush opportunities, even if he’s not the best at converting them. If he’s looking at another one-year deal, there’s not a ton of risk in signing the speedster.
Signed in Chicago, 1 year, $3.0MM
34. Erik Gudbranson – Calgary Flames – 2 years, $4.0MM ($2.0MM AAV)
The 30-year-old has bounced around a lot in recent years, playing for half a dozen teams going back to 2018. But Gudbranson found a good home in Calgary as he provided his usual physical style on their third pairing while also chipping in with career numbers offensively. Teams shouldn’t expect him to suddenly become a consistent point contributor but his value is back on the upswing after being dragged down by an above-market contract not too long ago. He might not draw much attention on the first day of free agency but Gudbranson will be a fallback option for several teams.
Signed in Columbus, 4 years, $16MM ($4.0MM AAV)
35. Tyler Motte – Nashville Predators – 4 years, $7.0MM ($1.75MM AAV)
When healthy, Motte has been an effective energy winger. He can play on both wings, kill penalties, throw plenty of hits, and even chip in offensively from time to time. As far as fourth-liners go, that’s a quality combination. However, the issue is that the 27-year-old has had trouble staying healthy the last several years, including with the Rangers who added him at the trade deadline only to lose him a few weeks later. Teams generally don’t want to pay high price tags for fourth-liners but Motte should draw plenty of interest as if he can stay healthy for an entire season, he can be a very effective role player.
36. Justin Schultz – Arizona Coyotes – 1 year, $1.5MM
Schultz is now five years removed from his peak offensive output that saw him put up 51 points and at the age of 32, it’s unlikely he’s going to suddenly rediscover his scoring touch. But as a secondary producer from the back end and a right-hand shot, Schultz will have some suitors this summer at a lower price tag than the $4MM he made the last two seasons. Worth noting, that Washington dropped his ice time to a career-low 16:55 in 2021-22 which is likely an indicator of where interested teams should be slotting him onto their depth chart.
Signed in Seattle, 2 years, $6.0MM ($3.0MM AAV)
37. P.K. Subban – Seattle Kraken – 1 year, $2.0MM
Subban’s stock has fallen sharply compared to his best days in Montreal and New Jersey dropped him down their depth chart last season as he averaged a career-low 18:18 per game, a sign that they felt he is no longer a top-four defender. That opinion is likely shared across the league but in a limited role, the 33-year-old should be able to contribute for a few more years and as a right-shot defender, the King Clancy Award winner should have a decent market this summer.
38. Ian Cole – Washington Capitals – 1 year, $1.5MM
The 33-year-old has been a throwback stay-at-home physical defender throughout his 12-year NHL career. At this stage, he’s not someone that should be counted on to play upwards of 20 minutes a night but for teams looking for an edge on their third pairing while playing heavy shorthanded minutes, Cole is someone that should generate some attention once the top blueliners start to come off the board.
Signed in Tampa Bay, 1 year, $3.0MM
39. Vladislav Namestnikov – San Jose Sharks – 1 year, $1.75MM
Namestnikov has bounced around a lot in recent years, suiting up for five teams in the past three seasons alone. However, the 29-year-old has continued to be sought after for his versatility and consistent secondary production; Namestnikov has had at least 28 points in six of the past seven years. He shouldn’t be counted on to play in the top six when a team is fully healthy but as a third-liner that can move up when injuries arise, he’d fill a useful role for several teams.
Signed in Tampa Bay, 1 year, $2.5MM
40. Jan Rutta – Detroit Red Wings – 2 years, $3.5MM ($1.75MM AAV)
After being more of a depth player through his first four NHL seasons, Rutta had an opportunity to play a regular role with Tampa Bay and made the most of it, logging over 16 minutes a night while chipping in with 18 points. He has his limitations but as a right-shot defender, there should be several teams interested in a veteran third-pairing option with considerable playoff experience if Tampa Bay isn’t able to re-sign him before free agency opens up.
Signed in Pittsburgh, 3 years, $8.25MM ($2.75MM AAV)
41. Mattias Janmark – Boston Bruins – 2 years, $4.0MM ($2.0MM AAV)
Janmark hasn’t been able to break out offensively over his six-year NHL career, only surpassing the 30-point mark once. However, he can play up and down the lineup, kill penalties, and play all three forward positions. That type of versatility is always intriguing to teams and with strong speed, the 29-year-old should be able to generate enough interest to secure a multi-year commitment where he’ll likely once again hover around the 25-point-mark.
Signed in Edmonton, 1 year, $1.25MM
42. Colin White – Montreal Canadiens – 1 year, $1.2MM
White looked to have a breakout year in 2018-19 when he had 41 points, seemingly setting himself up to be a big part of Ottawa’s future plans. But he has struggled to produce and stay healthy since then, notching just 51 points in 130 games over the last three seasons combined. That led to Ottawa buying out the 25-year-old earlier this month. At his age, there should be several teams interested in buying low, especially since he still has another year of team control after 2022-23.
Signed in Florida, 1 year, $1.2MM
43. Colin Miller – Chicago Blackhawks – 1 year, $1.0MM
Miller’s stock has certainly fallen compared to his two strong seasons in Vegas as things simply haven’t gone well in Buffalo over the last three years. But the 29-year-old still has enough offensive talent–including a blistering point shot–to draw the attention of teams that are looking for a bit more production from their back end, albeit at a considerable drop in pay from the $3.875MM he has made in each of the past four years.
Signed in Dallas, 2 years, $3.7MM ($1.85MM AAV)
44. Zach Aston-Reese – Toronto Maple Leafs – 3 years, $4MM ($1.33MM AAV)
While Aston-Reese hasn’t been able to come close to matching the offensive production that made him a highly sought-after college free agent, the 27-year-old has been able to carve out a role as an effective energy fourth liner. He has ranged between 13 and 17 points over his four NHL seasons and recorded 231 hits in 2021-22 between Pittsburgh and Anaheim. That should help him to generate some interest as several teams will be looking to add grit this summer.
45. Nicolas Deslauriers – New Jersey Devils – 3 years, $7MM ($2.33MM AAV)
At a time when true enforcers are largely being phased out of the league, Deslauriers has been able to carve out a steady role for himself. On top of being one the more prolific fighters, the 31-year-old can chip in with a few goals, plenty of hits, and even kill some penalties. Minnesota indicated that they’d like to keep him but Deslauriers should be able to receive more on the open market than what they can afford to pay for their end-of-roster players.
Signed in Philadelphia, 4 years, $7.0MM ($1.75MM AAV)
46. Olli Maatta – Tampa Bay Lightning – 1 year, $1.5MM
While Maatta has been maligned in recent years for his cumbersome contract, it largely overshadowed his performance with the Kings where he still contributed on their third pairing. Still just 27, Maatta can kill penalties and log 16-18 minutes a night. That’s not a particularly exciting profile but at a much more affordable price point, he should garner interest from several teams on the open market.
Signed in Detroit, 1 year, $2.25MM
47. Colin Blackwell – Vancouver Canucks – 3 years, $3.6MM ($1.2MM AAV)
Every team needs versatile bottom-six contributors, and that’s exactly what Blackwell brings to the table–even if he doesn’t offer the size that many teams are after. The 5’9″ forward had endless energy and can chip in offensively when given the chance, scoring 22 goals and 42 points over his last 105 games. Coming off the first season of his career with a one-way contract, he’ll try to secure a few dollars more than league minimum this time around and hopefully land a full-time lineup spot.
Signed in Chicago, 2 years, $2.4MM ($1.2MM AAV)
48. Anton Stralman – Buffalo Sabres – 1 year, $1.0MM
He won’t get anywhere near the $5.5MM he has earned over the last three seasons but Stralman was still relatively effective this year for the Coyotes, logging more than 21 minutes a night and scoring 23 points in 74 games. Don’t expect him to see the ice that much for a contender but even at 36 (his birthday is August 1) he’ll be a solid contributor somewhere if he wants to continue playing.
49. Calvin de Haan – Ottawa Senators – 1 year, $1.5MM
There is nothing flashy about de Haan’s game, he can’t produce much offense, and he’s no longer going to log 20 minutes a night. What he can do, is help a penalty kill and offer a stabilizing presence next to a young player. The fact that he has plenty of experience on both sides of the ice makes him a nice target for rebuilding clubs that might be moving pieces in and out, or a contender looking to add some depth to the chart without overspending.
50. Eric Comrie – Toronto Maple Leafs – 2 years, $2.4MM ($1.2MM AAV)
With 19 solid appearances last year for the Jets, Comrie enters the market as a sneaky option for bargain bin hunters that need a second goaltender. He has just 28 games at the NHL level, and a good chunk of those have been rather poor performances. But with his game rounding into shape over the last two years, and Comrie only just turning 27 a few days ago, there’s enough upside left for someone to take a chance on a multi-year deal.
Signed in Buffalo, 2 years, $3.6MM ($1.8MM AAV)
Penguins Acquire Jeff Petry
The Penguins moved out a right-shot defender earlier today when they sent John Marino to New Jersey. It appears he’ll be replaced by Jeff Petry as Pittsburgh has acquired the veteran along with center Ryan Poehling from Montreal in exchange for blueliner Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth-round pick. Both teams have confirmed the swap.
The 34-year-old is coming off a tough season with Montreal that saw him struggle as their top defender in the absence of Shea Weber. He struggled mightily offensively to start the year as over the first three months of the year, he had just two assists in 27 games. However, Petry’s performance improved following the coaching change that saw Martin St. Louis take over behind the bench and he was much better down the stretch, picking up 21 points in the final three months of the season. Overall, Petry finished up the year with six goals and 21 assists in 68 games, his lowest point total since the 2015-16 campaign, his first full season with the Canadiens.
Around the midway point of the year, he also requested a trade for family reasons. While he was widely expected to move at the trade deadline and again at the draft, it has taken a while for a move to materialize.
Petry has three years left on his contract with a $6.25MM AAV and Montreal GM Kent Hughes stated earlier this week that he wasn’t interested in retaining any salary to facilitate a trade. While the Marino move freed up roughly $3.5MM in cap flexibility, that wasn’t enough to absorb Petry’s full deal which is what prompted Matheson’s inclusion in the swap. Petry had been speculated as a possible replacement for Kris Letang if the veteran was to leave in free agency. Instead, Letang signed a six-year deal and Petry will now help form a quality one-two punch on the right side of their back end with Petry’s AAV checking in just above Letang’s to make him the highest-paid blueliner on the team.
Matheson was a top-four defender early in his career with Florida but his stock started to dip a few years ago, resulting in him being flipped for Patric Hornqvist. The move worked out well for the 28-year-old as he had a career year offensively in 2021-22, picking up 11 goals and 20 assists in 74 games while logging just under 19 minutes a night. He was also quite productive for the Penguins in the playoffs, notching a goal and five helpers in seven games to lead all Pittsburgh blueliners in scoring while averaging over 25 minutes per contest.
Matheson has four years remaining on his contract with a $4.875MM AAV on a deal that is somewhat heavily backloaded with his payout set to jump to $6.5MM per season in each of the final three seasons. He immediately becomes the blueliner with the longest contract on the Canadiens while also being their highest-paid. He’ll likely take the place of Alexander Romanov on Montreal’s depth chart as the youngster was traded back at the draft to the Islanders for the 13th-overall pick which was then flipped to Chicago to pick up center Kirby Dach.
As for Poehling, the 23-year-old was a first-round pick of Montreal back in 2017 (25th overall) and spent most of last season with the Canadiens, notching nine goals and eight assists in 57 games while averaging just over 12 minutes per game. He’s likely to have a similar role in Pittsburgh’s bottom six in 2022-23. Poehling is signed for the league minimum for next season and will be a restricted free agent next summer.
With the move, Pittsburgh now has just under $2MM in cap space with RFA winger Kasperi Kapanen still to sign. That’s not enough for the 25-year-old so it would appear that GM Ron Hextall has another move to try to make. Meanwhile, Montreal frees up a little over $2MM with this swap, giving them a little over $2.3MM in cap room with Dach as their most notable RFA in need of a new deal.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Contract and cap info courtesy of CapFriendly.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that Petry was heading to Pittsburgh. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli was the first to report the trade details.