Canucks Sign Vincent Desharnais, Jiří Patera
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.
Rangers Acquire Reilly Smith From Penguins
The Rangers are expected to acquire winger Reilly Smith in a trade with the Penguins, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Pittsburgh is receiving a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick in return, The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman reports. The teams confirmed the second-rounder is in 2027 and the fifth-rounder is a conditional 2025 selection. The Penguins are retaining 25% of Smith’s salary, bringing his cap hit down from $5MM to $3.75MM for New York. The conditional 2025 fifth-rounder will be the worse of the two picks New York owns in that round – theirs and the Wild’s.
The Penguins are moving on from Smith after just one season, having acquired him in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick during the 2023 NHL Draft. Smith went on to total 13 goals and 40 points, failing to translate his strong scoring upside to a shakier role with the Penguins. He was much more robust in Vegas; one of many players to see a breakout year in Vegas’ inaugural season, scoring 22 goals and 60 points in 67 games and adding 22 points in 20 postseason games. He held onto the scoring through his next five years with the Golden Knights, consistently rivaling 50-point pace and even twice topping 25 goals.
Smith has developed into a capable middle-six scorer, whose offense held up even amidst an inconsistent role in Pittsburgh. What’s better, he’s an unrestricted free agent next summer, giving the Rangers a chance to test out his roster fit before committing to him long-term. The Rangers have rotated through veteran scorers over the last few seasons, cycling in players like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Blake Wheeler. Smith will be the latest iteration, set for the same role in the lineup as his predecessors.
But unlike those before him, Smith offers the perk of playoff consistency, having totaled 26 goals and 79 points across 106 postseason appearances, including 14 points in 22 games during Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup run. The Rangers have boasted some of the best offenses in the league over the last few seasons, only to fall short in the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2022 and 2024. A lack of goal-scoring depth has proven the fault both times, forcing New York to lean on, and quickly tire out, their stars.
Smith could also provide a good shot to match Alexis Lafreniere‘s quick playmaking, with the pair likely bound for New York’s second line. Lafreniere was among the most polarizing Rangers late in the season, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 16 playoff games after netting a career-high 28 goals and 57 points in the regular season. Veteran additions like Smith could point towards New York’s investment in yet another young star, though that will ultimately sit with how Peter Laviolette chooses to deploy his top-six.
Sabres Sign Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Jacob Bryson, Dennis Gilbert, Jack Rathbone
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.
Red Wings To Sign Erik Gustafsson, Sheldon Dries
The Red Wings have inked defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a two-year contract worth $2MM per season, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. They’ve also signed minor league forward Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way deal worth $775K NHL/$475K AHL with $525K guaranteed each year, per PuckPedia.
In the organization’s response to losing out on Shayne Gostisbehere, Gustafsson represents a similar style of play. For the first time since the start of the 2020-21 NHL season, Gustafsson will earn more than an $825K AAV. The puck-moving defenseman should find a home on the Red Wings’ powerplay after collecting 60 assists in his last 146 games split between the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers.
Gustafsson’s role in Detroit should be fairly flexible but he may find a home next to young Red Wings’ defenseman Moritz Seider. Seider has demonstrated a solid ability to shut down the opposing team’s top lines over the last three years and may represent a perfect option next to the offense-first defenseman. Gustafsson should also lift Detroit’s struggling possession numbers from last season as he’s averaged a 55.9% CorsiFor% over eight years in the NHL.
Dries, the Macomb, MI native returns home after spending multiple years in the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks organizations. Playing the entire 2023-24 season for AHL Abbotsford, Dries was one of the best forwards in the AHL as he scored 29 goals and 52 points in 55 games. He should be viewed as a big boost to a Grand Rapids Griffins team that is looking to contend after several years of mediocrity.
Islanders Sign Anthony Duclair, Mike Reilly
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
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
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
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.
Bruins Sign Max Jones, Jordan Oesterle, Three Others
The Bruins have signed winger Max Jones in free agency, the team announced. It’s a two-year deal, per Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub. He’ll earn $1MM per season, Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reports. Jones became a UFA after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ducks yesterday. Additionally, Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub reports they’re signing veteran depth defender Jordan Oesterle to a two-year, two-way deal.
Boston later announced they’ve also signed forward Riley Tufte to a one-year contract.. They’ve also signed 28-year-old right-shot defenseman Billy Sweezey to a two-year, two-way deal with a $775K cap hit, per PuckPedia. Anderson also reports they’re signing former Lightning forward Cole Koepke to a two-way deal.
Jones showed some flashes of being an impactful power forward with Anaheim but struggled with injuries and consistency. The 26-year-old played in 52 games last season, picking up five goals and ten assists while picking up a career-high 127 hits which wasn’t enough to earn his qualifier. Jones will likely play a similar role with Boston as he did with the Ducks, playing an energy role in their bottom six.
Oesterle had been a full-timer on an NHL roster for six straight years before last season. He inked a one-year deal with Calgary last summer but split the season between the Flames and AHL Wranglers. The 32-year-old had two assists in 22 games with Calgary but was much more productive in the minors, picking up 19 points in 30 games. Oesterle should have a chance to battle for a spot at the end of Boston’s roster in training camp but is likely ticketed for AHL Providence to start next season.
Tufte comes over after spending a year in Colorado’s system. The 26-year-old got into five games with the Avs last season, picking up a goal and an assist. He was one of the top scorers for the AHL Eagles, tallying 23 goals and 22 assists in 67 contests. Standing 6’6, Tufte could get a look on Boston’s fourth line in training camp but otherwise should be in line for a big role with Providence as well.
Sweezey spent the last three seasons with Columbus, primarily playing with AHL Cleveland. The 28-year-old got into 57 games with the Monsters last season, picking up a goal and three assists along with 73 penalty minutes and will be counted on to play a similar role on the third pairing in Providence. Sweezey also has nine career NHL appearances under his belt, all in the 2022-23 campaign.
Koepke, meanwhile, got into nine games with the Lightning last season, picking up two assists along with 23 hits despite averaging less than seven minutes a night. He was a capable secondary scorer at the AHL level as well, recording 20 goals and 19 assists in 53 contests. The 26-year-old has 26 career NHL games to his credit where he has three points. It’s expected he’ll start with Providence as well unless he lands a spot on Boston’s fourth line in the fall.
Golden Knights Sign Zach Aston-Reese, Tanner Laczynski
The Vegas Golden Knights will shore up some depth at the forward position as player agent Dan Milstein reports the team has signed forward Zach Aston-Reese worth $775K at the NHL level and $475K in the AHL. They’re also bringing in depth forward Tanner Laczynski on a two-year, one-way deal worth $775K, per PuckPedia.
This move continues Aston-Reese’s journey across the NHL, with his last stop coming on a two-way deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Aston-Reese spent the bulks of that deal in the AHL, recording 14 goals and 30 points in 61 appearances and adding two points in nine playoff games. It was a down year, underlined by Aston-Reese’s lack of scoring through three NHL appearances.
Aston-Reese was once a stoutly-valued fourth-liner, staking his claim with five meager years with the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2017 and 2022. He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks ahead of the 2023 Trade Deadline, as a part of a package for Rickard Rakell that also featured goaltender Calle Clang, forward Dominik Simon, and the second-round pick used to select top defense prospect Tristan Luneau. Aston-Reese would play in just 17 games with the Ducks, posting four points, before leaving the team for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency. Toronto brought Aston-Reese a career-high 77 games, though his scoring remained meager, at just 14 points. Now in Vegas, Aston-Reese should provide an added layer of forward depth, though his overall NHL upside appears to be close to snuffed out.
Vegas also adds Laczynski for the same depth purposes, signing him after a breakout season in the AHL that saw Laczynski post 17 goals and 44 points in 49 games. It was the first high-scoring year of Laczynski’s professional career, which has been hampered at all levels by injury since his debut in the 2020-21 season. He’s suffered a string of hip and lower-body injuries, even requiring two separate hip surgeries in 2021. A healthy year ahead could pay dividends for Laczynski and the Golden Knights – with scoring upside evident but a full season hard to come by.