NHL free agency will begin July 1 at 12 p.m. ET and although there is a lack of top-tier talent available, there is plenty of value to be found in this year’s class.
Names like Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov and Matt Duchene are among the big fish up for grabs, while players like Alex Killorn, J.T Compher and Blake Wheeler will be coveted by general managers looking to bolster their rosters.
Several teams have already gotten ahead of the free agent frenzy by locking up players who were set to hit the open market, with Ivan Barbashev, Erik Haula and newly-acquired Corey Perry inking deals to remain with their teams, and there will surely be more to come in the hours leading up to the official start of free agency.
Follow along here with our tracker and live blog for all the latest signings, rumors, trades and more.
Full list of major NHL free agent signings:
Leafs sign bruiser Reaves to multi-year contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs have added a different element to their roster in the form of hard-hitting winger Ryan Reaves.
Reaves has signed a contract carrying a $1.35 million average annual value through the 2025-26 season. The winger split his 2022-23 season with the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, producing 15 points in 73 games while averaging 9:19 in ice time per night.
That minimal offensive contribution is not what the Maple Leafs are paying Reaves for, though. They could undoubtedly find a younger, cheaper, player capable of matching or exceeding them.
Instead, the team clearly values Reaves as a physical tone setter capable of delivering bone-rattling hits all over the ice.
O’Reilly, Schenn expected to hit open market
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported early on Saturday that UFA centre Ryan O’Reilly will not be re-signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and is headed to the free agent market as of noon on July 1. O’Reilly was acquired by the Leafs in February in a three-team trade involving the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. He registered 11 points in 14 games in Toronto and added nine points in 11 playoff games.
TSN’s Chris Johnston also reported on Saturday that defenseman Luke Schenn will not be returning to the Maple Leafs either. Schenn landed in Toronto for a third round pick via the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 28, making a solid impression in his second stint with the Leafs.
Duchene, Wheeler among 4 players bought out
Matt Duchene, Blake Wheeler, Kailer Yamamoto and Mike Reilly will become free agents on July 1 after having their contracts bought out on Friday.
Duchene was the biggest surprise on the bunch. He is coming off a middling season by his standards with 56 points in 71 games, but he scored 43 goals and added 43 assists in 2021-22. His $8-million cap hit might not have been team-friendly, but he remains a strong offensive player.
As a result of this buyout, the Predators will save $5.44 million in 2023-24, but their savings will be significantly more modest in the next two years ($2.44 million and $1.44 million, respectively). Then, they will have $1.55 million cap hits on the books from 2026-27 to 2028-29.
Blackhawks sign Corey Perry to 1-year deal
The Chicago Blackhawks didn’t wait long to put pen to paper with their newest acquisition, signing veteran winger Corey Perry to a one-year, $4-million deal on Friday.
Perry brings plenty of leadership and experience to a Blackhawks team led by No. 1 draft pick Connor Bedard and joins Taylor Hall as a former Hart Trophy winner to join the organization in recent weeks.
The 38-year-old had 12 goals and 25 points in 81 games while playing a fourth-line role with the Lightning last season.
