The NHL free agency period opened on July 1 and teams wasted little time bolstering their rosters for 2023-24 and beyond.
This year’s class wasn’t one of the most loaded ones in recent memory, but still featured a number of impact players including Dmitry Orlov (2-year, $15.5-million deal with Hurricanes), Ryan O’Reilly (4-year, $18-million contract with Predators, Tyler Bertuzzi (1-year, $5.5-million deal with Maple Leafs) and others who found new homes amid a strange landscape featuring plenty of short-term contracts for some pretty big-name players.
With the draft in the rearview, only a couple of impact free agents left (Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko) and the cap situations much more clear for many clubs, attention will now mostly shift to the trade market and the few gems available there.
Coyotes sign top prospect Cooley to entry-level contract
The Arizona Coyotes signed Logan Cooley, the third-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, to an entry-level contract on Thursday.
In his freshman year at the University of Minnesota last season, Cooley finished as the team’s leading scorer with 22 goals and 38 points in 39 games. Cooley’s 60 points ranked him second in NCAA scoring. He also helped lead the Golden Gophers to the Frozen Four Championship game.
“We are thrilled to sign Logan to an NHL contract,” Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong said in a press release. “Logan is an incredibly skilled player who had an excellent season with the Golden Gophers last year. He has established himself as one of the top prospects in the world. He is a very important player for us, and he has an extremely bright future ahead. We look forward to watching him play for the Coyotes for many years to come.”
Tony D heads back to Raleigh
The Carolina Hurricanes are signing defenseman Tony DeAngelo to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. DeAngelo was waived by the Philadelphia Flyers on July 14 after one season with the club.
The 27-year-old registered 42 points in 70 games in Philly last season, while clashing with head coach John Tortorella over a slew of healthy scratches in the final stretch of the campaign.
DeAngelo put up 51 points in 64 games in his first stint in Carolina during the 2021-22 season.
A Dunn deal in Seattle
The Seattle Kraken and star defenseman Vince Dunn agreed to a four-year, $29.4 million deal on Friday, avoiding an arbitration hearing set for July 24. The deal will pay Dunn $7.35 million annually.
The 26-year-old broke out for a career-high 64 points last season as he led the Kraken to its first ever postseason berth. Dunn managed seven points in 14 playoff games as Seattle fell to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of the second round.
Avalanche, Ross Colton avoid arbitration with four-year deal
The Colorado Avalanche signed offseason acquisition Ross Colton to a four-year, $16 million ($4M AAV) contract on Monday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for July 27.
Colorado acquired Colton from the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of last month’s draft for a second round pick. The 26-year-old registered 32 points in 81 games with the Lightning last season in a bottom-six role. He helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup in 2021 as a rookie, scoring the Cup clinching goal in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Colton is coming off a two-year deal that paid him $1.125 million annually.
Connor Bedard officially signs entry-level contract with Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks and 2023 first-overall draft pick Connor Bedard have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal, which Bedard signed on his 18th birthday, carries a $950,000 cap hit through the 2025-26 season.
“Being drafted by an Original Six team has been such a surreal experience and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this team’s future,” Bedard said. “The Blackhawks organization and the city of Chicago have such a rich sports history and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Bedard, who is the most hyped prospect since Connor McDavid, set the WHL on fire this past season, leading the league in regular-season scoring with an absurd 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games.
On the international side, he had four goals and eight points for Canada at the summer world junior tournament in Edmonton before setting the new Team Canada single-tournament scoring record at the 2023 WJC this past December/January with nine goals and 23 points over seven games as Canada claimed gold in both events. Bedard became Canada’s all-time leading scorer at the world juniors in the process.
Lightning re-up Tanner Jeannot on two-year deal
The Tampa Bay Lightning inked restricted free agent forward Tanner Jeannot to a two-year deal worth an AAV of $2.665 million, the team announced on Saturday.
Jeannot, who the Lightning gave up a decent haul for (defenseman Cal Foote, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick, and a third, fourth, and fifth-round pick in 2023) in a deadline deal with the Predators this past spring, recorded a goal and four points in 20 regular-season games with Tampa.
Prior to joining the Lightning, the undrafted 26-year-old played two seasons in Nashville, posting 34 goals and 62 points in 152 games.
Following weeks of speculation on the trade front with little to show for it, the Philadelphia Flyers have placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on unconditional waivers. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the team intended to buy him out if he clears waivers — which he did on Saturday — making him a free agent.
The 27-year-old had been at the center of trade talks on a reported deal that would have sent him back to Carolina. However, an NHL ruling ultimately caused the deal to be put on ice due to a clause in the CBA preventing teams from re-acquiring players with retention within a calendar year.
The blueliner finished with a respectable 11 goals and 42 points in 2022-23, both of which led all Flyers defensemen. Away from the puck, however, DeAngelo once again labored, punctuated by his poor underlying defensive metrics and team-worst minus-27 rating.
Coyotes sign Dermott to one-year deal
The Arizona Coyotes inked blueliner Travis Dermott to a one-year, two-way contract on Tuesday.
Here’s how the deal shakes out, per CapFriendly:
The 26-year-old defenseman suited up for just 11 NHL games and one AHL contest with the Vancouver Canucks organization last season — scoring a single goal while averaging 13:45 TOI per game.
After Dermott sustained a concussion during last pre-season, he made his season debut on December 29. Unfortunately, his return bid lasted less than a month as he continued to experience concussion-like symptoms before being shut down for good near the end of January.
Dermott, who became an unrestricted free agent after Vancouver chose not to tender him this summer, has 14 goals and 55 points while averaging 15:49 of ice time over 279 regular-season NHL games with the Canucks and Maple Leafs. He’s posted two goals and three assists in 22 career Stanley Cup playoff games.
Rangers ink Miller to two-year extension
The New York Rangers signed defenseman K’Andre Miller to a two-year contract extension, the team announced on Tuesday. Multiple reports indicate the deal carries an average annual value of just under $3.9 million.
Miller, 23, established career-highs in goals (nine) and assists (34) in 2022-23 while logging an average of 22 minutes per night over 79 games.
The native of Minnesota was originally drafted by the Rangers with the 22nd-overall pick in 2018.
Canadiens sign Newhook to 4-year extension
The Montreal Canadiens have locked up one of the key pieces of their offseason, agreeing to a four-year contract with center Alex Newhook, the team announced on Tuesday. The deal carries an average annual value of $2.9 million.
Newhook was a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level deal.
Montreal acquired Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche on June 27 in exchange for two 2023 draft picks and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother.
Newhook, 22, has registered 27 goals and 66 points in 159 career games after being selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft. He’s coming off a 2022-23 season in which he scored 14 goals and 16 assists in 82 games for the Avalanche.
Tarasenko considering options
The New York Post’s Larry Brooks has reported that Vladimir Tarasenko rejected a multi-year contract offer worth $5.5 million annually from the Carolina Hurricanes before changing agents last week. Brooks also reported that Tarasenko would have like to stay with the New York Rangers, but the latter has not made the Russian forward an offer.
Brooks believes the Hurricanes are still a frontrunner to land Tarasenko, and adds that the Ottawa Senators could be a player once they find a trade partner for Alex DeBrincat. The New York Islanders have reportedly shown interest as well, but are likely waiting for the DeBrincat situation to get sorted out before making an offer.
Devils interested in Gibson
Brooks has also reported that the New Jersey Devils are “sniffing around” Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, who reportedly wants out of SoCal. The Devils currently ice a tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid, and are weighing whether the tandem can carry them in a deep playoff run, according to Brooks.
New Jersey would need the Ducks to retain part of Gibson’s salary for a potential deal to work, as well as throw in a player or two — most likely parting ways with one of their goalies.
Fedotov does not honour contract with Flyers, signs KHL deal
Russian goaltender and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Ivan Fedotov has reportedly signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, making him the first player to not honour his NHL contract since the NHL dissolved the memorandum of understanding between the two leagues in March of 2022.
Fedotov was selected by the Flyers in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL Draft and signed a one-year contract with Philadelphia in May 2022. However, the contract was tolled from last season to the upcoming season, meaning that it is now due to expire next July.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has stated that, “If Ivan Fedotov plays in the KHL, it will be contrary to his contractual obligations to the Philadelphia Flyers.” This saga is especially pertinent after the Flyers drafted highly-touted Russian prospect Matvei Michkov in the 2023 draft. Michkov is expected to come over to North America when his contract with SKA Saint Petersburg ends in 2026.
Last July, Fedotov was reportedly detained in Russia for allegedly evading military service by signing a NHL contract.
Kings extend Anze Kopitar
The Los Angeles Kings signed captain Anze Kopitar to a two-year, $14-million contract extension on Thursday. The deal takes Kopitar through the 2025-26 season.
Kopitar recently completed his 17th NHL season, all of which have come as a member of the Kings. He led the team in scoring with 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) and suited up for all 82 games.
The native of Slovenia was instrumental in helping the Kings win Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014 and is all over the franchise’s all-time leaderboards in just about every category. He was drafted 11th overall by the Kings in 2005.
22 players file for salary arbitration
Twenty-two NHL players filed for salary arbitration on Wednesday, headlined by Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov. The hearings will be held between July 20 and Aug. 4.
Salary arbitration is a tool NHL teams and certain restricted free agents can use to settle contract disputes. Teams and players each present a salary for the upcoming season to a neutral third party and argue their case accordingly.
After hearing the respective cases, the arbitrator determines what the player will make. If the team declines the arbitrator’s decision, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.
A player cannot receive less than 85% of their salary from the previous year.
Karlsson trade proving tough to pull off, as expected
The Athletic’s Rob Rossi reported on Tuesday that trade talks around Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson remain at a standstill as teams close in on the Sharks superstar.
The Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be one of the frontrunners at the moment, as both management and Karlsson are interested in seeing a deal be completed, according to Rossi.
Rossi says the Sharks are comfortable waiting for the best possible offer, however, as they feel they have good leverage in these negotiations.
The Carolina Hurricanes were reported to be heavily involved in trade talks for Karlsson as well.
Bouchard likely getting bridge deal
The Edmonton Oilers’ biggest piece of business this offseason might be re-signing promising defenseman Evan Bouchard after the 23-year-old put up his second consecutive 40-point season.
On the latest edition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Bouchard and the Oilers may be closing in on a two-year bridge deal in the $3.5-$4 million range.
Edmonton also has to re-sign forward Ryan McLeod, who broke through as a valuable bottom-six contributor last season with 23 points in 57 games.
Tarasenko linked to Hurricanes; Dumba to Coyotes?
Dynamic forward Vladimir Tarasenko appeared to be closing in on a short-term contract with the Hurricanes, but that has yet to be made official as of this writing — and it’s unclear exactly what the hold up or issue is.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bally Sports’ Andy Strickland reported that Tarasenko to Carolina might not be a done deal quite yet.
Elliotte Friedman also reported on Wednesday that Tarasenko is now represented by JP Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA. What that means for his free agency is unclear.
Dumba, meanwhile, could be a target for the Coyotes, according to Friedman, who did not rule out another destination but maintained that Arizona is holding out hope it can secure the 28-year-old’s services.
“Matt Dumba has not signed yet, I think this could be where he ends up,” Friedman said.
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:
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Tony DeAngelo signs with Hurricanes (1 year, $1.6 million)
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Vince Dunn re-signs with Kraken (4 years, $29.4 million)
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Gabe Vilardi signs with Jets (2 years, $6.875 million)
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Brett Howden re-signs with Golden Knights (2 years, $2.8 million)
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Tomas Nosek signs with Devils (1 year, $1 million)
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Ross Colton signs with Avalanche (4 years, $16 million)
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Connor Bedard signs entry-level contract with Blackhawks (3 years, $2.85 million)
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Morgan Barron signs with Jets (2 years, $2.7 million)
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Matias Maccelli signs with Coyotes (3 years, $10.275 million)
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Alexei Toropchenko signs with Blues (2 years, $2.5 million)
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Tanner Jeannot signs with Lightning (2 years, $5.33 million)
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Ty Dellandrea signs with Stars (1 year, $900K)
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Leo Carlsson (No. 2 pick in 2023 draft) signs 3-year ELC with Ducks
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Oskar Sundqvist signs with Blues (1 year, $775K)
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Travis Dermott signs two-way deal with Coyotes (1 year, $800K)
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K’Andre Miller signs extension with Rangers (2 years, $7.8 million)
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Denis Gurianov signs with Predators (1 year, $850K)
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Brendan Lemieux signs with Hurricanes (1 year, $800K)
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Alex Newhook signs with Canadiens (4 years, $11.6 million)
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Cam York signs with Flyers (2 years, $3.2 million)
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Filip Zadina signs with Sharks (1 year, $1.1 million)
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Noah Cates re-signs with Flyers (2 years, $5.25 million)
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Nils Höglander re-signs with Canucks (2 years, $2.2 million)
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Pierre-Edouard Bellemare signs with Kraken (1 year, $775K)
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Anze Kopitar signs extension with Kings (2 years, $14 million)
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Zack MacEwen signs with Senators (3 years, $2.325 million)
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Dylan Samberg re-signs with Jets (2 years, $2.8 million)
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Martin Fehervary signs extension with Capitals (3 years, $2.675 million)
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Travis Hamonic re-signs with Senators (2 years, $2.2 million)
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Rafaël Harvey-Pinard signs extension with Canadiens (2 years, $2.2 million)
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Dylan Gambrell signs with Maple Leafs (1 year, $775K)
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Marc Staal signs with Flyers (1 year, $1.1 million)
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Max Domi signs with Maple Leafs (1 year, $3 million)
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Tyler Bertuzzi signs with Maple Leafs (1 year, $5.5 million)
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Kailer Yamamoto signs with Kraken (1 year, $1.5 million)
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Evan Rodrigues signs with Panthers (4 years, $12 million)
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Panthers trade Anthony Duclair to Sharks for Steven Lorentz and a 2025 fifth round pick
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Alexandre Carrier re-signs with Predators (1 year, $2.5 million)
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Christian Fischer signs with Red Wings (1 year, $1.125 million)
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Alex Kerfoot signs with Coyotes (2 years, $7 million)
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Shayne Gostisbehere signs with Red Wings (1 year, $4.125 million)
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Garnet Hathaway signs with Flyers (2 years, $4.75 million)
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John Klingberg signs with Maple Leafs (1 year, $4.15 million)
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Brian Dumoulin signs with Kraken (2 years, $6.3 million)
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J.T. Compher signs with Red Wings (5 years, $25.5 million)
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Scott Mayfield re-signs with Islanders (7 years, $24.5 million)
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Jonathan Drouin signs with Avalanche (1 year, $825K)
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Bowen Byram re-signs with Avalanche (2 years, $7.7 million)
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Ilya Sorokin re-signs with Islanders (8 years, $66 million)
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Lars Eller signs with Penguins (2 years, $4.9 million)
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Pierre Engvall re-signs with Islanders (7 years, $21 million)
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Kyle Burroughs signs with Sharks (3 years, $3.3 million)
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Ryan Graves signs with Penguins (6 years, $27 million)
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Miles Wood signs with Avalanche (6 years, $15 million)
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Troy Stecher re-signs with Coyotes (1 year, $1.1 million)
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Tristan Jarry re-signs with Penguins (5 years, $26.875 million)
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Alex Nedeljkovic signs with Penguins (1 year, $1.5 million)
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Noel Acciari signs with Penguins (3 years, $6 million)
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Alex Killorn signs with Ducks (4 years, $25 million)
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Cody Glass re-signs with Predators (2 years, $5 million)
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Nick Bjugstad signs with Coyotes (2 years, $4.2 million)
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Ryan Donato signs with Blackhawks (2 years, $4 million)
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Vladislav Namestnikov re-signs with Jets (2 years, $2 million)
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Laurent Brossoit signs with Jets (1 year, $1.75 million)
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Daniel Sprong signs with Red Wings (1 year, $2 million)
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Tanner Glass re-signs with Predators (2 year, $5 million)
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Jason Zucker signs with Coyotes (1 year, $5.3 million)
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Michael Bunting signs with Hurricanes (3 years, $13.5 million)
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Matt Duchene signs with Stars (1 year, $3 million)
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Conor Sheary signs with Lightning (3 years, $6 million)
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Niko Mikkola signs with Panthers (3 years, $7.5 million)
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Kevin Shattenkirk signs with Bruins (1 year, $1 million)
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Craig Smith signs with Stars (1 year, $1 million)
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Givani Smith signs with Sharks (2 years, $1.6 million)
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Gustav Nyquist signs with Predators (2 years, $6.37 million)
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Ryan Poehling signs with Flyers (1 year, $1.4 million)
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Ian Cole signs with Canucks (1 year, $3 million)
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Carson Soucy signs with Canucks (3 years, $9.75 million)
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Adam Fantilli signs entry-level contract with Blue Jackets
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Alex Lyon signs with Red Wings (2 years, $1.8 million)
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Connor Clifton signs with Sabres (3 years, $10 million)
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Erik Johnson signs with Sabres (1 year, $3.25 million)
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Stars trade Colin Miller to the Devils for a 2025 5th round pick
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Max Pacioretty signs with Capitals (1 year, $2 million)
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Teddy Blueger signs with Canucks (1 year, $1.9 million)
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Milan Lucic signs with Bruins (1 year, $1 million)
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Morgan Geekie signs with Bruins (2 years, $4 million)
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Connor Brown signs with Oilers (1 year, $775K)
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Dmitry Orlov signs with Hurricanes (2 years, $15.5 million)
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Justin Holl signs with Red Wings (3 years, $10.2 million)
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James Reimer signs with Red Wings (1 year, $1.5 million)
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Radko Gudas signs with Ducks (3 years, $12 million)
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Joonas Korpisalo signs with Senators (5 years, $20 million)
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Nate Bastian re-signs with Devils (2 years, $2.7 million)
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Tyson Jost re-signs with Sabres (1 year, $2 million)
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Jonathan Quick signs with Rangers (1 year, $825K)
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Blake Wheeler signs with Rangers (1 year, $800K)
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Cam Talbot signs with Kings (1 year, $1 million)
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Frederik Andersen re-signs with Hurricanes (2 years, $6.8 million)
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Ryan McLeod re-signs with Devils (1 year, $1.4 million)
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James van Riemsdyk signs with Bruins (1 year, $1 million)
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Ryan O’Reilly signs with Predators (4 years, $18 million)
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Canadiens trade Joel Edmundson to Capitals for 2024 3rd round pick and a 2024 7th round pick
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Matt Nieto signs with Penguins (2 years, $1.8 million)
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Luke Schenn signs with Predators (3 years, $8.25 million)
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Jesper Fast re-signs with Hurricanes (2 years, $4.8 million)
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Anti Raanta re-signs with Hurricanes (1 year, $1.5 million)
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Mackenzie Blackwood signs with Sharks (2 years, $5 million)
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Ryan Reaves signs with Maple Leafs (3 years, $4.05 million)
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson signs with Panthers (1 year, $2.25 million)
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Erik Brannstrom re-signs with Senators (1 year, $2 million)
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Klim Kostin re-signs with Red Wings (2 years, $4 million)
