The NHL free agent signing period opens at noon ET Saturday and once again, a relatively flat salary cap will play a major role. It’s going up only $1 million to $83.5 million.
The Vegas Golden Knights got key Stanley Cup contributors Adin Hill and Ivan Barbashev under contract this week but had to trade Reilly Smith, one of the team’s original players, to make it happen.
The Boston Bruins dealt Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to free up space but trade deadline acquisitions Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway were heading to market.
Follow along as USA TODAY Sports tracks the signing and other moves on the opening day of free agency.
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Red Wings extend depth forward
Klim Kostin, a 24-year-old winger, wasn’t given a qualifying offer after being acquired by the Edmonton Oilers, where he had 21 points in 57 games. He stays with Detroit on a two-year deal with a $2 million average annual value, the team announced Saturday.
Jonathan Quick heading to New York?
The longtime Kings goalie who beat the New York Rangers in the 2014 Stanley Cup appears “highly likely” to join the Blueshirts, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported Friday. Quick, 37, has a 2.47 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 753 regular-season games, 10 of which were spent with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. The two-time Stanley Cup winner would back up Igor Shesterkin.
Who are the top free agents?
In addition to Bertuzzi and Orlov, the list includes forwards Ryan O’Reilly, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Alex Killorn, Jonathan Toews and J.T. Compher; defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere, Luke Schenn, Radko Gudas, John Klingberg and Matt Dumba and goalies Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, Joonas Korpisalo and Jonathan Quick.
Buyouts increase the free agent pool
A pair of two-time All-Stars are hitting unrestricted free agency after the Nashville Predators’ Matt Duchene and Winnipeg Jets’ Blake Wheeler were placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying them out. Duchene, 32, scored 43 goals in 2021-22 and dropped to 22 this past season. Wheeler, 36, is the franchise’s all-time leader in games, assists and points. Others being bought out: forwards Kailer Yamamoto, Zack Kassian and Josh Bailey, and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Patrik Nemeth and Mike Reilly.
Lack of qualifying offers increases free agent pool
Seattle Kraken forward Daniel Sprong, a 21-goal scorer, didn’t receive a qualifying offer on Friday, making him an unrestricted free agent. Others include teammate Morgan Geekie, who scored in the Kraken’s inaugural game, and forwards Christian Fischer, Denis Malgin, Sam Steel, Noah Gregor and Jesper Boqvist, who hit double digits in goals.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL free agency live updates: Latest signings, rumors, trades and more
