Let’s get wild, everybody. At noon today (happy Canada Day btw), the NHL begins free agency. Any team can sign any unrestricted free agent. Some big contracts are about to be signed.
We expect Washington to be quiet today, which makes sense considering their salary cap problems. Former Caps Karl Alzner, Daniel Winnik, Justin Williams, and Kevin Shattenkirk will all be up for auction – as will be Brooks Laich and Jaromir Jagr.
We’ll update this story throughout the day with news, and we’ll break in with a separate story for the big stuff. See you in the comments.
But first, from Bob McKenzie, here’s a bunch of connections floating around:
- Sam Gagner, Michael Del Zotto and G Anders Nilsson to VAN.
- G Steve Mason to WPG.
- Dan Girardi to TB.
- Trevor Daley to DET.
- G Brian Elliott to PHI.
- G Chad Johnson to BUF.
- Patrick Sharp to CHI.
- G Jonathan Bernier to COL.
- Evgeny Dadonov and Micheal Haley to FLA.
- G Ondrej Pavelec to NYR.
- G Ryan Miller to ANA.
- Martin Hanzal is expected to go to DAL.
And I’ll just throw this out one out there too.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/881132988527935488
Alright. We’ll start going buckwild at noon.
Unofficial: Karl Alzner to sign 5-year deal for $4.5M AAV with the Canadiens.
Unofficial: Kevin Shattenkirk to sign 4-year deal for $6.9M AAV with the Rangers.
Bonino hops to the runners up.
Confirming Nick Bonino is going to Nashville. 4/5 year term.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2017
Daley locks up in Detroit.
Trevor Daley's terms in DET: 3 x $3.178.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Dmitry Kulikov in the Dirty Peg for quite a bit of cash.
Winnipeg agrees to 3 year term with Kulikov.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2017
3 years, $4.33 aav for Kulikov in Wpg.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2017
Dan Girardi pretty cheap in Tampa.
Dan Girardi's expected terms in TB: 2 x $3M
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Patrick Sharp is a Blackhawk again.
OFFICIAL:
He's back. pic.twitter.com/MW9Qg5u4sW
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 1, 2017
Did Winnipeg need Steve Mason? Welp, they’ve got him.
Steve Mason's terms in WPG: 2 x $4.1M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
MDZ in Vancouver on a rare not horrible deal for them.
Michael Del Zotto's terms in VAN: 2 x $3M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2017
Kind of a big haul for Winnipeg with Sam Gagner coming too.
Sam Gagner's three-year deal with the Canucks worth $3.15 M per year
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2017
The Alzner deal is confirmed.
#Habs sign Karl Alzner to 5-year deal.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 1, 2017
Brian Boyle is a Devil.
5.1 million for 2 years https://t.co/y0OQsDqvzH
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2017
Colin Wilson joins the Avalanche.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/881182602903814146
Justin Williams to Raleigh. Good for him! More on this soon.
Justin Williams to the Carolina Hurricanes on a 2 year deal. Expect announcement from Carolina at 12:30pm #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) July 1, 2017
Matt Hunwick gets a longish deal with Pittsburgh.
Hunwick 3 year deal with Pens. $2.5 mil, $2.5 mil and $1.75 mil.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2017
The Avs get a better goalie in Jonathan Bernier.
Jonathan Bernier agrees to a one-year deal with Colorado for $2.75 million
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2017
Justin Williams will make $9 million with the Canes over the next two years. Woo!
The Hawks claim JF Berube. Chicago has been very busy!
Blackhawks sign Jean-Francois Berube.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) July 1, 2017
The Penguins are pro-Antti Niemi, signing the G to a cheap one-year deal.
#Pens sign Antti Niemi to $700K, 1-year deal.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 1, 2017
Vlasic gets a big extension in San Jose, plus Martin Jones too. (They’re not UFA, but those are big deals.)
Sharks have signed Marc-Edouard Vlasic to an 8-year, $56 million extension ($7 M aav) and Martin Jones to a 6-year deal worth $5.75 M aav
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2017
Cam Fowler is finalizing an extension with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Hearing Cam Fowler and the Ducks putting finishing touches on 8-year deal worth $6.5 million per season.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) July 1, 2017
Update 1:00 PM: It’s been an hour. Still waiting on official news regarding Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Radulov. Definitely more coming.
Patrick Wiercioch gets a cheap deal with the Canucks.
Patrick Wiercioch gets a one-way contract from Vancouver. One year, $650,000.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2017
Beau Bennett buddies up with the Blues.
Blues sign Beau Bennett to a one-year contract worth $650,000.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) July 1, 2017
Finallyyyyyyyy, Scott Hartnell… has come back… to Nashville.
The Predators have also reunited with Scott Hartnell. One year, $1 million.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) July 1, 2017
Final Update 2:10 PM: Shutting down the open thread with some big questions: Shattenkirk, Radulov, Marleau, Thornton, Jagr? We’ll find out when we’re allowed to. Thanks for hanging out!
