NHL Roundup: Breaking down all the signings and transactions heading into Free Agent Frenzy
There was a flurry of activity yesterday and several of them came late into the night. All and all there were four trades and 12 signings. As the free agent bell is set to ring at 12 PM ET today, let’s recap the moves.
NHL Roundup: 4 trades made, two involving the Blackhawks
Golden Knights trade Marc-Andre Fleury to Blackhawks: ESPN reported Fleury’s $7 million salary next season is an obligation of the Blackhawks, who are sending forward prospect Mikael Hakkarainen to Vegas in the deal. Fleury, 36, won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2020-21 and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is now thinking about retiring.
Kraken make a deal: The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Kurtis MacDermid from the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Jets acquire Nate Schmidt: The Winnipeg Jets finalized a trade with the Vancouver Canucks to acquire defenseman Nate Schmidt in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick. Schmidt, 30, waived his no-trade clause to allow the deal to go through. Vancouver is not retaining any of his $5.95M AAV salary.
Lightning trade Tyler Johnson to Blackhawks: The Lightning clear cap space by moving Tyler Johnson and a 2023 second round pick to the Blackhawks for the contract of retired defenseman Brent Seabrook.
Top free agent signings both official and unofficial
Alex Ovechkin: Ovechkin, who represented himself in negotiations, and was set to become an unrestricted free agent today. The 35-year-old Russian will carry a cap hit of $9.5 million next season under the new deal, which extends through the 2025-26 campaign.
Gabriel Landeskog: The Avs Captain is committed to stay with the only team he’s ever known through the 2028-29 season after signing an eight-year deal with the club on late Tuesday night. Though the Avalanche didn’t announce financial terms of the contract, TSN reported that Landeskog will make $7 million per year.
Patrik Laine: The 23 year-old sniper struggled after a trade from Jets. He scored only 12 goals and 24 points in 46 games between Winnipeg (1GP, 2G-1A) and Columbus. Yesterday he accepted the Columbus Blue Jackets qualifying offer. He will earn $7.5 million as he works his way to unrestricted free agency in 2023.
Pavel Buchnevich: St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich agreed to terms a four-year, $23.2 million contract Tuesday. He was in line to become a restricted free agent on Wednesday. He was acquired by the Blues last Friday from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Keith Yandle: The Philadelphia Flyers are signing free agent defenseman Keith Yandle to a one-year, $900,000 contract, multiple outlets reported Tuesday. The Athletic reported the deal includes a no-trade clause for the 34-year-old veteran, whose contract was bought out by the Florida Panthers earlier this month.
Conor Garland: The Canucks acquired Garland, 25, last Friday from the Arizona Coyotes along with defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in a pre-draft trade for a package of players and draft picks. Yesterday he signed a five-year, $24.75 million contract on Tuesday. His AAV is $4.95M.
Tony DeAngelo: The recently bought out Rangers defenseman will sign a one year deal worth $1 million per TSN.
–Field Level Media contributed to this article
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