NHL free agent market
Giroud – in Ottawa, 68 million for Goudreau in Columbus
On July 13, the free agent market opened in the NHL. Evgeniy Malkin could have been the biggest player on the market, but the forward negotiated a new 4-year contract with Pittsburgh at the last moment.
Among the big deals, we note the transfer of forward Claude Giroux to Ottawa. Are the Senators getting ready to return to the playoffs?
Already at the end of the first day, Columbus acquired the main asset of the current market. Forward Johnny Goudreau received a contract for 7 years. Last season, the Calgary player scored 115 points, but the Fire could not keep the leading hockey player. At the same time, Columbus is a rather unexpected choice, but the contract is really huge. Goodreau signed a deal for 68.2 million.
Washington bolstered the goaltending line with Darcy Kemper. The goalkeeper, who helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup, received a 5-year contract from the Capitals in the free agent market.
The New York Rangers signed forward Vincent Trocheck, who had 21 goals and 51 points last season. The contract is for 7 years.
Tampa Bay, which has reached the Stanley Cup Finals three times in a row (and won two trophies), is doing everything to keep the current backbone of the team. The Lightning have announced that defensemen Mykhailo Sergachyov and Eric Chernak, as well as forward Anthony Cirelli, have received 8-year max contracts.
John Klingberg, Nazem Kadri and Nino Niederreiter remain free agents for now.
Main transitions (updated).
– Forward Ondrej Palat moved to New Jersey. The contract is for 5 years.
– Forward Johnny Goudreau transferred to Columbus. The contract is for 7 years and 68 million.
– Seattle signed defenseman Justin Schultz. The contract is for 5 years.
– Forward Ryan Strome moved to Anaheim. The contract is for 5 years.
– Forward Claude Giroux moved to Ottawa. The contract is for 3 years.
– St. Louis signed defenseman Nick Leddy. The contract is designed for 4 years.
– Goalie Darcy Kemper transferred to Washington. The contract is for 5 years.
– The New York Rangers signed a 7-year contract with forward Vincent Trocheck. In addition, the club signed goalkeeper Yaroslav Halak.
– Edmonton signed goaltender Jack Campbell. Agreement for 5 years.
– Columbus signed defenseman Erik Gadbranson to a 4-year contract.
– Seattle signed forward Andre Burakovsky. The contract is for 5 years.
– Toronto signed goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov. Contract for 1 year.
– Vancouver signed forward Ilya Mikheev. Contract for 4 seasons.
Key re-signs.
– Pittsburgh signed Evgeni Malkin to a new 4-year contract. In addition, the Penguins signed forward Rickard Rakell to a 6-year deal.
– Edmonton extended forward Evander Kane’s contract for 4 years.
– Nashville extended forward Filip Forsberg’s contract for 8 years.
– Colorado and forward Valery Nichushkin signed an 8-year contract. Plus, the Avalanche extended the contracts of Josh Manson and Arturi Lehkonen.
– Defender Mykhailo Sergachev extended his contract with Tampa Bay for 8 years. In addition, the club extended defender Eric Cernak and forward Anthony Cirelli for 8 years.
Malkin and Pittsburgh, Colorado and Calgary issues
After the draft, the NHL’s last big summer event will be the opening of the free agent market on July 13. Before that, clubs actively sign their hockey players and carry out trades.
The biggest catch on the market could be the duo from Pittsburgh Kris Letang – Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins managed to sign defenseman Letang to a 6-year contract, but Malkin, it seems, will change teams for the first time in his NHL career. The club claims that they want to keep the forward, but they cannot come to an agreement yet. Malkin, despite injuries and not the best statistics of two seasons, could be among the top free agents, after which a whole group of clubs lined up.
Another similar story is happening in Calgary, where forward Johnny Goodreau, who scored 115 points last season and expects a giant contract, can leave the team. Matthew Tkachak, who has 104 points, can go with him, but he is still a restricted free agent and will not leave the Flames so easily.
With Letang out of free agency, the top defensive pick will be Dallas’ John Klingberg. The Stars likely won’t be able to keep their point guard, who scored 47 points last season and can expect a big contract.
The champion is in an interesting situation. As part of Colorado, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, Jack Johnson and Josh Manson can become free agents. The club noted that it will not be possible to save everyone, but 2-3 players will re-sign. In Tampa Bay, the situation is simpler, since among the key players, only Ondrej Palat can become a free agent. True, the Lightning currently have no money under the salary cap, but negotiations are ongoing. Last season, Palat was one of the main performers in the playoffs, where the Czech scored 11 goals and scored 21 points.
So far, everything is going so well in Tampa that the team, which has reached the finals of the Stanley Cup three times in a row, will fully retain key hockey players.