The stars available at the top end of the NHL free agent market should make things interesting Wednesday afternoon.
And scratch ColoradoB次元官网网址檚 Gabriel Landeskog off the list, after the Avalanche captain signed an eight-year, $56 million contract late Tuesday night.
Elsewhere, two-time Stanley Cup champion Blake Coleman is a lock to leave the Tampa Bay Lightning, and there will be no shortage of suitors interested in a gritty forward who can help get a contender over the hump.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and expansion Seattle Kraken are among the teams that could be active with more than $20 million in salary cap space. And the Vegas Golden Knights could go big-name shopping after clearing space by to Chicago.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l use our resources to work to make the team as strong and competitive as possible,B次元官网网址� Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 never any guarantees youB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to do the things you might like to do. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of factors at play, obviously, when you get to free agency.B次元官网网址�
A handful of free agents already have deals in place.
Zach Hyman got permission from Toronto to speak to other teams when the Maple Leafs knew they couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to replace him, and heB次元官网网址檚 expected to sign long term with the Edmonton Oilers. Veteran defenseman Keith Yandle was free to talk to other teams as soon as he was bought out by Florida and has an agreement in place with Philadelphia on a $900,000 contract for next season.
Other players who were bought out, including defenseman Ryan Suter and forward Zach Parise whose stints in Minnesota are over after next season, could find homes very quickly after noon EDT. Former New York Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo is also in that camp and has been linked to Carolina.
The 28-year-old Landeskog was re-signed shortly before midnight EDT, when both sides faced an NHL deadline allowing players to sign eight-year contracts. Any deals struck afterward are capped at seven years.
Landeskog represents a key piece to a team coming off a PresidentB次元官网网址檚 Trophy-winning season, before being eliminated in six games by Vegas in the West Division final. He finished second on the team with 20 goals B次元官网网址� his eighth 20-goal season in nine years B次元官网网址� and his 218 career goals rank sixth on the team list, and third since the Avalanche relocated to Colorado in 1995.
B次元官网网址淲e are thrilled to have our captain signed to a long-term deal,B次元官网网址� said Avalanche GM Joe Sakic. B次元官网网址淕abe is the heart and soul of this team and an integral part of our organization both on the ice and in the community.B次元官网网址�
The players whose contracts expire Wednesday will be part of a talking and signing frenzy, since the league and NHLPA eliminated the negotiation period for free agents.
B次元官网网址淵ou might have a bit of a feel of where you stood with respect to a certain player,B次元官网网址� McCrimmon said. B次元官网网址淣ow it opens with a starterB次元官网网址檚 pistol on Wednesday, so itB次元官网网址檚 a little harder to predict.B次元官网网址�
One prediction thatB次元官网网址檚 easy to make is a flurry of goaltender movement. Beyond Grubauer, former starters Petr Mrazek and James Reimer from Carolina and Frederik Andersen from Toronto are expected to be available.
Braden Holtby, the 2016 Vezina Trophy winner who backstopped Washington to the Stanley Cup in 2018, should attract interest despite being bought out by Vancouver following a down season. Same goes for Martin Jones, who struggled the past three seasons before San Jose bought him out Tuesday.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson is now looking for a replacement and should not have much trouble on that front.
B次元官网网址淲e need one more guy that I think is a quality veteran that is a stabilizer B次元官网网址� you know what youB次元官网网址檙e going to get,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a few of them out there, and weB次元官网网址檒l be exploring that.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow, The Associated Press
