Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin, Jets' Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele get lucrative extensions

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Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin, Jets' Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele get lucrative extensions

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Oct 9, 2023 ·

51 min read

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The 2023-24 NHL regular season will open Oct. 10 with three games, including Chicago Blackhawks highly touted rookie Connor Bedard taking on Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights raising their championship banner.

The offseason was a busy one. Patrick Kane remains unsigned and fellow three-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Toews made a decision about this season. Boston Bruins centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci announced their retirements. Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson was traded to the Penguins and Toronto 's Auston Matthews got a record-setting deal .

Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides news and analysis on transactions until the regular season opens:

ROOKIE RACE: Connor Bedard and who else?

PRESSURE: Who is facing the heat?

Oct. 9: Buffalo Sabres , Winnipeg Jets hand out lucrative extensions

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will average $11 million in his eight-year extension, which clicks in during the 2024-25 season and runs through 2031-32. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick is coming off his best season with 15 goals, 58 assists and 73 points and will be key if the Sabres are to end their 12-season playoff drought. When the $11 million cap hit kicks in, Dahlin will be tied with the Los Angeles Kings ' Drew Doughty for second place among defensemen behind the Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million).

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets signed goalie Connor Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele to seven-year extensions averaging $8.5 million a year. That's key because it eliminates a potential distraction this season and keeps one of the league's top goaltenders in Winnipeg. Hellebuyck, 30, won the Vezina Trophy in 2020 and was a finalist last season. He's making $7.5 million this year in the final year of his current deal. Scheifele, 30, who's making $6 million, had a career-best 42 goals last season.

Oct. 8: Vancouver Canucks acquire forward Sam Lafferty from Toronto Maple Leafs

Sam Lafferty kills penalties and the Canucks ranked last in the penalty killing percentage during 2022-23. The Maple Leafs needed to move out a player to be cap compliant and get back a fifth-round 2024 draft pick.

Also:The Canucks said injured defenseman Carson Soucy is week-to-week. ... The Red Wings signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year, two-way contract after the former Maple Leafs player was released from his tryout agreement with the Hurricanes. ... The Senators released forward Josh Bailey from his tryout agreement. The team is expected to be without injured Josh Norris to start the season and forward Shane Pinto remains unsigned.

Oct. 7: Minnesota Wild sign Ryan Hartman to extension

The Minnesota Wild signed center Ryan Hartman to a three-year, $12 million extension through 2026-27. He plays on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello , who recently signed a two-year extension. Hartman, 29, had six game-winning goals and two short-handed goals among his 37 last season. The Wild also recently gave forward Marcus Foligno a four-year extension.

Also:The Seattle Kraken sent 2022 No. 4 overall pick Shane Wright to Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League. He had two points in eight games last season before being returned to junior hockey and finishing up the season in the AHL. The Kraken also placed goalie Chris Driedger on waivers, meaning Joey Daccord will back up Philipp Grubauer .

Oct. 6: Florida Panthers send down Spencer Knight to get him more playing time

Spencer Knight's comeback story will continue in Charlotte, after the Florida Panthers loaned their young goaltender to the team's American Hockey League affiliate. Knight hasn't played in a game that counts for Florida since Feb. 18. The 22-year-old stepped away from hockey for several months to focus on his mental health, and recently revealed that he has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. "He's made great progress in his program," coach Paul Maurice said. "He feels good. He looked fantastic in training camp. But we need to put him in kind of a No. 1 position, a No. 1 role and then run his program and work on what he's working on." - Associated Press

Also: The Wild said defenseman Jared Spurgeon , their captain, is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

Oct. 5: Anaheim Ducks , Jamie Drysdale agree to three-year deal

The Anaheim Ducks will have everyone in for the final days of training camp after defenseman Jamie Drysdale agreed to a reported three-year, $6.9 million deal . Leading scorer Trevor Zegras signed three days earlier. Drysdale was the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft and scored 32 points in his first full season. But he missed 74 games last season because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. As with Zegras, Drysdale will have limited time to learn new coach Greg Cronin's system.

Also:Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev was suspended two preseason games and two regular-season games for kneeing Ducks forward Chase De Leo on Tuesday. Kaliyev will forfeit $9,314.24 in pay.

Oct. 4: NHL projects higher salary cap in 2024-25

The NHL's salary cap, which has been relatively flat since the pandemic, could get a bigger boost in the 2024-25 season. "We believe the escrow will be paid off in full and the cap will be somewhere between $87-$88 million for the following year," commissioner Gary Bettman said at the board of governors meeting, according to NHL.com . This year's cap is $83.5 million. Many free agents this summer took pay cuts on one-year deals in hopes of a bigger cap after their deals expire.

Oct. 3: Forward Derek Stepan retires after 13 NHL seasons

Derek Stepan played for the New York Rangers , Arizona Coyotes , Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes , totaling 515 points in 890 games. He had 15 points in 24 playoff games as the Rangers reached the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. The Minnesota native also suited up for Team USA internationally, including playing one game in the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Oct. 2: Anaheim Ducks, Trevor Zegras agree to three-year deal

The Anaheim Ducks and their 2022-23 leading scorer, Trevor Zegras, agreed to a three-year contract worth an average of $5.75 million a year . That will get Zegras, 22, into camp a week before the Ducks open the season under new coach Greg Cronin. The creative center tied his career best of 23 goals while setting personal bests of 42 assists and 65 points. He was the NHL's third-youngest player to lead his team in points last season. He'll still be a restricted free agent when the deal expires in 2026. Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale remains unsigned.

Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras led his team in scoring last season.

Oct. 1: Brandon Sutter retires after 13 NHL seasons

Brandon Sutter announced his retirement from the NHL after being released from his tryout contract with the Edmonton Oilers . Sutter played 13 NHL seasons but missed the past two because of COVID symptoms. "You need to be 100 percent healthy to compete in the NHL and although my health continues to improve, in consideration of my health and family, I am officially retiring from hockey," he said in a statement . Sutter, 34, the son of former NHL player Brent Sutter, played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks, totaling 289 points in 770 games.

Sept. 30: Anaheim Ducks' Alex Killorn breaks finger; out 4-6 weeks

Alex Killorn, the Anaheim Ducks' key free agent signing as the team tries to escape the NHL's basement , broke his finger during a preseason game against the San Jose Sharks , the team announced. He's expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which could take him through the first month of the season. Killorn signed a four-year, $25 million deal after spending his entire career with the Tampa Bay Lightning , where he won two Stanley Cup titles and made two trips to the Final. The Ducks, who are 3-1 in the preseason, still don't have unsigned forward Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale.

FLAMES: Assistant GM Chris Snow dies of ALS

Sept. 29: Islanders preseason game postponed by flooding

The New York Islanders announced that Friday night's home preseason game against the New York Rangers at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, has been postponed due to flooding and the state of emergency declared by the state. The game will be made up at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. New York City also declared a state of emergency. "We could possibly see eight inches of rain before the day is over," Mayor Eric Adams said .

Sept. 29: Wild hand out two contract extensions

The Minnesota Wild got some of next summer's business done early: signing forwards Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno to contract extensions. Zuccarello will average $4.125 million in the two-year deal that kicks in next season, down from a $6 million cap hit in his current contract. Foligno, 32, gets a bump from his current $3.1 million cap hit with his new four-year, $16 million deal. Zuccarello was the team's No. 2 scorer last season and has chemistry on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov. The gritty Foligno led the Wild in penalty minutes last season.

Also:The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed goalie Spencer Martin off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks had acquired Casey DeSmith earlier to back up Thatcher Demko. ... The Ottawa Senators hired Steve Staios as president of hockey operations.

Sept. 28: Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has back surgery

The Lightning said award-winning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy would miss about the first two months of the season after having microdiscectomy to address a lumbar disc herniation. That's a big blow for a team that already has had to deal with player departures because of salary cap woes. Two months means he would miss 28 games. Barring an acquisition or signing (less likely because of the cap), the Lightning would use Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins (35 combined NHL appearances) until Vasilevskiy returns.

Also:Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard had two assists, including on Andreas Athanasiou's overtime goal in a 2-1 win against the St. Louis Blues.

Sept. 27: Flames extend Mikael Backlund's contract, name him captain

He gets a reported two-year, $9 million deal . Mikael Backlund is the longest-serving active Flames player (908 games) and becomes the team's 21st captain. The Flames had gone without a captain since Mark Giordano taken by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft , but Backlund, 34, has been an alternate captain since 2017-18. He's coming off a career-best 37 assists and 56 points and won last season's King Clancy Award for humanitarian work. The Flames have other key players eligible for extensions, including forward Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin.

Sept. 25: Blue Jackets name Mark Recchi assistant coach

Mark Recchi is a Hall of Famer, seven-time All-Star and two-time Stanley Cup champion as a player. He previously was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils. Recchi fills the vacancy created when Pascal Vincent was promoted to head coach after the resignation of Mike Babcock.

Sept. 20: Bruins name Brad Marchand captain

No one can replace retired Patrice Bergeron on the ice, but the Boston Bruins named his replacement as captain. The choice of Brad Marchand makes sense because he's already an alternate captain, a key scorer and the lone remaining player from the Bruins' last championship team in 2010-11. He'll try to help the Bruins rebound from their stunning first-round exit after a record-setting season.

Sept. 17-18: Blue Jackets say no further fallout from Mike Babcock resignation

Columbus Blue Jackets executive John Davidson said "we got it wrong" and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen apologized to players, but ownership said there would be no further fallout "at this time" after the controversy that led to coach Mike Babcock resigning on Sunday. "Additional disruptions would be detrimental to our players and coaches as they prepare for the opening of training camp in two days," majority team owner John H. McConnell said in a statement Monday.

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, who hired Mike Babcock as head coach on July 1, said the team thoroughly vetted him but made a mistake.

Babcock stepped down after an NHL and NHL Players' Association investigation into a podcast's allegation that the coach asked players to share with him photos from their phones. "Whether there was (ill) intent or not, some of our players were uncomfortable with his methods," Kekalainen said Monday. The Blue Jackets' hiring had been controversial because stories about Babcock bullying players arose after he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019. Management said it thoroughly vetted him but made a mistake.

Associate coach Pascal Vincent was promoted Sunday to replace Babcock and received a two-year extension. "Pascal is prepared for this opportunity. He has earned it," Kekalainen said. "While the circumstances are less than ideal, he is a very good coach and nothing should detract from that."

Sept. 14: Josh Bailey among NHL's training camp tryouts

The Ottawa Senators announced they have signed veteran forward Josh Bailey to a professional tryout contract for training camp. He had played his entire career with the New York Islanders before being dealt in June to the Chicago Blackhawks, who bought him out. He has 580 points in 1,057 regular-season games but had only 25 points last season. Among other players heading to camp on tryout agreements: Adam Erne, Sam Gagner and Brandon Sutter, Oilers; Alex Chiasson and Danton Heinen, Bruins; Ryan Dzingel, Coyotes; Zack Kassian, Ducks; Jordie Benn, Stars; Zach Aston-Reese, Hurricanes; Nick Ritchie, Blues; Auston Watson, Lightning; Noah Gregor, Maple Leafs; Max Comtois, Golden Knights.

Sept. 12: Colorado Avalanche agree to terms with Tomas Tatar

Reports put the one-year deal at $1.5 million. Tatar is coming off the seventh 20-goal season of his career and also recorded a career-best plus-41 rating with the New Jersey Devils last season. He'll provide added offense on a team that will be without captain Gabriel Landeskog for a second consecutive season. Tatar joins Devils teammate Miles Wood on the Avalanche, who also added forwards Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton and Jonathan Drouin during the summer.

Forward Tomas Tatar agreed to a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

Also:Defenseman Nick Holden is retiring after 15 seasons and will join the Vegas Golden Knights' player development staff. He played for six NHL teams, including Vegas for three seasons.

Sept. 9: Tampa Bay Lightning change up their forwards

Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said the team was terminating forward Josh Archibald's contract after being informed that he wasn't "planning on playing hockey for the time being." BriseBois didn't give a reason for Archibald's decision. He had signed a two-year, $1.6 million contrac t with the Lightning on July 1. He had missed most of the 2021-22 season with myocarditis and played last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Lightning also announced that they signed forward Tyler Motte to a one-year, $800,000 contract. He split time last season between the Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, recording 19 points in 62 games.

Sept. 6: Jake Sanderson signs big extension with Ottawa Senators

The Senators have locked up a piece of their core. Ottawa inked defenseman Jake Sanderson to an eight-year, $64.4 million contract extension ($8.050 million AAV). Sanderson, 21, is coming off a rookie season that saw him record 32 points in 77 games. The fifth overall pick in 2020, Sanderson — the son of longtime NHL forward Geoff Sanderson — is now under contract with the Senators through the 2031-32 season.

Aug. 30: Toronto Maple Leafs give multiyear extension to coach Sheldon Keefe

New general manager Brad Treliving said Sheldon Keefe "has shown great leadership skills with his staff and our players, and has a clear vision for this team and where it needs to get to." Keefe has had back-to-back 50-win seasons, including a club-record 54 in 2021-22. More important, he got the Maple Leafs to the second round last season for the first since 2004.

Aug. 27: Joonas Donskoi announces retirement because of multiple concussions

Joonas Donskoi announced his retirement Sunday after suffering "multiple concussions" during his seven-season career. "It is extremely hard to let go of something you have put your whole life into, but at this point, I know it's the right decision for my own well-being and future," he wrote on Instagram .

The Finnish forward suffered a concussion during the 2022 preseason in a collision with a Seattle Kraken teammate and wasn't able to play last season. He entered the league with the San Jose Sharks in 2015-16 and reached the Stanley Cup Final as a rookie. He scored two game-winning goals, the series clincher in the first round and an overtime goal in the Final. Donskoi, 31, played four seasons with the Sharks, two with the Colorado Avalanche and one with the Kraken after being taken in the expansion draft, finishing with 80 goals and 208 points in 474 regular-season games.

"I got to live my dream of being an NHL player, which I'm extremely blessed and (grateful) for," he said. "I think I was able to reach my own potential, which was always my biggest goal."

Aug. 25: Released Alex Galchenyuk signs with Russian team

Alex Galchenyuk, who was cut by the Arizona Coyotes less than two weeks after he signed because of an arrest, will play this season in Russia. SKA Saint Petersburg said the Kontinental Hockey League team had signed the 2012 No. 3 overall pick to a two-year deal. The Coyotes had signed Galchenyuk, 29, on July 1 but the forward was arrested on July 9 and booked on charges of hit and run, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, threats and failure to obey an officer. Among the threats, according to police, was, "I will kill your wife, your daughters, and call Moscow and have their livers removed." He later apologized and according to The Athletic had the other charges dropped after he pleaded guilty to making threats. Galchenyuk had played exclusively in North America, but his father, Alexander, played a dozen seasons in Russian leagues, including one season in Saint Petersburg. The younger Galchenyuk had 354 points in 654 NHL games.

Aug. 24: Edmonton Oilers re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard

Evan Bouchard will average $3.9 million in the two-year deal. He assumed the top power-play quarterback role after the trade of Tyson Barrie last season. He had 11 power-play points last season and that could rise with more time on the top unit because Edmonton clicked at an NHL-record 32.4% last season. "In the next two years the Oilers are going to be a real force out there, and I'm just looking to be a part of that," he told reporters. Bouchard, 23, totaled 83 points over his last two seasons and had 17 points in 12 playoff games. He'll be a restricted agent when the bridge deal expires and can cash in later when the salary cap rises.

Aug. 23: Auston Matthews , Alexis Lafreniere, Andre Tourigny get new deals

News from a busy Wednesday:

-Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews got a four-year, $53 million extension that kicks in during 2024-25 and his $13.25 million cap hit surpasses Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6 million) and Connor McDavid ($12.5 million). That's great news for the Leafs, who have Matthews signed through age 30 at not much more than his current $11.6 million-plus average. The 2016 No. 1 overall pick has a league-best 299 goals since joining the league and won the Hart Trophy in 2021-22 when he scored 60 goals.

-New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere has agreed to a bridge deal, becoming the final team member to get under contract. He'll get two years at a $2.325 million average, according to lohud.com , part of the USA TODAY Network. Lafreniere was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, but hasn't reached the numbers of other top picks. His top season was last season, 39 points, but he'll get a chance to improve on that with the Rangers getting a new coach in Peter Laviolette.

-Arizona Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny got a three-year extension. He led the rebuilding Coyotes to a 13-point improvement last season. The team went 21-15-5 at Mullett Arena, its first home record above .500 since 2019-20. "Our players like him, respect him and compete hard for him," general manager Bill Armstrong said. The Coyotes will have a more experienced lineup this season after adding veterans Jason Zucker, Matt Dumba and others this offseason.

Also:The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Darren Raddysh to a two-year extension averaging $975,000.

Aug. 22: Tampa Bay Lightning re-sign Brandon Hagel

The forward will average $6.5 million in the eight-year extension that kicks in during 2024-25. The Lightning continue to lock in key players while losing others. Brandon Hagel had career bests as he tied for fourth on the Lightning with 64 points in the first full season in Tampa Bay. Last summer, they locked in Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak. But the Lightning will look different this season because Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon, Ross Colton and Corey Perry are gone.

Aug. 21: Goaltender Jonathan Bernier announces retirement after 14 seasons

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier finished his 14-season NHL career with the New Jersey Devils.

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier announced his retirement on Monday after 14 NHL seasons. "I can't thank the @lakings, @mapleleafs, @anaheimducks, avalanche, @redwings and @njdevils enough for giving me the opportunity to play in the best league in the world and in front of the best fans in the game," he posted on Instagram . "There are no words to express my gratitude to everyone who has been part of my hockey journey since day one, without all of you I couldn't have done it." Bernier, 35, was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings in 2006 and became a No. 1 goalie after his 2013 trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bernier, who bounced around in recent years and didn't play last season because of hip surgery, finishes with a 165-163-40 record, 2.78 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 404 career games.

Also:The Philadelphia Flyers signed first-round pick Oliver Bonk to an entry-level contract. The defenseman is the son of former NHL forward Radek Bonk. … The Boston Bruins signed forward Alex Chiasson to a professional tryout agreement for training camp.

Aug. 19: Winnipeg Jets re-sign defenseman Logan Stanley

The restricted free agent gets one year at $1 million. He's coming off a season in which he was limited to 19 games because of injuries and healthy scratches. He had three points. Stanley, a 2018 first-round pick, also was in the news when Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov was injured as the 6-7 defenseman checked and landed on him .

Aug. 18: Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin

Ilya Lyubushkin is a physical defenseman who kills penalties. His acquisition, along with the earlier additions of defensemen Radko Gudas and Robert Hagg, is important for a team that gave up the most goals and had the league's second-worst penalty kill. Lyubushkin has one year left on his deal before he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Ducks give the Buffalo Sabres a 2025 fourth-round pick that originally belonged to the Minnesota Wild.

Aug. 17: Jonathan Toews to take time off in 2023-24 season

Jonathan Toews said Thursday he isn't "fully retiring," but he's taking time away from the game this season so he can "fully heal" from health issues. He missed the 2020-21 season with chronic immune response syndrome and two months last season because of that and long COVID. Toews, 35, won Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015, all as captain, but he's a free agent and the team said in April it didn't plan to re-sign him. The center was named to the NHL's Greatest 100 team in 2017.

SABRES: Revered broadcaster Rick Jeanneret dies at 81

Aug. 15: Detroit Red Wings acquire defenseman Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry's return to the Montreal Canadiens didn't last long. Reacquired on Aug. 6 in the three-team Erik Karlsson trade , Petry was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday for defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and a 2024 fifth-round pick. Petry, 35, didn't have a strong season in his lone year in Pittsburgh, but the right-side defenseman has 20 or more assists in his last seven seasons. He's the son of former Tigers pitcher Dan Petry and is from the Detroit area, just like recent acquisition Alex DeBrincat.

Aug. 14: Boston Bruins' David Krejci announces retirement

Boston Bruins center David Krejci announced his retirement on Monday.

David Krejci, 37, is the second Bruins center to retire this summer, following Patrice Bergeron . He played with Boston his entire career and is fifth all time in assists and ninth in points. He's tied with Bergeron and Brad Marchand for second in playoff points, and he led the league in postseason scoring in 2011 and 2013. Krejci played in the Czech Republic in 2021-22 (he returned to the NHL last season), so the Bruins have already had to make adjustments without him. But now, they're down their top two centers after finishing with a record 65 wins and 135 points last season.

MAPLE LEAFS: Prospect Rodion Amirov dies from cancer at age 21

Aug. 11: Vancouver Canucks reach terms with forward Pius Suter

Pius Suter will be averaging $1.6 million in his two-year deal, down from a $3.25 million cap hit in his last contract. He's a center but can play either wing, kill penalties and play solid defensively. Suter, who previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, has 43 goals over three seasons. "I can play any of the three positions," he told reporters. "I have in the past, all three of them, sometimes in the same game. We'll see how it goes. I've got to show what I can bring to the table in training camp."

Aug. 10: Carolina Hurricanes sign defenseman Caleb Jones

The Carolina Hurricanes already had a solid defense corps, and they have been boosting it with offseason signings. First was Dmitry Orlov, the top blueliner on the free agent market. Then they brought back Tony DeAngelo after he was bought out by the Philadelphia Flyers. Thursday, they signed Caleb Jones to a one-year, $775,000 deal for depth. He played last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, where brother Seth was a teammate, but didn't get a qualifying offer after setting career highs with 12 assists and 16 points. The three join defensemen Jaccob Slavin, Brent Burns and 2024 potential unrestricted free agents Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei.

Aug. 9: Toronto Maple Leafs sign Martin Jones; New Jersey Devils add Cal Foote

The transactions continued to roll in on Wednesday:

-Martin Jones, the top remaining unsigned unrestricted free agent goalie, got a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 27 wins were his best total in four seasons as he filled for an injured Philipp Grubauer on the Seattle Kraken, but his .886 save percentage was a career low. He'll provide depth on a team that recently placed goaltender Matt Murray on long-term injured reserve.

-The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Cal Foote to a one-year deal that will pay him $800,000 in the NHL and $350,000 in the American Hockey League, with a guarantee of $450,000. Foote played parts of three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning before being dealt to the Nashville Predators in Tanner Jeannot trade. Foote is the older brother of Devils forward Nolan Foote. It will be their second time together after both played for Kelowna in the Western Hockey League. Their father, Adam, is a two-time Stanley Cup winner.

NHL PRESEASON SCHEDULE: Two games to be played in Australia

-The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes swapped the rights to unsigned players. The Flyers get University of Denver forward Massimo Rizzo and a 2025 fifth-round pick. The Hurricanes get Czech league forward David Kase.

Aug. 7: Arizona Coyotes sign defenseman Matt Dumba

He'll get one year at $3.9 million, according to reports . Dumba, who ranked 24th on our list of top free agents , doesn't put up solid offensive numbers anymore, but he's a right-shot defenseman and a veteran. The Coyotes, who jumped from 31st place to 27th last season, earlier added to their veteran presence with Jason Zucker.

Also:The Anaheim Ducks signed goaltender Alex Stalock to a one-year contract. He appeared in 27 games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks and was a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance after returning from myocarditis.

Aug. 6: Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Erik Karlsson from San Jose Sharks

Erik Karlsson is the first NHL defenseman since the early 1990s to record a 100-point season.

The biggest trade of the summer involved three teams, nine players and three draft picks ( full details of trade here ). The Montreal Canadiens got involved to make the money work. The Penguins get a three-time Norris Trophy winner who had 101 points last season to help their power play and to move the puck out of the zone. Plus they ship out underperforming Mikael Granlund and Jeff Petry. Petry returns to Montreal, where he had his best seasons , and Granlund goes to San Jose. Maybe Granlund and Mike Hoffman (acquired from Montreal) can get back to their old scoring numbers, but the Sharks are rebuilding. They can move the forwards at the trade deadline for more assets.

Aug. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel has ankle surgery

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel will be out 12 weeks after having surgery on his ankle. "As Jake continued to increase the intensity of his preparation for the upcoming season, it was apparent that his ankle injury was not resolving in a way that was satisfactory to he or the Penguins," general manager Kyle Dubas said. The surgery took place on Wednesday and the 12 weeks would run through Oct. 25, meaning Guentzel will miss the entire preseason and at least six regular-season games. He plays on Sidney Crosby's line and has averaged about a point a game the last five seasons.

Also:Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson signed a seven-game, $45.5 million contract extension that kicks in next season.

TOM WILSON: Forward has a chance to be a Capital for life

Aug. 3: Connor McDavid's agent named Oilers CEO of hockey operations

Jeff Jackson, until Wednesday the agent for reigning MVP Connor McDavid , will oversee hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers and the organization's teams in the American Hockey League and Western Hockey League. He's giving up his role in Wasserman Hockey, but also represented current Oiler Connor Brown (an offseason free agent signee). Evan Bouchard, an unsigned restricted free agent, is represented by the agency. Before becoming an agent, Jackson played in the NHL and was an assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Oilers general manager Ken Holland will report to Jackson. McDavid's eight-year, $100 million extension had the highest cap hit of the salary cap era when it was signed in 2017 . He has three years left on the deal and will now be represented by Wasserman's Judd Moldaver. "Jeff and I have had a long and fruitful relationship, and I have witnessed his care, relentlessness, and obvious knowledge of the game and industry firsthand," said McDavid. "I look forward to working with Jeff in his new role."

Also:Pittsburgh Penguins executive Kyle Dubas says he will remain the team's general manager this season. He had been hired this offseason as president and said he would be serve as GM through the draft and free agency. "We will continue to re-evaluate the GM position alongside all others in future offseasons," he said. ... The Anaheim Ducks announced center Isac Lundestrom will miss six months after having surgery for an Achilles tendon injury suffered during training. His absence creates more opportunity for No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson.

Aug. 2: Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry avoids arbitration with seven-year deal

Anaheim Ducks forward Troy Terry has totaled 60 goals the past two seasons.

The Anaheim Ducks avoided an arbitration hearing with two-time All-Star forward Troy Terry and locked in their second-leading scorer to a seven-year contract. The $7 million cap hit makes Terry the Ducks' highest-paid player . He scored 37 goals two seasons ago but dropped to 23 last season. The Ducks still have to re-sign 2022-23 leading scorer Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, but those restricted free agents lack arbitration rights. The signings of Terry and Pittsburgh Penguins winger Drew O'Connor (two years, $1.85 million) on Wednesday wrapped up the offseason's salary arbitration period. Three players (Boston's Jeremy Swayman, Toronto's Ilya Samsonov and Chicago's Philipp Kurashev) had hearings while the remaining players settled beforehand.

Aug. 1: Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman gets arbitration award; teammate settles

The Boston Bruins got contract terms for their remaining two restricted free agents on Tuesday, one of them decided by an arbitrator. Goalie Jeremy Swayman received a one-year, $3.475 million award after he shared the William Jennings Award with Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark for lowest team goals-against average. Swayman had 24 of the Bruins' record 65 wins last season. Meanwhile, center Trent Frederic settled early with a two-year, $4.6 million contract after setting career records with 17 goals, 14 assists, 31 points and six game-winning goals. According to Cap Friendly , the Bruins have about $430,000 in salary cap space.

Also:Edmonton Oilers center Ryan McLeod (two years, $4.2 million) and New York Rangers defenseman Brandon Scanlin (one year, $775,000) settled before their arbitration hearings.

July 31: Minnesota Wild sign goalie Filip Gustavsson to three-year contract

The Minnesota Wild signed goaltender Filip Gustavsson to a three-year, $11.25 million contract on Monday, avoiding the need for Friday's arbitration hearing. Gustavsson, 25, was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the 2022 offseason and finished with a career-best 37 games and 22 wins. His 2.10 goals-against average and .931 save percentage topped Marc-Andre Fleury (2.85, .908). The Wild have their goaltending set for a reasonable $7.25 million cap hit this season. Fleury, 38, is in the final year of his contract.

Also:The New Jersey Devils re-signed defenseman Kevin Bahl to a two-year, $2.1 million contract.

July 30: Bruins' Jeremy Swayman goes to arbitration; Coyotes' Jack McBain settles

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman went ahead with his arbitration hearing on Sunday after the two sides couldn't reach a deal. According to Sportsnet , Swayman is seeking $4.8 million while the Bruins offered $2 million. The arbitrator can pick either figure or something between. Swayman and Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark shared the William Jennings Award for lowest team goals-against average. Swayman set a career record with 24 wins and recorded a 2.27 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. The Bruins also will have a scheduled arbitration hearing with forward Trent Frederic on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Arizona Coyotes reached a two-year contract with center Jack McBain for a $1,599,999 average salary , avoiding arbitration.

July 27: Vladimir Tarasenko signs 1-year deal with Ottawa Senators

Vladimir Tarasenko appears to be betting on himself. The 31-year-old Russian winger with six 30-goal seasons and a Stanley Cup championship on his resume has signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Ottawa Senators. Tarasenko was a first-round pick by the Blues in 2010 and spent his entire career in St. Louis until last season, when he was traded to the New York Rangers. A short deal keeps in line with the trend this offseason , but this is one that can work out for both sides. The Senators want to win and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and Tarasenko can step into the hole created after Ottawa traded Alex DeBrincat to Detroit. If Tarasenko performs, he could cash in on a longer-term deal next offseason. — Jace Evans

July 27: Arizona Coyotes sign Logan Cooley to entry-level contract

Two months ago, 2022 No. 3 overall pick Logan Cooley said he planned to return to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season. Thursday, he signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes. "Over the past months, I have realized that deep down, I feel ready for the challenge of playing at the highest level in the world and I want to fulfill my lifelong dream of being an NHL player," he said. Cooley was drafted out of the U.S National Team Development Program and was a Hobey Baker finalist at Minnesota after getting 60 points in 39 games. "The hardest part of coming to this decision was feeling like I was letting people down, but I have to be true to myself and do what's in my heart," Cooley said.

July 26: Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho gets eight-year extension

The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up star center Sebastian Aho with an eight-year, $78 million contract extension that will keep him with the club through the 2031-32 season. Aho will get a bump from the $8.5 million salary he'll make this season (part of the Canadiens offer sheet that the Hurricanes matched) and will remain – at least for now – the highest-paid player on the Hurricanes roster. Aho has 468 points in 520 career regular-season games, all of them with Carolina. - Steve Gardner

Also:The Toronto Maple Leafs said goalie Matt Murray is out indefinitely and will go on long-term injured reserve before the start of the upcoming season. The injury wasn't mentioned, but Murray suffered a head injury in April and missed the rest of the regular season and playoffs. The procedural move will help the Maple Leafs, who are still over the salary cap . Plus it means goalie Joseph Woll is expected to be in the tandem with recently re-signed Ilya Samsonov.

July 25: Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron retires

Center Patrice Bergeron won his sixth Selke Trophy last season.

The Boston Bruins said after their record-setting season ended in a first-round upset that the team would look different next season. Tuesday's retirement of Patrice Bergeron , 38, after 19 seasons will be tough to overcome. He was still highly productive, winning his record sixth Selke Trophy as top defensive forward, and ranked third among the franchise's all-time leading scorers. He was a respected two-way player and captain, taking over the reins when Zdeno Chara left in free agency in 2020. Bergeron was sentimental about retiring from the only NHL team for which he played. "The amazing people of New England welcomed a young French Canadian who didn't speak great English and you treated me like one of your own," he said. "I can't imagine representing a better community or more passionate fan base than the Boston Bruins."

PATRICE BERGERON: Why longtime Bruins player is a full Hall of Famer

Also:The Florida Panthers announced a three-year extension for center Eeto Luostarinen, 24, starting in 2024-25 and averaging a reported $3 million. He set career highs in goals (17), assists (26), points (43) last season and scored the winning goal in Game 6 against the Bruins.

July 24: Tony DeAngelo signs with Carolina Hurricanes

Defenseman Tony DeAngelo, the lone NHL player to be bought out twice during the salary cap era, is back with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was signed to a one-year, $1.675 million contract. He's also getting nearly $1.7 million each of the next two seasons in his most recent buyout. DeAngelo, 27, played the 2021-22 season with the Hurricanes, recording 51 points after he had been bought out by the New York Rangers. Carolina traded his rights to the Philadelphia Flyers after that season and he was signed to a two-year, $10 million contract, but he was benched the final five games and bought out. He joins a deep Hurricanes blueline featuring Brent Burns, Dmitry Orlov, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei. "Tony is an elite offensive defenseman who had a great season with us in 2021-22," Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said. "We wanted to re-sign him last summer, and now we're thrilled to bring him back to Raleigh."

Also:The Dallas Stars signed general manager Jim Nill to a two-year contract extension through 2025-26. He recently won GM of the year after making moves that helped the Stars reach the Western Conference final.

July 23: Philipp Kurashev, Ilya Samsonov get arbitration awards

Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev was awarded a two-year, $4.5 million contract by an arbitrator and Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov got one year at $3.55 million. Both awards were in the middle of what the two sides requested (see below) with Kurashev coming in closer to his request. The Maple Leafs are over the salary cap and will need to make moves to be compliant by the time the season starts.

July 21: Kraken, Vince Dunn agree to four-year contract

The defenseman will average $7.35 million in the four-year deal and avoided the need for an arbitration hearing. This is the best result for both sides. In arbitration, Dunn would have received only a one-year award and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Instead, he gets a big raise from last year's $4 million salary and Seattle locks in its most valuable player from last season long-term. Dunn set personal bests with 14 goals, 50 assists and 64 points while playing nearly 24 minutes a game. His improvement was one of the reasons the Kraken made the playoffs in the franchise's second season.

July 21: Maple Leafs, Ilya Samsonov go ahead with arbitration hearing

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov went ahead with his salary arbitration hearing.

For the second consecutive day, an NHL team and player couldn't reach an early settlement and went ahead with a salary arbitration hearing. This time, it was Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, following Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev the day before. Sportsnet reported that the team offered $2.4 million, while Samsonov sought $4.9 million. An arbitrator usually awards a number somewhere in the middle. Samsonov joined the Maple Leafs on a one-year, $1.8 million prove-it contract after not getting a qualifying offer from the Washington Capitals. He set career highs with 27 wins, a 2.33 goals-against average and .919 save percentage. After an initial rough outing in the playoffs, he won four of five to get the Maple Leafs to the second round for the first time since 2004. Samsonov suffered a Game 3 injury in a second-round loss to the Florida Panthers. He will get a one-year award and be an unrestricted free agent once that contract expires.

July 20: Blackhawks, Philipp Kurashev go ahead with arbitration hearing

Nearly all NHL salary arbitration cases are settled early, but the Chicago Blackhawks and center Philipp Kurashev went ahead with their case on the opening day of hearings. According to The Athletic , Kurashev is seeking a one-year deal at $2.65 million and the Blackhawks are seeking a two-year deal with a $1.4 million cap hit. The arbitrator must rule within 48 hours and can choose either number or something between. Kurashev had a career-best nine goals, 16 assists and 25 points last season but also had a career-worst -32 rating on the 30th-place Blackhawks. The next scheduled hearing is with Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov on Friday.

July 19: Kraken give extension to coach Dave Hakstol

The Vegas Golden Knights raised the bar on an expansion team's first-year expectations, so the Seattle Kraken's 60 points in their inaugural season seemed like a disappointment. But general manager Ron Francis and coach Dave Hakstol helped the team reach 100 points last season, a record 40-point improvement for a second-year team. Not only that, Seattle upset the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round. The Kraken gave Hakstol, a coach of the year finalist, a two-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season.

"Dave and his staff have done a great job of creating a close-knit, team-first mindset in our locker room and their work ethic helps set the tone for our team," Francis said.

Also:The Winnipeg Jets agreed to a two-year, $6.875 million contract with forward Gabriel Vilardi, avoiding arbitration. He had been acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade. ... The Golden Knights and forward Brett Howden also avoided arbitration, agreeing to a two-year, $3.8 million. Vegas also announced the signing of forward Pavel Dorofeyev to a one-year, $825,000 contract. ... The New Jersey Devils signed free agent forward Tomas Nosek to a one-year, $1 million contract. He played the last two seasons with the Boston Bruins, totaling 10 goals and 35 points.

July 17: No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard signs first contract

No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard made it official, signing his entry-level contract on his 18th birthday with his family in attendance. There is a rookie salary cap, so the three-year deal is for $950,000 in salary and signing bonus per season, plus the potential to earn another $3.5 million a year in performance bonuses. The center, considered a generational talent, had 143 points in 57 games with the Regina Pats. The Blackhawks won the draft lottery , moving up two spots to first overall. They have recently added veterans Taylor Hall, Corey Perry and Nick Foligno.

Also:The Colorado Avalanche and forward Ross Colton agreed to a reported four-year, $16 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Colton, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning last month, got a bump from last season's $1.25 million salary. ... The Winnipeg Jets and forward Morgan Barron agreed to a two-year, $2.7 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Barron, who had been acquired from the New York Rangers in the Andrew Copp deal, had a career-best eight goals and 13 assists last season. ... Other signings: Arizona's Matias Maccelli (three years) and the New York Islanders' Oliver Wahlstrom (one year).

July 16: Signings avert need for arbitration hearings

St. Louis Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko (two years, $2.5 million) and Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Duhaime (one year, $1.1 million) reached contract agreements four days before their scheduled salary arbitration hearings. "I've only heard nightmares about arbitration, so I was really hoping it wasn't going to go there," Duhaime told reporters. "I'm glad we got something done." Duhaime scored nine goals in 51 games and had a series of injuries, including crashing head first into the boards after he was cross-checked. Toropchenko had 10 goals and 19 points in 69 games in his first full season.

July 15: Lightning re-sign forward Tanner Jeannot

The Tampa Bay Lightning were always going to get Tanner Jeannot re-signed because he was a restricted free agent and he had filed for salary arbitration. But the two sides agreed to a two-year deal with a $2.665 million cap hit on Saturday, negating the need for his scheduled July 24 hearing. He made $850,000 last season. He arrived last season from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks, including a 2025 first-rounder. Jeannot is known for his rugged play and also had 24 goals in his first full season, but he scored six last season.

Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) agreed to a two-year contract.

July 14: Flyers waive Tony DeAngelo for buyout purposes

The Philadelphia Flyers placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on unconditional waivers and if he passes through, he will have his contract bought out Saturday for the second time in two years. According to capfriendly.com , DeAngelo will become the first NHL player to be bought out more than once in the salary cap era. His first buyout was in 2021 by the New York Rangers, who had told him to stay home after a reported altercation with a teammate . He signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021-22 and Flyers then-general manager Chuck Fletcher gave up three draft picks for his rights and signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal. The Flyers are buying out the contract's second year for about $3.3 million, spread over two years. Philadelphia was eligible for the league's second buyout window because Noah Cates (since signed) had filed for salary arbitration. DeAngelo hit double digits in goals last season for the third time in his career but also was suspended two games for spearing and was a healthy scratch for the final five games. He'll be a free agent after the buyout.

Also:The Coyotes made it official and terminated Alex Galchenyuk's contract. Galchenyuk had been arrested on July 9 and the team cited "a material breach of the terms of his Standard Player's Contract." The Coyotes later announced they had signed forward Zach Sanford to a one-year, two-way deal. He played for the Nashville Predators and their American Hockey League affiliate last season.

ARREST REPORT: Police say Alex Galchenyuk made threats

APOLOGY: Galchenyuk apologizes for 'horrific' behavior

July 13: Coyotes to terminate Alex Galchenyuk's contract

The Arizona Coyotes announced they were placing forward Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. He had been signed on July 1 to a one-year deal for what would have been his third stint with the team (previously 2018-19 and 2021-22). But police in Scottsdale, Arizona, said Galchenyuk had been arrested on July 9 on charges including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A department spokesperson said the hit and run involved property damage only and there were no injuries. The NHL Players' Association said it is "reviewing this matter." Galchenyuk, 29, a former No. 3 overall pick who has 354 points in 654 career games, will become an unrestricted agent after his contract is terminated.

Also:The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a one-year, $900,000 contract. He had scored two goals in Game 5 of the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights.

July 12: Blues bring back forward Oskar Sundqvist

Center Oskar Sundqvist split time between the Wild and Red Wings last season.

Forward Oksar Sundqvist is back with the St. Louis Blues, signing a one-year, $775,000 contract. Sundqvist, 29, had been with St. Louis from 2017-22, when he was part of the package the Blues sent to the Red Wings to acquire defenseman Nick Leddy. Sundqvist spent last season with Detroit and Minnesota, totaling 10 goals and 28 points. He has won Stanley Cup titles with the Blues in 2019 and the Penguins in 2016.

Also:Goalie Thomas Greiss told NHL.com that he is retiring from the league after 14 seasons. ... The Arizona Coyotes signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a one-year deal. ... The Boston Bruins signed forward Jesper Boqvist to a one-year contract. He had 21 points in 70 games last season with the New Jersey Devils.

July 11: Rangers re-sign defenseman K'Andre Miller

The New York Rangers got 23-year-old defenseman K'Andre Miller under contract for two years at a reported $3.872 million cap hit. Miller broke through with 43 points in his third season while playing nearly 22 minutes a game, second on the team behind Adam Fox. The deal leaves the Rangers with only one player left to re-sign, 2020 No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. According to capfriendly.com , the team has a little more than $2.3 million in cap space available.

Also:Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche before the draft, signed a four-year contract with a $2.9 million cap hit. ... The Carolina Hurricanes signed gritty forward Brendan Lemieux to a one-year, $800,000 contract.

July 10: Sharks sign forward Filip Zadina

Forward Filip Zadina, who agreed to have his contract terminated by the Red Wings, signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the San Jose Sharks. He would have been paid $1.83 million this upcoming season with Detroit but got out of the contract in hopes of getting more playing time. The 23-year-old, who was drafted sixth overall in 2018, played in only 30 games last season. His career best is 24 points in 2021-22.

Filip Zadina is heading to the San Jose Sharks after he and the Detroit Red Wings agreed to terminate his contract.

July 10: Salary arbitration hearing dates are scheduled

Salary arbitration hearings are scheduled between July 20 and Aug. 4, though for the most part, the two sides usually reach an agreement before their hearings. The Philadelphia Flyers and center Noah Coats agreed to a two-year, $5.25 million contract on Monday, and the Boston Bruins and defenseman Ian Mitchell agreed to a one-year, $775,000 deal. Seattle Kraken defensemen Will Borgen and Cale Fleury reached deals earlier.

July 20:Philipp Kurashev (Blackhawks), Brandon Duhaime (Wild), Alexey Toropchenko (Blues)

July 21: Ilya Samsonov (Maple Leafs)

July 24: Brett Howden (Golden Knights), Vince Dunn (Kraken), Tanner Jeannot (Lightning)

July 27: Ross Colton (Avalanche)

July 28: Gabriel Vilardi (Jets)

July 30: Jeremy Swayman (Bruins), Jack McBain (Coyotes)

Aug. 1: Trent Frederic (Bruins)

Aug. 2: Morgan Barron (Jets), Troy Terry (Ducks)

Aug. 4: Ryan McLeod (Oilers), Brandon Scanlin (Rangers), Filip Gustavsson (Wild), Drew O'Connor (Penguins)

Alex DeBrincat (12) is joining the Detroit Red Wings in a trade.

July 9: Red Wings acquire Alex DeBrincat in trade with Senators

The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Alex DeBrincat to a four-year, $31.5 million extension after sending forward Dominik Kubalik, minor league defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 conditional first-round selection and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in the trade . The one thing missing in the Red Wings' free agent acquisitions was a big-time scorer and DeBrincat, a Michigan native, has two 40-goal seasons, though he dropped to 27 in his lone season in Ottawa. The Senators had to trade DeBrincat because he wasn't going to re-sign with the team. Kubalik has averaged 20.5 goals in his career and Sebrango, an Ottawa native, split time last season between the ECHL and American Hockey League. The Red Wings can choose whether to send their first-round pick or the Top 10-protected Bruins first-rounder, which they acquired in the Bertuzzi trade.

Also:The Seattle Kraken and defenseman Cale Fleury agreed on a two-year, $1.6 million contract, avoiding arbitration.

July 7: Filip Zadina, Red Wings agree to terminate contract

The Red Wings forward passed through waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. The termination will free Detroit from the $1.825 million annual salary cap hit that would have run through 2024-25 – but the actual salary left was $4.56 million, and that is what Zadina is willing to sacrifice for the opportunity to set his own course with a new team. Zadina, 23, has been unable to reach the hype that made him the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL draft, recording just 28 goals and 40 assists in 190 career games. He lacked the speed and agility to succeed in the top six, and lacked the grit and physicality to be an effective presence in the bottom six. - Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press

Also:The Kraken and defenseman Will Borgen agreed to a two-year, $5.4 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Borgen, who made $900,000 last season, set career bests with 20 points, 203 hits and 89 blocked shots. Seattle also signed penalty-killing forward Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare, formerly of the Lightning, for one year at $775,000. ... The Pittsburgh Penguins, who are trying to rebuild their bottom six and organizational depth, signed forwards Vinnie Hinostroza ($775,000) and Andreas Johnsson ($800,000) to one-year contracts. Hinostroza split time between the Buffalo Sabres and American Hockey League last season but has had two seasons with double digits in goals. Johnsson split time between the Devils, Sharks and AHL. He previously played for Penguins executive Kyle Dubas in Toronto.

July 6: Kings extend captain Anze Kopitar

Anze Kopitar is getting a two-year, $14 million extension from Los Angeles, starting in 2024-25. He had a $10 million cap in his contract that expires next summer. The extension was going to get done at some point, so it's good to get it out of the way before next season starts. As Kings GM Bob Blake said in a statement, Kopitar is the "heart and soul" of the team. He has led the Kings in scoring 15 times, including the last five seasons. He just won the Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) for the second time and has won the Selke Trophy (defensive forward) and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has been with the Kings his entire career (17 seasons) and has been captain since 2016. He'll be 38 when the extension expires.

Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar has signed an extension through 2025-26.

Also:The Ottawa Senators signed rugged forward Zack MacEwen to a three-year deal with a $775,000 cap hit. He has 28 regular-season fights but also had three game-winners among his four goals last season.

July 5: 22 players file for salary arbitration

The list: Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets), Will Borgen (Seattle Kraken), Noah Cates (Philadelphia Flyers), Ross Colton (Colorado Avalanche), Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota Wild), Vince Dunn (Kraken), Cale Fleury (Kraken), Trent Frederic (Bruins), Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights), Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay Lightning), Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks), Jack McBain (Arizona Coyotes), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers), Ian Mitchell (Bruins), Drew O'Connor(Pittsburgh Penguins), Ilya Samsonov (Maple Leafs), Brandon Scanlin (New York Rangers), Jeremy Swayman (Bruins), Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks), Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues), Gabriel Vilardi (Jets)

The most interesting cases: Dunn had a breakthrough 64-point season, and Terry has topped 60 points the past two seasons. Samsonov put up career numbers on a one-year, prove-it contract. Swayman shared the Williams Jennings Award with Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark. Gustavsson had better numbers than Marc-Andre Fleury last season. The Lightning traded five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote to acquire Jeannot last season.

Salary arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4, though teams and players usually settle beforehand.

Also:Tarasenko has changed agents to Creative Artists Agency, according to multiple reports. ... The New York Islanders signed forward Julien Gauthier for two years. He had played part of the past three seasons with the rival Rangers and finished last season with the Senators.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rasmus Dahlin, Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele signed to extensions

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