NHL free agency notebook: Predators' haul features Steven Stamkos

 

[July 02, 2024]  The Nashville Predators are signing forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Stamkos, the longtime Tampa Bay Lightning captain, agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal. Marchessault's agreement is for five years and $27.5 million and Skjei's deal is for seven years and $49 million, per The Athletic.

Stamkos, 34, just completed his 16th season with the Lightning, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2008. The two-time Stanley Cup winner is the franchise's all-time leader in goals (555), points (1,137) and games played (1,082).

Marchessault, 33, tallied 69 points (career-high 42 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24. He won a Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy with Vegas in 2023. Skjei, 30, posted a career-high 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 80 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023-24.

--Stanley Cup hero Sam Reinhart agreed to an eight-year extension with the Florida Panthers through the 2031-32 season.

The Panthers announced the deal but financial terms were not disclosed. Multiple reports put the contract value at $69 million ($8.625 million average annual value).

Reinhart scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers last month. The 28-year-old forward set a Florida record with 57 goals and added 37 assists while playing all 82 games in the 2023-24 season. He added 10 goals and six assists in 24 playoff games.

--The San Jose Sharks are signing veteran Tyler Toffoli to a four-year contract worth $24 million, multiple outlets reported.

The Sharks will be the 32-year-old center's seventh team. Toffoli netted 33 goals and 22 assists in 79 games split between the New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets last season. It marked his second consecutive 30-goal season. He won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.

--The Boston Bruins began their offseason by reportedly landing free agents Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.

Lindholm's deal is for seven years, $52.5 million and Zadorov's is for six years, $30 million, per the reports. Both players finished out the 2023-24 season with the Vancouver Canucks.

Lindholm, 29, tallied 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games last season with Calgary and Vancouver. Zadorov, 29, had 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists), 125 penalty minutes and 68 blocks in 75 games last season with the Flames and Canucks.

--The Chicago Blackhawks hit free agency with full force, agreeing to terms with forward Tyler Bertuzzi and bringing back 29-year-old defenseman Teuvo Teravainen from their 2015 Stanley Cup-winning roster.

Chicago reportedly made seven deals, headlined by Bertuzzi (four years, $22 million) and Tervainen, whose contract is worth $5.4 million per season over four years.

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit is also joining the Blackhawks, according to his agent. The Blackhawks confirmed one-year contracts with forwards Pat Maroon ($1.3 million) and Craig Smith ($1 million), as well as a two-year deal with Joey Anderson.

--The Canucks and Jake DeBrusk agreed to a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million amid a slew of signings. The 27-year-old winger had spent his entire seven-year career with the Bruins, accumulating accumulated 138 goals and 128 assists.

On a busy day, the Canucks also signed forward Kiefer Sherwood, defenseman Derek Forbort, and forward Danton Heinen.

--The Hurricanes locked up defenseman and two-time Lady Byng winner Jaccob Slavin on an eight-year contract extension worth $51.69 million.

The team announced that the extension begins with the 2025-26 season and will keep Slavin in Raleigh, N.C., through the 2032-33 season.

--The Washington Capitals acquired Jakob Chychrun from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for fellow defenseman Nick Jensen and a third-round pick in the 2026 draft.

Chychrun, 26, played all 82 games in 2023-24 and matched his career high with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists). Jensen, 33, tallied one goal and 13 assists in 78 games with the Capitals in 2023-24.

Washington also re-signed forward Connor McMichael to a two-year, $4.2 million extension. McMichael, 23, posted career highs across the board with 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) in 80 games in 2023-24.

--The Seattle Kraken signed free agent defenseman Brandon Montour and center Chandler Stephenson to seven-year contracts.

Montour, who just completed a championship season with the Panthers, inked a $50 million contract with an average annual value of $7.14 million.

Stephenson, 30, won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in the 2022-23 season and with the Washington Capitals in 2017-18. His new contract is for $43.75 million with an average value of $6.2 million.

--The Devils signed free agent defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon and forward Stefan Noesen to free agent contracts.

Pesce, 29, signed a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value). Dillon, 33, inked a deal worth $12 million over three years ($4 million AAV). Noesen, 31, joined the Devils for a three-year, $8.25 million contract ($2.75 million AAV).

--The Columbus Blue Jackets are signing forward Sean Monahan to a five-year deal worth $27.5 million, multiple outlets reported.

Monahan played in just 140 games from 2020-23 due to hip injuries, including two surgeries. However, he posted 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 83 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets.

--The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Chris Tanev and extended goaltender Joseph Woll's contract. Tanev landed a six-year, $27 million deal ($4.5 million average annual value). Woll received a three-year extension, effective for the 2025-26 season, for $11 million ($3.66 million AAV).

--The New York Islanders signed forward Anthony Duclair to a four-year contract. Financial terms were not announced but the deal is worth a reported $14 million.

Duclair, 28, posted 42 points (24 goals, 18 assists) in 73 games with San Jose and Tampa Bay last season.

--The Canadiens signed former No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year, $60.8 million contract extension. The 20-year-old forward had 20 goals and 30 assists in 82 games last season.

--Field Level Media

[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.