Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane (88) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during a game this spring in Tampa.Chris O’meara/The Associated Press
The dust began settling Thursday around the NHL more than 24 hours into free agency, with a handful of high-profile players still on the market and the league’s career goal-scoring record-holder back for another season.
Three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane and two-time winner Vladimir Tarasenko were among the top unrestricted free agents available by late afternoon. Jason Robertson headlines the restricted free agents without a contract as the Dallas Stars work to get him signed.
The Washington Capitals needed very little to bring Alex Ovechkin back, re-signing him to a bonus-laden deal with a US$1-million salary that will make him US$9-million at age 41 as long as he plays in 10 games. The Capitals made sure to keep enough salary cap space open to fit Ovechkin during an off-season in which they added Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais.
A day after landing prized free agent goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the Toronto Maple Leafs continued their off-season transformation by signing former Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime to a three-year contract.
Free agency as it stands
Kane is still available after spending the past three years with Detroit. Kane is 37 now and a decade removed from winning the Hart Trophy as MVP when he led the league in scoring. Also unsigned are wingers Tarasenko and Anthony Mantha, who is coming off a career year, and forward Claude Giroux, who is still chasing a championship at 38.
The first day of free agency featured more than 55 players changing places across the league with more than US$360-million worth of contracts. And that’s not even counting Bowen Byram becoming the highest-paid defenceman at an average salary of US$12.5-million beginning in 2027 under his new deal with Chicago after he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo.
Byram’s time with that distinction may be short if Colorado gets a new contract done with two-time Norris Trophy-winner Cale Makar, which also would go into effect in 2027-28.
Wild day of signings and a trade
The Minnesota Wild were busy in re-signing their own free agents and acquiring forward Blake Coleman and defenceman Olli Maatta in a trade with Calgary. The Flames acquired defenceman Jake Middleton and three draft picks, including a second-rounder in 2029. Calgary also agreed to retain 50 per cent of the US$4.9-million Coleman is owed in the final year of his contract.
Los Angeles Kings Mikey Anderson, left, and Scott Laughton, right, check Calgary Flame Blake Coleman during an April game.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
The 34-year-old Coleman has 10 seasons of NHL experience and posted his fourth 20-goal season last year, finishing with 20 goals and 35 points. Matta is a 13-year NHL player noted for his defensive play. The 30-year-old Middleton leaves Minnesota after four-plus seasons.
The Wild signed Maxim Shabanov for US$1.6-million for next season after the New York Islanders decided not to bring back the Russian winger.
Minnesota is also bringing back two players by re-signing defenceman Zach Bogosian (US$1.25-million) and right winger Nick Foligno (US$900,000) to one-year deals.
Montreal extends Jakub Dobes
Building the future of the Canadiens took another step forward with an extension for Jakub Dobes, the self-described “goofy goalie” who was one of the stars of their run to the Eastern Conference Final. Dobes got a three-year extension from 2027-30 worth just over US$16-million, with the final four digits of his annual average salary (US$5,357,575) matching his No. 75 jersey number.
“I feel like it was really important this summer to kind of get it done with,” Dobes said on a video call with reporters.
“Where I come from in the Czech Republic, it’s a lot of money. I’m really happy, especially for my family that we have this all together. I cannot really get satisfied. I don’t feel like the money is too important to me. I’m just happy I can focus on hockey and have a clear mind and try to win a championship with Montreal.”
The team earlier this week signed rookie of the year finalist Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, US$73-million deal through 2035. Captain Nick Suzuki is signed through ‘30, while wingers Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield and defencemen Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Mike Methson and Kaiden Guhle are all under contract through ’31.