TWO SENTENCES ON EVERY NOTABLE SIGNING DURING NHL’S $1-BILLION DAY

Not much preamble needed here. A lot of contracts were signed on July 1, and it’s fun to go through each notable one (generally meaning “north of $1M”). Sportsnet will have ample, in-depth coverage of the bigger deals, but you’ve found the right spot for the at-first-blush reaction to each and every meaningful deal.

Sam Reinhart: Florida, 8 x $8.625M

You’re going to hear people (note: people in Canada) complain about what seems like an insanely cheap deal for a guy who just scored 57 goals (largely thanks to taxes/weather/fit). But given his total career to date, and the fact that he’s not exactly fleet of foot, and you’re taking him into his late-30s, I think this is less a “steal” and more a “great, completely fair contract for both parties.”

Tyler Bertuzzi: Chicago, 4 x $5.5M

Bertuzzi gets himself a little term here which is good, and also gets himself in a situation where he can play on the first power play unit, and thrive at the net front. Meanwhile, Chicago gets a legit NHL contributor with some feistiness and finish, which on a team that lacks, well, everything, should be extremely welcome.

Jake Guentzel: Tampa Bay, 7 x $9M

Tampa Bay gets a high-IQ offensive producer who’s shown to excel in the post-season. He’s just the type of guy to help turn around what was starting to look like a slow descent of a once-great team.

Connor Brown: Edmonton, 1 x $1M

It almost feels like Brown did the Oilers a favour here, after they overpaid him for his last season. By the post-season, though, you could really see his skating round into form, what a competitor he is, and those things alone make him worth much more than just a one year, $1 million depth deal.

Joseph Woll: Toronto, 3 x $3.66M

For the Leafs, this is a bet on catching a legit number one goalie before his real upswing, because if it happens, you have a starter on the cheap. If it doesn’t, his cap hit is manageable for a tandem or back-up guy, so barring Woll falling wildly short of expectations, it’s tough to see this hurting them.

Chris Tanev: Toronto, 6 x $4.5M

If you were to give Tanev a one- or two-year contract, you’d surely be OK with something like $6.5M for next season and maybe a bit less for the one after. So you’re getting some value up front on the deal, and while the term is long, let’s be frank – there’s no guarantee he plays out the whole contract, and they need to have success in the next few years anyway.

Connor McMichael: Washington, 2 x $2.1M

Threatened 20 goals as a bottom six forward, young guy (23), has some pop in his step. A good contract he’s likely to outperform.

Brandon Montour: Seattle, 7 x $7.14M

Love this for both Seattle and Montour. Seattle struggles to score and is largely a boring team (sorry), Montour skates and hits and scores and competes, and good players cost money when you don’t spend any other assets to acquire them.

Erik Johnson: Philadelphia, 1 x $1M

Sure OK. Everyone needs depth.

Kasperi Kapanen: St. Louis, 1 x $1M

Kapanen’s value has been on a steady decline around the league, but there’s no denying his raw talent. He hasn’t always committed himself to fully harnessing it, but it’s tough to imagine a world where he underperforms a $1M dollar deal.

Dmitry Kulikov: Florida, 4 x $1.15M

This feels cheap, but it also feels like everyone gets what they want. Florida wants quality, reliable, affordable depth D, and Kulikov wants someone to commit to him with some term, while living the good life on a good team in Florida.

Matt Duchene: Dallas, 1 x $3M

Like the deal above, this feels as much about fit as money. Duchene has proven useful as a veteran “chip in with some offence” guy where he doesn’t have to carry the mail, and for those dollars, it’s a low bar to clear to call the signing a success.

Tyler Toffoli: San Jose, 4 x $6M

This is why winning the Cup early in your career is so great, because you can then prioritize other life goals beyond chasing just wins. You’ve reached the mountaintop, so at some point you can say “Hey I’d like to go back to living in California, I’d like some commitment (term) from the team, and I’d like to get paid.”

Jordan Martinook: Carolina, 3 x $3.05

Martinook is an absolute horse, and a great Hurricane. Culture guy who seems built for playoff hockey, Canes did well to keep him.

Sam Lafferty: Buffalo, 2 x $2M

I actually really like this contract because Buffalo can use his combination of speed and grit, and it’s a cheap deal for a “vet” who isn’t old. And for Lafferty, $4 million doesn’t hurt for a guy who isn’t exactly someone who drives the bus.

Jonathan Marchessault: Nashville, 5 x $5.5M

I’m a big Marchessault guy, I just don’t really get what Nashville is up to, given I don’t think they’re that close to a Cup. Marchessault’s older, last year they got Ryan O’Reilly and Luke Schenn (who aren’t young), Steven Stamkos is older, it just feels like the Predators’ window is gonna close before it ever really opens.

Teuvo Teravainen: Chicago, 3 x $5.4M

I mentioned Chicago has needs at basically every position, and well, Teravainen can fill some holes. They need to create an actual NHL roster before they can think of competing — that’s the downside of the big rebuild — and this is a step forward.

Anthony Mantha: Calgary, 1 x $3.5M

Mantha is wildly hit and miss, but at this price you’re making a reasonably safe bet on catching the upside. The Flames will need some legitimate players while they chart their direction here, and Mantha is at least a guy who can score.

Steven Stamkos: Nashville, 4 x $8M

Stamkos going to Nashville feels like picking a nice place to play while thumbing his nose at Tampa Bay saying “SEE, THIS IS WHAT MY MARKET VALUE IS.” But the West has some great teams in Edmonton or Dallas or Vegas or Colorado, so I’m more impressed by the dollar amount he got than the choice of team.

Elias Lindholm: Boston, 7 x $7.75M

At that cap hit you’re looking for him to be a second line centre, and he can absolutely be a good one for them. He mentioned trying to play like Patrice Bergeron, but he slots in closer to David Krejci.

Brett Pesce: New Jersey, 6 x $5.5M

With Dougie Hamilton in place, we’ve got shades of Carolina’s old D-corps here. But I like this a lot for the Devils, who clearly are poised to be significantly better than they were in 2023-24.

Craig Smith: Chicago, 1 x $1M

Don’t like this one. Like the player fine, and I said they need players, but I’d rather they fill the spot with a younger energy guy who could grow with the team, as Smith likely isn’t a part of things when they’re competing for the playoffs (let alone the Cup).

Brady Skjei: Nashville, 7 x $7M

This I can dig for the Preds. They’re going to be a playoff team next year, and Skjei is a guy who can skate and move the puck and put a little life into what is shaping up to be a responsible, veteran team.

Nikita Zadorov: Boston, 6 x $5M

Bruins fans are going to love this guy. Calls it like he sees it, will run his mouth, a big, big guy, can score … he may not be Zdeno Chara, but…

David Perron: Ottawa, 2 x $4M

Ottawa has been seeking out a few attributes, including some more quality veterans, some competitiveness, and depth guys who can chip in. Perron checks a lot of those boxes for cheap, it just comes down to the very obvious question: how old is too old for Perron (now 36) to stay effective?

Viktor Arvidsson: Edmonton, 2 x $4M

One of my favourite signings of the day, in terms of players and team match. Arvidsson is a buy-low guy (injuries) with upside who plays the type of “whoops did I fall on your goalie” hockey that can chip in big goals in the playoffs.

Sean Monahan: Columbus, 5 x $5.5M

Monahan was healthy last season, and scored 26 goals and nearly 60 points, while Columbus needs some real NHL pros, so you can see how he’d get this deal. But it’s just not one a team with serious aspirations gives out given his injury history, that he’ll turn 30 before the season, and what his production was in the years prior to last.

Brenden Dillon: New Jersey, 3 x $4M

This is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Devils, who have speed and skill to burn, but could use a little more grunt. You don’t want a team full of Dillons, but you love adding him to what New Jersey already has.

Jake DeBrusk: Vancouver, 7 x $5.5M

Everyone needs depth scoring, and Jake DeBrusk has a good playoff track record. At $5.5 million, DeBrusk is fine, but seven years is pretty absurd.

Yakov Trenin: Minnesota, 4 x $3.5M

I like Trenin a lot, he’s a force. Not many players like him in the league, so getting his prime at $3.5M… I can dig it.

Brandon Duhaime: Washington, 2 x $1.85M

I like that the Caps are re-tooling, and Duhaime is a nice depth guy in a re-tool. If nothing else, Caps should be a physical team.

Yegor Sharangovich: Calgary, 5 x $5.75M

It’s a big bet that Sharangovich can give them more seasons like he did last year, but in my opinion (and theirs), he can. And so, why not get him at a good number for the prime of his career?

William Carrier: Carolina, 6 x $2M

When you’re sure a depth guy is exactly what you want at the bottom of your lineup (a la Nick Paul and Tampa Bay), I love the long-term, low-dollar contracts. A good fit becomes a fixture for years to come.

Danton Heinen: Vancouver, 2 x $2.25M

Heinen’s a flexible, late-20s guy who can push 20 goals a season. That’s great value for a guy who can chip in at random times and take some pressure off the big dogs.

Warren Foegele: Los Angeles, 3 x $3.5M

I’m a big fan of Foegele, and think the Kings did great to get a big body who can really skate. They’re trying to take the next step, and Foegele has shown he can handle the big playoff moments, and should have even more to offer.

Laurent Brossoit: Chicago, 2 x $3.3M

If the 32 goalies who start in the NHL are the 32 best goalies in the world (of course they aren’t but bear with me), Brossoit is in that 32-40 range. And so, for a team that seems to be deciding to win the odd hockey game next season, he’s a valuable add at a fair price.

Cam Talbot: Detroit, 2 x $2.5M

Pretty low risk deal for Detroit, but how it pans out depends on how their D plays. If anything, Talbot’s stint in Ottawa in 2022-23 showed that he can’t do it without stability in front of him, and I think Detroit’s still got some work to do there.

Michael Amadio: Ottawa, 3 x 2.6M

Amadio greatly benefitted from the structure around him in Vegas the past few seasons, and so I’m surprised Ottawa had to go with a third year, or much over $2 million (he had about 15 goals and 27 points per season). He’s a fine NHL player, and should be useful for them on the third or fourth line, it just feels like a bit much.

Kevin Stenlund: Utah, 2 x $2M

Stenlund’s the type of “hard to play against” guy that I think Utah could really use. They’re going to be competitive, and he’s a competitive guy.

Stefan Noesen: New Jersey, 3 X $2.75M

Noesen feels like a good bet even though he’s a bit older (31), he drives play and has threatened 40 points the past couple seasons, but I love that he had a near-50 goal season in the AHL just a few years back. On a talented offensive NJ team you could see him getting well north of 20 if he gets decent opportunity.

Ian Cole: Utah, 1 x $3.1M

The type of proven pro who takes you from “we’re OK” to “we’re a playoff team.” Older guy but still a great depth add for The Hockey Club.

Matt Grzelcyk: Pittsburgh, 1 x $2.75M

Struggles with his health at times, but when he’s in, he skates and competes like hell for a smaller D. I think he can move the needle in a positive direction when he’s in, so this is a good one year flier for a team that needs more speed.

Jason Zucker: Buffalo, 1 x $5M

He’s 32 and coming off a 14-goal, 32-point season. He could probably have gotten a multi-year contract somewhere, but was looking to get the most money he could in a “prove himself” spot.

Chandler Stephenson: Seattle, 7 x $6.25M

Really good hockey player, but seven years is just so, so many. It seems to me GMs look at these deals and go “I want the player, and if I don’t go long they will go somewhere else and then I may get fired sooner for not winning, so let’s get them here now and hope I’m around long enough for it to be my problem later.”

William Lagesson: Detroit, 1 x $775K

Excellent seventh D to have around, and Detroit may find him a regular by year’s end. Can play physical and responsible hockey, which is great in a pinch.

Garnet Hathaway: Philadelphia, 2 x $2.4M

One of the leading “I don’t want to play against that guy” guys in the league. And so Flyers fans and Torts must love him, making this a logical contract.

Matt Murray: Toronto, 1 x $875K

I have been skeptical of Matt Murray’s ability to be an NHL goalie the past year or so based on his inability to stay healthy, and his glove hand. At this price, he can play in the minors without any cap repercussions, if he surprises and finds his old form, well, that’s gravy.

Ryan Lomberg: Calgary, 2 x $2M

A rising tide (aka a Stanley Cup) raises all boats. Lomberg is a pain in the butt to play against and they’ll love him in Calgary.

Sam Steel: Dallas, 1 x $1.2M

Fit really well in Dallas. That’s a low cap hit for a guy who can help their PK and 5-on-5 depth.

Sean Walker: Carolina, 5 x $3.6M

This is massive for Carolina, who lost some very good D this off-season. They add a guy who just about everyone loves for much cheaper than the players they let walk.

Anthony Duclair: New York Islanders, 4 x $3.5M

The Isles were flat-out missing something this past season: speed. Duclair can fly, and should help a team that’s struggled to keep pace with the elite teams in the east.

Matt Dumba: Dallas, 2 x $3.75M

That’s a pretty affordable number for a player who can make some dynamic plays. He may not be the guy he was at his peak, but for a depth guy you like that he’s able to lay the odd hit and fire the odd bomb on net.

Derek Forbort: Vancouver, 1 x $1.5M

Sure. That’s an extremely Derek Forbort contract.

Joel Edmundson: Los Angeles, 4 x 3.85M

Edmundson, when healthy, is probably worth more than this, and at age 31 still has a lot to give. Everyone’s concern is whether he can stay in the lineup, but if he’s healthy for your playoff push, he makes all the right (simple) decisions.

Erik Gustafsson: Detroit, 2 x $2M

Gustafsson is a high-event guy, but also one of the league’s more raw-talented ones. He can make some of the hardest plays, but also makes some easy ones look hard in the process.

Jake Bean: Calgary, 2 x $1.75M

After not meeting high expectations, this is a good buy-low gamble. If he can find his expected form, he’ll be worth a lot more on his next deal.

Brendan Smith: Dallas, 1 x $1M

Dallas treated UFA day like deadline day, adding the types of players you think you might want for the playoffs. Smith is just a solid vet who won’t hurt you in a sheltered role.

Ilya Lyubushkin: Dallas, 2 x $3.25M

Lyubushkin loves to cash in on his tours in Toronto. He’s basically Jani Hakanpaa, but a bit better, so they’ll enjoy the “playoff hockey” style game he brings.

Casey DeSmith: Dallas, 3 x $1M

You offer a guy certainty in the league in exchange for value on a proven NHL-level goaltender. Makes sense to me, and if it isn’t working, it’s a number you can bury.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel: Buffalo, 1 x $1.5M

NAK is just AOK, I would say, but right now Buffalo is in a place where nobody is taking discounts to be a part of the plan, so this is on the high-end of what he should be paid. Still, he’s a legit NHLer, and filling out the fringes with those is better than “maybe he’s an NHLer?” level guys.

Jack Campbell: Detroit, 1 x $775K

He’s got the pedigree, is a great personality, and most of that can be buried in the minors. On the other hand, maybe he finds himself with a fresh start, and you luck into a legitimate league-average NHL goalie.

Sam Carrick: New York Rangers, 3 x $1M

The Rangers needed a little more sandpaper, and Carrick will do anything they ask him to do. When you can get a good pro with some grit, you’ll offer them some excess term in exchange for that low cap hit any day.

Matvei Michkov: Philadelphia, 3 x $950K (entry-level contract)

He’s gonna play for the Flyers! Very exciting for the league, for the Flyers, and a big reward for taking a chance on a smaller Russian in the draft.

Max Jones: Boston, 2 x $1M

He’s a big guy, about to be prime aged, and never really played on a good NHL team. Maybe the Bruins culture and structure can pull some career highs from Jones, and if that happens, great value here.

Anthony Beauvillier: Pittsburgh, 1 x $1.25M

When you’re paying Beauvillier a bigger number, he’s frustrating, inconsistent, and maddening. When you’re paying him $1.25M, you don’t have to stress about him, and when he does the great things he can occasionally do a couple dozen times a season, it’ll feel like found money.

Scott Wedgewood: Nashville, 2 x $1.5M

I’m not sure what Nashville’s plan is in the crease, but this is the most “I am a back-up” contract I can recall. Which is fair, it’s just going to be Juuse Saros, or Yaroslav Askarov up from the minors, with Wedgewood hoping to fill in as need be.

AJ Greer: Florida, 2 x $850K

I didn’t include many people making under a million per season, but the Cup champs got a really good depth player here dirt cheap. That they got a second year at that figure is almost guaranteed value.

Corey Perry: Edmonton 1 x $1.4M

Congrats to the Edmonton Oilers, who officially locked up finishing second place in the league again next year! I joke, but Perry obviously helps teams go on deep playoff runs, and this smells like him betting on the Oilers as the favourites to get back there again from the West.

Juraj Slafkovsky: Montreal, 8 x $7.6M

I adore contracts like this, and it reminds me of the Jack Hughes deal, where the player is almost immediately millions of dollars underpaid when they become top-end players in a year or so. ‘Slaf’ showed signs that he’s going to be a difference-maker this past season, and was content to grab the security when the Habs offered it, which probably makes sense from both sides (but may have cost the Slovak a lot, by the time we look back in 2032).

Jani Hakanpaa: Toronto, 2 x $1.5M

The Leafs have excelled with bruisers on the back-end, and it’s nice to see them actually seek one out pre-season, and not just at the deadline. That said, it sounds like the guy’s knees are sub-good, so we’ll see if he even gets the chance to play enough to make an impact.

Alex Wennberg: San Jose, 2 x $5M

Rebuilding teams adding $5 million dollar “real” players is always a positive sign. It’s the first inching forward move — we’re not ready to be good, but we’re ready to un-suck — and so I’m happy to see another actual NHLer join San Jose.

Alec Martinez: Chicago, 1 x 4M

It’s not impossible to see Chicago going from 52 points to like, 75-80 next season. It’s a long road back from a full “tear it down” plan, but Martinez will help them find their way back.

Vinny Desharnais: Vancouver, 2 x $2M

Smart player and a late bloomer, coming off a year where he gained unbelievable experience. Value add, I kinda love the player on a third pair.

Alexandre Carrier: Nashville, 3 x $3.75M

The type of player who kills you when you let them walk. The type of guy who’s the answer when people like me stare at the roster and go “Wait why is this team as good as they are?”

Pat Maroon: Chicago, 1 x $1.3M

I get Chicago is trying to do the whole “get good proven pros on one-year deals to show a winning culture to the kids before we really start to try to win” thing, but I don’t know on this one. I guess their cap picture doesn’t matter much, and Maroon is a wonderful personality who has had a hell of a career, just not sure there’s enough left in the tank for the Hawks to get the results they’re chasing here.

Juuse Saros: Nashville, 8 x $7.74M

It’s tough to find elite goalies in the NHL, and the Preds have one here. But with them awaiting Askarov from the minors, it’s tough to see exactly what their plan is in the crease, but I guess you’d rather keep good players than let them walk for nothing.

Blake Lizotte: Pittsburgh, 2 x $1.85M

The Penguins have been trying to get younger, having a better skating team, and save on their salary cap. So, enter Lizotte, though I’m not sure he does a whole ton to push them that extra point or two into the playoffs.

Colin Miller: Winnipeg, 2 x $1.5M

Really reliable depth piece for the Jets. Not every roster player needs to be electric, and Miller just simply does his job.

Jeff Skinner: Edmonton, 1 x $3M

This is what happens when you win: useful players will choose your team over others for the chance to play in games that matter. Skinner hasn’t played any playoff games and has been in the league for over 1,000 games, so you can see why he’d pick Edmonton, and at $3M for Jeff Skinner the Oilers would’ve been fools to say no.

Shayne Gostisbehere: Carolina, 3 x $3.2M

Ghost Bear strikes me as a guy who might have benefitted from Carolina being run by a more progressive front office. He’s got offensive upside and they’re able to see his positive value through some of his other warts.

Mattias Janmark: Edmonton, 3 x $1.45M

After watching Janmark in the playoffs for Edmonton I’m actually surprised by how low this number is. There aren’t many guys who more perfectly fit a depth/PK/speed role as well as him, and fits Edmonton’s needs perfectly.

TJ Brodie: Chicago, 2 x $3.75M

Chicago maybe going a bit overkill on the “veteran pros to set the culture” thing, but Brodie just quietly does his job, and will help the Hawks. I’m sure it’s more money than was out there anywhere else for him, but as a bottom feeder that’s what you have to do to get real players.

Ilya Samsonov: Vegas, 1 x $1.8M

Goaltending is largely dependent on good D in front, and Vegas should provide that for Samsonov. After the pressure cooker of Toronto, behind a good group, it would not shock me to see Samsonov have an excellent season.

Troy Stecher: Edmonton, 2 x $1.575M

Not everyone can be a first pair guy, and in losing Vinny Desharnais, Edmonton obviously needed another guy at the bottom of the roster. Stecher is serviceable enough in that spot.

Pavel Dorofeyev: Vegas, 2 x $1.835M

At just 23 and with decent size, Dorofeyev flashed some real bright spots in limited games/minutes for Vegas this past season. I could see him being a contributor and worth far more on his next deal.

Adam Henrique, Edmonton, 2 x $3M

I’m telling you, players like to play for winning teams, and the Oilers should be able to take another run at it this next season. This is good value for a depth centre, to the point it feels like the player truly wanted to be there.

2024-07-02T17:48:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd