NHL free agency is one of the most exciting times on the hockey calendar, and the craziness begins Wednesday when players can begin signing and offer sheets can be extended.
Follow all of Wednesday’s rumors, news, trades and completed signings with our 2015 NHL free agency tracker. The action begins at noon ET.
8:20 p.m.: The Boston Bruins have made some noise, trading winger Reilly Smith and Marc Savard’s $4M cap hit to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Dorchester, Mass., native Jimmy Hayes.
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The team also reportedly has signed Anaheim Ducks forward Matt Beleskey to a five-year contract.
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Old friend Gregory Campbell has found a new home.
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Winger Daniel Winnik will remain in Toronto.
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Recently crowned Stanley Cup champion Antoine Vermette is returning to the team who traded him, the Phoenix Coyotes.
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The Montreal Canadiens have completed a minor deal with a defenseman.
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4:45 p.m.: The Leafs have added some depth down the middle.
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4:15 p.m.: We have a trade.
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The Coyotes also have added some forward depth.
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3:50 p.m.: Detroit finally has its right-handed shooting D-man.
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3:30 p.m.: The Leafs just announced this move.
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2:45 p.m.: The Phil Kessel trade between the Leafs and Penguins is now official.
2:20 p.m.: Two more bits of news.
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2:05 p.m.: The Canucks have traded forward Zack Kassian to the Canadiens, per TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has the details.
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2:00 p.m.: Cody Hodgson has agreed to a deal with the Predators.
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1:57 p.m.: Matt Lindblad was not extended a qualifying offer from the Bruins and has signed with the Rangers.
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1:53 p.m.: The Stanley Cup finalists have added even more forward depth.
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1:45 p.m.: The Penguins have added a former Bruins defenseman.
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1:32 p.m.: Add the Kings to the list of teams that’ve signed a backup goalie today.
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1:30 p.m.: The Winnipeg Jets have announced a two-year deal with forward Alexander Burmistrov.
1:15 p.m.: Nashville has added a depth defenseman.
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1:13 p.m.: Matt Bartkowski is going from Boston to Vancouver.
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12:57 p.m.: Lots of signings coming in.
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12:56 p.m.: A major trade has been made!
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12:47 p.m.: The Coyotes are getting closer to the salary floor.
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The Flyers have signed one of the best backup goalies on the market.
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12:43 p.m.: The Oilers have landed the best defenseman on the market.
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12:35 p.m.: The Sharks have signed Paul Martin to strengthen their blue line.
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12:30 p.m.: The Stanley Cup champs could be adding another quality player.
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12:22 p.m.: The Islanders have re-signed defenseman Thomas Hickey.
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12:15 p.m.: The Canucks have signed forward Yannick Weber.
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12:10 p.m.: Toronto is among the first teams to sign a defenseman.
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Colorado is signing veteran defenseman Francois Beauchemin.
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The Jets have re-signed D-man Adam Pardy.
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The Islanders have signed the best backup goalie available.
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12:05 p.m.: The Wild have announced two deals.
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Noon: Free agency has officially begun!
11:55 a.m.: Eric Fehr could be in demand today as a quality bottom-six winger.
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11:40 a.m.: Matt Hunwick would be a good third-pairing pickup.
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11:35 a.m.: This pair of Western Conference teams need defensemen.
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11:30 a.m.: The Sabres traded for Ryan O’Reilly last Friday.
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11:25 a.m.: Will we see Phil Kessel traded today?
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11:05 a.m.: The Oilers really need a defenseman.
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10:50 a.m.: Don’t expect one of the NHL’s rising stars to leave St. Louis.
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10:47 a.m.: It looks like the Predators are keeping veteran center Mike Ribeiro.
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10:45 a.m.: The Flames aren’t letting their goalie reach the open market.
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10:37 a.m.: The Minnesota Wild are reportedly extending one of their depth forwards.
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10:35 a.m.: Signing a 32-year-old defenseman to an 8-year extension worth $9 million annually would be a foolish move, even if the player is Mark Giordano.
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10:30 a.m.: Acquiring Tyler Bozak would help the Coyotes get to the salary floor, but he’s not a legitimate top-6 center.
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10:10 a.m.: Here’s an update on Washington Capitals winger Joel Ward, a 34-year-old UFA winger.
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9:45 a.m.: The Anaheim Ducks traded a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft to the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Kevin Bieksa on Tuesday. The 34-year-old reportedly has signed a two-year extension.
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The Blackhawks traded RFA winger Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday and one of the players they got in return was winger Artem Anisimov. Chicago and Anisimov have reportedly agreed to an extension that begins next summer.
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