2:50 p.m.: The Montreal Canadiens are trying to make a splash, and we’ll now wait to see whether the Carolina Hurricanes are willing to match.
The Canadiens have announced that they have tendered an offer sheet to restricted free agent Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes. The proposed contract is for five years, with an average annual value of $8.454 million.#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 1, 2019
1:50 p.m.: The New Jersey Devils are continuing their rebuild by adding a familiar face in former Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds.
https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1145751214623272962
1:05 p.m.: The two biggest moves of the NHL offseason thus far — Sergei Bobrovsky to Florida and Artemi Panarin to the Rangers — now are completed and official.
We’ve got our man!
Welcome to the next era of #FlaPanthers goaltending.
» https://t.co/TIfpXBlDL9 pic.twitter.com/Yd1KDiMDfs
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) July 1, 2019
OFFICIAL: #NYR have agreed to terms with free agent forward Artemi Panarin. pic.twitter.com/EoptmQvZfL
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 1, 2019
12:56 p.m.: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said his team would be adding when free agency began, and big winger Brett Ritchie is coming to Boston, according to reports.
Brett Richie @NHLBruins 1 / approx $1M #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019
12:53 p.m.: The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t going away completely empty-handed.
Gus Nyquist is heading to Columbus.#signingseason
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2019
12:40 p.m.: Valtteri Filppula is heading (back) to the Red Wings.
Red Wings sign C/LW Valtteri Filppula to a 2-year contract.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
12:19 p.m.: Artemi Panarin is about to get paid, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks.
Panarin deal with Rangers will come in at around $11.6M per, Post is told
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2019
12:18 p.m.: The Toronto Maple Leafs get another veteran forward.
Spezza has signed a one-year contract worth $700,000. #LeafsForever https://t.co/iO6fZSr124
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) July 1, 2019
12:15 p.m.: Mats Zuccarello is heading to Minnesota.
Mats Zuccarello signs $30M, 5-year deal with Wild.
— Stephen Whyno 🌴🇪🇺 (@SWhyno) July 1, 2019
12:10 p.m.: Looks like Corey Perry will get a chance to rebuild his value in Dallas and hit the market again next summer.
Corey Perry @DallasStars 1 / $1.5M + $1.75M bonis performance (performance bonuses) #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019
12:05 p.m.: The NHL league year is open, and it sounds as if the San Jose Sharks are nearing an agreement with Timo Meier, an important RFA coming off a 30-goal season.
Hearing that the San Jose Sharks are closing in on re-signing RFA star winger Timo Meier, huge signing for them. They kept UFA star D Erik Karlsson off the UFA market and now are about to lock up a key core player.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019
11:51 a.m.: Meanwhile, the Bruins are locking up one of their young defensemen.
Three more years of #CliffyHockey. #NHLBruins have agreed to terms on a three-year extension with Connor Clifton worth $3 million total. He has one year left at $725k, extension can be papered as soon as today.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019
11:46 a.m.: It appears the Rangers are swooping in and are poised to land Artemi Panarin despite recent reports indicating he’d likely end up with the Islanders.
All signs are pointing toward the NYR landing Artemi Panarin.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
11:45 a.m.: Noel Acciari is staying in the Atlantic Division, with the Providence College product reportedly leaving the Bruins to join the Florida Panthers.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1145719978315964416
11:11 a.m.: The Atlantic Division is loading up.
Jimmy Vesey has been traded to Buffalo.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
Jimmy Vesey has been traded to Buffalo, for a 3rd round pick. Clearing space?#signingseason
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2019
11:09 a.m.: The Florida Panthers, believed by many to be the front-runner for Sergei Bobrovsky, also are in the process of beefing up the blue line, it seems.
Hearing that the Florida Panthers are the front-runners to land UFA D Anton Stralman today. Believe the contract being discussed is three years, $16.5 million total
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019
11:05 a.m.: Bob McKenzie on TSN just said the Artemi Panarin sweepstakes still are ongoing. There was reported momentum building between Panarin and the New York Islanders, but according to McKenzie, the Rangers also are lingering. McKenzie also noted the Columbus Blue Jackets made an offer Sunday night but weren’t able to get anything done.
Other highlights from McKenzie:
— Matt Duchene and the Nashville Predators have an agreement in place
— Tyler Myers is going to Vancouver
— Joe Pavelski will join the Dallas Stars
Got it? Good.
10:51 a.m.: More on the Sebastian Aho front:
According to sources, Carolina got calls from 3 different teams today on Sebastian Aho, hinting at an offer sheet. The 'Canes told them they would match any offer sheet. Carolina did tell them they would entertain trade conversation. Believe that Habs is among 3 teams who called
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019
10:20 a.m.: Sebastian Aho might be poised for a huge payday.
Growing chatter over possibility Sebastian Aho is presented with an offer sheet today. (Repeat, chatter). _IF_ it happens, I suspect AAV would be in $9M-$9.5M range, and of course Aho would have to agree. But will a team go through with it?
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019
8:20 a.m.: The Leafs and Senators make it official:
TRADE:
To Ottawa #Senators:
D Nikita Zaitsev
F Connor Brown
F Michael Carcone (RFA)To Toronto Maple #Leafs:
D Cody Ceci (RFA Arb)
D Ben Harpur
F Aaron Luchuk
2020 3rd RD pick (CBJ)https://t.co/pOmLyOX15A— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 1, 2019
8:15 a.m.: With the new league year beginning, we also should see some movement via trade, and two longtime rivals — the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs — reportedly have struck a deal centered around Toronto defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and winger Connor Brown.
Deal is expected to be announced soon. It's Zaitsev, Brown and Carconne for Ceci, Harpur, Luchuk and a pick. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 1, 2019
Between Zaitsev and Connor Brown, that’s nearly $7 million in salary cap space going out for Toronto, which they need if they’re going to sign Mitch Marner to a new contract.
8:05 a.m.: Mitch Marner also figures to be one of the focal points as the NHL year begins. While he’s not an unrestricted free agent, the star winger’s restricted free agency is an enormous focus for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here’s the latest on Marner’s situation from TSN’s Darren Dreger and whether another team might strike with an offer sheet for Marner — or other RFAs across the league.
There’s a genuine sense around the league a few clubs are strongly considering an offer sheet on Marner, Aho, Connor and perhaps, others. If no deal or an offer sheet doesn’t materialize get ready for a long wait and potential stalemates. https://t.co/9xPULNbKgL
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019
7:45 a.m. ET: The NBA had its fun Sunday night, and now it’s time for the NHL landscape to change.
NHL free agency technically begins at noon ET on Monday with a handful of stars poised to change teams. Perhaps no team will be affected more than the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are expected to lose a pair of impact players in forward Artemi Panarin and All-Star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Two-way center Matt Duchene also is among the big names who could be on the move, and teams looking for goaltending help could make Robin Lehner a very rich man. After that initial wave of top-level talent, there’s plenty of secondary depth pieces who could put contenders over the top.
We’ll be following all of the news and rumors throughout the day, so be sure to keep checking back for all the latest across the NHL.
