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NHL teams spend $1B in day one of free agency

Lightning sign Guentzel, Preds add Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei, and so much more.

Author

Brandon Rubeo
July 02, 2024

In partnership with

Good morning. We hope our Canadian readers enjoyed an incredible Canada Day yesterday, and we wish our American readers a great 4th July celebration this Thursday — please stay safe around those fireworks! 🎆

The first day of NHL free agency did not disappoint as NHL teams shelled out over a billion dollars in contracts — a new day one record.

Today’s lineup:

  • Lightning acquire and then sign Jake Guentzel

  • Predators sign Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei

  • Jeff Skinner gets bought out before signing with the Oilers

  • Panthers extend Reinhart, Canadiens extend Slafkovsky

  • Work on your offensive zone pivot delay maneuver in today’s Coaches Corner

  • And a lot more… 👇

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CAN’T MISS HOCKEY NEWS 🎯

⚡️ Lightning acquire and then sign Jake Guentzel to 7-year, $63M contract. After acquiring the 29-year-old forward from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, Tampa locked up the two-time 40-goal scorer and 2017 Stanley Cup winner for $9M per for the next seven seasons, likely playing alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point on the Lightning’s first line. The Omaha, Nebraska native scored 38 goals and added 29 assists in 69 games played between the Penguins and Hurricanes last season. Read more →

🤠 Nashville signs Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The Predators made a splash on day 1 of NHL free agency, signing Stamkos for 4 years for $32M, Marchessault for 5 years for $27.5M, while locking up Skjei for 7 years for $49M. Stamkos is a two-time Cup winner, scoring 555 career goals all as a member of the Lighting. Marchessault scored a career-high 42 goals last season after winning the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy. Meanwhile Skjei, not yet a Cup winner, is coming off a season where the left-handed defenseman collected a career-high 47 points. Read more →

🛢️ Jeff Skinner gets bought out by Sabres, signs 1-year, $3M contract with Oilers. Buffalo bought out the remaining three years of Skinner’s $9 million per year contract before the 32-year-old left winger signed a 1-year deal with the Stanley Cup Finalists Edmonton Oilers. The six-time 30-goal scorer collected 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 74 games played last season. The Toronto-native is expected to slot into a top-six role, likely assuming Leon Draisaitl’s wing, possibly alongside recently-signed Viktor Arvidsson on the other wing, assuming Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman remain the Oiler’s top trio. Read More →

ICYMI 💰

The Florida Panthers were able to retain Sam Reinhart, extending the Stanley Cup Champ for 8-years for a reported $69M. Coming off a career-high 57-goal, 94-point season, the West Vancouver native capped off an incredible season by scoring the game-winning goal in game 7 of the Panthers’ 2024 Stanley Cup run.

The Montreal Canadiens extended Juraj Slafkovsky to an 8-year, $60.8M contract after collecting 20 goals and 30 assists in his sophomore campaign. The new contract will begin the 2025-26 campaign.

POLL 🗳️

Will Juraj Slafkovsky prove to be over, under, or fairly paid on his new 8-year, $60.8M extension ($7.6M AAV)?

Let's hear it 👂

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Saturday’s poll: Will Macklin Celebrini’s rookie point total exceed, tie, or fall short of Connor Bedard's rookie point total (61)?

Only 22.6% of Saturday’s poll voters believe Macklin Celebrini will produce more points in his rookie season than Connor Bedard, while 70% believe he’ll fall short. Time will tell. ⏳

QUICK HITS ⚡️

  • Maple Leafs remodel blue line, hope for goalie health in frenzy of signings (Sportsnet)

  • Canucks sign Jake DeBrusk to seven-year, $38.5 million deal, add Danton Heinen (TSN)

  • Bruins ink top center Elias Lindholm, D-man Nikita Zadorov (ESPN)

  • Patrick Kane re-signs with the Detroit Red Wings on a 1-year deal (AP News)

  • Chandler Stephenson signs seven-year deal with Kraken (Sportsnet)

  • Blackhawks agree to contracts with Bertuzzi and Teravainen on busy opening day of NHL free agency (AP News)

  • NHL reinstates Bowman, Quenneville, MacIsaac after ban for mishandling Chicago sex assault scandal (CBC)

COACHES CORNER 🏒

TRIVIA 🧠

From their NHL contract alone, who was the highest paid ($16.5M) NHL player last season?

Let's see what you got 👇

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