The Nashville Predators made waves when NHL free agency opened on Monday by signing Stanley Cup winners Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault for eye-watering deals worth more than $100 million, putting Nashville on the radar of the hockey world.
Stamkos announced he would sign with the Predators after 16 seasons with Tampa Bay, where he won two Stanley Cups and reached two more finals. Terms of the deal were not immediately released, but Stamkos will reportedly receive $32 million over four years.
“It's not because I didn't try to make it work in Tampa, but it would be unfair to Nashville for me to sit here and say I wish I was in Tampa,” Stamkos said on Canada's TSN. “Everybody knows I was. It didn't work out, but I'm excited to be joining the Nashville Predators for a variety of reasons. You just see their positivity today, and you know their commitment to winning is second to none.”
Marchessault, the 2023 playoff MVP and another standout veteran forward, signed a five-year contract worth $27.5 million, according to a person familiar with the deal. The Predators also signed defenseman Brady Skei to a seven-year contract worth $49 million and goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a two-year contract worth $3 million, according to two other people familiar with the moves.
The three people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced. Wedgewood is expected to replace franchise goaltender Juuse Saros, whose long-term contract extension could be completed as soon as this week.
Marchessault was an original member of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights in 2017 and helped the team reach two finals and win the Stanley Cup last year. He scored a career-high 42 goals.
“There weren't any really decent offers,” Marchessault said on TSN. “I don't think they did their best to keep me. But that's part of the business, and they probably have other plans. That's our business. So I just have to move on. I think Nashville was the best fit for me.”
Within three hours of the start of free agency, teams had committed more than $900 million in payroll, the result of the first major increase in the cap since pre-pandemic 2020. The cap will increase by more than 5% to $88 million next season and could jump to more than $92 million in 2025-26.
Huge deal
Jake Guenzel helped ease the pain of losing Stamkos by signing a seven-year, $63 million contract with Tampa Bay after the team acquired his rights from the Hurricanes last weekend.
“Things didn't work out in Carolina, and then I heard Tampa might trade my rights, and I got really excited because everybody's heard how good this team is and how well positioned they are,” said Guenzel, who will count $9 million against the salary cap through 2031. “The tradition of Tampa Bay, the winning culture, they have a lot of good players, so coming to Tampa was really appealing.”
Defenseman Brandon Montour, fresh off helping Florida win a Stanley Cup, signed a seven-year, $50 million deal with Seattle, and the Kraken acquired former Golden Knights center and '23 champion Chandler Stephenson for $43.75 million over the same period.
— Vancouver signed former Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year, $38.5 million contract.
— Boston signed center Elias Lindholm to a seven-year, $54.25 million contract and paid defenseman Nikita Zadorov $30 million over the next six seasons.
— New Jersey continued building a playoff-caliber roster, signing defenseman Brett Pesce to a six-year, $33 million contract.
San Jose signed winger Tyler Toffoli to a four-year, $24 million contract, said a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms of the deal have not yet been announced.
— Toronto signed defenceman Chris Tanev to a six-year contract worth $27 million, with $6.5 million of that amount counting against the salary cap through 2030.
Redo it
— Hours after a rainy rally to celebrate their Stanley Cup victory, the Panthers beat the midnight buzzer to re-sign Sam Reinhart to an eight-year, $69 million contract that will bring the player, a 57-goal regular-season player, a salary-cap hit of $8.625 million.
Jordan Martinook is expected to re-sign with the Hurricanes on a three-year, $9.15 million contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.
— Erik Johnson will also remain with the Philadelphia Flyers for next season on a $1 million contract.
— Edmonton, which lost to the Panthers in seven games in the Cup final, re-signed versatile reserve forward Connor Brown to a one-year, $1 million contract. Brown, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in October 2022, had one goal and one assist in the final.
Busy team
Chicago and Washington were among the busiest teams.
The Blackhawks signed forwards Tyler Bertuzzi (four years, $22 million), Teuvo Teravainen (three years, $16.2 million) and Craig Smith (one year, $1 million) and goaltender Laurent Brossoit (two years, $6.6 million).
The Capitals executed general manager Brian MacLellan's plan to reconfigure their defensive line, acquiring Jacob Chychrun from Ottawa for fellow defenseman Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick. They also signed 29-year-old defenseman Matt Roy to a six-year, $34.5 million contract and bolstered forward Brandon Duhaime. The Capitals previously acquired centre Pierre-Luc Dubois and goaltender Logan Thompson in trades.
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