The NHL’s free-agent signing interval formally opened on Tuesday, and a variety of groups did nicely to make themselves higher. Not solely by including good gamers, however in some circumstances with good bargains.
Listed below are the 5 greatest signings and values from Tuesday’s roster motion (and we’re solely transactions that occurred on Tuesday).
Jonathan Drouin, New York Islanders (two years, $8 million)
On a day the place overpayments gave the impression to be the norm, the Islanders sneaked in with one of many higher worth signings within the league. Drouin fully turned his profession round over the previous two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, recording 93 factors (30 objectives, 63 assists) in 122 complete video games. He is an elite passer and provides the Islanders one other excellent playmaker to associate with heart Mathew Barzal.
Drouin is not going to show the Islanders right into a Stanley Cup contender on his personal, however he is a extremely productive participant and an excellent middle-six ahead choice.
There weren’t many higher bargains on the UFA market on Tuesday.
Logan Stankoven, Carolina Hurricanes (eight years, $48 million)
Technically talking, this was not a UFA signing, however a re-signing. And it’d find yourself being the best contract handed out the whole day throughout the NHL.
The Hurricanes acquired the 22-year-old Stankoven on the commerce deadline as a part of the Mikko Rantanen to Dallas commerce, and he is an ideal match for the fashion of play. He’s aggressive on the forecheck, an absolute puck-hound that at all times wins the battles for them and has top-line potential offensively.
Getting him signed by way of his prime years, and likewise taking away some free-agency years, at a salary-cap hit of simply $6 million per season is the kind of contract that may be a long-term steal.
Vladislav Gavrikov, New York Rangers (seven years, $49 million)
It is a difficult one, as a result of there’s loads to not like about it. A seven-year contract for a 30-year-old defenseman is dangerous, and it in all probability will not age nicely on the again finish of the contract. It is also prone to come on the expense of restricted free-agent defenseman Okay’Andre Miller, who is about to be traded.
Having mentioned that, this contract got here in slightly decrease when it comes to wage than was anticipated, and he’s additionally a legitimately good defensive participant. He additionally offers the Rangers one thing they desperately wanted in a top-pairing accomplice for Adam Fox.
Fox and Gavrikov ought to be an impressive pairing on the prime of the lineup, however the depth stays an enormous concern. There’s some good, there may be some unhealthy. However the execs outweigh the cons right here.
Andrew Mangiapane, Edmonton Oilers (two years, $7.2 million)
Mangiapane is not the flashiest signing of the day — or the costliest — nevertheless it’s a extremely good depth transfer for a workforce that wants some assist in the course of its lineup.
He has not scored greater than 17 objectives in every of the previous three seasons, however he’s a stable defensive participant and two-way ahead and signed for a reasonably low cost value underneath the wage cap. It is one of many higher short-term bargains of the day.
Jeff Petry, Florida Panthers (one yr, $775,000)
This proper right here is a good instance of why the Florida Panthers are the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and have been the very best workforce within the NHL over the previous 4 years.
They do not overpay the underside of their lineup.
They do not saddle themselves with unhealthy contracts.
The Panthers’ third-defense pairing and fourth line in the course of the 2024-25 season had been all gamers signed to discount contracts, making $1 million or much less. When anyone like defenseman Nate Schmidt performed his manner into a brand new value vary, they changed him with a stable veteran like Petry on a less expensive deal.
Petry is not going to be an influence participant. However he is great value for the underside of the lineup.
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