Just how good can Connor Bedard be in the NHL?
Connor Bedard is being billed as one of the greatest hockey prospects the sport has ever seen and Mackenzie Salmon helps explain why.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The initial wave of free agency has passed with the Carolina Hurricanes boosting their defense with Dmitry Orlov, the Nashville Predators adding coveted center Ryan O’Reilly and the Toronto Maple Leafs getting feistier with Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves.
But there is plenty left to do. Six-time 30-goal scorer Vladimir Tarasenko remains unsigned as are three-time Stanley Cup winners Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The Boston Bruins still need to learn whether Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci will return to the team or retire. Will Erik Karlsson be traded this summer? Toronto’s Auston Matthews and William Nylander are among those eligible for extensions, and there are salary arbitration cases to settle.
Follow along as USA TODAY Sports provides news and analysis on offseason transactions:
July 17: No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard signs first contract
No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard made it official, signing his entry-level contract on his 18th birthday with his family in attendance. There is a rookie salary cap, so the three-year deal is for $950,000 in salary and signing bonus per season, plus the potential to earn another $3.5 million a year in performance bonuses. The center, considered a generational talent, had 143 points in 57 games with the Regina Pats. The Blackhawks won the draft lottery, moving up two spots to first overall. They have recently added veterans Taylor Hall, Corey Perry and Nick Foligno.
Also: The Colorado Avalanche and forward Ross Colton agreed to a reported four-year, $16 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Colton, acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning last month, got a bump from last season’s $1.25 million salary. … The Winnipeg Jets and forward Morgan Barron agreed to a two-year, $2.7 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Barron, who had been acquired from the New York Rangers in the Andrew Copp deal, had a career-best eight goals and 13 assists last season. … Other signings: Arizona’s Matias Maccelli (three years) and the New York Islanders’ Oliver Wahlstrom (one year).
July 16: Signings avert need for arbitration hearings
St. Louis Blues forward Alexey Toropchenko (two years, $2.5 million) and Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Duhaime (one year, $1.1 million) reached contract agreements four days before their scheduled salary arbitration hearings. “I’ve only heard nightmares about arbitration, so I was really hoping it wasn’t going to go there,” Duhaime told reporters. “I’m glad we got something done.” Duhaime scored nine goals in 51 games and had a series of injuries, including crashing head first into the boards after he was cross-checked. Toropchenko had 10 goals and 19 points in 69 games in his first full season.
July 15: Lightning re-sign forward Tanner Jeannot
The Tampa Bay Lightning were always going to get Tanner Jeannot re-signed because he was a restricted free agent and he had filed for salary arbitration. But the two sides agreed to a two-year deal with a $2.665 million cap hit on Saturday, negating the need for his scheduled July 24 hearing. He made $850,000 last season. He arrived last season from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Cal Foote and five draft picks, including a 2025 first-rounder. Jeannot is known for his rugged play and also had 24 goals in his first full season, but he scored six last season.
July 14: Flyers waive Tony DeAngelo for buyout purposes
The Philadelphia Flyers placed defenseman Tony DeAngelo on unconditional waivers and if he passes through, he will have his contract bought out Saturday for the second time in two years. According to capfriendly.com, DeAngelo will become the first NHL player to be bought out more than once in the salary cap era. His first buyout was in 2021 by the New York Rangers, who had told him to stay home after a reported altercation with a teammate. He signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021-22 and Flyers then-general manager Chuck Fletcher gave up three draft picks for his rights and signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal. The Flyers are buying out the contract’s second year for about $3.3 million, spread over two years. Philadelphia was eligible for the league’s second buyout window because Noah Cates (since signed) had filed for salary arbitration. DeAngelo hit double digits in goals last season for the third time in his career but also was suspended two games for spearing and was a healthy scratch for the final five games. He’ll be a free agent after the buyout.
Also: The Coyotes made it official and terminated Alex Galchenyuk’s contract. Galchenyuk had been arrested on July 9 and the team cited “a material breach of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract.” The Coyotes later announced they had signed forward Zach Sanford to a one-year, two-way deal. He played for the Nashville Predators and their American Hockey League affiliate last season.
ARREST REPORT: Police say Alex Galchenyuk made threats
July 13: Coyotes to terminate Alex Galchenyuk’s contract
The Arizona Coyotes announced they were placing forward Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. He had been signed on July 1 to a one-year deal for what would have been his third stint with the team (previously 2018-19 and 2021-22). But police in Scottsdale, Arizona, said Galchenyuk had been arrested on July 9 on charges including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. A department spokesperson said the hit and run involved property damage only and there were no injuries. The NHL Players’ Association said it is “reviewing this matter.” Galchenyuk, 29, a former No. 3 overall pick who has 354 points in 654 career games, will become an unrestricted agent after his contract is terminated.
Also: The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a one-year, $900,000 contract. He had scored two goals in Game 5 of the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
July 12: Blues bring back forward Oskar Sundqvist
Forward Oksar Sundqvist is back with the St. Louis Blues, signing a one-year, $775,000 contract. Sundqvist, 29, had been with St. Louis from 2017-22, when he was part of the package the Blues sent to the Red Wings to acquire defenseman Nick Leddy. Sundqvist spent last season with Detroit and Minnesota, totaling 10 goals and 28 points. He has won Stanley Cup titles with the Blues in 2019 and the Penguins in 2016.
Also: Goalie Thomas Greiss told NHL.com that he is retiring from the league after 14 seasons. … The Arizona Coyotes signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a one-year deal. … The Boston Bruins signed forward Jesper Boqvist to a one-year contract. He had 21 points in 70 games last season with the New Jersey Devils.
July 11: Rangers re-sign defenseman K’Andre Miller
The New York Rangers got 23-year-old defenseman K’Andre Miller under contract for two years at a reported $3.872 million cap hit. Miller broke through with 43 points in his third season while playing nearly 22 minutes a game, second on the team behind Adam Fox. The deal leaves the Rangers with only one player left to re-sign, 2020 No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. According to capfriendly.com, the team has a little more than $2.3 million in cap space available.
Also: Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche before the draft, signed a four-year contract with a $2.9 million cap hit. … The Carolina Hurricanes signed gritty forward Brendan Lemieux to a one-year, $800,000 contract.
July 10: Sharks sign forward Filip Zadina
Forward Filip Zadina, who agreed to have his contract terminated by the Red Wings, signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the San Jose Sharks. He would have been paid $1.83 million this upcoming season with Detroit but got out of the contract in hopes of getting more playing time. The 23-year-old, who was drafted sixth overall in 2018, played in only 30 games last season. His career best is 24 points in 2021-22.
July 10: Salary arbitration hearing dates are scheduled
Salary arbitration hearings are scheduled between July 20 and Aug. 4, though for the most part, the two sides usually reach an agreement before their hearings. The Philadelphia Flyers and center Noah Coats agreed to a two-year, $5.25 million contract on Monday, and the Boston Bruins and defenseman Ian Mitchell agreed to a one-year, $775,000 deal. Seattle Kraken defensemen Will Borgen and Cale Fleury reached deals earlier.
July 20: Philipp Kurashev (Blackhawks), Brandon Duhaime (Wild), Alexey Toropchenko (Blues)
July 21: Ilya Samsonov (Maple Leafs)
July 24: Brett Howden (Golden Knights), Vince Dunn (Kraken), Tanner Jeannot (Lightning)
July 27: Ross Colton (Avalanche)
July 28: Gabriel Vilardi (Jets)
July 30: Jeremy Swayman (Bruins), Jack McBain (Coyotes)
Aug. 1: Trent Frederic (Bruins)
Aug. 2: Morgan Barron (Jets), Troy Terry (Ducks)
Aug. 4: Ryan McLeod (Oilers), Brandon Scanlin (Rangers), Filip Gustavsson (Wild), Drew O’Connor (Penguins)
July 9: Red Wings acquire Alex DeBrincat in trade with Senators
The Detroit Red Wings signed forward Alex DeBrincat to a four-year, $31.5 million extension after sending forward Dominik Kubalik, minor league defenseman Donovan Sebrango, a 2024 conditional first-round selection and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in the trade. The one thing missing in the Red Wings’ free agent acquisitions was a big-time scorer and DeBrincat, a Michigan native, has two 40-goal seasons, though he dropped to 27 in his lone season in Ottawa. The Senators had to trade DeBrincat because he wasn’t going to re-sign with the team. Kubalik has averaged 20.5 goals in his career and Sebrango, an Ottawa native, split time last season between the ECHL and American Hockey League. The Red Wings can choose whether to send their first-round pick or the Top 10-protected Bruins first-rounder, which they acquired in the Bertuzzi trade.
Also: The Seattle Kraken and defenseman Cale Fleury agreed on a two-year, $1.6 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
July 7: Filip Zadina, Red Wings agree to terminate contract
The Red Wings forward passed through waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. The termination will free Detroit from the $1.825 million annual salary cap hit that would have run through 2024-25 – but the actual salary left was $4.56 million, and that is what Zadina is willing to sacrifice for the opportunity to set his own course with a new team. Zadina, 23, has been unable to reach the hype that made him the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL draft, recording just 28 goals and 40 assists in 190 career games. He lacked the speed and agility to succeed in the top six, and lacked the grit and physicality to be an effective presence in the bottom six. – Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press
Also: The Kraken and defenseman Will Borgen agreed to a two-year, $5.4 million contract, avoiding arbitration. Borgen, who made $900,000 last season, set career bests with 20 points, 203 hits and 89 blocked shots. Seattle also signed penalty-killing forward Pierre-Eduoard Bellemare, formerly of the Lightning, for one year at $775,000. … The Pittsburgh Penguins, who are trying to rebuild their bottom six and organizational depth, signed forwards Vinnie Hinostroza ($775,000) and Andreas Johnsson ($800,000) to one-year contracts. Hinostroza split time between the Buffalo Sabres and American Hockey League last season but has had two seasons with double digits in goals. Johnsson split time between the Devils, Sharks and AHL. He previously played for Penguins executive Kyle Dubas in Toronto.
July 6: Kings extend captain Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar is getting a two-year, $14 million extension from Los Angeles, starting in 2024-25. He had a $10 million cap in his contract that expires next summer. The extension was going to get done at some point, so it’s good to get it out of the way before next season starts. As Kings GM Bob Blake said in a statement, Kopitar is the “heart and soul” of the team. He has led the Kings in scoring 15 times, including the last five seasons. He just won the Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) for the second time and has won the Selke Trophy (defensive forward) and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The two-time Stanley Cup winner has been with the Kings his entire career (17 seasons) and has been captain since 2016. He’ll be 38 when the extension expires.
Also: The Ottawa Senators signed rugged forward Zack MacEwen to a three-year deal with a $775,000 cap hit. He has 28 regular-season fights but also had three game-winners among his four goals last season.
July 5: 22 players file for salary arbitration
The list: Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets), Will Borgen (Seattle Kraken), Noah Cates (Philadelphia Flyers), Ross Colton (Colorado Avalanche), Brandon Duhaime (Minnesota Wild), Vince Dunn (Kraken), Cale Fleury (Kraken), Trent Frederic (Bruins), Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights), Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay Lightning), Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks), Jack McBain (Arizona Coyotes), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton Oilers), Ian Mitchell (Bruins), Drew O’Connor(Pittsburgh Penguins), Ilya Samsonov (Maple Leafs), Brandon Scanlin (New York Rangers), Jeremy Swayman (Bruins), Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks), Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis Blues), Gabriel Vilardi (Jets)
The most interesting cases: Dunn had a breakthrough 64-point season, and Terry has topped 60 points the past two seasons. Samsonov put up career numbers on a one-year, prove-it contract. Swayman shared the Williams Jennings Award with Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark. Gustavsson had better numbers than Marc-Andre Fleury last season. The Lightning traded five draft picks and defenseman Cal Foote to acquire Jeannot last season.
Salary arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4, though teams and players usually settle beforehand.
Also: Tarasenko has changed agents to Creative Artists Agency, according to multiple reports. … The New York Islanders signed forward Julien Gauthier for two years. He had played part of the past three seasons with the rival Rangers and finished last season with the Senators.
