Leafs ink Simmonds, Canucks get Holtby
Goaltender signings highlight the first day of NHL free agency
A crease carousel highlighted the opening of National Hockey League free agency.
And, whenever next season begins, some fans will need a program — or a scan of their smartphones — to keep track of all the changes.
With the economic realities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic casting a long shadow Friday, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks made seismic moves on the goalie front as the market opened, the Ottawa Senators locked up their new starter, and a future Hall of Famer found a new home.
The Flames made the biggest splash, signing Jacob Markstrom to a six-year, $36-million contract after the netminder wasn’t able to agree on a new pact with Vancouver before hitting unrestricted free agency.
“I’m super-happy to get a deal done not too late in the night Swedish-time,” the 30-year-old Markstrom said from his hometown of Gavle. “Calgary has something really big going. Can’t wait to be a part of it.
“Obviously they really wanted me there.”
The Canucks had already moved on from their former No. 1 goalie a few hours earlier, inking Braden Holtby to a twoyear, $8.6-million contract as part of the leaguewide game of musical chairs that kicked off soon after teams and players were allowed to negotiate at noon ET.
“Luckily, it worked out, the best of all scenarios,” said the 31-year-old, who helped the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in 2018 and will split playing time with the up- and- coming Thatcher Demko in Vancouver. “It’s not an experience that I think is that fun for anyone, not knowing and all that.
“I’m excited to have it over with, to go to a great team, a great city and move forward.”
The Ottawa Senators then announced they had signed restricted free agent Matt Murray to a four-year, $25-million contract after acquiring the 26year-old from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Capitals replaced Holtby with Henrik Lundqvist, inking him to $1.5million, one-year deal after the veteran was bought out by the New York Rangers following 15 seasons in the Big Apple. The 38-year-old longtime face of the Rangers will split net duties with youngster Ilya Samsonov.
Cam Talbot, from Caledonia, Ont., is also switching teams, waving goodbye to Calgary and signing a three-year, $11-million pact with the Minnesota Wild, who traded former starter Devan Dubnyk to the San Jose Sharks this week.
Meanwhile, Dallas Stars playoff hero Anton Khudobin is staying in Texas after agreeing on a three-year, $10-million deal.
The biggest names on the market, however, remain available in the form of defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, winger Taylor Hall and blue-liner Torey Krug.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to Pietrangelo, but for any deal to work, the team would need to move contracts out. GM Kyle Dubas would only go as far as to say he’d spoken to Pietrangelo’s agent as of Friday afternoon.
Toronto took care of some business earlier by adding gritty winger and local product Wayne Simmonds on a oneyear, $1.5-million deal.
“I talked to a few teams and the decision was made to come home because of what the city means to us,” said the 32-yearold. “There were other options where I probably could have squeezed out a little bit more (money), but it made the most sense for my family.”
The Oilers inked centre Kyle Turris, who was recently bought out by the Nashville Predators, on a two-year contract worth a reported $3.3 million, and kept winger Tyler Ennis on a one-year, $1-million deal.
Bobby Ryan found a new home in Detroit, signing a oneyear pact with the Red Wings, while former Senators defenceman Mark Borowiecki agreed to a two-year, $4-million deal in Nashville.
The Anaheim Ducks, meanwhile, lured blue-liner Kevin Shattenkirk away from the Cup- winning Tampa Bay Lightning on a three-year, $11.7million term, while Washington signed defenceman Justin Schultz for the next two seasons at $4 million annually.
The Winnipeg Jets reacquired veteran centre Paul Stastny from the Vegas Golden Knights for defenceman Carl Dahlstrom and a conditional fourthround pick in 2022. The Jets also re-signed Nathan Beaulieu to a two-year, $2.5-million extension, and kept fellow defenceman Luca Sbisa in the Manitoba capital on a one-year, $800,000 agreement.