Champs lose Shattenkirk
Defenseman leaves Lightning to sign with Anaheim
It didn’t take long for the bubble to begin bursting on the Tampa Bay Lightning ’s Stanley Cup party.
The effect of a flat salary cap took its toll on the Lightning less than two weeks after winning their second Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay bid farewell to defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who signed with Anaheim, and the team was forced to place center Tyler Johnson on waivers as the NHL’S free agency period opened Friday.
In the meantime, the league’s higher profile free agents such as defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Torey Krug and winger Taylor Hall, remained on the market with an $81.5 million cap — unchanged from last year — adding a layer of uncertainty to a coronavirus pandemic-altered economy.
“It’s a bit of a new world right now with the flat cap and the revenue situation,” Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin said. “You don’t want to risk anything too long on either side because it just might not make sense.”
The one exception involved goalies, with a longanticipated shuffle materializing in the first hours of free agency.
Jacob Markstrom left Vancouver to sign a sixyear, $36 million contract with the Calgary Flames. The Canucks replaced Markstrom by signing Braden Holtby to a twoyear, $8.6 million contract. The 2016 Vezina Trophy winner spent his first 10 seasons in Washington, where he helped the Capitals win the Cup in 2018.
Henrik Lundqvist signed a one-year contract with Washington, two weeks after having his contract bought out by the Rangers.
The Wild quickly addressed their goaltending needs after trading Devan Dubnyk to San Jose, by signing Cam Talbot to a three-year, $11 million deal. Anton Khudobin, who led Dallas’ run to the Stanley Cup Final, is staying after signing a three-year, $10 million deal.
Among skaters, Shattenkirk agreed to a threeyear deal worth $11.7 million, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The Lightning, who entered the offseason projected to have about $4.5 million of room under the cap, also lost forward Carter Verhaeghe, who signed with Florida. As for Johnson, he was placed on waivers with three years remaining on a seven-year, $35 million contract that includes a no-trade clause.
The Vegas Golden Knights traded Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets. In freeing the final year of Stastny ’s contract and $5.5 million cap hit, Vegas acquired defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and a conditional 2022 fourth-round draft pick.
Red Wings: Detroit agreed to a one-year $1 million deal with 33-year-old winger Bobby Ryan.
Maple Leafs: Signed TJ Brodie to a $20 million, four-year contract. Veteran forward Wayne Simmonds was among the first free agents to sign, reaching a one-year $1.5 million deal with the Maple Leafs. The 12-year veteran split last season between New Jersey and Buffalo.
Rangers: Agreed to sign defenseman Jack Johnson, who had the final three years of his contract bought out by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Blackhawks: Agreed to sign Rookie of the Year finalist Dominik Kubalik to a two-year, $7.4 million contract extension. With starting goalie Corey Crawford entering free agency, the Blackhawks also signed goalie Malcolm Subban to a two-year, $1.7 million contract.
Senators: Newly acquired goalie Matt Murray agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal. The Senators traded forward prospect Jonathan Gruden and the 52nd pick this year to Pittsburgh to get Murray.