SEATTLE SURPRISES IN FREE AGENCY
Expansion Kraken scoop up Vezina finalist Grubauer on frenetic first day of signings
Teams that land the best goalies are usually dubbed the winners on NHL free agent day and move up the Stanley Cup odds board.
But the Seattle Kraken, an expansion team, surprised everyone on Wednesday by luring Vezina Trophy finalist Philipp Grubauer away from the Colorado Avalanche, as part of their unexpected dive into the market. He signed for US$35.4 million over six years.
Netminders also changed addresses in a couple of Canadian cities and throughout the league on a frenetic afternoon, where US$500 million was spent on fewer than 90 players, according to TSN, despite a flat cap limiting many teams.
Goaltender Petr Mrazek signed with the Maple Leafs to challenge incumbent Jack Campbell, Jaroslav Halak signed with Vancouver,
while Laurent Brossoit left Connor Hellebuyck's shadow in Winnipeg to back up Robin Lehner in Vegas.
Other changes of crease address saw Braden Holtby, who didn't work out in Vancouver, headed to the Dallas Stars, while Frederik Andersen, who eventually wore out his welcome with the Leafs, relocated to Mrazek's old home in Carolina.
Eyebrows were raised when Jonathan Bernier got north of US$4 million to play for the New Jersey Devils.
Martin Jones cashed out in San Jose and headed east to Philadelphia to try to help young Carter Hart's progression, while James Reimer went from Carolina to one of his previous teams, the San Jose Sharks.
GET CRACKIN'
Seattle general manager Ron Francis left himself plenty of cap room after last week's draft and set about using it on Wednesday. Except now he's got four goalies after most assumed Chris Driedger would get first shot at being No. 1 ahead of Vitek Vanecek and Joey Daccord.
Grubauer will likely force him to move one of them.
Then came the signing of forward Jaden Schwartz for five years at US$5.5 million annually, two years after he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup. Alexander Wennberg, a centre with Florida, was also signed.
CHANGES FOR CANADIENS
It's been a tough month for Montreal with surgery for goalie Carey Price, battered defenceman Shea Weber's decision to step away, and the controversy surrounding their drafting of Logan Mailloux.
Now they'll be without twoway centre Phillip Danault. Though not a surprise departure, Danault signed a six-year deal at US$5.5 million per season with the Los Angeles Kings.
Meanwhile, the Habs acquired two Quebec-born members of the Cup champions, defenceman David Savard and forward Cedric Paquette.
They also signed Chris Wideman to a one-year deal for US$750,000
Up front, sniper Mike Hoffman signed for three years at $4.5 million per season.
DEVILS IN DISGUISE
GM Tom Fitzgerald's remake of the New Jersey Devils took a huge step with defenceman Dougie Hamilton coming aboard at an average annual value of US$9 million for seven years.
EICHEL SITUATION UNDECIDED
What didn't get settled right away Wednesday was where Jack Eichel goes when the Buffalo Sabres eventually get around to trading him.
While Vegas seemed to be setting the table to accommodate Eichel's US$10 million by trading Marc-andre Fleury, things aren't falling into place as Buffalo understandably won't just take the first offer that comes along. Eichel's medical condition, a neck disc that he and the Sabres can't agree on treating, is a huge question mark.
WILD TENURES END
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter officially parted company with the Minnesota Wild — and each other — on Wednesday. Their twin 13-year, Us$98-million contracts were bought out by GM Bill Guerin a few days ago.
Suter is heading to Dallas, while the betting was Parise, who turned 37 on Wednesday, would go to the Islanders. That's where his late father J.P. started with the expansion team.