’Canes, Rangers turn divisional rivalry into signing frenzy
Don Waddell’s expectations were so low on the chances of improving the Hurricanes roster to open NHL free agency on Saturday, Carolina’s general manager told his staff they might not even have to come into the office.
Some four hours into the signing period, Waddell came away with a big haul. Aside from retaining their starting goalie tandem of Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen and re-signing speedy forward Jesper Fast, the Hurricanes landed defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Michael Bunting.
“Things have changed here,” Waddell said, referring to the league-wide perception of the Hurricanes, who have re-established themselves as a contender.
“We used to chase players, have to overpay,” he added. “We’ve become a destination place. We’re getting those calls first. And it’s nice to be in that position.”
The same applies to the New York Rangers who, with far less salary cap space available than Carolina, still made an impressive series of signings — taking their Metropolitan Division rivalry with the Hurricanes off the ice and into free agency.
The Rangers additions were highlighted by forwards Blake Wheeler, Nick Bonino and Tyler Pitlick, defenseman Erik Gustafsson and two-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Jonathan Quick.
For a free agent class regarded as thin on high-end talent, and with teams handcuffed by a flat salary cap that’s risen just $4 million since 2018-19, NHL GMs were quick out of the gate to fill their biggest needs.
Barry Trotz opened his tenure as Predators general manager by signing one of the game’s top two-way forwards, Ryan O’Reilly, to a fouryear, $18 million contract. The Predators also signed winger Gustav Nyquist to a $6.37 million, two-year deal, and defenseman Luke Schenn to a three-year, $8.25 million contract.
The Detroit Red Wings signed 2022 Stanley Cup-winning forward J.T. Compher to a $25.5 million, five-year contract.
In losing Compher, and after acquiring Ross Colton in a trade from Tampa Bay, the Colorado Avalanche signed former Devils forward Miles Wood to a six-year contract and former Montreal forward Jonathan Drouin to a one-year deal.
Forward Alex Killorn became the latest member of 2020 and ‘21 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay to cash in, signing a $25 million, four-year contract with Anaheim.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were another busy Metropolitan team, re-signing goalie Tristan Jarry to a five-year, $26.875 million deal, while adding several free agents, headed by defenseman Ryan Graves.
Mike Babcock is back in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets, confident he has evolved as a coach in his nearly four years out of a pro job.
The 2008 Stanley Cup-winning coach with Detroit finally took over Saturday, introduced as the person the organization’s brass believes is the right fit. Now 3½ years removed from being fired by Toronto and word emerging about some of his polarizing old-school tactics, Babcock sounded like someone who has learned from his time in the college ranks.
“Change in all of us takes time,” Babcock said at a news conference streamed on Zoom. “I think what this has done is given me a chance to get outside my body and have a look and see what I’m doing and understand you needed to change, you needed to grow.”