Penguins acquire Kessel in big deal with Maple Leafs
On the first day of NHL free agency, a blockbuster trade stole the spotlight.
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired high-scoring winger Phil Kessel from Toronto on Wednesday in the biggest move of the day, while a handful of prominent defenseman found new homes in free agency.
Mike Green signed a multiyear deal with Detroit, Andrej Sekera signed a $33 million, six-year contract with Edmonton, and Francois Beauchemin got a threeyear deal with Colorado.
Other notable players to sign with teams on a busy opening day of free agency were right wing Justin Williams to a two-year, $6.5 million contract with Washington; forward Michael Frolik, who got a $21.5 million, five-year deal from Calgary; forward Matt Beleskey, who got a $19 million, five-year deal from Boston; forward Blake Comeau, who signed a three-year deal with the Avalanche; and forward Daniel Winnik, who signed a twoyear contract with Toronto.
Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup MVP with the Kings last year.
Two players who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup left as free agents, with Brad Richards signing a one-year deal in Detroit and Antoine Vermette going back to Arizona four months after being traded to the Blackhawks.
But the biggest move was clearly the one that teamed upKessel with former MVPs Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh. The Penguins sent forward prospect Kasperi Kapanen, forward Nick Spaling, defenseman Scott Harrington and a 2016 third-round pick to the Maple Leafs for Kessel, forward Tyler Biggs and defenseman Tim Erixon. Conditional draft picks are also involved.
Kessel has 247 goals and 273 assists in nine seasons between Boston and Toronto, including 25 goals and 36 assists for the Maple Leafs in 2014-15.
“He was always the guy, he was a guy that was blamed when things weren’t going well, and he doesn’t have to be the guy here,” Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford said. “We have a bunch of them, and so I believe that he’s going to fit in very well.” Among the other moves:
Forward Artem Anisimov n agreed to a $22.75 million, five-year contract extension with Chicago.
Nashville re-signed n forward Mike Ribeiro to a two-year, $7 million contract, signed free-agent defenseman Barret Jackman and forward Cody Hodgson and acquired forward Max Reinhart in a trade with Calgary for a conditional fourth-round draft pick.
Carolina officially n bought out forward Alexander Semin’s contract. The Hurricanes owe Semin $14 million over the next six years and he is now a free agent.
Sabres: No. 2 overall draft pick Jack Eichel signed his first professional contract, opting to skip his final three years of college eligibility.
Rangers: Glen Sather announced that he was stepping down as the Rangers general manager after 15 seasons and being replaced by longtime assistant Jeff Gorton. Sather, 71, will remain as team president.