Columbus breakup, Aho offer sheet highlight free agency

The much-anticipated breakup of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ star-laden core came quickly.

Once Artemi Panarin completed the exodus of talent leaving Columbus by signing with the New York Rangers a little over an hour into the NHL’s free agent signing period Monday, the real intrigue began.

The Montreal Canadiens made the boldest move of the day by signing Carolina restricted free agent Sebastien Aho to a five-year, $42.27 million offer sheet. That leaves the Hurricanes seven days to match the offer or elect to receive Montreal’s first-, secondand third-round picks as compensation.

“We want to win. That’s the risk we’re taking. That’s the business we’re in,” Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said.

Carolina GM Don Waddell last week said the team would match any offer, but Monday would only say the team will review its options.

The NHL’s new year began in hectic fashion highlighted by Columbus’ three top free agents each signing lucrative seven-year contracts; Aho landing the first offer sheet since 2013; and the Toronto Maple Leafs swinging two multiplayer trades.

Panarin is headed to the Big Apple after signing a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the Rangers. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky left Columbus for South Beach after signing a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers, where he will take over the starting duties after Roberto Luongo retired last month.

And center Matt Duchene acknowledged he considered re-signing with the Blue Jackets before choosing Music City by signing a sevenyear, $56 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

In the meantime, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen had no regrets over the risk he took at the NHL trade deadline in February. That’s when he acquired Duchene in a trade with Ottawa and retained Panarin and Bobrovsky while knowing he could lose all three in free agency.

“We accepted the risk at the deadline. We said all along that even if they’re all rentals Leafs made another blockbuster we’re fine,” deal by acquiring Kekäläinen defenseman Tyson Barrie, said, acknowledging forward Alex Kerfoot, a restricted free agent, and he made one 2020 sixth-round pick from last-ditch bid to Colorado. The Avalanche keep Panarin on Sunday got back forward Nazem night. “I can go to bed every Kadri, prospect defenseman night and sleep well thinking Calle Rosen and a 2020 thirdround that we did everything pick. we could to keep the good Toronto, which still needs player we liked.” to sign restricted free agent

The Blue Jackets began forward Mitch Marner to a restocking their lineup by new contract, cleared $9.1 signing winger Gustav Nyquist million in badly needed cap to a four-year deal space, with Colorado agreeing with an average salary of to pick up half of the $5.5 million. Columbus also final year of Barrie’s $6 million re-signed defenseman Ryan salary, and $5.5 million Murray to a two-year, $9.2

cap hit. million contract and backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo to a • Aside from Bobrovsky, one-year contract. numerous goalies switched

Panarin was free agency’s teams, including a free-agent most highly coveted player. swap in Alberta: Cam Talbot Florida and Colorado both left Edmonton to sign a oneyear, revealed they made offers to $2.75 million with Calgary. sign the NHL’s 2016 rookie of And Mike Smith left the year, who has topped 20 Flames to sign a one-year goals in each of his four seasons $2 million contract with the and had a career-best 87 Oilers. points (28 goals, 59 assists) The New York Islanders last year. let Vezina Trophy finalist

In Florida, Panthers GM Robin Lehner walk and replaced Dale Tallon settled on landing him by signing goaltender Bobrovsky, a two-time Semyon Varlamov Vezina Trophy-winner who to a four-year contract. The will take over the starting Islanders did retain forward duties after Roberto Luongo Anders Lee with a sevenyear, retired two weeks ago. The $49 million contract. Panthers also had extra Lehner then signed a oneyear, money on hand to sign forwards $5 million contract Brett Connolly and with Chicago. Noel Acciari and defenseman • In Pittsburgh, the Penguins Anton Stralman. used some of their wiggle

There was plenty of movement room under the salary elsewhere. cap created by trading Phil

• Joe Pavelski, the longtime Kessel to Arizona to sign San Jose captain, left to Winnipeg forward Brandon sign a three-year, $21 million Tanev to a six-year deal with contract with Dallas. He was an average annual value of joined by Corey Perry, who $3.5 million. signed with the Stars after • In Minnesota, the Wild having his contract bought signed free agent right wing out by Anaheim. The Sharks Mats Zuccarello to a fiveyear, also lost winger Joonas Donskoi, $30 million contract, who signed a four-year and right wing Ryan Hartman $15.6 million with Colorado. on a two-year, $3.8 million They were able to re-sign restricted contract. free agent forward Timo Meier. • In Detroit, the Red Wings

• Dallas lost veteran forward signed center Valtteri Filppula Jason Spezza, who is to a two-year $6 million heading to play in his hometown contract, reuniting him for a of Toronto after signing third time with former teammate a one-year, $700,000 deal and newly hired GM with the Maple Leafs. Steve Yzerman.

• The Maple Leafs began • In New Jersey, the Devils the day acquiring defenseman continued stockpiling talent Cody Ceci, a 2020 thirdround by signing forward Wayne pick and minor leaguers Simmonds to a one-year Ben Harpur and Aaron contract a little over a week Luchuk from the Ottawa in which they acquired defenseman Senators for defenseman P.K. Subban in a Nikita Zaitsev, forward Connor trade with Nashville, and Brown and minor leaguer selected center Jack Hughes Michael Carcone. with the No. 1 pick in the

Some 10 hours later, the draft.