Daily Faceoff’s 2022 NHL Free Agency Live Blog

Scott Maxwell
Scott Maxwell(scotmaxw)
Jul 13, 2022, 21:30 EDT
Daily Faceoff’s 2022 NHL Free Agency Live Blog
Credit: © Sergei Belski

The free agent frenzy is about to begin.

The first day of NHL Free Agency is upon us, and with that comes a plethora of big signings, and even some trades. While some names, like Evander Kane or Evgeni Malkin, came off the board last night, there’s still plenty of big names out there, as seen on Frank Seravalli’s Top 75 Free Agents ranking.

UPDATE — 8:15 a.m. ET

The first news of the day wasn’t a free agent signing, but an extension for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. According to Frank Seravalli, Thomas will be signing an eight year extension with an $8 million cap hit. He had 20 goals, 57 assists, and 77 points in 72 games last season.

UPDATE — 8:45 a.m. ET

Not even three hours before deadline, and we had a ton of news off the hop. First, the news of Darcy Kuemper to the Washington Capitals was in circulation for a few days, but Seravalli more or less confirmed it now with a five year deal at a $5.5 million cap hit. Kuemper went 37-12-4 with five shutouts and a .921 save percentage with Colorado this season, and backstopped them to a Cup win.

We also got word of Andrew Copp likely signing with the Detroit Red Wings from Darren Dreger. There’s no specifics of the money or term, but he’s expected to be $5 million + and in the 4-6 year term range. Copp had 21 goals, 32 assists, and 53 points in 72 games between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers this season.

The Edmonton Oilers also made their move for a starting goalie, bringing in Jack Campbell on a $5 million AAV for five years, according to Kevin Weekes. Campbell had a strong 2020-21 season and first few months of 2021-22, but a weak second half in 2022, rounding out to 31-9-6 record with five shutouts and a .914 save percentage.

And finally, Claude Giroux to the Ottawa Senators, according to Pierre LeBrun. No info on the contract details, but Ottawa seems to be the frontrunners right now. Giroux had 21 goals and 44 assists for 65 points in 75 games between the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers.

UPDATE — 10:15 a.m. ET

The Rangers had a hole at center with Ryan Strome heading to free agency, so it looks like they’ll be looking to Vincent Trocheck to fill that role. Trocheck had 21 goals, 30 assists, and 51 points in 81 games last season.

UPDATE — 11:00 a.m. ET

After the pre-deadline lull, the dam broke and more signings started to break. First, we had the Colorado Avalanche bring back two of the veterans on their Cup winning team in Darren Helm and Josh Manson. Helm comes in at one year and $1.25 million, while Manson is four years with a $4.5 million cap hit.

And we have our first trade of the day! The Boston Bruins traded Erik Haula to the New Jersey Devils for Pavel Zacha, potentially trying to make room for a possible return of David Krejci. Haula had 44 points in 78 games last season, while Zacha had 36 points in 70 games.

UPDATE — 12:00 p.m. ET

And with the clock striking noon, we have the official details for some of the earlier reported signings.

And the Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs also took care of their other hole at the goaltending position next to Matt Murray with Ilya Samsonov, a former Washington Capitals first round pick who wasn’t qualified. Samsonov comes it at $1.8 million for one year, and went 23-12-5 last season with three shutouts and a .896 save percentage.

UPDATE — 12:12 p.m. ET

And we got another goalie off the market, with Thomas Greiss on his way to the St. Louis Blues on a one year deal for $1.3 million. Greiss went 10-15-1 with an .891 save percentage with the Red Wings last season.

UPDATE — 12:30 p.m. ET

And now we have more details on a few of earlier reported deals. Trocheck will be joining the Rangers on a seven year deal with a $5.625 million cap hit, while Copp gets the same AAV for five years, and Thomas’ extension is officially $8.125 for eight years.

UPDATE — 12:45 p.m. ET

The Blues made another deal, bringing back one of their deadline pickups in defenseman Nick Leddy for four years with a $4 million AAV. Leddy had two goals, six assists, and eight points in 20 games with the Blues after the deadline, as well as five points in nine playoff games.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks made a couple of signings, bringing in Andreas Athanasiou and Max Domi on identical one year contracts for $3 million. Domi had 39 points in 72 games and Athanaisou had 17 points in 28 games.

UPDATE — 12:50 p.m. ET

Ilya Mikheyev is sticking around in Canada, moving out West with the Vancouver Canucks on a four year deal with a $4.75 cap hit. Mikheyev had a career year with the Leafs, scoring 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games.

Meanwhile we had another big trade on our hands, with defenseman Brent Burns heading to the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Lane Pederson for Steven Lorentz, Eetu Makiniemi, and a conditional 2023 third round pick. The Sharks are retaining 33% of the contract, giving Burns a $5,333,333 cap hit with Canes

UPDATE — 1:05 p.m. ET

The Anaheim Ducks made their first big free agent signing of the day, bringing in Frank Vatrano for three years on a $3.65 million cap hit. Vatrano had 18 goals, 14 assists, and 32 points in 71 games between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers last season.

UPDATE — 1:15 p.m. ET

The Oilers brought back one of their trade deadline additions, re-signing defenseman Brett Kulak on a four year deal with a $2.75 million AAV. Kulak had 21 points in 74 games last season.

UPDATE — 1:20 p.m. ET

The Tampa Bay Lightning made a trio of extensions today, signing Mikhail Sergachev, Anthony Cirelli, and Erik Cernak to eight year contracts. Sergachev comes in at an $8.5 million AAV, Cirelli will have a $6.25 million cap hit, and Cernak’s is $5.2 million.

UPDATE — 1:40 p.m. ET

The Capitals made the Darcy Kuemper signing official. It’s a five year deal as reported, but the cap hit falls at $5.25 million.

UPDATE — 2:05 p.m. ET

The Carolina Hurricanes were the front-runners for a long time on forward Mason Marchment, but the Dallas Stars snuck in and got the deal done with him. Marchment signs with the Stars for a four year deal at a $4.5 million cap hit.

UPDATE — 2:15 p.m. ET

With free agency usually means a cap dump or two, and we got our first of the day, with the Rangers trading defenseman Patrik Nemeth, a 2025 second round pick and a conditional 2026 second round pick to the Arizona Coyotes for Ty Emberson. Nemeth has two years left on his deal with a $2.5 million cap hit.

UPDATE — 2:25 p.m. ET

Hey, another Colorado Avalanche extension! This time, they took care of business with Artturi Lehkonen, signing him to a five year deal with a $4.5 million AAV. Lehkonen had six goals and nine points in 16 games with the Avs after being dealt there at the deadline, along with eight goals and 14 points on the team’s Cup run.

UPDATE — 2:30 p.m. ET

Erik Gudbranson is making bank this offseason, with the Blue Jackets signing him to a four year deal with a $4 million cap hit. The defenseman had career highs in goals, assists, and points with the Calgary Flames this season.

UPDATE — 2:35 p.m. ET

And there’s another veteran defenseman nabbed up, with Jan Rutta going to the Pittsburgh Penguins. There was already rumours of the Penguins looking to deal a defenseman for cap space, does this signing guarantee that?

UPDATE — 2:45 p.m. ET

Ben Chiarot made for a pricey addition at the trade deadline for the Panthers, and while he won’t cost the Detroit Red Wings assets, he comes in at a high price moneywise. Chiarot and the Red Wings came to a deal, with the defenseman making $4.75 million a year for four years.

UPDATE — 2:55 p.m. ET

While not quite on the level of the other signings we’ve seen today, it’s certainly a fun little bit of news. We’re going to get a Staal reunion in Florida, with both Marc and Eric signing with the Panthers. Marc gets a one year $750k deal, while Eric is on a PTO. It’s the second time these two brothers have played with each other, as they had a brief stint together with the Rangers when Eric was dealt their at the deadline in 2016.

And while the Avalanche have been bringing back quite a few of the pieces from their Cup winning team, Andre Burakovsky joins Kuemper as players to depart. Burakovsky signs with the Seattle Kraken for five years with a $5 million cap hit.

UPDATE — 3:50 p.m. ET

The Red Wings made yet another singing today, bringing in winger David Perron on a two year deal with a $4.75 million cap hit. Perron had 27 goals and 57 points in 67 games for the St. Louis Blues last season.

Perron joins Copp and Dominik Kubalik as additions up front, Kubalik being someone they signed to a two year deal with a $2.5 million cap hit. He was an unrestricted free agent after Chicago elected not to qualify him.

UPDATE — 4:55 p.m. ET

The Flyers confirmed a couple of deals, bringing back defenseman Justin Braun and signing Nicolas Deslauriers to a four year contract. Both players come in at $1.75 million cap hits.

UPDATE — 6:00 p.m. ET

We got another cap dump trade, with the Vegas Golden Knights sending winger Max Pacioretty along with Dylan Coghlan to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations. The Golden Knights didn’t retain any salary in the deal, so that’s $7 million off the books.

In what was more of an actual hockey trade, the Ottawa Senators sent winger Connor Brown to the Washington Capitals for a 2024 second round pick. Brown had been rumoured to be heading to Edmonton all day, but instead the Capitals provided the Sens with the offer they wanted.

UPDATE — 7:50 p.m. ET

The top name is off the market! Johnny Gaudreau is going to Ohio, as he signs a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. They get it done with a reported seven year deal with a $9.75 million cap hit.

UPDATE — 8:05 p.m. ET

Vegas officially announced their extension with winger Reilly Smith, who will be back with the team for another three years at $5 million. Our Frank Seravalli had the scoop on that less than a month ago.

UPDATE — 9:15 p.m. ET

Not quite as big of a name, but Ryan Strome is still bringing in a lot of money tonight. He reached a deal with the Anaheim Ducks, signing on for five years at $5 million.

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