3 weeks agoForward Steven Stamkos is leaving his longtime home in Tampa Bay to join the new-look Nashville Predators, who signed him to a four-year, $8 Million AAV contract on July 1. Stammer joins a suddenly dangerous-looking Predators team that also added Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. The Lightning legend wasn't offered what he was looking for from Tampa, so he decided to head off to Nashville instead. Although he is 34, Stamkos is coming off a 40-goal, 81-point season and has posted over a point-per-game in seven straight years (not including the COVID-shortened season). He will be a massive boost to the Predators' offense and should be drafted in the first four rounds of fantasy drafts.Source: Elliotte Friedman
3 weeks agoThe Tampa Bay Lightning made one of the biggest free agency acquisitions by signing winger Jake Guentzel to a seven-year, $9 Million AAV contract on July 1. The Lightning weren't playing around in their pursuit of Guentzel, as they traded stud defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and lowballed longtime captain Steven Stamkos in order to gain the cap space needed to sign Guentzel. The 29-year-old had 77 points in 67 games last year and has topped a point-per-game in four of his last five seasons, making it easy to see why Tampa coveted him. He will slot into their lethal top six and first powerplay unit, making him a target in the second or third round of fantasy drafts.Source: Tampa Bay Lightning
3 weeks agoThe Seattle Kraken have made a big splash in NHL free agency, signing defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year, $7.14 Million AAV deal. The 30-year-old earned this contract a few years ago when he obliterated his career highs in points, goals, and assists, posting 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games with the Florida Panthers in 2022-23. He wasn't as good last year, but still collected 33 points in 66 games. The Kraken will hope that he returns to his form from two years ago, but either way he should be a solid top-four option and will challenge Vince Dunn for powerplay time. It will be hard to navigate this competition for fantasy purposes, but both Dunn and Montour should be drafted in the 125-150 range.Source: Elliotte Friedman
3 weeks agoWinger Tyler Toffoli has signed a four-year, $6 Million AAV deal with the San Jose Sharks. Toffoli cashed in after a solid few years where he put up 73 and 55 points in 82 and 79 games respectively. He scored over 30 goals in both seasons and the Sharks need scoring badly, so this signing makes sense for them. The 32-year-old likely could've taken less to go to a contender, but it also might be his last chance to cash in. He should slot into the Sharks first line and first powerplay unit, and with that opportunity he should be given a look early in fantasy drafts, likely within the top 100 picks.Source: Chris Johnston
3 weeks agoThe Washington Capitals made a big splash on the first day of free agency, trading for former Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun. The Caps sent over Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick in return. While Chychrun wasn't incredible for the Sens last season, this return feels awfully light for a player who managed to put up 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) from the back end in 2023-24. Chychrun will likely slot into a top pairing role alongside John Carlson and could get some time on the second powerplay unit as well. He is a decent depth defenseman for fantasy with major upside if Carlson gets injured.
Source: Washington Capitals
3 weeks agoThe Seattle Kraken have signed center Chandler Stephenson to a seven-year deal worth $6.25 Million AAV. Stephenson will be signed through his age-37 season, giving him some long-term security. The silky centerman has put up some solid season in Vegas, collecting 215 points in 286 games in his last four seasons. He hasn't eclipsed the 65-point mark and likely tops out as a second-line player, but can still be a solid complimentary piece when surrounded by the right players. He shouldn't be drafted in fantasy until the very late stages in standard leagues.Source: Frank Seravalli
3 weeks agoThe Nashville Predators have signed right winger Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year, $5.5 million AAV deal. In conjunction with their signing of Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei, the Preds handed out over $100 million in contracts on July 1. They should immediately turn into contenders with their new additions. For his part, Marchessault brings the ability to finish and some grit along with it. He scored 42 goals last year and added 27 assists, 266 shots, and 107 hits. He will fit into Nashville's top six and first power-play unit in all likelihood and should be looked at within the top 100 of fantasy drafts.Source: Pierre LeBrun
1 month agoThe Boston Bruins have added Joonas Korpisalo to their goaltender department in a trade with the Ottawa Senators. The team parted ways with 2022-23 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark in the deal while also receiving forward Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first-round draft pick. Boston needed to cut ties with Ullmark for financial reasons. He has been sharing the workload with Jeremy Swayman in recent seasons, who is now set to become the undisputed No. 1 in Beantown. Korpisalo was traded by the Senators just one season after he was inked to a five-year, $20 million contract as a free agent. The Finnish netminder struggled in Canada, posting a 21-26-4 record with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage. He finds himself playing for a fourth team in three seasons.Source: ESPN
1 month agoThe Ottawa Senators acquired goaltender Linus Ullmark in a deal with the Boston Bruins on Monday night. Forward Mark Kastelic, goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, and a 2024 first-round draft pick were sent the other way. Ullmark moves on from Boston after enjoying three strong seasons with the Bruins. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best netminder in 2022-23 and shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in the same season for the fewest goals allowed per game with Jeremy Swayman. However, Swayman pipped him for the No. 1 job for the 2024 playoffs and is set for a large contract extension this offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning Ullmark became redundant for Boston. He looks like a great pickup for a Senators team that allowed 3.43 goals per game in 2023-24.Source: ESPN
1 month agoEdmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark produced the team's only goal in Monday's heartbreaking 2-1 loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Panthers. Janmark had a quick answer to Carter Verhaeghe in the first period after he had given Florida the lead. It was a big finish in the series from Janmark, who registered four points across the final four games. He totaled eight points (four goals, four assists) in 25 games this postseason overall following a 12-point regular-season campaign. Janmark, who also lost the Stanley Cup Final with Dallas against Tampa Bay in 2020, could be moving on from Edmonton this offseason, as he is on an expiring contract.Source: ESPN
1 month agoEdmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy on Monday as the most valuable player of the 2024 NHL postseason. The Oilers captain led all players in the playoffs with 42 points in 25 games and set a new league record with 34 assists. However, he had a disappointing finish to the postseason campaign, as McDavid couldn't add any points to his tally in Monday's winner-takes-all game against Florida. He's the first player since 2003 to be selected as the playoff MVP despite being on the losing side in the Stanley Cup Final.Source: Sportsnet
1 month agoFlorida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe had a game-high two points as the team won its first-ever Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Oilers Monday night. Verhaeghe opened the scoring with just 4:27 played in the pivotal Game 7 and registered an assist when Sam Reinhart hit the game-winner near the end of the second period. These were two huge moments from Verhaeghe, who mostly struggled in the Final. Ahead of Monday's action, the 28-year-old had logged only one point while going minus-11 across the previous four games. However, it was still a strong postseason campaign for Verhaeghe, with 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games. The 28-year-old has entered his prime and will look to record a third consecutive 70-point campaign in 2024-25.Source: ESPN
1 month agoFlorida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart secured a place in franchise history with a Stanley Cup-winning goal on Monday against Edmonton. In a tightly contested game, Reinhart capped off his fantastic season with his 10th playoff marker to make it 2-1 at the 15:11 mark in the second period. The 28-year-old added six assists in 24 postseason outings. It was a very successful campaign for Reinhart, who led the league in power-play goals and posted a career-high 94 points (57 goals, 37 assists) in 82 regular-season games. He's coming off a three-year, $19.5 million deal this offseason and could draw massive offers in free agency, but Reinhart is expected to re-sign with the Panthers.Source: ESPN
1 month agoFlorida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues leads all players with four goals in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, and another prolific outing in Monday's Game 7 would put him on a very exclusive list. Only five undrafted players have scored five-plus goals in the Final during the draft era (since 1963-64). Andy McDonald did it last in 2007 with Anaheim, while Wayne Gretzky holds the all-time record with seven goals in the 1985 Final. Rodrigues sat on only three postseason goals for the year before the Final started. He has totaled 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 23 playoff outings this year.Source: NHL Public Relations
1 month agoEdmonton Oilers winger Warren Foegele has been an unexpected hero in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old has put together a four-game point streak ahead of Monday's pivotal Game 7. It's the longest scoring run Foegele has ever had in the NHL. He has totaled two goals and three assists during the streak. Before heating up, Foegele had managed only three points this postseason, with two coming in the first two games. He boasts three goals and five assists overall for 21 playoff appearances this year. There have been only eight players with point streaks of five or more games in the Stanley Cup Final since 1995.Source: ESPN