The Montreal Canadiens appeased the nerves of their fans Sunday with an eight-year contract extension worth a reported $84 million for goaltender Carey Price.

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired center Marcus Kruger from the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations, the club announced.Kruger immediately provides the Knights with depth up the middle, a spot on the roster that Vegas general manager George McPhee has been looking to upgrade.The 27-year-old veteran spent his entire seven-year career in a Blackhawks uniform, racking up 33 goals and 105 points in 398 regular-season games.Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman had this to say about the parting centerman: "We thank Marcus for his many contributions to our team - most notably, two Stanley Cup Championships. His work ethic, reliability and strength as a two-way player made him a valuable member of the organization. We wish him the best with Vegas.”Kruger has two years remaining on his current contract, which carries a cap hit of $3,083,333, and will become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed Carey Price to an eight-year contract extension that will begin in 2018-19 and run through to the end of 2025-26, the club announced Sunday.The new contract is worth $10.5 million per season, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, and $70 million of that total comes in the form of signing bonuses, reports Pierre LeBrun of TSN.

The Ilya Kovalchuk situation appears to be coming to a head sooner than later.The Russian winger is believed to be mulling a return to the NHL following a four-year KHL hiatus, and would have to do so via a deal with the New Jersey Devils, who could then trade him to a more preferred destination.Devils general manager Ray Shero said there's no update as of Sunday, but added, "I don't think this stretches on for real long," according to Andrew Gross of The Record.Three of the teams on Kovalchuk's wish list are believed to be the New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Toronto Maple Leafs.Kovalchuk's potential availability slots him as one of the most intriguing remaining free-agent options.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the initial wave of free-agent signings having now passed, attention turns to the NHL trade market, where Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene remains the focal point.The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators were reported to have offers on the table, but the latter may have bowed out after signing center Nick Bonino on Saturday.Talks between Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and Avs GM Joe Sakic drifted well into Saturday evening, though, reports Aaron Portzline of The Dispatch.The Avs apparently have eyes on one or two of Columbus' young defensemen.

Karl Alzner is off to hockey's mecca.The defenseman signed a five-year, $23.1-million deal with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, and is more than ready to step into the NHL's most storied hockey market."(Montreal) is the franchise in the league; it's hockey. I don't think it really gets much better than that," he said Saturday, per Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic."It's competitive and (there's) management and ownership that's willing to do absolutely anything to win. That's kind of the dream, for a player that especially hasn't won a Cup yet. So I'm pretty excited about that."Alzner was drafted fifth overall by the Washington Capitals in 2007, a team for whom he played his entire career up to this point, and with whom he was unable to win the Stanley Cup. The Canadiens, on the other hand, have 24 Cups to their credit, but none since 1993.The steady defenseman hasn't missed a regular-season game in seven seasons, and will be counted upon to help keep the puck away from Carey Price.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over a decade after winning his first Stanley Cup in Carolina, Justin Williams believes the Hurricanes are gaining strength once again."Carolina hasn't been to the playoffs since 2009, so that's a long time," he said after signing a two-year, $9-million contract with the club on Saturday, per Chip Alexander of the News and Observer."We're done losing. It's time to climb the ladder and get relevant. I really like this team and like where it's going."Set to turn 36 before the start of next season, Williams becomes the oldest member of the Hurricanes, and general manager Ron Francis is hoping the man they call "Mr. Game 7" can not only continue to put the puck in the back of the net, but also teach the team's younger players what it takes to become a winner."He's shown he can score goals, so we expect him to score some goals for us," Francis said Saturday. "He's won three Stanley Cups in his career. He's shown in the big games he rises to that level he needs to get to to be successful."On a team with a lot of young players we think he's going to have huge influence in our locker room, getting those guys to understand what it takes to be successful. It's great he believes in what we're building and what we're doing."Williams won a Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, and went on to win two more with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014. Whether he can add another during his second tour of duty with the Hurricanes remains to be seen, but he certainly believes he can help the team move forward.

For the Chicago Blackhawks, what's old is new again ... again.On the heels of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators in the first round of last season's playoffs, general manager Stan Bowman promised significant change, but ironically, he's employed a familiar strategy by bringing back old members of the Blackhawks' dynastic success.He's previously tried the method at the 2016 trade deadline, going all in by acquiring Andrew Ladd. Bowman did it again by signing Brian Campbell to a team-friendly deal last offseason, and again by orchestrating a reunion with Johnny Oduya before the 2017 playoff push.Now, after altering the makeup of the Blackhawks' roster via trades and free agency, Bowman has brought in more familiar faces, welcoming Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp - two key cogs in the club's championship years - back to the team.Although previous trips down memory lane haven't yielded much success for Bowman and the Blackhawks, there's reason to believe this summer's key moves warrant a different result.The signings of Sharp and acquisition of Saad - although the latter came at the price of shipping off dynamic winger Artemi Panarin - address one of Chicago's biggest issues from a season ago: forward depth. The recent additions should solidify an offense that went stagnant when it mattered most.With Sharp in the fold, Chicago can expand its attack, instead of relying so heavily on Patrick Kane to create the majority of the club's offense. Sharp endured an arduous season with the Dallas Stars in 2016-17, limited to just 48 games because of two concussions and hip surgery. In spite of this, the veteran forward showed glimpses of promise.Sharp generated just over three shots on goal per game last season, but owned a career-low shooting percentage of 5.5 percent. Based on his career numbers, it's hard to believe that trend will continue should he stay healthy.Now 35, Sharp is just one season removed from a 55-point campaign, and with a career production rate of 0.68 points per game, Chicago should benefit from his offensive flair, which comes at a cost of just $800,000 (plus another $200,000 in bonuses). His presence should also help fill the void left behind by Marian Hossa at both ends of the ice.In Saad, the Blackhawks get a player back who they never wanted to get rid of in the first place. Feeling the pressure of an impending offer sheet, Bowman sacrificed Saad to the Blue Jackets after he emerged as one of the most important pieces to Chicago's Stanley Cup win in 2015.He might not be the offensive catalyst Panarin was for the last two seasons, but Saad is definitely a quality producer in his own right, coming off a 53-point campaign in Columbus. Perhaps most importantly, though, Saad's return gives Jonathan Toews a consistent winger again.Toews has been dealt a revolving door of wingers since Saad's departure, and his offensive numbers have predictably dipped. Saad's greatest asset is his speed, but is skilled in shot-suppression as well. Paired with Toews, head coach Joel Quenneville has a trustworthy combo to throw against opponent's top lines, as opposed to pairing his captain with younger, less experienced players, which was often the case a season ago.The Blackhawks, collectively, can now roll the formerly formidable duo of Toews and Saad together, with a second line featuring Kane and Artem Anisimov, while Sharp occupies the wing on the third unit. Suddenly, Chicago's attack appears much more balanced.After marching to the top of the Western Conference standings in the regular season, Chicago managed just three goals in four disappointing playoff games. Its offense became too predictable for Nashville's fortuitous defensive corps, and it showed. But now, months into an offseason where maintaining the status quo wouldn't be good enough, and committing to deliver change, Bowman appears to have bettered his club without altering his approach at all.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For some NHLers, offering a club a hometown discount is a necessary sacrifice in order to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in your own backyard. Such was the case for prized free-agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk when the New York Rangers came calling.The New Rochelle, N.Y., native accepted a four-year, $26.6-million deal Saturday, capitalizing (sorry, Washington) on an opportunity that Shattenkirk feels may have only presented itself once."It's an opportunity that may only come once in my career, and I felt like this was my chance," Shattenkirk said, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "It's a team I'm extremely excited about. A lot of the factors outside of money and term came into play, and that's ultimately what won the decision for me."The 28-year-old immediately provides the Rangers with an injection of offensive talent on the blue line, as Shattenkirk has registered 40 or more points in five straight seasons.

The initial rush of the NHL's free-agent frenzy has come and gone, and several big names are off the board. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars being shelled out in search of improvement, the spending spree isn't about to stop, as several impact players remain without a contract.Below, we've compiled a list of the top free agents still available.Alexander RadulovAfter a stellar season with the Montreal Canadiens, Radulov is the top impact forward still on the board. The soon-to-be 31-year-old racked up 18 goals and 36 assists last season, and because of that, Radulov is reportedly seeking quite a lucrative pact to sign.TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Canadiens and Dallas Stars were battling for his services, but several teams need top-six scoring, and the longer the clock is allowed to tick, more teams may become involved.Patrick MarleauMarleau's partner in crime, Joe Thornton, reportedly is staying put in San Jose on a one-year deal, but the hockey world awaits a decision from the veteran winger.As a 37-year-old last season, Marleau played all 82 games, scoring 27 goals to go along with 19 assists. He was reportedly offered a two-year deal to stay with the club that drafted him second overall in 1997, but Marleau's drawn significant interest elsewhere as well, making his impending decision one to keep a close eye on.Jaromir Jagr(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Jagr's agent announced his client will be hitting the open market, but the first day of free agency didn't warrant an immediate change of scenery for the 45-year-old.The second most-prolific scorer in NHL history still has some game, notching 46 points last season for the Panthers.Andrei MarkovMarkov's spent the entirety of his 16-season career with the Canadiens, but with the arrival of Karl Alzner in La Belle Province, the writing could be on the wall for the end of the veteran's tenure in Montreal.The 38-year-old reportedly asked for a two-year, $12 million contract, which doesn't exactly fit in the Canadiens books as of now. However, Markov is still a reliable top-four defender and decent point-producer, and shouldn't have to wait long to find some suitors.Thomas VanekVanek's skated for six teams since the start of the 2013-14 season, but a player with his skill set is always in high demand.The 33-year-old winger netted 48 points in 68 games last season split between the Red Wings and Panthers, but shouldn't cost too much for teams to add adequate scoring depth.Cody Franson(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The market for defenseman is at an all-time high, but Franson can provide cheap value for a team looking to upgrade its blue line.Franson's never been the flashiest defender, but he's consistently put up points in his career, with 205 points in 527 games. He also owned a respectable 50.4 corsi-for percentage at even strength for the defensively inept Sabres last season.Jarome IginlaThe demand for Iginla was never expected to be too high, but the 40-year-old has expressed interest in playing this coming season, still in search of the championship that has eluded him his entire career.Iginla endured the disaster that was the Colorado Avalanche for 61 games last season before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, where he produced nine points in 19 games.Drew StaffordStafford proved to be one of the more valuable trade-deadline acquisitions last season, chipping in eight points in 18 games upon arriving in Boston from Winnipeg.He's a middle-six winger with size and decent scoring touch, and should be able to find a landing spot sooner rather than later.Shane Doan(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Doan, like Iginla, is in search of a ring to conclude an illustrious career. However, the demand for 40-year-old wingers isn't exactly skyrocketing at the moment.The longtime Coyotes captain produced 27 points last season and is likely searching for a short-term offer from a contending team.Jussi JokinenAfter reportedly being bought out by the Panthers, Jokinen needs a new home. The veteran winger was limited to 69 games and 28 points last season, but has proven to be a strong possession player throughout his career.At even strength last season, Jokinen had a 53.4 corsi-for percentage, and could be a cheap, reliable pickup for a team in search of offensive depth.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent netminder Darcy Kuemper, the team announced Saturday. The deal carries an annual average value of $650,000.Kuemper, a former sixth-round pick, has spent the first five seasons of his career with the Minnesota Wild. He appeared in 18 games during the 2016-17 season, and finished with an 8-5-0 record.

The free-agency frenzy brings out the big bucks. We saw that again this year with the long-rumored addition of Kevin Shattenkirk to the New York Rangers. Or with Karl Alzner, who was given more than 23-million reasons to call Montreal home.But that doesn't mean there aren't bargains to be had in the summer silly season. Here are five players who all signed for $2 million or less, who will prove provide their new teams with plenty of bang for their buck:Alexander BurmistrovThe Deal: 1 year, $900,000 with Vancouver CanucksThe former eighth overall pick flashed his offensive brilliance in a short stint with the Arizona Coyotes last season, as he tallied 14 points in 26 games. It was a major uptick from the two points he secured in 23 games with the Winnipeg Jets before landing in the desert.The Canucks are betting on Burmistrov to offer that sort of scoring consistency over the long term, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Russian forward that will see him earn under $1 million next season. Burmistrov was one of four signings the Canucks made Saturday, as the team also inked forward Sam Gagner, defenseman Michael Del Zotto, and netminder Anders Nilsson.Mike CammalleriThe Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Los Angeles KingsCammalleri is headed back for his second tour of duty with the Kings, agreeing to a one-year deal with Los Angeles for a cool million bucks. While he battled the injury bug last season, limiting him to just 61 games, he still put up 31 points, coming in at just over a half-point-per-game pace on an awful New Jersey squad.While Cammalleri likely won't be a major offensive force for the Kings like he was when he scored 80 points during the 2006-07 campaign with Los Angeles, the salary and term of his pact makes his signing a low-risk move for the Kings, particularly for a club that was short on offense last season.Scott HartnellThe Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Nashville PredatorsHartnell is going back to where it all began, accepting a one-year deal with the Predators. In Nashville, he can fill a need for the club and also aim for his first Stanley Cup. The Predators, of course, lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's Finals, while the addition of Hartnell should help recoup some offense lost in the departure of James Neal, who was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.It's a fresh start for Hartnell, who earlier this week had the final two years of his contract bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hartnell's production dipped last season, falling to 37 points on the campaign, but he could enjoy a bounce-back year in familiar surroundings in Nashville.Ryan MillerThe Deal: 2 years, $4 million with Anaheim DucksGoaltending depth - or lack thereof - roasted the Ducks in the playoffs. But adding Miller better prepares Anaheim for next spring, as the veteran 'keeper offers some reliable insurance behind starter John Gibson. Gibson saw just 52 games last season, so Miller could get more than spot duty in Orange County.Miller, who will be 37 when the season kicks off in October, is seen as more of a secondary option at this point in career, making him a perfect fit in Anaheim. With the Canucks last season, he appeared in 54 games, posting a respectable .914 save rate on a Vancouver club that finished ahead of only the lowly Colorado Avalanche.Patrick SharpThe Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Chicago BlackhawksYet another player returned to his old stomping grounds Saturday, as Sharp found his way back to Chicago, inking a one-year agreement with the Blackhawks. Sharp was part of three Stanley Cup champion squads in the Windy City, winning it all in 2010, 2013, and 2015.While Sharp's low-money deal reflects a willingness to fit into the Blackhawks' tight salary cap structure, it's also fair payment for a veteran forward who struggled through last season. Sharp skated in just 48 games last year with Dallas as he battled a concussion and ended the campaign early by undergoing hip surgery, wrapping the campaign with just 18 points.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)(Contract information: CapFriendly.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators have acquired defenseman Alexei Emelin in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced, with a 2019 third-round pick going Vegas' way.Emelin's Golden Knights career ends before it starts, as the rearguard spent less than two weeks with the organization after being selected in the expansion draft.In six seasons with the Habs, Emelin totaled 14 goals and 58 assists to go along with an impressive 1,235 hits, and will add depth to an already stacked blue line in Nashville.There was some speculation surrounding whether Emelin's acquisition would set up another potential deal involving one of Nashville's prized top-four defenseman, but according to TSN's Bob McKenzie, that currently does not appear to be the case.Emelin becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The frenzy never gets old.More than 70 contracts were consummated in the first four hours after the NHL's annual summer signing window opened, according to CapFriendly, though some of the biggest names remained unsigned.A deluge of deals came down before the biggest fish on the market was scooped up, and some of them were better conceived than others.Here are some winners and losers from the first afternoon of this summer's free-agency period:WinnersNew York RangersIt took about two-and-a-half hours, but the Rangers made the most significant splash, landing the No. 1 target, Kevin Shattenkirk.Getting the offensively skilled blue-liner signed was a big enough win on its own, but landing him on a four-year deal rather than a five or six-year pact was the real victory for the Blueshirts.He gives New York a productive power-play quarterback and bona fide top-pairing defenseman on a contract that could have been much worse.Nashville PredatorsThe Predators made a couple of solid depth signings Saturday, turning back the clock by adding versatile veteran Scott Hartnell on an extremely team-friendly one-year, $1-million deal and picking up former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino on a four-year, $16.4-million agreement.The Hartnell deal was particularly savvy despite the 35-year-old's decreased production this past season, considering the Columbus Blue Jackets still owe him $5 million over the next four years after buying out his previous deal earlier this week.Carolina HurricanesReunited and it feels so good.Justin Williams was one of a handful of players who rejoined former teams Saturday, and the Hurricanes did well by getting him to return to Raleigh on a two-year, $9-million deal.Yes, he's 35, but he scored more than 20 goals in each of the last two seasons with the Washington Capitals, and his playoff prowess is well documented.The up-and-coming Hurricanes should benefit from his experience, his nose for the net, and of course, his knack for timely scoring.NHL general managers as a wholeIf there was one major takeaway from the initial hours of free agency, it was that NHL GMs clearly learned from the blunders of years past.Only a few of the contracts signed Saturday were unreasonable, cap hit-wise, and most of the deals were of the relatively short-term variety.No free agent signed a contract of more than five years in length in the opening hours of the frenzy, as the majority of the agreements came with one, two, or three-year terms.Whether it was due to the newly flat salary cap or the less-than-elite free-agent crop, or both, the trend toward shorter, more affordable contracts was clearly evident.LosersWinnipeg JetsYes, the Jets went out and got a defenseman and a goaltender, but both players come with big-time question marks.Dmitry Kulikov was limited to 47 games this past season with a back injury that made him feel like an old man, as he told the Olean Times Herald's Bill Hoppe back in February.He's 26 years old.The Jets also addressed their goaltending Saturday, but Steve Mason hardly inspires confidence.The former Philadelphia Flyers netminder posted a .908 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA while losing more games (29) than he won (26) in 2016-17. He's definitely capable of playing well for stretches, but it's been a few years since he's been reliable over a full season.Montreal CanadiensMarc Bergevin just loves making questionable moves.This one certainly wasn't on the level of the P.K. Subban trade as far as controversial transactions go, but the Canadiens GM pulled off another head-scratcher Saturday, giving bottom-pairing defenseman Karl Alzner a five-year deal worth a reported $23.125 million.

One of George McPhee's most intriguing moves of the past few weeks was acquiring the rights to Russian winger Nikita Gusev from the Tampa Bay Lightning.The move raised questions due to the fact that Gusev still has a year remaining on his current contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg. On Saturday, McPhee provided some clarity on the situation."That's at least a year away," McPhee said when asked about the young sniper, according to NHL.com. "We knew that when we traded for him, it might be a year away. But he came in for a little bit here and hope that he liked what he saw. We'll talk to him next spring."Gusev, 24, is coming off an impressive season for SKA in which he buried 24 goals while adding 47 assists in 57 regular-season games - good enough for fourth in league scoring.While Gusev would have clearly added offensive punch to McPhee's lineup, he would have, perhaps more importantly, also formed a nice tandem with former St. Petersburg teammate Vadim Shipachyov. The duo played the past two seasons together in Russia, helping SKA to the 2016-17 league championship.The reunion, however, will have to wait at least one more year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed restricted free-agent defenseman Justin Schultz to a three-year contract worth $16.5 million, with an annual average value of $5.5 million, the team announced.Schultz was in the odd situation of possessing RFA status at the beginning of the 2017 offseason. The defenseman was an unrestricted free agent last summer after not being given a qualifying offer by the Penguins. He eventually re-signed with the team and enjoyed a breakout 2016-17 campaign.He scored 12 goals and added 39 assists in 78 regular-season games. He replaced the injured Kris Letang as the team's No. 1 defenseman in the second half of the season and through the playoffs. He scored four goals and totaled 13 points through 21 postseason games en route to the Stanley Cup, despite missing part of the Penguins' third-round series against the Ottawa Senators due to an upper-body injury.Schultz will enter his sixth NHL season with 160 points in 344 regular-season games. He has added 17 points in 36 postseason games while helping the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cups.Criticized for poor defensive play during his three-plus seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Schultz operated at a Corsi For percentage of 51.2 last season, his second consecutive year with a positive possession rate.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed veteran forward Chris Kunitz to a one-year, $2-million contract Saturday, the club announced.The four-time Stanley Cup champion spent the past eight-plus seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning three Cups and a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He won his first Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.Kunitz has totaled 250 goals and 580 points over 884 regular-season games in his career, adding 92 points in 161 playoff games. He is coming off his least productive season at the offensive end of the ice, scoring just nine goals and 29 points in 71 games. He rebounded with 11 points in 20 games during the Penguins' playoff run.Kunitz rose to prominence while playing left wing on the Penguins' top line beside center Sidney Crosby, but he played the 2016-17 season mostly on the second line with forwards Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like a summer blockbuster, the signings came in fast and furious on Day 1 of NHL free agency.Now that we've all had some time to catch our breath, let's assess eight of the more significant deals and assign a corresponding grade.Kevin Shattenkirk, RangersThe New York Rangers signed the best-available defenseman to a four-year deal worth $26.6 million, making him the team's highest-paid blue-liner and second-highest paid player behind only Rick Nash.The $6.65-million cap hit may be lower than what he could have reeled in elsewhere, but all signs point to Shattenkirk wanting to play close to his New York-area home.Not a massive force in his own end, Shattenkirk is a positive possession player at even strength and is averaging 0.61 points per game over his career. His right-hand shot will nicely complement the team's more defensive-minded lefties.Grade: ASam Gagner, CanucksThe Columbus Blue Jackets received tremendous value from the one-year, $650,000 deal signed by Sam Gagner last summer, getting 18 goals and 50 points out of that small investment.Gagner parlayed that success into a three-year, $9.45-million deal with the Vancouver Canucks.Adding a 27-year-old to a seemingly rebuilding roster is a curious move, but Gagner should add some much-needed depth down the middle while taking some of the pressure off the club's up-and-coming forwards.Grade: BKarl Alzner, Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens made a splash by signing Karl Alzner to a five-year deal worth $23 million.His career high in points is 21 and he's not a particularly effective possession player, but he does help in the shot suppression department.All things considered, it's not a great signing in a league that's trending younger and faster.Grade: C-Nick Bonino, PredatorsThe Nashville Predators are stacked on the blue line, but their lack of center depth was all too evident during a Stanley Cup Final loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Enter Bonino from the winning side, as the Predators locked him up to a four-year, $16.4-million deal.Bonino can contribute offensively, is responsible in his own end, and should slot in nicely behind Ryan Johansen.Grade: B+Justin Williams, HurricanesWilliams returns to a team with whom he won a Cup in 2006, signing a two-year, $9-million deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.The $4.5-million cap hit may be steep for a player who will turn 36 prior to the start of next season, and the Hurricanes don't seem in position to make good on Williams' desire to play for a Cup winner.Still, his experience will be valuable to the team's young core and Carolina could make the playoffs if all goes well.Grade: CDmitry Kulikov, JetsKulikov's brief tenure in Buffalo was a bit of a disaster. He was limited to 47 games, in which he registered two goals, three assists, a minus-26 rating, and a Corsi For rating of 45.2 at even strength.Yet somehow, the Winnipeg Jets saw fit to award him a three-year deal worth $12.99 million.Let's check the reaction from Buffalo.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed veteran center Dominic Moore to a one-year, $1-million contract, the club announced Saturday afternoon.Moore will occupy a depth role for Toronto, likely as the fourth line pivot, replacing Brian Boyle, who joined the New Jersey Devils earlier in the free agent frenzy.The 36-year-old previously spent two seasons with the Maple Leafs, recording a career-high 41 points in 2008-09.In 2016-17, Moore suited up in all 82 games for the Boston Bruins, notching 11 goals and 14 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It hasn't exactly been a wild first day of free agency for Minnesota, but the team did add to its back end, announcing the signing of Kyle Quincey to a one-year contract worth $1.25 million.With Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, and Matt Dumba already in place, Quincey will look to fill a third-pairing role with his new club.Quincey, who will turn 32 in August, totaled 15 points in 73 games split between the Devils and Blue Jackets last season, averaging 17:54 minutes of ice time per night with a 46.9 Corsi For percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens continued to overhaul their blue line by signing defenseman Joe Morrow to a one-year, one-way contract, the team announced Saturday. Morrow previously played for the rival Boston Bruins and was part of the return for forward Tyler Seguin in the trade with the Dallas Stars.Morrow has played a total of 65 NHL regular-season games, scoring just two goals with seven assists. He had a lone helper and no goals last season while averaging 15:32 of ice time per game.He is the second defenseman added by the Canadiens on the opening day of free agency. Karl Alzner was signed earlier in the day, while veteran Andrei Markov remains unsigned.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed center Joe Thornton to a one-year deal, according to Kevin Kurz of NBC Sports.The deal is expected to be worth at least $6 million.

Daniel Alfredsson is walking away from the Ottawa Senators.The former star forward will vacate his role as senior advisor of hockey operations."After two enjoyable years learning about the front office of hockey with the Senators, I'm pleased to pass along that I've made the decision to step away from the game and will take this time to evaluate what professional challenge I will pursue next," he announced in a statement Saturday.Alfredsson joined the Senators' front office in September 2015. He signed a one-year extension last June.He's the Senators' all-time leader in goals, assists, points, game-winning goals, and power-play markers.Alfredsson ranks second on Ottawa's all-time games played list, a single game behind Chris Phillips.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Radim Vrbata is headed to Sunrise.The veteran forward has agreed to a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers, reports Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports.Vrbata will earn a $2.5-million base salary and could add upward of $1.25 million in performance bonuses, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Forward Nate Thompson, who spent the last three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, signed with the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The deal is worth a total of $3.3 million over two years.Thompson scored just one goal with one assist in 30 regular-season games last campaign, but added two tallies and four helpers in 17 playoff contests. He has career totals of 111 points in 550 regular-season appearances and 18 points in 58 postseason games.Typically relegated to fourth-line duties and an average of 13:19 in ice time per game, Thompson owns a career Corsi For percentage of just 45.9.Thompson played with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2009-10 through 2013-14 and will be reunited with head coach Guy Boucher, who was the Lightning's bench boss from 2010-11 through 32 games of the 2012-13 season. Thompson's best offensive campaign came in 2010-11, when he scored 10 goals and contributed 15 assists in 79 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers landed the big fish.Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk confirmed on TSN that he signed a contract with the Blueshirts, which is reportedly worth $26.6 million over four years, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli. This gives New York arguably the best available free agent on the market this summer on an annual cap hit of $6.65 million.Shattenkirk apparently left a lot of money on the table to sign with the Rangers.

The Nashville Predators signed winger Scott Hartnell to a one-year, $1-million contract.The deal marks a return to the Music City for Hartnell, who was drafted sixth overall by the Predators in 2000.He spent six seasons in Nashville, followed by seven seasons in Philadelphia and, most recently, three seasons in Columbus. Hartnell became available after the Blue Jackets recently bought out the final two years of his contract.He recorded 13 goals and 24 assists in 78 games last season, and is averaging 0.26 goals and 0.58 points per game over his career, according to Hockey Reference.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed goaltender Ryan Miller to a two-year deal, the team announced Saturday.The contract comes with an average annual value of $2 million, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Miller, who will be 37 by next season, posted a .914 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average in 54 games with the Vancouver Canucks in 2016-17.The veteran will not only serve as a quality backup to John Gibson, but also as a mentor for the soon-to-be 24-year-old starter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dmitry Kulikov is flying to Winnipeg.The free-agent blue-liner has signed a three-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets that carries a $4.33-million cap hit, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Kulikov comes to the Jets after spending one season with the Buffalo Sabres. He was dealt to Buffalo last June, but a series of injuries limited him to just 47 games on the campaign, in which he finished with two goals and three assists.Prior to joining the Sabres, Kulikov spent seven seasons with the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers signed goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to a one-year, $1.3-million contract to serve as the backup to starter Henrik Lundqvist, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Pavelec, who started just eight games with the Winnipeg Jets last season, posted a .888 save percentage, 3.55 goals-against average, and no shutouts. He has a career .907 save percentage and 2.87 goal-against average in 10 seasons with the Jets and Atlanta Thrashers organization.He replaces backup goaltender Antti Raanta, who was traded to the Arizona Coyotes along with forward Derek Stepan last week. Raanta posted a .922 save percentage and 2.26 GAA in 26 starts for the Rangers last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fresh off a buyout from the New York Rangers, free-agent defenseman Dan Girardi has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a two-year deal worth a total of $6 million. Girardi was already set to make $1.1 million per season for the next six years as a result his buyout, according to CapFriendly.Girardi scored just four goals with 11 assists last season but posted a plus-8 rating through 63 games with New York.The 33-year-old turns a lemon into lemonade with his new contract and the lack of state tax in Florida combining with his six-year payout from the Rangers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche signed goaltender Jonathan Bernier to a one-year, $2.75 million contract, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Bernier, who will be 29 in August, spent last season as John Gibson's backup in Anaheim, posting a .915 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average.Prior to last season, he spent three years with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a part of a two-headed monster with James Reimer. He could be in a similar situation in Colorado, as Semyon Varlamov hasn't exactly put a stranglehold on the starting job over the past two seasons.At the very least, the undersized Bernier will push Varlamov to be at his best, knowing he has a capable backup breathing down his neck.Bernier all but replaces goaltender Calvin Pickard, who was scooped up by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Benoit Pouliot to a one-year, $1.15-million contract, the team announced Saturday.Pouliot was recently bought out by the Oilers, and will earn $1.33 million per season from Edmonton over the next four years.Used throughout the Oilers' lineup, Pouliot disappointed with just 84 points in 180 games. He has career totals of 117 goals and 244 points in 551 regular-season games.Though he has a career Corsi For percentage of 51.8, he dipped to just 48.6 percent in what ended up being his final season with the Oilers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Cammalleri has signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings worth $1 million, the team announced Saturday.Cammalleri has spent the past three seasons with the New Jersey Devils. He tallied 10 goals and 21 assists in 61 games in 2016-17.A return to Los Angeles marks a homecoming of sorts for Cammalleri, who was drafted by the Kings in 2001 and spent the first five years of his career with the organization.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are adding experience on the blue line.Ron Hainsey agreed to a two-year deal worth $3 million per season, the club announced.The 36-year-old helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win their second consecutive championship this spring after being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in February.Hainsey ranked second on the Penguins in average ice time in the playoffs, logging 21:06 per game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks locked up cornerstone defenseman Cam Fowler to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.Fowler, 25, was chosen 12th overallCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens signed center Peter Holland to a two-year deal, the team announced Saturday.The 26-year-old split last season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes, wrapping the 2016-17 campaign with 12 points in 48 games.Holland was a first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2009.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have locked up two key members of their core.Goaltender Martin Jones agreed to a six-year extension and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic inked a new eight-year deal.Jones' new contract is worth $34.5 million and Vlasic's new pact will pay him $56 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Both players have one more season left on their current deals. Jones will carry a cap hitCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have found a backup goaltender to replace Marc-Andre Fleury.The club has signed Antti Niemi to a one-year contract worth $700,000, the team announced Saturday.Niemi, who will be 34 years old by the start of the regular season, was bought out by the Dallas Stars after posting an ugly .892 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average in 37 games in 2016-17.The Finn does have championship pedigree, hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks.He'll be asked to spell starter Matt Murray whenever he's in need of a game off. Murray will undoubtedly see a larger workload this coming season after Fleury, arguably last year's most proven backup goaltender, was claimed in the expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran netminder Brian Elliott agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyers on a two-year contract, the team announced Saturday.The deal carries a $2.75-million annual cap hit, reports Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Elliott arrives in Philadelphia after spending one season with the Calgary Flames, in which he posted a 26-18-3 record with a .910 save percentage.The 32-year-old made his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators in 2007.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings added to their blueline in free agency Saturday, signing Trevor Daley to a 3-year contract, the club announced.The deal's worth over $9 million.

The Stanley Cup champions dipped into the free-agent pool for some defensive depth.The Pittsburgh Penguins signed Matt Hunwick to a three-year contract worth $6.75 million.

Chad Johnson likes life in Buffalo.The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the Buffalo Sabres on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, the team announced Saturday.Johnson spent the 2015-16 campaign with the Sabres, appearing in 45 games.The 31-year-old spent last season with the Calgary Flames, posting an 18-15-1 record and a .910 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mr. Game Seven is headed back to Raleigh.The Carolina Hurricanes signed veteran forward Justin Williams to a two-year contract worth $9 million, the club announced.Williams will be 36 in early October, but he's still productive. He had 24 goals and 24 assists in 80 games last season with the Washington Capitals.A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Williams' most productive season came with the Hurricanes in 2005-06, when he scored 31 goals and finished with 76 points. Carolina won the Cup that season, Williams scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists during the successful playoff run.Carolina's a young team on the rise, and certainly aren't in the Capitals' tier when it comes to contending for a championship. But Williams clearly enjoyed his previous years with the club, and will be relied upon as a leader in the dressing room and on the ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators signed two-time Stanley Cup champion Nick Bonino to a four-year contract worth over $16 million, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Bonino, 29, will likely slot in as Nashville's second-line center behind Ryan Johansen, assuming they're able to sign the latter, who is a restricted free agent, to an extension.In a third-line role, Bonino was able to carve out some impressive numbers in Pittsburgh. He scored 18 goals and added 19 assists in 80 games while only averaging 16:39 minutes per night. His ice time is surely set to increase in the Music City.Though nothing is certain, the Bonino signing suggests that the Predators are out of the Matt Duchene sweepstakes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are trading forward Colin Wilson to the Colorado Avalanche, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Colorado will send Nashville a fourth-round pick in 2019, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Wilson chipped in 12 goals and 35 points for the Predators in the regular season, adding four points in 14 playoff games.The 27-year-old is under contract for two more years at a cap hit of $3,937,500.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Karl Alzner is headed north.The Montreal Canadiens signed the former Washington Capitals defenseman to a five-year contract in free agency, the club announced. Terms have yet to be disclosed.Alzner, 29 in late September, had three goals and 13 points in 82 games last season. The stay-at-home defender has been a mainstay on the Caps' blueline for the past seven seasons, regularly averaging 20 minutes of ice time per game.He'll do the same in Montreal, no doubt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's oldest player is about to hit the open market.The Florida Panthers have decided to cut ties with Jaromir Jagr, player agent Petr Svoboda confirmed to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 45-year-old winger had been with the Panthers since 2015, and played last season on a one-year, $4-million contract.Jagr recently poked fun at lagging free-agent interest despite registering 16 goals and 30 assists in 82 games last season and 27 goals and 39 assists in 2015-16.Clearly, he still has some game, and is looking to extend his already legendary career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs won't be targeting a backup goaltender this offseason.The Leafs have re-signed Curtis McElhinney and Garret Sparks to two-year contracts, the team announced Saturday.Here is a breakdown of the deals:

It doesn't appear the NHL's newest team will make a major splash on its inaugural July 1.When asked how active the Vegas Golden Knights will be in free agency, general manager George McPhee said "not very," according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal."We did much better in the expansion draft than we anticipated, and we're pretty happy with our team, so I don't think we'll be very active," McPhee added.The Golden Knights' most pressing need is at center, but this free-agent class isn't exactly overflowing with impact centermen. Joe Thornton is the best of the bunch, but he's likely looking to play for a contender. Martin Hanzal is also out there, but he's expected to sign with the Stars. After Sam Gagner and Nick Bonino, the position group really drops off.Moreover, the Knights have less than $9 million in cap room, according to Cap Friendly, providing further evidence for the decision to stand pat.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.