Simply days after the Florida Panthers gained their first Stanley Cup in franchise historical past, the NHL offseason received underway with the 2024 NHL Draft over the weekend. Monday marked the beginning of free company as NHL groups may strive their arms at bettering their rosters for the 2024-25 season.

Shortly earlier than free company started, the Panthers started their offseason with a bang by signing star ahead Sam Reinhart to a eight-year, $69 million contract that carries a mean annual worth of $8.5 million. In the meantime, the Tampa Bay Lightning additionally made an enormous splash by signing star winger Jake Guentzel to a seven-year, $63 million deal after buying his negotiating rights in a commerce on Sunday.

A number of groups received higher on Monday, whereas some made some questionable transactions. This is a have a look at the winners and losers of the opening day of NHL free company.

Predators embark on a spending spree

The Predators had been simply probably the most energetic group on the opening day of free company. Nashville ended up signing heart Steven Stamkos, winger Jonathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei to long-term contracts proper after free company started.

The Predators got here out of nowhere to be the largest participant within the free company market, and confirmed that they need to be a contender within the West. In a transfer that many could not have anticipated months in the past, Stamkos will transfer over to the Western Convention and provides the Predators a stellar heart possibility of their prime six. The veteran ahead is coming off of a season during which he scored 40 objectives, so it’s kind of baffling that the Lightning selected to let him stroll for completely nothing. 

Marchessault was a fixture with the Golden Knights, however selected to check the open market. The star winger, who gained the Conn Smythe Trophy through the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, is a dynamic aim scorer who will probably slot in properly on Nashville’s second line. Marchessault can also be enjoying among the finest hockey of his profession as he is coming off of a 40-goal season.

Lastly, the Predators additionally improved their blue line with the signing of Skjei. Skjei is a top-four defenseman who tallied a career-best 47 factors (13 objectives & 34 assists), and certain will skate on Nashville’s second pairing. He is a really fluid skater who can put the puck within the web as evident together with his 31 objectives over the previous two seasons.

Blackhawks get assist for Connor Bedard

After being chosen with the No. 1 decide within the 2023 NHL Draft, Connor Bedard wasn’t precisely surrounded by probably the most proficient supporting class in Chicago. Nonetheless, that modified on Monday.

The Blackhawks signed wingers Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen to assist bolster the group’s offensive assault. Bertuzzi, who’s recent off of a 43-point marketing campaign with the Maple Leafs, offered some toughness and a goal-scoring presence that may play on the Blackhawks’ prime line. In the meantime, Teravainen probably will slide into one of many winger spots on Chicago’s second line.

Each gamers signed long-term offers, however the contracts aren’t tremendous extravagant. Bertuzzi has a $4.5 million cap hit over 4 years, whereas Teravainen’s deal has a $5.4 million common annual worth over three years. Each gamers are coming off of 20-goal seasons and are going to assist alleviate among the strain off of Bedard.

On prime of the Bertuzzi and Teravainen additions, the Blackhawks additionally added veteran forwards Pat Maroon, ahead Craig Smith, and defenseman Alec Martinez. Having veterans like these three gamers within the fold will assist Bedard’s growth as a younger participant. It is a course of, however the Blackhawks are slowly however certainly bettering as a group.

Devils beef up their blue line

The Devils have actually improved on the defensive finish of the ice this offseason. Final month, the Devils acquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom in a commerce with the Calgary Flames to finish their lengthy pursuit of trying to accumulate a marquee netminder. On Monday, New Jersey signed defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon to assist stabilize their blue line.

Pesce and Dillon aren’t offensive juggernauts on the blue line by any means, however they solidify a protection that the franchise is steadily trying to enhance. Pesce probably be a second pairing defenseman, whereas Dillon may slide into the third pairing for New Jersey. Perhaps these aren’t probably the most eye-popping pickups, however they supply that depth that the Devils clearly lacked in 2023-24.

Over the previous few years, the Devils have added the likes of Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec all through the draft, and people are your franchise cornerstones. Acquiring gamers like Pesce and Dillon praise Hughes and Nemec, whereas New Jersey additionally has veteran Dougie Hamilton for a number of years to return. The Devils have a protection that might enable them to be a pressure within the Metropolitan Division.

Kraken take an enormous threat with Brandon Montour

The Kraken made an enormous splash by signing former Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year, $50 million contract ($7.14 million AAV). In doing so, Seattle will get a right-handed shot on its prime defensive pairing, however it would not come with no threat.

Montour is a stable NHL defenseman who gives some offensive firepower, whereas additionally being an integral a part of a group’s energy play. Nonetheless, this may very well be a lofty contract that the Kraken may come to remorse down the street. 

For all of his positives, Montour is usually a tad reckless and a little bit undisciplined on the ice. In every of the final two postseasons, Montour has tallied a mixed 51 penalty minutes, which actually is not superb. Having considered one of your prime defensemen off the ice at a fast clip, particularly come playoff time, is actually not a scenario that groups need to discover themselves in. The Kraken may have much more offensive acumen on their prime pairing with Montour and Vince Dunn, however Montour’s contract is actually a big one that won’t age in addition to Seattle envisioned.

Maple Leafs give Chris Tanev a prolonged contract

To preface this, the Maple Leafs had been in determined want of some defensive assist heading into the 2024-25 season. Toronto was eleventh in objectives allowed (261) and its goaltenders had a 3.18 goals-against-average through the 2023-24 marketing campaign. One thing needed to be altered on the again finish if the Maple Leafs really need to compete for a Stanley Cup.

On Monday, the Maple Leafs signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a lofty six-year contract that carries a yearly cap hit of $4.5 million. Whereas a $4.5 million cap hit is not an insane quantity, the time period is one thing that may very well be worrisome down the road. Tanev is already 34 years outdated and will likely be turning 35 in December. He is already received fairly a little bit of tread on the tires. 

Tanev is not an offensive-minded defenseman, however will promote on the defensive finish of the ice. He registered 207 blocked photographs splitting time between the Flames and Stars this previous season. As a match, the Maple Leafs received a defensive presence that they desperately wanted for his or her prime pairing. Nonetheless, the concern is whether or not or not Tanev will attain the top of the time period of this explicit contract.