NHL free agency begins Monday with high-producing recent Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault among the top players available.
Hours after a rainy rally celebrating the first championship in franchise history, Florida beat the midnight buzzer to re-sign 57-goal scorer Sam Reinhart to an eight-year contract worth $69 million.
“Since coming to South Florida, Sam has demonstrated his ability to be a powerful scoring threat while maintaining strong defensive play,” general manager Bill Zito said of Reinhart, who also scored Florida’s Cup-clinching goal. “His versatility and value as a player are only outshined by his premier personality and work ethic, and we are pleased to have him continue on with our group.”
Cross-state rival Tampa Bay beat the rush to have the chance to negotiate exclusively with Jake Guentzel over the weekend, then signed the point-a-game playoff player to a $63 million, seven-year deal. That is well worth the third-round pick the Lightning sent Carolina for Guentzel’s rights, especially after realizing they would be parting ways with Stamkos, their longtime captain who has been around since 2008.
Stamkos is expected to draw significant interest around the league, even at 34, given his impressive resume. His 555 goals rank 30th on the career list and are the third most among active players.
The most accomplished active American player never hit the open market, with Patrick Kane re-signing with Detroit on Sunday night. The Red Wings inked Kane to a $4 million contract for next season with $2.5 million in additional incentives.
Toronto, which traded for Chris Tanev’s rights at the draft over the weekend, made quick work locking up the veteran defensive defenseman. The Maple Leafs signed Tanev to a six-year contract worth $27 million that counts $6.5 million against the salary cap through 2030.
“Everyone knows how hard he is to play against and what a warrior and competitive he is,” forward Max Domi, who re-signed with the Leafs on Sunday for the next four years, said of Tanev. “He’s going to be a big part of this team for a long time, obviously, and a big part of our success.”
The Leafs also signed goaltender Joseph Woll, a restricted free agent, to a three-year extension for just under $11 million.
Edmonton, which lost to the Panthers in seven games in the Cup final, re-signed versatile depth forward Connor Brown to a one-year contract for $1 million. Brown, who tore the ACL in his left knee in October 2022, had a goal and an assist in the final.
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