NHL Free Agent tracker: Latest news, rumors, signings, analysis, grades

NHL Free Agency opens at noon on Monday, July 1, and we have a lot of players potentially on the move to new teams. Free agency hasn’t been an avenue for teams to find elite players but this offseason seems to be an exception. There are plenty of big-name forwards and a handful of capable defensemen available to sign new contracts and help improve your team. Below we’re going to be tracking all the latest news, rumors and reports so far while providing analysis for each move.

2024 NHL Free Agent Tracker

Live updates

12:03 p.m. ET — Free agency is open and it looks like the Marchessault and Stamkos deals will happen in Nashville. The Caps just traded for Jakob Chychrun from the Sens for Nick Jensen and a third-round pick. Plus, Washington is expected to sign D Matt Roy on a six-year deal. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is indeed going to Toronto on a four-year deal worth around $3.5 million per season.

11:51 a.m. ET — Tyler Toffoli is headed to the San Jose Sharks on a four-year deal worth $6 million per season, per multiple reports. Toffoli could end up playing with either No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini or last year’s top pick Will Smith.

11:44 a.m. ET — We’re almost at noon and Marchessault could also land in Nashville on a five-year deal worth around $5.5 million per season, per LeBrun.

11:33 a.m. — It appears the Predators are ready to make a big splash this offseason. C Steven Stamkos could be headed to Nashville on a four-year deal worth $8 million per season. The Preds are also in on C Chandler Stephenson and RW Jonathan Marchessault. After the Stamkos deal, the Preds still have plenty of cap space to throw around. Stay tuned.

11:24 a.m. — The Bruins seem poised to land two big free agents via Vancouver in C Elias Lindholm and D Nikita Zadorov. Boston desperately needed a top-line center and that’s exactly what they’ll get with Lindholm, who was dealt from the Calgary Flames during the regular season to the Canucks. Both Lindholm and Zadorov were key pieces to a first-place Vancouver squad this past season. Zadorov is a good replacement on the blue line for Matt Grzelcyk, who is a free agent at noon.

11:12 a.m. ET — Another big domino has appeared to have fallen in D Brandon Montour going to the Kraken on a seven-year deal worth around $50 million, per Pierre LeBrun.

It also appears C Sean Monahan could be going to Columbus on a long-term deal. Nothing is finalized, however, but the Blue Jackets are interested, per Bob McKenzie.

10:42 a.m. ET — The Stars are bringing back veteran center Matt Duchene on a one-year, $3 million contract, per reports.

10:30 a.m. ET — The Maple Leafs, in a perplexing move, are signing D Chris Tanev to a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $4.5 million. The Leafs traded for Tanev’s rights from the Stars before free agency and have worked out a deal. Toronto is also expected to grab D Oliver Ekman-Larsson to solidify the blue line a bit.

9:39 a.m. ET — The Panthers officially announce Reinhart returns on an eight-year extension after helping the team win the Cup this past season.

9:23 a.m. ET — We have a non-free agency related contract that will go down in Carolina, per Seravalli with Jaccob Slavin re-signing with the Hurricanes on an eight-year deal. When the calendar officially flips to 2024-25, that means teams can sign players to extensions.

What we know so far

Lightning and Panthers updates

We’ll add updates up top as we get confirmed reports and official signings and deals. But for now, let’s update you on the latest and what we know already. The big move is in Florida, where most eyes are on the Tampa Bay Lightning and Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The Bolts are reportedly ready to part ways with captain Steven Stamkos as he hits the open market at noon ET. The Lightning traded for the rights to LW Jake Guentzel, who signed a seven-year contract worth around $9 million per season, the team announced. Here’s a breakdown on the deal, per Pierre LeBrun.

As for Stamkos, we know plenty of teams are interested in adding the two-time Stanley Cup winning captain. Stamkos had been looking for a long-term deal that could land in the neighborhood of $7-8 million per season. The Lightning reportedly were looking at a long-term deal that would pay Stamkos less per season, but more stretched out over time. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff was reporting the Predators, Red Wings, Kings and even Devils are in on Stamkos or at least interested. This thing could drag out a bit as Stamkos weighs his options and there’s still a chance the Bolts retain him.

It appears Brandon Montour will both hit the open market. The Panthers had until last night to submit new deals for both players at the eight-year max given to teams with rights. There were some conflicting reports but Elliotte Friedman is saying Sam Reinhart’s deal got done at the max of eight years.

There’s still a good chance the Panthers retain Reinhart but it may not be as easy as once thought. Montour appears to be gone with plenty of interest from teams like Nashville and Utah to name a few. Both should command some of the highest average annual value on contracts this free agency.

Tyler Bertuzzi to Blackhawks

Reports are out that the Blackhawks are signing the forward to a four-year deal worth $5.5 million per season, per David Pagnotta.

Bertuzzi spent this past season with the Maple Leafs but Toronto opted to keep the cheaper forward in Max Domi, who is expected to get a deal worth just under $4 million per season. Bertuzzi lands in a good spot for playing time in Chicago, where he could end up playing with center Connor Bedard. The Blackhawks also have plenty of cap left to make a few more moves to improve the roster.