On Saturday, July 1st, the NHL free agency period got underway. On Canada Day, a flurry of activity took place yesterday. It was busy. There were a lot of signings. Some players re-signed while others moved to new cities.

Such is life under the salary cap. How much room you have dictates what you can do. In the Rangers’ case, they spent money on veterans who didn’t cost a lot. Highlighted by Blake Wheeler, they added depth to their roster. Whether or not it works, that remains to be seen.

While Rangers Team President and GM Chris Drury was limited in what he could do due to key RFA’s Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller, other teams were able to land bigger fish in the sea. In this post, I’ll review most of the big moves.

One of the busiest teams was the Hurricanes. A successful team that reached the Conference Finals, they had plenty of business to take care of. They were able to re-sign key free agents Jesper Fast, Antti Raanta, and Frederik Andersen. All agreed to short-term deals. Fast got $2.4 million AAV over two years. Andersen received a moderated no-trade clause along with $3.4 million over two years. Raanta agreed to one year at $1.5 million.

However, they weren’t done. They made one of the biggest splashes by signing top free agent defenseman Dmitry Orlov for two years, $7.75 million on average. They paid a premium for a quality player who was superb in his time with Boston. Orlov is a good skating defenseman who can contribute both offensively and defensively. Due to it being a short-term contract, he received a bit higher. There is no no-movememt clause.

In another smart transaction, the Canes inked gritty former Leafs forward Michael Bunting to a three-year deal worth an AAV of $4.5 million. A known pest, he gets his nose dirty. Bunting is a solid secondary scorer who should aid the Carolina offense. Basically, he replaced Max Pacioretty, who left to sign with the Capitals after a torn Achilles. Pacioretty signed with the Caps for one season at an affordable $2 million. They included a no-movememt clause. He can earn up to another two million in performance bonuses.

If I were to grade the Hurricanes, who might not be done due to Brett Pesce, I’d give them a B. They were able to keep key pieces, including the versatile Fast, whose been a good player. The only question is whether they should’ve kept both Andersen and Raanta. Pyotr Kochetkov is the future in net. But it looks like they won’t rush him.

Updating the Canes, they’re rumored to be signing Vladimir Tarasenko. If that’s true, then they’ve really upgraded the offense. Tarasenko is a proven goalscorer who also isn’t shy about throwing his weight around. If Andrei Svechnikov can return to form, they should be a handful. The grade goes up to a B-plus.

UPDATE: Not so fast. Tarasenko has changed representation. Hot tip from the reliable Elliotte Friedman. We’ll see what happens.

It’ll be interesting to see if they trade Pesce. One of the game’s most underrated defensemen, he is smart and plays a positional game. He is entering the last year of his contract. The cap hit is $4.025 million. The Canes would love to extend him, but it sounds like it might not happen. Pesce’s name has come up in trade rumors. If he does get dealt, look for Carolina to re-acquire Tony DeAngelo. They must wait until July 8.

If Orlov was the best of the class for defensemen, then it probably was Alex Killorn among forwards. Although he doesn’t have the same star appeal of Vladimir Tarasenko (linked possibly to Ottawa) or Patrick Kane, he had one of his best seasons with the Lightning. In a contract year, he set new career bests in goals (27), assists (37), and points (64). A key part of the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cups, he decided to leave Tampa for Anaheim. The Ducks paid him well, going $25 million over four years.

That averages out to $6.25 million per season. That’s a lot for the scrappy 33-year-old veteran forward. Anaheim had to overpay due to their current situation. They had $30 million to work with. Obviously, they want to establish a better culture for a young nucleus that features Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Drew Helleson. Both Zegras and Terry must be re-signed as Group II free agents. Each will get big raises.

In another move to add more character, they signed former Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year deal worth an AAV of $4 million. A physical player who always ranks among the league leaders in hits, Gudas has become a better defenseman. He has improved his skating and does a better job playing the position. The 33-year-old veteran can certainly add some grit to a blue line that’s had its struggles.

While they definitely overpaid for Killorn, who might decline, it’s understandable why the Ducks signed him and Gudas. They’re good guys to have both on the ice and in the locker room. If I were to grade Anaheim, I’d give them a B-minus. We’ll see what Zegras and Terry both get. Jamie Drysdale is also restricted.

One of the teams who had a good day was the Penguins. For once, they made some smart decisions that could help put them back in the playoffs. In the first move, they went all in on former Devils defenseman Ryan Graves. After losing veteran Brian Dumoulin to the Kraken, they inked the solid second pair left defenseman to a six-year contract worth an AAV of $4.5 million. A good move due to what Graves Graves can bring. He’s solid in his end and can aid a blue line that was an Achilles heel.

Two other key additions are gritty forwards Noel Acciari and Lars Eller. Acciari received $2 million over three years while Eller took a multi-year deal worth an AAV of $2.45 million. Both Acciari and Graves have moderated no-trade clauses. Eller doesn’t. Adding quality depth up front and on the back end should help the Crosby/Malkin Pens improve.

They also realized they had to keep Tristan Jarry. They re-signed the starting goalie for five years and an AAV of $5.375 million. He has a moderated NTC. Jarry had a down season due to injuries. If he comes back healthy, a return to form isn’t within question. Having better structure should help. Kyle Dubas definitely addressed some needs.

Overall, I would give the Pens a grade of B-plus. While going six years is risky for Graves, it feels like they made the right moves to improve their roster. Don’t forget they also added Reilly Smith. Another smart player who will boost secondary scoring. For a team that definitely needed a jolt, they should be in the playoff mix.

One team that was active on Saturday involved the Red Wings. Steve Yzerman is getting desperate to upgrade the roster. With the Sabres and Senators emerging as teams who could compete for the postseason, the pressure is on Yzerman to finally deliver a playoff team in Detroit.

It was a mixed bag on Day One. The Red Wings signed former Avalanche forward J.T. Compher to a five-year deal worth an AAV of $5.1 million. While he is a good player who cashed in on a career season that included 17 goals, 35 assists, and 52 points, the 28-year-old isn’t worth that contract. It’s overpayment. But perhaps that’s what Yzerman had to do to get him. With $5.625 million committed to Andrew Copp, who better bounce back, there are some questionable decisions in relation to the cap. They need consistent production from Compher, Copp, and Robby Fabbri ($4 million).

I like the trade for Klim Kostin. He will add some energy to the lineup. He has jam and battles hard. Daniel Sprong for one year and two million is a good get. He proved he’s capable of scoring in Seattle. Any player signed for a year can also be flipped at the deadline.

Yzerman also went out and got Shayne Gostisbehere. We know what he is. A skating, offensive defenseman who’s best suited for the power play. That’s an area he’ll fill for a year at $4.125 million. I don’t quite get giving Justin Holl $3.4 million AAV over three years with a moderated NTC. Only time will tell if it works out. Moritz Seider will continue to do the heavy lifting. Simon Edvinsson remains an intriguing prospect who could get minutes on the back end.

The Red Wings added James Reimer for one year, $1.5 million. He’ll likely back up Ville Husso. Alex Lyon was signed for two years, $900,000 per season. He did a good job getting the Panthers into the playoffs. It’s definitely good to have depth in goal.

Overall, I would give the Red Wings a grade of C-plus. While I’m not crazy about the Compher contract, he should help them out. I really like adding Kostin and Sprong. They should get good value. They improved the goalie depth. I’m not sure about the defense. It will still hinge on Dylan Larkin, Mo Seider, and Lucas Raymond. Those are their best players. Will they play a better system?

One player that I liked coming into free agency was Garnet Hathaway. A hard-working player who likes to bang in the corners, he will do what it takes to help a team be successful. Under Peter Laviolette in Washington, his game grew. He combined for 42 points (23-19-42) and 109 penalty minutes the past two years in DC.

That strong work ethic allowed the Bruins to rent him. He is a solid secondary player who plays a physical style. Now, the 31-year-old Hathaway will bring that rugged game to the Flyers under John Tortorella. They made a wise choice, signing him for two years at an affordable $2.375 million cap hit. The Flyers also signed Ryan Poehling for $1.4 million. Once a former first round pick of Montreal, he’ll get the chance to an impression under Tortorella. Only 24, maybe he’ll figure it out.

With the Flyers already having revamped their defense by getting rid of Ivan Provorov and ready to move on from Tony DeAngelo, the blue line will have a different look. Cam York will become the player to build around on the back end. He’s a restricted free agent. For now, Travis Sanheim remains signed at $6.25 million AAV through 2031 with a NTC. Veteran Rasmus Ristolainen is signed thru 2027. Having also dealt Kevin Hayes to the Blues, the Flyers are gonna look very different.

What’s the plan regarding Carter Hart? He was rumored to be on the block. Are they going to trade him? He’s set to make nearly $4 million next season. Then, he’ll turn restricted before becoming unrestricted in 2025. With Cal Petersen added to Felix Sandstrom, it’ll be interesting to see what they decide. With more moves anticipated, I’ll leave the grade open. I love the addition of Hathaway. The definition of an honest player.

One team that made headlines is the Islanders. Having invested long-term in Ilya Sorokin (8-year extension worth $8.25 million AAV) and deciding to sign Semyon Varlamov for four more years ($2.75 million AAV), Lou Lamoriello may need to be committed. He gave Scott Mayfield seven years worth an average of $3.5 million. He also handed out $21 million over seven years for role player Pierre Engvall. That’s insanity. While the costs on each player aren’t bad, they’re going to be in their 30’s during those deals. Mayfield turns 31 in October. At least Engvall is 27.

There are so many long-term contracts tied up in key players that it borders on absurd. The only good one is for franchise goalie Sorokin, who finished runner-up behind Linus Ullmark for the Vezina. They better hope Bo Horvat plays better than he did when he came over from Vancouver. If not, then they’ll be stuck in mediocrity thanks to Lou.

Overall, I give the Islanders a C. I could’ve been harsher. But Sorokin got extended, and the Mayfield contract should hold up for a while. What’s the plan with the younger players such as Oliver Wahlstrom? Is there one?

One team that actually made some interesting moves was the Coyotes. Needing to fill out the roster despite the arena situation, they went out and got some players. Most notable was inking former Penguin Jason Zucker for one year, $5.3 million. Obviously, it’s low risk. He’s betting on himself. He delivered a good season in Pittsburgh, scoring 27 times with 21 assists. It’ll be interesting to see how he does in Arizona. Even if it’s for less than a year.

They also added gritty forward Nick Bjugstad. He agreed to a two-year deal for an AAV of $2.1 million. A quality depth player who should bring some secondary help. The Coyotes signed center Alex Kerfoot to a two-year contract for an average cap hit of $3.5 million. It includes a moderated NTC. He had a solid season with Toronto.

While these aren’t mind-blowing moves, they made additions that should help a roster that includes Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, Victor Soderstrom, and Dylan Guenther. They still have over $14 million in cap space. Overall, the Coyotes get a B. They did well.

Another team that made a couple of nice additions is the rebuilding Blackhawks. While their future is set thanks to top overall pick Connor Bedard and potential steal Oliver Moore (19th selection), they still needed to add some high character vets. In acquiring both Corey Perry and signing Nick Foligno each for $4 million over 2023-24, they added gritty players who’ll help the kids learn on and off the ice. Both play the game with passion.

With Perry and Foligno only signed for one year, that gives the Hawks the option to flip them next year. It’s a win-win situation. They also brought in forward Ryan Donato for two years at $2 million per season. Now 27, he’s coming off a good season in which he had 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points with a plus-16 rating for the Kraken. Solid secondary production.

The only question is in net. They still have Petr Mrazek signed for next season. Most of the free agent goalies were signed on Day One. The Hawks definitely need to add quality depth in goal. With plenty of room ($17.2 million) left, they can still look to tack on.

Overall, the Blackhawks get a grade of B. They made good moves by bringing in the necessary experience to help in the room. If they add a defenseman or goalie, it could be upgraded to a B-plus.

The Avalanche made a couple of moves to improve their depth. After acquiring Ryan Johansen from the Predators for half-price ($4 million AAV), they signed ex-Devil Miles Wood to a six-year contract worth $2.5 million per cap hit. A fast skater who can score garbage goals and play feisty, the 27-year-old forward should be a good fit in Colorado. He’ll take the occasional bad penalty but is a solid secondary player that brings energy. He received a moderated no-trade clause. Six years for Wood is a lot. It should be interesting to see how he does.

In a move that will bring back draft memories, the Avs also signed Jonathan Drouin. Once neck and neck with superstar center Nathan MacKinnon in 2013 before going second overall to the Lightning, Drouin has battled injuries and off-ice issues. Taking $825,000, we’ll see if the 28-year-old left wing can find it. He and MacKinnon are close. It’s a low risk move.

Along with adding Ross Colton, who still must be signed, Joe Sakic again is having a good off-season. Obviously, the Avalanche will be without captain Gabriel Landeskog for a second consecutive year. It’s a real bummer because he’s one of the game’s top power forwards. I hope one day, he can come back. But Sakic has made some solid moves to add gritty depth. He even brought back Jack Johnson as D insurance.

Just on what was added, I’ll give the Avalanche a grade of B-plus. I love the additions of Colton and Wood. Taking a flyer on Drouin is worth a shot. It seems like Sakic has a good sense of what his tea needs. He’s one of the best general managers for a reason. Others can learn from how he operates.

The Panthers made a few interesting moves. Most notable was trading popular forward Anthony Duclair to the Sharks in exchange for Steven Lorentz and a 2025 fifth round pick. It was a salary dump. Duclair certainly became a good player for Florida. He added speed and skill. He’ll be missed.

To help offset the loss, they decided to give Evan Rodrigues a four-year deal worth $12 million. It’s a straight-up cap hit of $3 million through 2027. A gritty forward who can play at even strength, and on the penalty kill, Rodrigues is the kind of pesky player that should fit in well. He’ll get double digits in goals, be a shorthanded threat, and grind. I like this addition.

With Marc Staal departing to sign with the rebuilding Flyers, the Cats opted for Niko Mikkola. A solid, unspectacular, no frills defenseman who can play second or third pair, he was a good pickup for the Rangers. He received three years at $2.5 million AAV. A fair contract.

While they also added depth to the blue line with vets Mike Reilly and Dmitry Kulikov, I didn’t understand signing Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Recently bought out by the Canucks, who realized their folly, the offensive defenseman doesn’t look like he has much left. At least it’s only one year for $2.25 million. He’s not strong defensively. That’s a curious decision. How much will he play?

Overall, I’ll give the Panthers a grade of C. I still like adding the versatile Rodrigues and Mikkola. I’m on the fence with OEL. How much will they miss Duclair?

The Maple Leafs have been busy. After the curious signing of defenseman John Klingberg (1×4.15 million) and the interesting choice to go three years on Ryan Reaves ($1.35 million), they got down to business.

Toronto was somehow able to sign gritty forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. Both should really help improve the Leafs’ secondary scoring. Not only that. But each will scrap in front. Bertuzzi makes his living in front. He also has good speed in transition. He took one year for $5.5 million with a no-movememt clause. I’d slot him in with John Tavares.

Domi signed for an affordable $3 million with a moderated NTC. He’s the kind of high character player that Leafs fans should love. He’ll drop the gloves occasionally while making the right play. He follows Dad Tie by joining the Leafs.

Toronto still must find a way to re-sign goalie Ilya Samsonov. He’s a restricted free agent who’s a year away from unrestricted status. They might have to clear room by getting rid of Matt Murray. Joseph Woll proved he’s ready to play.

What about William Nylander? He’s a very good player. He could be the odd man out. They can’t afford to lose Auston Matthews. Both Tavares and Mitch Marner are signed for two more years. Can they make it work by keeping Nylander for another year? We’ll see.

Overall, the Leafs get a grade of B-plus. They addressed their needs. The only net negative is the high-risk Klingberg, who if he’s not contributing offense is a liability. That should be adventurous.

The Sabres weren’t too busy at the start of free agency. However, they were able to re-sign checking center Tyson Jost for a year at $2 million. He came over and was a solid addition last season. Keeping him for one year before he hits the market makes sense.

Buffalo also made a nice move by grabbing proven vet Erik Johnson. The former Stanley Cup winner with the Avalanche remains a good defensive defenseman. A stabilizing force who brings leadership to the emerging Sabres, he should be able to help the defense. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy for the one year he’s signed. They paid him $3.25 million to improve the right side.

They also added physical defenseman Connor Clifton. He was signed for three years at an AAV of $3.33 million. A gritty player who can play second or third pair, the former Bruin isn’t shy about getting in opponents’ faces. He’ll deliver the big hit or stick up for teammates. He is also capable of contributing occasionally on offense. Another high character addition.

Buffalo re-signed Kale Clague. He’ll compete for a roster spot on the back end. The only area they haven’t addressed is goalie. Devon Levi remains the number one for now. Eric Comrie has one year left. What about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen?

If ever there’s a team that can use an upgrade in the net, it’s the Sabres. John Gibson requested a trade out of Anaheim. I’m not sure about him anymore. Do they want to take on his contract? It has four more years remaining with a hefty cap hit of $6.4 million with a moderated NTC. Gibson is injury prone and inconsistent. He will need a better team in front of him. I’d pass.

Overall, the Sabres get a grade of C-plus. I could’ve gone a little higher. But they made depth moves to hopefully bolster the D. An area that must improve to finally enf their long playoff drought. Having Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and underrated Mattias Samuelsson on the blue line gives it potential for a turnaround. Dahlin is due for an extension. He will get paid. They have an interesting decision coming on Casey Mittlestadt.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you have the Oilers. A team that boasts the game’s best player and arguably the second best as well. They didn’t do much. However, they added forward Connor Brown. He once played with MVP Connor McDavid in juniors. He’s now 29. Due to missing nearly the entire season, he got an incentive laden deal that can have him earn up to $3.225 million in bonuses. The cap hit is only $775,000.

With the salary cap increasing next summer, some teams were more creative. The Oilers are banking on Brown to be an upgrade over Kailer Yamamoto. They will have to be more committed to playing former first round pick Dylan Holloway. Ryan McLeod is a restricted free agent.

With over $6 million left, they haven’t done much else. Unless you think bringing back Mattias Janmark is significant. He was a good depth forward last season. What about the defense? Can Jack Campbell bounce back from a dismal first year? Stuart Skinner can’t be the guy. We saw that in the playoffs.

At this point, the Oilers get a grade of D. I like Brown. But unless they solidify their defense and improve in goal, they can’t be taken seriously. The only encouraging part is McDavid and Draisaitl remain dominant forces who can carry them far. But teams like the rival Kings and Avalanche got better. The window to win is now.

One team that’s been busy is the Predators. With former coach Barry Trotz running the organization, he’s making big changes. Between hiring former player Andrew Brunette to coach, trading Ryan Johansen and buying out Matt Duchene, Trotz has been very active.

Since then, he brought in proven checking pivot Ryan O’Reilly. The two-way center got four years at $4.5 million AAV. Still a good player, it’ll be interesting to see how he does in Smashville. He has championship experience. It’ll be weird seeing him in those mustard colors going up against the Blues.

Another good move was bringing in Luke Schenn. He received a three-year deal worth an average cap hit of $2.75 million. The veteran knows how to play the game. He is a good defensive defenseman who will take the body. A classic Trotz player.

The Preds re-signed Cody Glass for two years, $5 million. He definitely became a good player. They easily won that trade with Vegas for Nolan Patrick. Trotz also added veteran Gustav Nyquist for two years at an AAV of $3.185 million. He’s a reliable secondary scorer who can play power play.

I like what Trotz has done. He needed to cut bait with Duchene and Johansen. They’re moving in a different direction. They’re an interesting team that should be fun to watch. Trotz wants them to play more of a higher tempo. Exactly why he hired Brunette. Overall, I give the Predators a grade of B. They made some quality moves.

There are several teams that haven’t been active. That’s due to the cap. It really depends on how much space you have. Don’t forget that we’re still waiting on a few big names to get moved. That includes Connor Hellebuyck. Where will the former Vezina winner land? I thought it would be Ottawa. But they foolishly handed out Joonas Korpisalo $20 million over five years. Is he really the answer?

The Senators will trade disgruntled forward Alex DeBrincat. Despite his talent, buyer beware. He’ll score goals and put up points. But he might not be worth his next contract. DeBrincat isn’t a complete player. Think Artemi Panarin lite. At least Panarin is a point-per-game for the Rangers. His playoffs have been underwhelming.

Erik Karlsson is waiting for the Sharks to deal him. There’s been some odd rumors with possibly the Pens and Canes interested. If San Jose picks up half the tab on his $11.5 million contract the runs thru 2027, maybe it’s possible. San Jose needs to get the best deal possible. Maximize the value of the rating Norris winner, who became the first defenseman to eclipse 100 points since Brian Leetch.

At this point, the Sharks added Duclair, tough guy Givani Smith, and re-signed Mackenzie Blackwood (2×2.35 million). They also kept former Devil Fabian Zetterlund, who was part of the blockbuster trade for Timo Meier.

San Jose is in rebuild mode with Thomas Bordeleau, William Eklund, and recent pick Will Smith. But they still have veteran stars, Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl. Let’s wait and see what GM Mike Grier gets for Karlsson.

I could cover more on the FA Frenzy. But I highlighted most of the teams and key players who were part of what’s happened so far. Now, it’ll slow down. It’s after the 4th of July. To everyone out there, I hope you enjoyed your holiday. I sure did.

If I were to grade both the Rangers and Devils, that would be a C-plus and a B-plus. The Rangers made one quality move by adding Blake Wheeler. He’ll fit in well wherever Peter Laviolette uses him. Nick Bonino is a solid fourth liner. As for what else they did, just as long as it doesn’t prevent Brennan Othmann and Will Cuylle from forcing their way onto the roster. Whether that be fall or winter.

The Devils added Tyler Toffoli to keeping Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt long-term. They brought back key vets Erik Haula, Mike McLeod, and Nathan Bastian. Luke Hughes will replace Ryan Graves. Simon Nemec will battle vet Colin Miller for a spot. They are gonna be tough. If they stick with the tandem of Vitek Vanecek and promising youngster Akira Schmid in net, is that good enough to contend? We’ll see what they decide.

There’s going to be more signings and trades soon. Don’t forget the Rangers have a shade over $7 million to re-sign K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere. I’ll be sure to have that when it happens.

For now, try to stay cool. It’s hot and muggy. Your typical July. Enjoy it.