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Less than two weeks after being bought out by the Dallas Stars, veteran defenseman Ryan Suter has found a new home. He’ll suit up for his 20th NHL season with the St. Louis Blues.#stlblues announce they’ve agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Ryan Suter, who was bought out by the Dallas Stars this summer. It’s a one-year deal for $775,000.— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 10, 2024 It’s a one-year deal for the minimum, at $775,000. In addition, there are $2.225 million in potential performance bonuses. While Suter was still playing a solid role on the Dallas blueline, the Stars needed all the cap room they could get for offseason moves, and saved $1.4 million in cap space each of the next two seasons by buying out the 39-year-old. With that, he became only the second player in NHL history to have his contract bought out two different times. But the veteran played a big role throughout his three seasons with Dallas, though many feel that as another long playoff run wore on, he may have lost a step late this season. He still finished the regular season with a +14 rating while playing 19 minutes a night.Suter was one of the NHL’s top defenseman for years, logging up to 29 minutes a game at times with the Minnesota Wild, and finishing in the top 10 of the Norris Trophy balloting six straight seasons in the middle of his career. Photo: © Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

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Mark Giordano is still looking for his new home over a week into free agency. The veteran defenseman’s plan is to continue his career rather than retire. As a result of this, let’s discuss three teams who could consider bringing him in now.New York Rangers: The New York Rangers could consider taking a shot on Giordano. When looking at their left side, it is clear that Giordano could compete for a spot on their bottom pairing if signed. In addition, he would give them another veteran with great leadership qualities, which would certainly be good for a contender like the Rangers. Florida Panthers: The Florida Panthers could use more defensive depth, as they lost multiple defenders this offseason. Due to this, they could consider bringing in Giordano on a one-year deal. He would give them another option for their bottom pairing. In addition, he likely wouldn’t be against playing there, as they are the reigning Stanley Cup champs, and he has yet to win one. Carolina Hurricanes: The Carolina Hurricanes are another club that lost several defensemen this offseason. Due to this, it would not hurt for them to add a bit more depth to their blueline before the start of the season. Giordano would give them that and could serve well as a seventh defenseman for the Metropolitan Division club.photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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The Carolina Hurricanes are reportedly pushing heavily to acquire Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers, according to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News. This pursuit follows the Hurricanes’ recent trade of pending free agent Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning, making the addition of Ehlers crucial for bolstering their lineup. Ehlers, 28, has a year remaining on his contract with a $6 million annual cap hit and is rumored to be unwilling to sign an extension with the Jets.There are reports that CAR is pushing heavily for Ehlers. Can confirm those reports.Make sense with them losing Guentzel.#Isles had interest leading up to #NHLDraft.Could still have interest even after acquiring Duclair but not sure.— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) July 5, 2024 With the offseason departures of key players like Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, Stefan Noesen, and Teuvo Teravainen, the Hurricanes are eager to fill the gaps and remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. The potential departure of restricted free agent Martin Necas, who has filed for arbitration, adds to their urgency. Offering Necas in a trade for Ehlers would be a significant move, and given Necas’s higher value, the Jets might need to include additional assets to balance the deal. Nikolaj Ehlers will be a UFA next year, unless he signs a new deal. And I’m really curious about his future. Ehlers has been an elite offensive winger at 5-on-5 since ~2019. I think Winnipeg can’t afford to lose him for nothing next year. pic.twitter.com/iv4V0OYn8O— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) July 7, 2024 Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has praised Ehlers as an important part of their lineup, indicating he won’t trade the winger lightly. From the Jets’ perspective, addressing their thin center depth and questionable defense is crucial, especially after losing players like Brenden Dillon, Laurent Brossoit, Tyler Toffoli, and Sean Monahan during free agency.Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports


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Patrik Laine’s potential trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets has become a big point of speculation in the NHL recently. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun recently reported that Laine and the Blue Jackets have mutually agreed to seek a trade. However, Laine’s situation is complicated by his participation in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program since January due to mental health issues. If you’re a rebuilding team like Chicago or San Jose, would you try bringing in Patrik Laine?@johnscott_32 wonders if he would be a good influence for the young players in the room.Where does he land? pic.twitter.com/ILlSV2giAY— Dropping the Gloves (@dropping_gloves) June 14, 2024 As of June 30, The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline noted that the Blue Jackets have not been informed if Laine has been cleared from the program. This uncertainty makes it challenging for interested teams to move forward without first speaking with Laine about his status and readiness.Despite these complications, there is notable interest in Laine from several teams. TSN’s Craig Button suggested that the Minnesota Wild could be an ideal destination for Laine, as he could thrive alongside a playmaking center, an opportunity he lacked in Columbus, as noted by Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson.Similarly, Geoff Baker from The Seattle Times linked Laine to the Seattle Kraken, viewing him as a high-upside gamble for the low-scoring team. Baker emphasized that Laine’s contract, with two years remaining at an $8.7 million annual cap hit, would not tie the Kraken to a long-term commitment, making him an attractive short-term option.”There’s probably a market there, but it’s hard for me to believe they can make the hockey trade they want to make.”@Aportzline shares why Patrik Laine didn’t work out for #CBJ and why it would be difficult to move him with @mattymar89.LIVE ⤵️📺 https://t.co/SqK7M993Jz pic.twitter.com/Eqyj1xrEJf— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) June 26, 2024 However, any immediate trade for Laine seems unlikely until he is cleared from the player assistance program and teams have had the chance to discuss his situation directly with him, Richardson pointed out. The substantial cap hit associated with his contract could also deter potential suitors, especially those wary of his ability to return to top form. While the speculation around Laine’s future continues, the reality of a trade may remain distant until more clarity is provided regarding his mental health and readiness to play.Photo Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports


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Los Angeles Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev has yet to be traded, but that is expected to change soon. The young winger wants out of Los Angeles, while the Kings are also hoping to move him. As a result, he has been generating interest. According to The Fourth Period, the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, and Ottawa Senators are all connected to Kaliyev at this juncture.The Stars could use a bit more scoring in the bottom half of their lineup, so taking a shot on Kaliyev would make sense for them. He would give them another promising young forward to work with and could thrive in their offense-first system.The Canadiens are rebuilding, so it makes sense that they want Kaliyev. He would be an option for their middle six and could get his scoring touch back playing bigger minutes. The Sharks have been aggressive this offseason, and they are not done yet. They still need to add more impactful forwards to their roster. If they landed Kaliyev, he would be a candidate for top-six minutes.The Sabres have been incredibly busy this offseason, but there is no question that they need another winger before the start of the season. Kaliyev would be a great pickup for their third line. As for the Senators, they have been connected to Kaliyev since this past season, and it makes sense that they still are. They need more depth scoring, and Kaliyev provides that when playing at his best.photo credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras is one of the top trade candidates who still has not been moved. The skilled forward would be a huge pickup for any club looking to add a star to their top six, and he is naturally generating a lot of interest around the league because of it.According to The Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres are currently in the mix for Zegras. The Canadiens and Flyers have been heavily connected to Zegras since this past season, so it is not shocking in the slightest that they remain in the sweepstakes. The Bruins could use another top-six winger after losing Jake DeBrusk through free agency, so it is understandable that they have Zegras on their radar. The Blackhawks have made several additions to their roster this summer, and adding Zegras would be a perfect way to end their summer. The Rangers have had na underwhelming offseason and could use another top-six winger in their lineup. Zegras would provide them with a big upgrade if he bounced back in NYC. The Flames could use a player like Zegras on their roster as they continue their retool. The same can be said for Buffalo, as they are desperately trying to break their playoff drought.photo credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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With $31 million in cap space, the Anaheim Ducks went into free agency last week with the intention of bringing in some high-end talent. That never materialized, but it turns out, at least, they didn’t go down without a fight.According to Eric Stephens in The Athletic, the Ducks tried for two of the biggest fish in the pond this summer:The Athletic learned from league sources that the Ducks made big offers to Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, both of whom ultimately signed in Nashville. The Ducks took their swings. They just didn’t connect.Certainly, there is a lot of high-end young talent on the roster, from young forward Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier, to the newly-welcomed No. 3 overall pick Beckett Sennecke and another 2024 first-rounder Stian Solberg. But the Ducks have been floundering near the bottom of the league for six years now, and needed a big summer to accelerate their rebuild. Unfortunately, the years of losing do not make them a premium free agent destination. “I’m at a point in my career, I just don’t want to play hockey games,” Marchessault told TSN. “I want to win hockey games. Going (to Nashville), everybody’s on the same page and we want to win. Definitely excited to get there.”GM Pat Verbeek will now have to look elsewhere to improve his squad in Anaheim, and with that, we’ll keep an eye on the Ducks in the trade market going forward. Stevens makes bold suggestions such as Mitch Marner and/or Martin Necas as big-name targets. Photo: © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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The San Jose Sharks have cut ties with Filip Zadina and now he’s free to sign with any team. Unfortunately, after six days of free agency, there hasn’t been much movement on a contract.The 24-year-old Zadina appeared in 72 games for the Sharks last season, recording 13 goals, 23 points and was a whopping minus-44 rating. The former sixth-overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings back in 2018 is now looking for a new team and could wind up with one of these three:Chicago BlackhawksThe Blackhawks have some room up front to add and Zadina could be a good project with some serious upside for their bottom six. He’s shown an ability to score he just hasn’t been given consistent minutes 5v5. Zadina has recorded 91 points throughout his 262-game NHL career and he may have to settle on a league minimum deal if he wants to remain in the NHL next season.Seattle KrakenThe Kraken need more offense and they need deeper internal competition up front. The Kraken could see Zadina as a castoff they can provide a second chance too, much like they’ve done with Eeli Tolvanen from the Nashville Predators, who they picked up on waivers and the re-signed to a multi-year contract. Zadina still has a ton of upside and signing with the Kraken could be a new lease on life.Minnesota WildNo team has more dead cap space than the Wild and GM Bill Guerin will try to be creative this summer to upgrade his roster. Zadina could wind up in Minnesota and push for a top-nine role next season. The Wild have one spot remaining among their NHL contract slots and with just $981,000 in cap space, Zadina would have to settle for a league minimum deal to make it work.My top 5 free agents remaining are all unqualified RFAs. There’s no regular UFA worth going after any more for our remaining contract slots so I’d prefer to shift focus to a few decent upside gambles:- Adam Boqvist- Liam Foudy- Alex Nylander- Filip Zadina- Calen Addison— Greg (@GHod29) July 4, 2024 Photo credit: © John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

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The Winnipeg Jets have had a tough offseason so far as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has tried to sign multiple free agents but so far no luck.The Jets offered Sean Monahan an extension and he ended up in Columbus. The team then turned their attention to Adam Henrique, he ended up re-signing in Edmonton and they also missed out on Blake Lizotte, this according to Darren Dreger of TSN.Dreger: “Tough day for the Winnipeg Jets, by the way, they tried to extend Sean Monahan, that didn’t work, he goes to Columbus, they tried on Henrique…that didn’t work, they tried on Lizotte, that didn’t work. Chevy’s got some lifting to do” (Ray & Dregs Podcast)— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 3, 2024The Jets also lost Brenden Dillon, Tyler Toffoli and Laurent Brossoit to free agency. Cheveldayoff has managed to sign Kaapo Kahkonen and Eric Comrie in net, along with Mason Shaw and Jaret Anderson-Dolan up front and Haydn Fleury on the back end. The Jets also re-signed Dylan DeMelo and Colin Miller on the back end.Winnipeg sits with $6.3 million in cap space after day four of free agency and is in tough to upgrade their roster with the remaining talent that’s left on the open market.Look for the Jets to make a trade to try and upgrade their roster for next season as unfortunately playing in Winnipeg isn’t as attractive as Cheveldayoff would like.Photo credit: © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

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All of the big names are gone, but for teams looking to beef up their blueline in free agency, there are still some players out there that can provide a lift to the bottom end of a defense corps.Yesterday, we had a look at the top 5 remaining free agent forwards, now we turn our attention to the top d-men still on the market. Adam BoqvistJustin SchultzRyan SuterTyson BarrieTony DeAngeloBoqvist was a late surprise addition to the UFA ranks, as the Columbus Blue Jackets bought him out on the eve of free agency. Still only 23, the former 8th overall pick in the NHL Draft (2018), is a puck-moving defender who just needs some time to grow into his offensive game. He has battled injury troubles in each of his five NHL seasons. Suter, though 39, clearly has the most caché of any of the remaining names on this list, as he received Norris Trophy votes for 10 straight seasons during his career, finishing as high as runner-up (2012-13). His minutes have declined in each of the last three seasons since arriving with the Dallas Stars (understandably as he’ll turn 40 next season), but he can still be a good stabilizing veteran on most teams’ back line. He averaged nearly 19 minutes with the Stars this past season with a +14 rating. Schultz is a right-shot defenseman who is a decent puck-mover. He posted 26 points in 70 games for the Seattle Kraken this past season on a $3 million cap hit. He’ll probably have to settle for a bit of a pay cut wherever he signs.Barrie, 33, fell completely out of favor with Nashville this past season, while DeAngelo had the worst full season of his career with Carolina this year, with just 11 points in 31 games while playing a career-low 14:20 per night.Photo: © David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

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