Report: Canucks expected to sign Myers to long-term deal worth $30M

The Vancouver Canucks are expected to sign free-agent defenseman Tyler Myers to a five-year contract Monday, according to multiple reports.

The two sides are "closing in" on a deal worth $30 million, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.

The free-agent market opens Monday at noon ET and Myers is one of the top defenders available. The 29-year-old had nine goals and 31 points in 80 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season.

Myers was a first-round pick, 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008. He has 74 goals and 265 points in 635 career games.

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Report: Leafs trading Brown, Zaitsev to Sens for Ceci on Monday

The Toronto Maple Leafs will reportedly send forward Connor Brown and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to the Ottawa Senators on Monday in exchange for defenseman Cody Ceci, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

At least six pieces (players and draft picks) are included in the deal, but those are the key players involved, McKenzie adds. Zaitsev has a $3 million bonus that is scheduled to be paid out Monday by the Maple Leafs before the deal is completed.

Zaitsev has reportedly waived his no trade clause in order to make the trade possible, according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The 27-year-old requested a trade from the team in May.

The Russian rearguard has five years remaining on his current contract with an average annual value of $4.5 million.

Ceci, who is a restricted free agent and is in need of a new deal, enjoyed a career season with the Senators, posting 26 points in 74 games.

Brown hasn't been able to replicate the offensive production he saw in his 20-goal rookie campaign, but he did contribute 29 points in 82 games in a depth role for the Leafs last season. His current deal has one year remaining with a team-friendly cap hit of $2.1 million.

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Report: Jackets table massive, last-minute 8-year deal to Panarin

The Blue Jackets are making a last-minute pitch to Artemi Panarin with hopes of keeping him in Columbus.

The club's offering the star forward an eight-year deal worth at least $96 million, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, and the contract could be worth as much as $100 million.

However, in order to lock up Panarin for eight years, the deal must be agreed upon and signed by midnight ET on Sunday. If Panarin hits the open market Monday, the longest contract he can sign is seven years, with any team, including Columbus.

The Blue Jackets reportedly made an eight-year, $72-million offer to Panarin last summer, but he informed them he wasn't interested in negotiating an extension.

The Russian winger led Columbus in scoring in each of his two seasons with the team and tallied a career-high 87 points this season.

With reports of Matt Duchene signing with the Nashville Predators and netminder Sergei Bobrovsky likely headed to the Florida Panthers, the Blue Jackets are taking one last swing at keeping one of their most promising talents.

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Report: Duchene expected to sign with Predators

Free-agent forward Matt Duchene is reportedly set to join the Nashville Predators on a contract carrying an average annual value of $8 million, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The deal would make Duchene the team's highest-paid player along with center Ryan Johansen.

The 28-year-old was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets last February and played a key role in helping the franchise win its first-ever playoff series, contributing 10 points in 10 playoff games.

Duchene scored a career-high 31 goals and tied a career-best mark with 70 points last season between the Ottawa Senators and the Blue Jackets.

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Report: Smith to sign with Oilers, Talbot with Flames

Free-agent netminder Mike Smith will sign with the Edmonton Oilers once free agency opens Monday, while Cam Talbot will be joining the Calgary Flames, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.

Smith spent the last two seasons with the Flames and helped the team capture the top seed in the Western Conference in 2018-19 while splitting crease time with netminder David Rittich.

The 37-year-old posted a 48-38-8 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage during his tenure with the Flames.

Talbot was traded from the Oilers to the Philadelphia Flyers last February and posted a 3.70 goals-against average in four appearances with the team.

The 31-year-old spent three seasons as the Oilers' starter. With Jon Gillies currently the only Flames netminder under contract, Talbot could find new life in Calgary. He'll likely battle it out for the starting role with Rittich if the restricted free agent re-signs with the Flames.

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Canadiens trade Shaw to Blackhawks for draft picks

Andrew Shaw is heading back to Chicago.

The Montreal Canadiens have traded Shaw and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick in 2020, as well as a third-round selection in 2021, the teams announced Sunday.

The Canadiens didn't retain any salary in the deal, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. Shaw has three years remaining on his current contract with an annual cap hit of $3.9 million.

Shaw was selected by the Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL Draft and spent the first five years of his career in Chicago, capturing a pair of Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015.

The 27-year-old recorded 19 goals and a career-high 47 points in his third season with the Canadiens last year.

The Blackhawks bolstered their blue line earlier this month after picking up defenseman Calvin De Haan from the Carolina Hurricanes and Olli Maatta from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Chicago now has $8 million in projected cap space with eight forwards currently under contract.

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Report: Oilers among teams pursuing Perry

On the eve of the 2019 free-agency period, the Edmonton Oilers are among the teams going after free-agent winger Corey Perry, reports Sportsnet's John Shannon.

Perry spent his entire 14-year career with the Anaheim Ducks before the team bought out his contract earlier in the offseason. The Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks were also reported to have interest in the former MVP earlier in June.

The 34-year-old was limited to 31 games in 2018-19 due to injuries but has six NHL seasons with 30 or more goals under his belt. He could provide decent value to an Oilers offense that ranked 20th in goals for this past season - despite having two of the league's top four scorers.

Edmonton has $11.3 million available to spend this offseason, according to CapFriendly.

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