Girgensons was a pending unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old produced 12 goals and seven assists over 69 games in 2019-20.
He's failed to match the career highs of 15 goals and 30 points he posted in 2014-15; he was named an All-Star that season thanks in large part to a slew of votes from his native Latvia.
Girgensons earned $1.6 million on a one-year pact he inked in July 2019.
The Montreal Canadiens inked newly acquired forward Josh Anderson to a seven-year contract carrying an average annual value of $5.5 million, the club announced Thursday.
Anderson's pact includes a no-trade clause and breaks down as follows, according to TSN's Darren Dreger:
Year
Salary
1
$4M
2
$4M
3
$7M
4
$8M
5
$7M
6
$5M
7
$3.5M
The Canadiens will pay Anderson entirely in salary as no signing bonuses are included, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Montreal landed him in the trade that sent Max Domi and a third-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Anderson was a pending restricted free agent coming off a three-year deal worth $1.85 million per season. The 26-year-old posted only one goal and three assists over 26 games in 2019-20 after missing much of the campaign due to injury.
He collected 27 goals and 47 points while playing all 82 contests for Columbus in 2018-19, and he buried 19 goals across only 63 games one season prior. Anderson notched 17 goals in 78 contests while averaging only 12 minutes of ice time during his first full NHL campaign in 2016-17.
The Blue Jackets selected the 6-foot-3, 222-pound winger 95th overall in 2012.
One month after Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney gave Tuukka Rask a vote of confidence, the goaltender says he doesn't expect to be traded and wouldn't want to play elsewhere.
“I think Sweeney came out and said that’s not going to happen,” Rask told the Boston Herald's Steve Conroy. “I don’t want to play for anybody else but the Bruins.”
Sweeney said in September that he had "zero reservations about where Tuukka will be both on and off the ice for us," whenever the 2020-21 season begins.
Rask doesn't believe trading him is necessary.
“I don’t see any reason for that,” he said. “I’ve been here for a long time and the organization’s been so great for me. We’ve built our home in Boston and we call this home."
"... I think where my head’s at is focusing on next year and then hopefully a couple of more years after that and then pass the torch for the next guy after that. I want to help the organization as much as I can,” the veteran continued.
The 33-year-old has played his entire 13-year career with Boston, establishing himself as one of the league's premier goalies in the process. Rask is entering the final campaign of the eight-year extension he inked in 2013, which carries a $7-million cap hit.
Bruins backup Jaroslav Halak is also signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $2.25 million. Both goalies would be unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their deals.
Rask opted out of the NHL's return to play in August, citing the need to be with his family. Bruins president Cam Neely later revealed the netminder left the bubble to deal with a family emergency.
Kevyn Adams wants to make sure it's understood the Buffalo Sabres aren't interested in dealing Jack Eichel.
"I have zero concern on Jack wanting to be here," the general manager said Monday, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. He added: "There's no intention of moving Jack Eichel. I can make that very clear."
Adams was repeating his Sept. 29 response to a report that multiple teams had checked in on the superstar forward's availability. Despite interest from other clubs, the Sabres weren't interested in trading him then, either.
"People call and make phone calls and ask about players every day," Adams said at the time. "My job is to listen, and we have no intention of shopping Jack Eichel. People call and you have conversations. That's it."
Eichel's agent, Peter Fish, has also said his client doesn't want to leave Buffalo despite Eichel's frustration with the franchise's struggles.
Adams replaced the fired Jason Botterill in June; Eichel said in late May it's been "a tough past five years" with the Sabres.
The dynamic scorer, who turns 24 on Oct. 24, posted a career-high 36 goals to go along with 42 assists in just 68 games in 2019-20.
Eichel signed an eight-year, $80-million extension with the Sabres in October 2017. He's been the club's captain since the start of the 2018-19 season. Buffalo drafted him second overall in 2015.
Minnesota will retain 50% of Dubnyk's contract, with the netminder remaining on the books through next season at a cap hit of $4.33 million.
Dubnyk spent nearly six seasons with the Wild and posted a career-best .918 save percentage over that span. However, he produced a paltry .890 mark and minus-16.23 goals saved above average across 30 games in 2019-20.
The 34-year-old rejuvenated his career with Minnesota and blossomed into a true No. 1 goalie after the Coyotes traded him to the Wild in January 2015.
Dubnyk leads all NHL puck-stoppers in minutes played since his Wild debut. He earned All-Star nods in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
Minnesota also shipped forward Ryan Donato to San Jose for a 2021 third-round pick earlier Monday.
Grabner's agent, Jerry Buckley, told NHL Network's Craig Morgan that his client intends to continue playing.
The Austrian-born winger was originally signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $3.35 million. It was to be the final season of his three-year, $10.05-million contract he inked with the Coyotes in July 2018.
Grabner, who turns 33 on Monday, spent the last two campaigns with Arizona. He collected only eight goals and 11 points over 46 games in 2019-20.
The 11-year veteran has also played for the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks, the club that drafted him 14th overall in 2006.
The 29-year-old earned the Golden Knights' starting job in the postseason and excelled after Vegas landed him in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks at the deadline.
He would have been one of the top players available had he tested the UFA market on Oct. 9.
Lehner went 9-7 with a .917 save percentage in 16 playoff games with Vegas. He played three regular-season contests with the Golden Knights down the stretch after the trade.
The Swedish netminder posted a 16-10-5 record to go along with a .918 save percentage and 10.17 goals saved above average in 33 games with the Blackhawks in 2019-20 prior to the deal.
Lehner signed a one-year, $5-million pact with Chicago in July 2019.
This year's unrestricted free-agent pool could pack some superstar punch in all three position groups.
Dustin Byfuglien isn't included because he's reportedly unlikely to continue playing. Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist is already a UFA after the New York Rangers bought him out, but his plans are unclear.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the top players who could be available when the frenzy begins Oct. 9.
xGF% = Expected goals for percentage at five-on-five GSAA = Goals saved above average at five-on-five
25. Wayne Simmonds
Position: RW Age: 32 2019-20 cap hit: $5M Current team: Buffalo Sabres
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
68
8
25
14:55
45.81
Simmonds' play has noticeably declined, and he certainly isn't worth his previous cap hit, which the New Jersey Devils retained half of upon shipping him to the Sabres. However, the veteran winger should garner some interest considering his track record of providing both offense and physicality.
24. Ilya Kovalchuk
Position: LW/RW Age: 37 2019-20 cap hit: $700K Current team: Washington Capitals
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
46
10
26
16:58
55.14
After struggling and falling out with the Los Angeles Kings, Kovalchuk surprisingly produced 13 points in 22 games with the Montreal Canadiens. However, the former superstar wasn't as effective with the Capitals and virtually disappeared in the playoffs, but there's little risk involved in offering him another league-minimum deal.
23. Corey Perry
Position: RW Age: 35 2019-20 cap hit: $1.5M Current team: Dallas Stars
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
57
5
21
13:43
53.2
What a difference a postseason makes. Perry bolstered his stock significantly in the playoffs after barely contributing on the offensive end during the regular season. The longtime agitator buried three goals over a two-game span in the Stanley Cup Final, including the double-overtime winner in Game 5.
22. Zdeno Chara
Position: LD Age: 43 2019-20 cap hit: $2M Current team: Boston Bruins
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
68
5
14
21:01
48.46
Chara has spent the last 14 years with the Bruins (all as their captain), signed one-year deals with Boston in each of the last two offseasons, and said recently he wants to keep playing for the team. But general manager Don Sweeney was noncommittal when asked about the towering blue-liner's future with the club. So, though it may seem unlikely, the door appears open for an exit.
21. Vladislav Namestnikov
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Position: LW/C Age: 27 2019-20 cap hit: $4M Current team: Colorado Avalanche
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
65
17
31
15:03
46.91
Teams looking for depth scoring from a versatile forward would be wise to consider Namestnikov, who tallied four goals in 12 playoff games with the Avalanche after notching four markers and a pair of helpers in nine regular-season contests down the stretch.
20. Corey Crawford
Position: G Age: 35 2019-20 cap hit: $6M Current team: Chicago Blackhawks
GP
Record
SV%
GSAA
40
16-20-3
.917
7.52
Crawford may not be well-suited to shoulder the load at this point in his career, but the experienced goaltender proved more than capable in 2019-20 while sharing the crease. His GSAA ranked 10th in the NHL among netminders who played at least 25 games.
19. Erik Haula
Position: C/LW Age: 29 2019-20 cap hit: $2.75M Current team: Florida Panthers
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
48
12
24
15:50
47
Haula didn't wow anyone with his stats this past season, but like Namestnikov, he's capable of playing multiple positions up front and may come cheaper due to his diminished production and past injury woes. Despite those concerns, the Finnish forward is only two seasons removed from a 29-goal, 55-point campaign.
18. Travis Hamonic
Position: RD Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $3.86M Current team: Calgary Flames
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
50
3
12
21:12
48.55
Hamonic doesn't post gaudy numbers, nor is he likely to limit opposing goals or scoring chances at an elite level. But he is a proven top-four rearguard with 10 years of NHL experience. If he opts to leave the Flames, other teams in need could certainly do worse, as long as it's not for a long term.
17. Brenden Dillon
Position: LD Age: 29 2019-20 cap hit: $3.27M Current team: Washington Capitals
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
69
1
14
19:27
52.21
Not many defensemen are able to drive possession while providing as much of a physical presence as Dillon does. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound blue-liner ranked among the NHL leaders at his position in hits this past season and also authored expected goals for, scoring chances for, and Corsi For rates above 50%.
16. Sami Vatanen
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Position: RD Age: 29 2019-20 cap hit: $4.87M Current team: Carolina Hurricanes
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
47
5
23
21:45
47.24
Vatanen is capable of producing at a 35-to-40-point pace, as he did with the Hurricanes and Devils in 2019-20. He's also a decent defender, though his possession figures leave something to be desired. The Finnish blue-liner has been limited by injuries over the last two seasons, but he missed only one playoff game this campaign and should be fine entering 2020-21.
15. Chris Tanev
Position: RD Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $4.45M Current team: Vancouver Canucks
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
69
2
20
19:32
48.16
Tanev has spent his entire 10-year career with the Canucks, but the defenseman has the opportunity to hit the market if he so desires. The Pittsburgh Penguins will reportedly make a play for the rearguard if he becomes a UFA. Given his dependability, it wouldn't be shocking to see other clubs do the same.
14. TJ Brodie
Position: RD Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $4.65M Current team: Calgary Flames
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
64
4
19
20:27
52.25
Much like Hamonic, Brodie is an adequate top-four defenseman, though he'll have a slight edge over his teammate if he pursues free agency by virtue of being a left-hander who's played much of his Flames tenure on the right side.
13. Mikael Granlund
Position: C/LW Age: 28 2019-20 cap hit: $5.75M Current team: Nashville Predators
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
63
17
30
17:48
51.67
It was a tale of two seasons for Granlund, as he led the Predators with 11 goals in the 28 games after John Hynes took over as head coach in January. Granlund hasn't matched the level of production he previously established with the Minnesota Wild, but he'll still be one of the top free-agent forwards on the market.
12. Anton Khudobin
Position: G Age: 34 2019-20 cap hit: $2.5M Current team: Dallas Stars
GP
Record
SV%
GSAA
30
16-8-4
.930
18.62
Khudobin's stock soared after he helped lead Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final as the team's starter following a stellar regular season as Ben Bishop's backup. The Stars reportedly want to keep Khudobin, but he may opt to cash in elsewhere upon proving he's more than capable of holding a No. 1 job and carrying a team in the playoffs.
11. Braden Holtby
Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: G Age: 31 2019-20 cap hit: $6.1M Current team: Washington Capitals
GP
Record
SV%
GSAA
48
25-14-6
.897
-14.7
Holtby would have pushed for the top five on this list if he had a solid regular season - only Jimmy Howard had a worse GSAA - or was remotely reliable in the playoffs. Despite those struggles, the longtime Capitals starter isn't far removed from winning a championship in 2018 and the Vezina Trophy two years prior, so he may just need a change of scenery.
10. Kevin Shattenkirk
Position: RD Age: 31 2019-20 cap hit: $1.75M Current team: Tampa Bay Lightning
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
70
8
34
18:54
55.63
The Lightning inking Shattenkirk to such a team-friendly contract in August 2019 wasn't shocking after the New York Rangers bought him out, but it proved to be arguably the biggest bargain of the offseason. He was an immediate fit with Tampa Bay and raised his game in the playoffs, posting 13 points in 25 games.
9. Tyson Barrie
Position: RD Age: 29 2019-20 cap hit: $5.5M Current team: Toronto Maple Leafs
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
70
5
39
21:53
50.89
Barrie didn't fully mesh with the Maple Leafs, but the former Avalanche blue-liner remains a capable offensive defenseman with plenty of value. He improved after Sheldon Keefe took over as Toronto's head coach, and despite the rearguard's deficiencies in his own end, he'll undoubtedly get calls from interested clubs.
8. Evgenii Dadonov
Position: RW Age: 31 2019-20 cap hit: $4M Current team: Florida Panthers
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
69
25
47
17:06
50.49
Dadonov isn't the best Panthers forward on this list, but he's been one of the NHL's most underrated scorers over the last few years. The Russian winger potted 28 goals in back-to-back seasons and was on a 30-goal pace before the pause. Dadonov produced 135 combined points over the previous two campaigns, and though he benefited from playing with elite linemates, there's clearly talent there.
7. Tyler Toffoli
Position: RW Age: 28 2019-20 cap hit: $4.6M Current team: Vancouver Canucks
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
68
24
44
16:51
56.47
Toffoli said in September that staying with the Canucks is his top priority, but Vancouver has its hands full this offseason. He racked up six goals and 10 points in 10 regular-season games with the club after it acquired him from the Kings before the deadline, and he kept contributing in the playoffs. If the winger hits the market, he'll be one of the top players available.
6. Mike Hoffman
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: LW Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $5.19M Current team: Florida Panthers
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
69
29
59
16:50
46.27
Hoffman is as consistent as they come in the goal-producing department, averaging 28.7 per season over his nine-year career. He's the second-best forward who could be available in free agency, and it remains to be seen whether the Panthers will choose to keep either of their skilled scorers around.
5. Jacob Markstrom
Position: G Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $3.67M Current team: Vancouver Canucks
GP
Record
SV%
GSAA
43
23-16-4
.918
6.65
Vancouver general manager Jim Benning made it clear he wants to re-sign Markstrom, and the netminder has also said he wants to stay with the Canucks. However, there's no guarantee that happens, and if it doesn't, he'd likely be the second-most coveted puck-stopper on the market.
Lehner spent most of the regular season splitting time in the Blackhawks crease with Crawford, but his strong play with both Chicago and Vegas helped him secure the Golden Knights' starting role in the postseason. Lehner is the youngest among the top members of the pending UFA goalie class, and he certainly proved himself worthy of a longer contract after signing a surprising one-year deal in July 2019.
3. Torey Krug
Position: LD Age: 29 2019-20 cap hit: $5.25M Current team: Boston Bruins
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
61
9
49
20:29
52.01
Krugsaid in September he's "very opposed" to settling for a one-year deal, and it's tough to dispute the notion that he deserves a longer pact considering his track record and production from the back end.
2. Taylor Hall
Position: LW Age: 28 2019-20 cap hit: $6M Current team: Arizona Coyotes
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
65
16
52
19:10
50.89
Coyotes GM Bill Armstrong recently admitted the team would need to get creative to retain Hall, who helped Arizona reach the postseason in 2019-20 for the first time since 2012, albeit in an expanded format. The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner said in August his priority is "probably all winning," adding that the Coyotes "have a bright future." Still, he may be tempted to take his talents elsewhere.
1. Alex Pietrangelo
John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty
Position: RD Age: 30 2019-20 cap hit: $6.5M Current team: St. Louis Blues
GP
G
P
ATOI
xGF%
70
16
52
24:11
52.42
There's no question who the biggest fish on the market will be with the way things are trending. The Blues reportedly advised Pietrangelo to pursue free agency, and the superstar rearguard subsequently said maybe that's "best for both sides" after admitting there's been little progress in contract talks. However, he hasn't ruled out re-signing. Regardless of where he lands, Pietrangelo is in for a hefty payday.
