Murray is on Toronto's books for $4.6 million in 2023-24 before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer. The Maple Leafs' preferred route is a trade, per Johnston, but the club may also be able to use the league's second buyout window later this summer if a deal doesn't come to fruition.
Teams that have any player go to arbitration are granted an additional buyout window after the final hearing. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov is currently unsigned as a restricted free agent and may need to use a third party to get a contract done.
Since the Ottawa Senators retained 25% of Murray's salary when they traded him to Toronto, a buyout would have financial implications for both teams. Here's a breakdown, courtesy of Cap Friendly.
Season
Base salary
Buyout cost
Cap hit (TOR)
Cap hit (OTT)
2023-24
$8M
$2.66M
$687K
$229K
2024-25
$0
$2.66M
$2M
$666K
The Maple Leafs are currently $8.8 million over the $83.5-million cap after a busy start to free agency that saw the club bring in Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, John Klingberg, and Ryan Reaves. Toronto can get $5.625 million in relief by placing Jake Muzzin on long-term injured reserve but still needs to rid itself of approximately $3.2 million.
Murray's contract includes a 10-team no-trade clause.
The 29-year-old's debut season in Toronto was marred by multiple lengthy injury absences. Murray went 14-8-2 in 26 appearances, posting a .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals against average.
The Philadelphia Flyers signed free-agent forward Garnet Hathaway to a two-year contract worth $2.375 million annually, the team announced Saturday.
Hathaway's previous deal paid him $1.5 million per season. He signed the pact with the Washington Capitals in 2019 but finished it with the Boston Bruins after being traded prior to the 2023 deadline.
The 31-year-old recorded 22 points in 84 games in 2022-23 while averaging over 11 minutes per contest.
The Flyers weren't highly active upon free agency opening Saturday. The club's only other one-way signing was bringing in Ryan Poehling from the Pittsburgh Penguins on a one-year, $1.4-million deal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed veteran rearguard John Klingberg to a one-year contract worth $4.15 million, the team announced.
Klingberg hit the free-agent market for the second consecutive summer after inking a one-year, $7-million pact with the Anaheim Ducks in 2022. He was dealt to the Minnesota Wild prior to the trade deadline for Andrej Sustr, Nikita Nesterenko, and a fourth-round pick in 2025.
Klingberg managed 33 points in 67 total games this past campaign while averaging over 20 minutes per night. The soon-to-be 31-year-old has been a strong offensive contributor for much of his nine-year career, but his defensive impact in recent seasons leave much to be desired.
Toronto had a hole to fill on the right side of its blue line after losing Justin Holl to the Detroit Red Wings earlier Saturday.
Klingberg has recorded 407 points in 619 career games and earned Norris Trophy votes in 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Veteran enforcer Ryan Reaves is high on the Toronto Maple Leafs' wish list with the free-agent market set to open on Saturday, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.
Reaves is available following the expiration of the one-year, $1.75-million contract he signed with the New York Rangers last summer. The 36-year-old spent the 2022-23 campaign split between Broadway and the Minnesota Wild, where he was traded in November.
The Maple Leafs have approximately $11.5 million in cap space to work with this summer when factoring in long-term injured reserve candidates, according to Cap Friendly. However, Toronto only has 17 players signed for next seasons as it stands and has decisions to make on a group of key unrestricted free agents including Ryan O'Reilly, Noel Acciari, Michael Bunting, Alexander Kerfoot, Justin Holl, and Luke Schenn.
Starting goaltender Ilya Samsonov is also due for a new deal as a RFA.
Reaves has appeared in 828 career games across 13 seasons split between the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Rangers, and Wild. He's managed 129 points along with 1,023 penalty minutes over that span.
This past campaign, the Winnipeg native collected five goals, 10 assists, and 196 hits in 73 appearances.
The Vegas Golden Knights signed playoff hero Adin Hill to a two-year contract extension carrying an annual cap hit of $4.9 million, the team announced Friday.
Hill was scheduled to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent on July 1. His previous deal was worth $2.175 million per season.
The Golden Knights are now approximately $2.2 million over the $83.5-million salary threshold but have $5 million available in long-term injured reserve candidates, according to Cap Friendly. Vegas also signed forward Ivan Barbashev to a five-year, $25-million extension after winning the Stanley Cup earlier this month.
Hill was acquired from the San Jose Sharks last August for a fourth-round pick. He appeared in 27 regular season games, then was thrust into the starter's role after Laurent Brossoit was injured in the second round of the playoffs. Hill took the job and ran with it, posting an 11-4 record with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals against average to help the Golden Knights capture their first-ever championship.
The 27-year-old was a third-round draft choice of the Arizona Coyotes in 2015. He's made 101 career regular season appearances while suiting up for three teams over the past six campaigns.
Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is beyond satisfied with the haul he pulled in from the trade that sent disgruntled forward Pierre-Luc Dubios to the Los Angeles Kings.
"We're very excited with the pieces we were able to acquire," Cheveldayoff told NHL.com's Derek Van Diest.
He added: "I think we have two younger players that are just starting to come into their own and they have a tremendous amount of ability to grow as hockey players. Especially in Vilardi's situation, where he missed some very important years in the development world. You all know how development takes different shapes and forms, ebbs and flows and curves, and in his particular situation, when you lose those kind of years, it takes some time to grow your game."
All three players should be able to contribute to a retooling Jets lineup next season. Here's a look at the trio's 2022-23 stats:
Player
Position
Age
Stats
Iafallo
C
29
59GP-14G-22A
Vilardi
C
23
63GP-23G-18A
Kupari
C
22
66GP-3G-12A
Iafallo is under contract through 2025 at $4 million per season, while Vilardi and Kupari - both former first-round picks of the Kings - are currently restricted free agents.
Dubois' tenure with the Jets was presumed to be nearing an end after he signed a one-year deal last year with the intention of testing the open market in 2024. Earlier this offseason, Dubois' agent told Winnipeg that his client wasn't interested in signing an extension this summer.
Dubois ultimately inked an eight-year, $68-million contract as part of the trade.
The Jets are expected to be among the NHL's busiest teams this offseason. Vezina Trophy nominee Connor Hellebuyck is rumored to be on the block after expressing his intention not to sign a new deal with the club, while longtime core forwards Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler are reportedly available as well as they enter the final year of their contracts.
Winnipeg qualified for the playoffs this past season but was bounced in five games by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.
William Nylander's desired price on a potential contract extension is currently higher than what the Toronto Maple Leafs are willing to pay, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports.
There is a "sizeable gap" between the two sides at the moment, LeBrun adds.
Nylander is eligible to sign an extension starting Saturday, the same date his 10-team no-trade list kicks in. The 27-year-old is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024.
Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said earlier this week that he hoped for clarity on Nylander's and Auston Matthews' contract wishes by July 1. Matthews is also eligible to re-sign Saturday as a 2024 UFA.
Treliving added he's confident he'll be able to ink both players even if negotiations drag throughout the summer and into next season.
Nylander is nearing the end of a six-year, $45-million contract he signed in 2018. He infamously held out until the Dec. 1 deadline of that season before agreeing to a deal that has aged nicely for the perennially cap-strapped Maple Leafs at $6.9 million annually.
He's managed 295 points in 336 games over the duration of his current contract, including a career-high 40 goals and 87 points this past season. Nylander also managed 10 points in 11 playoff games this spring as the Maple Leafs advanced beyond the opening round for the first time since 2004.
Toronto currently has a projected $48 million in financial flexibility for the 2024-25 season with only 10 players signed, according to Cap Friendly. The cap is expected to rise significantly next summer after three years of stagnancy coming out of the pandemic.
Much has been made of this summer's relatively weak crop of unrestricted free agents, but regardless of the lack of star power, there are two key points to remember about the 2023 open market.
First, everyone has to sign somewhere no matter the perceived talent level. Second, a free-agent frenzy without a headliner available won't stop hockey fans from debating the merits of each team's signings deep into the dog days of summer. We might as well embrace it.
Below, we take a crack at predicting where this year's most notable free agents may end up. The order of each player's appearance on the list is based on our 2023 UFA rankings, and for the sake of excitement, we picked new homes for each entry while limiting suitors to three, even though several players are likely to have more.
Orlov is arguably the most impactful player available on the open market and could slot in to virtually any team's top four. He was reportedly eyeing a seven-year extension with the Washington Capitals before he was dealt to the Boston Bruins before the deadline, and a similar stance could make some suitors balk as Orlov will be 32 by puck drop in October. If term isn't a sticking point, Orlov should sign one of the summer's richest deals as a swift-skating, minute-munching, physical blue-liner with offensive upside.
Prediction 🔮: Panthers for five years, $31 million. Florida has $10 million in cap space and currently only has four defensemen signed. Two of them, Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, suffered injuries in the playoffs that could leak into next season.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Richard T Gagnon / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Age: 28 2022-23 stats: 50 GP, 8 G, 22 A Potential suitors: Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Kraken
Picking three options for Bertuzzi was a tricky task, as all 32 teams would take a player of his ilk in a heartbeat. The gritty winger is a pain to play against and is only one season removed from a 30-goal campaign. His 10-point effort in Boston's lone playoff series certainly helped his stock heading into free agency.
Prediction 🔮: Kraken for six years, $33 million. Seattle is one of the most financially flexible teams in the league this summer and could benefit from beefing up its left wing depth chart. Bertuzzi could immediately thrive in the Kraken's top six.
J.T. Compher
Age: 28 2022-23 stats: 82 GP, 17 G, 35 A Potential suitors: Red Wings, Hurricanes, Penguins
Compher played a huge role for the injury-riddled Avalanche this past season, averaging over 20 minutes per night and posting a career-high 52 points while boasting strong defensive numbers as a shutdown center. His breakout season may have priced him out of Colorado, and he could fit in several teams' middle-sixes.
Prediction 🔮: Red Wings for five years, $28.5 million. Detroit needs more contributors up front and has the cap space to spend on a versatile player like this.
Jarry is coming off an injury-plagued campaign but should garner attention from the several teams in need of reinforcements between the pipes as one of the few available goalies under 30. He's been a capable starter for much of his career, owning a combined .915 save percentage over the past four seasons.
Prediction 🔮: Senators for four years, $21.2 million. Bottom line, Ottawa needs saves to progress into a playoff team. The Sens ranked 20th league-wide last season with a .895 all-situations clip.
Ryan O'Reilly
Age: 32 2022-23 stats: 53 GP, 16 G, 14 A Potential suitors: Red Wings, Blues, Canucks
O'Reilly's offensive drop-off last season is a legitimate concern, but he's a serial winner and a dependable two-way pivot in a market that's thin on quality centers. Giving him too long of a deal is a big risk at this stage of his career, but O'Reilly's resume undoubtedly makes him one of this summer's top prizes.
Prediction 🔮: Canucks for three years, $16.5 million. Vancouver is incredibly weak down the middle and has some new-found cap space after buying out Oliver Ekman-Larsson. There are worse ideas than spending it on a veteran who can help build the team an identity while contributing positively at both ends of the ice.
Ivan Barbashev
Zak Krill / National Hockey League / Getty
Age: 27 2022-23 stats: 82 GP, 16 G, 29 A Potential suitors: Jets, Capitals, Red Wings
No player set themselves up for a better offseason payday than Barbashev, whose 18 playoff points were instrumental in helping the Vegas Golden Knights capture the Stanley Cup. Barbashev's defensive metrics are underwhelming, but he's clearly capable of piling up points when deployed with gifted linemates.
Prediction 🔮: Jets for four years, $20.4 million. Not a lot of contenders have the room to take on Barbashev's impending pay raise, and Winnipeg is likely to be in need of impact forwards with a summer full of roster turnover on deck.
Alex Killorn
Age: 33 2022-23 stats: 82 GP, 27 G, 37 A Potential suitors: Red Wings, Canadiens, Kraken
Killorn had more points than any other UFA this past season, but his market might not be very hot. On top of pushing 34, the Harvard product has plenty of extra mileage thanks to 140 playoff games over the past nine seasons. Killorn can still help a lot of teams win, but with two championship rings in the the vault already, he may be seeking one final cash-out before calling it quits.
Prediction 🔮: Canadiens for 3 years, $14.4 million. The Habs could use a proven winner or two to insulate their burgeoning core. Cap space isn't an issue for the duration of this projected deal, and Killorn has a pre-existing relationship with head coach Martin St. Louis as they were teammates in Tampa Bay.
Tarasenko isn't the $7.5-million player he used to be, but his offensive instincts and finishing ability should intrigue a multitude of teams seeking top-six and power-play help at the right price. He has a lengthy injury history but showed he's still a threat with 50 points in 69 games split between the Blues and Rangers in 2022-23. Term could be an issue for buyers, but Tarasenko has a resume many of his peers this summer can't compete with.
Prediction 🔮: Capitals for four years, $20 million. Washington had only one 20-goal scorer not named Alex Ovechkin last season and is in the midst of a retool to find a way back into the playoffs. Help up front is a key area of need for the Caps to return to relevancy in the Metropolitan Division.
Back-to-back 23-goal seasons have made Bunting a luxury the Maple Leafs likely can't afford, as he's due for a major raise from the $950,000 he earned for two years in Toronto. He should attract a fair share of attention as one of the youngest players on our list, but on-ice discipline and a small sample size without playing alongside star players could be potential detractors in a big-ticket contract.
Prediction 🔮: Senators for five years, $28 million. Here we have Bunting crossing boundaries in the Battle of Ontario. The Senators look to have an impending vacancy at left wing with Alex DeBrincat wanting out, and Bunting could fill the role admirably at a lesser price.
Jason Zucker
Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty
Age: 31 2022-23 stats: 78 GP, 27 G, 21 A Potential suitors: Hurricanes, Red Wings, Kraken
Zucker looked like the player he was in his prime in 2022-23, bagging 27 goals and driving play while appearing in 78 games - his highest total since 2018-19. Age and a lengthy injury history will work against him, but as a speedy winger with six 20-goal seasons under his belt, he should draw lots of attention.
Prediction 🔮: Hurricanes for 4 years, $22 million. You've probably noticed by now that Carolina has been linked to almost every forward on our list. They desperately need depth up front and a strong two-way player like Zucker fits Rod Brind'Amour's preferred style.
Goalies will be a hot commodity come July 1, and Andersen will get his fair share of looks. A long-term agreement feels highly unlikely for the Danish backstop, who's had significant injury absences in each of the past two seasons.
Prediction 🔮: Kings for two years, $6 million. Andersen might not be the long-term solution GM Rob Blake covets between the pipes, but barring a blockbuster trade, the veteran netminder might be his best option. As long as the cost is low, Andersen should fit in just fine in Tinsel Town.
Kane was supposed to be the headliner of the 2023 UFA class, but major hip surgery and an underwhelming spell on Broadway make his future murky. A Hall of Fame resume and gamebreaking talent will always be on Kane's side, but he may not be ready to play until December. With approximately $115 million already earned and virtually every award the sport has to offer in his trophy case, there's no urgency for Kane to chase money or force his way onto a contender's roster (again).
Prediction 🔮: Sabres for two years, $5 million. We're taking the easy way out and forecasting a homecoming for Kane. Buffalo could use a winner in the dressing room, and Showtime's arrival could further galvanize a young roster on the upswing and rabid fan base ready to taste the playoffs again.
Mathew Dumba
Age: 28 2022-23 stats: 79 GP, 4 G, 10 A Potential suitors: Sabres, Maple Leafs, Oilers
After years on the trade block, Dumba finally appears set to leave the cap-strapped Wild on his own merit. He's gone from an offensive catalyst to a sound defensive rearguard, but the high-end physical edge and puck moving skills have remained in play throughout his transformation. As a right-handed shot under 30 years old, he's bound to field plenty of offers.
Prediction 🔮: Sabres for five years, $29.25 million. Buffalo needs a right-handed veteran to play alongside Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power, a pair of first overall picks that are set to hold down the Sabres' left side for years to come. Dumba's puck moving skills, combined with the skating ability of Buffalo's incumbent cornerstones, could make for one of the league's most dynamic defensive pairings.
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award on Monday on the heels of an otherworldly 2022-23 season.
The Hart is given out to the most valuable player as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, while the Ted Lindsay is awarded to the most outstanding player as judged by the players' association.
McDavid edged David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers for the Hart. Pastrnak and San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson were the other nominees for the Ted Lindsay.
This marks McDavid's third MVP and fourth Ted Lindsay in his eight-year career. He was one first-place vote shy of winning the Hart unanimously.
McDavid earned his fifth Art Ross this season as the league's top point producer (153), and he also nabbed his first Maurice "Rocket" Richard for leading the goal-scoring race (64). The 26-year-old was the first player to break the 150-point barrier since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. In addition, McDavid's 2022-23 point total ranks 15th in league history.
Wayne Gretzky (nine times), Lemieux (four times), and Steve Yzerman (155 in 1988-89) are the only players to have ever produced more than McDavid's output this past season.
McDavid's 64 goals matched Mike Bossy's 1981-82 mark for 25th all time. He became the 22nd player in league history to hit the 60-goal plateau and the fourth to do so since 1996, joining Auston Matthews (2022), Steven Stamkos (2012), and Alexander Ovechkin (2008).
The Oilers captain also led all skaters this season in goals above replacement (31.7) and wins above replacement (5.4), according to Evolving Hockey.
McDavid's exploits led Edmonton to 109 points, good for second in the Western Conference and the franchise's highest total since 1985-86. Playoff totals aren't factored into MVP voting, but McDavid carried his dominance into the spring with 20 points in 12 postseason games before the Oilers were eliminated in Round 2.
McDavid has said on numerous occasions that a Stanley Cup would mean much more to him than further individual awards.
"When you're young and you're coming into the league, you're so excited to play in the NHL and to win a Hart Trophy and an Art Ross," McDavid told NHL.com's Derek Van Diest before earning any hardware Monday.
"It's exciting when you're younger, and it still is, but at this point in my career, it's not the be-all-end-all."
Calgary Flames veteran Mikael Backlund won the 2023 King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Monday.
The award is given to the player who "best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."
Backlund edged New York Islanders captain Anders Lee and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse to earn the honor.
All 32 teams nominated a player for the award. Finalists were chosen by an executive committee led by commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
Backlund is an ambassador for the ALS Society of Alberta, Kids Cancer Care, and Special Olympics Calgary, among other initiatives.
"I’ve always been inspired by people who help others that struggle," Backlund said. "I am aware that I have been given the opportunity to live a privileged life and know that a small gesture from me can mean the world to other people."
Backlund has spent his entire career with the Flames after being drafted 24th overall in 2007.
