2017 has been quite a busy year in the hockey world. There have been several big trades, the first expansion team in over 15 years, and much more. Over the coming days, PHR will take a look back at the top stories from around the game on a month-by-month basis. Next up is a look at July.
Free Agent Frenzy: As always, July started with a firestorm of free agent contracts. Even with a relatively weak free agent class, some big contracts were signed. Montreal inked Karl Alzner to a five-year deal, Dallas brought Alexander Radulov south for five years, Kevin Shattenkirk left money on the table to sign in New York, and the Sharks ageless duo of Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau were finally split up.
Exciting Extensions: Not just free agents got paid in the early days of July. Huge extensions were also signed as soon as teams were allowed, with Carey Price inking his market-changing eight-year deal. Price will earn $15MM in 2018-19 and carry a $10.5MM cap hit, by far the largest numbers by any goaltender in the league. Two Western Conference teams were eager to lock up defenders, with Cam Fowler and Marc-Edouard Vlasic both re-upping for eight more seasons.
Capital Gains: After re-signing T.J. Oshie to a huge contract just before he hit free agency, the Washington Capitals locked up Evgeny Kuznetsov for another eight-years at a $7.8MM cap hit. Those numbers seemed high for the already cash-strapped Capitals, and basically forced the team to move Marcus Johansson. The New Jersey Devils jumped on the opportunity to bring another talented forward aboard, and added Johansson for a pair of draft picks (which didn’t include a first-rounder).
Kovalchuk Forced To Wait: After dominating the headlines for some time, Ilya Kovalchuk finally made the decision to stay in the KHL for another year. The Devils, who still held his NHL rights, weren’t able to find a sign-and-trade deal that worked for them and effectively blocked his return. Kovalchuk announced that he still wanted to return to the NHL, but will have to wait for the summer of 2018 when he is a completely unrestricted free agent.
Hundred-Million Man: Even with all the huge extensions and contracts signed around the league, nothing came close to the deal signed on July 5th. That day, Peter Chiarelli confidently strode to the podium in Edmonton to introduce Connor McDavid as the league’s newest $100MM man. McDavid signed an eight-year extension that carries a $12.5MM cap hit, the largest in league history. McDavid’s deal will kick in for the 2018-19 season, and will immediately put pressure on the Oilers to creatively fill out the rest of the roster.
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