August Free Agency Update: Central Division
As even most mid-tier free agents are now off the market, it’s a good time to look at how each team has fared on the free agent market this offseason. We’re publishing a list of one-way signings (i.e., likelier to start the season on the NHL roster) by team, per division, to keep you updated on NHL player movement since the new league year began on July 1.
Asterisked players denote a restricted free agent. Double-asterisked players denote the contract starts in the 2024-25 season. Next up is the Central Division. You can check out the list of Atlantic Division signings here and the list of Metropolitan Division signings here.
Arizona Coyotes
F Jason Zucker (one year, $5.3MM cap hit)
D Mathew Dumba (one year, $3.9MM cap hit)
F Alexander Kerfoot (two years, $3.5MM cap hit)
*F Matias Maccelli (three years, $3.425MM cap hit)
F Nick Bjugstad (two years, $2.1MM cap hit)
*F Jack McBain (two years, $1.599MM cap hit)
D Troy Stecher (one year, $1.1MM cap hit)
Chicago Blackhawks
*F Philipp Kurashev (two years, $2.25MM cap hit)
F Ryan Donato (two years, $2MM cap hit)
Colorado Avalanche
*F Ross Colton (four years, $4MM cap hit)
*D Bowen Byram (two years, $3.85MM cap hit)
F Miles Wood (six years, $2.5MM cap hit)
F Jonathan Drouin (one year, $825K cap hit)
F Andrew Cogliano (one year, 35+ contract, $825K cap hit)
D Jack Johnson (one year, 35+ contract, $775K cap hit)
*F Ben Meyers (one year, $775K cap hit)
Dallas Stars
F Matt Duchene (one year, $3MM cap hit)
F Craig Smith (one year, $1MM cap hit)
*F Ty Dellandrea (one year, $900K cap hit)
F Sam Steel (one year, $850K cap hit)
D Joel Hanley (two years, $787.5K cap hit)
D Gavin Bayreuther (one year, $775K cap hit)
Minnesota Wild
*G Filip Gustavsson (three years, $3.75MM cap hit)
*F Brandon Duhaime (one year, $1.1MM cap hit)
Nashville Predators
F Ryan O’Reilly (four years, $4.5MM cap hit)
F Gustav Nyquist (two years, $3.185MM cap hit)
D Luke Schenn (three years, $2.75MM cap hit)
*F Cody Glass (two years, $2.5MM cap hit)
*D Alexandre Carrier (one year, $2.5MM cap hit)
F Denis Gurianov (one year, $850K cap hit)
St. Louis Blues
*F Alexey Toropchenko (two years, $1.25MM cap hit)
F Mackenzie MacEachern (two years, $775K cap hit)
F Oskar Sundqvist (one year, $775K cap hit)
Winnipeg Jets
*F Gabriel Vilardi (two years, $3.438MM cap hit)
F Vladislav Namestnikov (two years, $2MM cap hit)
G Laurent Brossoit (one year, $1.75MM cap hit)
*D Dylan Samberg (two years, $1.4MM cap hit)
*F Morgan Barron (two years, $1.35MM cap hit)
*F Rasmus Kupari (two years, $1MM cap hit)
G Collin Delia (one year, $775K cap hit)
F Jeffrey Viel (one year, $775K cap hit)
Contract information courtesy of CapFriendly.
Predators Prospect Alexander Campbell Transfers To Northeastern
Predators prospect Alexander Campbell is on the move. After spending his first three seasons at Clarkson, Northeastern University announced (Twitter link) that the forward will suit up for the Huskies in 2023-24.
The 22-year-old was a third-round pick by Nashville back in 2019 (65th overall) after a strong season with Victoria of the BCHL. Campbell spent the following year with USHL Omaha before making the jump to the collegiate level in 2020-21.
Over his three seasons with Clarkson, Campbell was quite productive. He notched 17 points in just 22 games in his freshman year before following that up with 16 goals and 17 assists in 37 contests in 2021-22. Last year, he wasn’t quite able to reach those numbers but still finished third in team scoring with 14 goals and a dozen helpers in 34 contests.
His success with Clarkson makes it a bit surprising that Campbell has opted to transfer for his senior year. He is one of just two NHL-drafted forwards with Northeastern for the upcoming season so he’ll undoubtedly have a significant role which could be worth his while as he looks to earn an entry-level deal from the Preds by June 1st, 2024.
Prospect Jesse Kiiskinen Sustains Jaw Injury At World Junior Summer Showcase
- Predators prospect Jesse Kiiskinen sustained a jaw injury on Monday and was held out of Finland’s final contest on Wednesday as well at the World Junior Summer Showcase. However, NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman notes that the injury isn’t believed to be serious but given that this is a summer event, they’re opting for caution with the 17-year-old. Kiiskinen was a third-round pick by Nashville back in June (68th overall) and will be looking to land a full-time spot with Pelicans in Finland’s top level next season after getting seven Liiga games under his belt in 2022-23.
Nashville Predators Sign Denis Gurianov
Already producing one of the most interesting free agency tactics by any team so far this offseason, the Nashville Predators continue to add depth to their lineup. This time, the team has announced a one-year, $850K contract for forward Denis Gurianov.
Nashville should be very familiar with what Gurianov brings to the table, as he previously skated with their division rival, the Dallas Stars, for the last six seasons. Struggling in Dallas last year, the team shipped Gurianov to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Evgenii Dadonov.
It wasn’t that long ago that Gurianov was considered one of the top prospects in the Stars’ organization, as he was drafted 12th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. Taking a couple of seasons to crack the NHL roster, Gurianov strung together three solid seasons in Dallas, scoring 43 goals and 47 assists in 192 games between 2019-2022.
Unfortunately, the production didn’t ramp up at all during the 2022-23 season, and Gurianov saw his ice time slashed by the Stars, losing about two minutes on average with time on ice. After the trade to Montreal, Gurianov had a much larger opportunity on offense, as he was able to get around 15 minutes a night with the Canadiens. In his small sample size in Quebec, Gurianov scored eight points in 23 games.
Now transitioning back to the NHL’s Central Division, Gurianov should once again have plenty of opportunity in Nashville. Given how the team’s roster is currently constructed, Gurianov should have no problem slotting into the team’s middle six.
Nashville Predators Sign Tanner Molendyk, Kalan Lind
The Nashville Predators became the third team to sign a 2023 draft pick to their entry-level contract today, signing defenseman Tanner Molendyk to a three-year, entry-level contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. They immediately followed Molendyk’s announcement with that of second-round pick Kalan Lind, who’s also signed a three-year ELC.
Moldenyk joins Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli and Montreal Canadiens defender David Reinbacher as 2023 first-round picks already under contract with their teams.
The 18-year-old from McBride, British Columbia, was selected with the 24th overall pick last week in Nashville. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound blueliner enjoyed an outstanding season with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL in 2022-23, setting career-highs with nine goals, 28 assists, and 37 points in 67 regular-season games en route to a berth in the Eastern Conference Final.
During the WHL playoffs, Molendyk continued to excel, notching three goals and five assists in 18 games. That was good enough to share the lead for playoff goals among WHL defensemen and finish second in points and assists.
Beyond his league success, Molendyk started off his draft year by representing Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In his first-ever national team appearance, he recorded one goal and three assists in five games, winning a gold medal in the process.
It wasn’t Molendyk’s offensive production that warranted a first-round selection, however. Those in the analytics community know better than anyone that he’s an absolute monster in transition, dominating the WHL with his two-way play. An incredibly skilled skater, Molendyk doesn’t ever project to break any team records in terms of points but is as steady as they come in terms of advancing the puck and dominating possession.
Molendyk is expected to return to Saskatoon for his third full WHL season next year, which would slide his entry-level contract to begin in 2024-25 (assuming he plays less than 10 NHL games). He won’t be eligible for AHL assignment until 2025-26, per the NHL-CHL transfer agreement.
Nashville drafted Lind with their fourth pick of the draft and their second of the second round, taking him 46th overall. The 6-foot, 158-pound left wing also played in the WHL, posting good offensive totals with the Red Deer Rebels (16 goals, 28 assists, 44 points in 43 games). One of the few power forwards available in the draft, Lind is a dominant checker whose effort is unmatched in most situations. He carries solid offensive smarts and playmaking capabilities, too – which became apparent with his over-point-per-game production.
Nashville Predators Sign Jasper Weatherby
The Nashville Predators got some fortification for their center depth chart today, signing UFA forward Jasper Weatherby to a one-year, two-way contract. Per the team, the contract carries the league minimum $775K cap hit. PuckPedia reports he’ll earn $115K at the AHL level.
A 2018 fourth-round selection of the San Jose Sharks, Nashville will be Weatherby’s third NHL organization in a matter of months. The 25-year-old Oregon product was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in January after a beyond-disappointing AHL showing with the San Jose Barracuda to start 2022-23.
Weatherby actually captured a stable fourth-line spot on the Sharks for the better part of 2021-22, recording five goals and 11 points in 50 games. It was impressive work for a late-round pick in his first professional season after wrapping up a three-year stint at the University of North Dakota, which saw him record 24 points in 29 games during his final season.
This past season was rather unkind to Weatherby, however. He failed to make the Sharks out of camp and proceeded to score just three goals and six points in 39 games to start the season with the Barracuda, spearheading the move to Detroit. With the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, Weatherby still posted just 11 points in 31 games.
He’ll aim for a career reset in Nashville, looking to play a more integral role down the middle for their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. With the team signing Ryan O’Reilly and needing to save spots for promising youngsters down the middle like Cody Glass, Thomas Novak, and Juuso Parssinen, Weatherby’s chances of making the roster are slim, even with his 50 games of NHL experience in San Jose.
Weatherby will be a restricted free agent again next offseason, this time with arbitration rights. Detroit opted not to issue him a qualifying offer last week, making him available to all 32 teams on the open market.
Nashville Predators Re-Sign Alexandre Carrier
Per PuckPedia, the Nashville Predators have re-signed RFA defenseman Alexandre Carrier to a one-year, $2.5MM contract for 2023-24. The deal walks him directly to unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Carrier has been a solid contributor on Nashville’s blue line, posting solid two-way numbers and succeeding as a puck-moving defender who has decent smarts. The right-shot defender did take a considerable step back on the scoresheet in 2022-23, though, posting just nine points in 43 games after a 30-point campaign the year prior. The upside he flashed, though, warranted a qualifying offer and an extension from Nashville.
The one-year contract provides an intriguing dynamic for both Carrier and the Predators. Nashville is allowing him to set himself up nicely for a payday as the cap skyrockets up next season if he has another strong campaign, although he may not get much upward mobility in the lineup to have point-producing opportunities, especially with Tyson Barrie in the fold as the team’s main secondary offensive defenseman behind Roman Josi.
Nashville Predators Extend Cody Glass, Sign Grosenick, Angello
The Nashville Predators have signed rising center Cody Glass to a two-year contract extension carrying a $2.5MM AAV, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Additionally, the Predators have added to their minor-league depth, signing goaltender Troy Grosenick to a one-year, $775K contract (worth $175K in the minors, per PuckPedia), as well as forward Anthony Angello to a two-year, $1.55MM contract with an AAV of $775K at the NHL. Both contracts given to Grosenick and Angello are two-way deals.
Glass is coming off a breakout year that saw him lock down a full-time NHL spot for the first time. The 24-year-old played in 72 games last season, picking up 14 goals and 21 assists while averaging nearly 15 minutes of playing time a night. That earned him a spot on Canada’s entry at the Worlds where he added four assists in ten contests. While that’s still not a great year for someone not far removed from being the sixth-overall pick in 2017, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
This contract basically represents a second bridge contract for Glass, giving both sides to see if his production last season is a sign of things to come or if it was more of a one-off. With both Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen out of the picture now, it stands to reason that Glass should have a bigger opportunity next season. He will still be RFA-eligible at the end of this deal and with the contract paying out an even $2.5MM per season, that will also represent his qualifying offer in 2025.
Grosenick is no stranger to the Predators organization having spent parts of three seasons in their system before moving on in 2020. Since then, he has bounced around as a third-string option in Los Angeles, Boston, and Philadelphia. Last year, the 33-year-old played in just six games with Lehigh Valley, posting a 3.32 GAA along with a .892 SV%. With Yaroslav Askarov set to command the bulk of the playing time, Grosenick is likely to be Nashville’s fourth-stringer next season but could be the one recalled to cover for short-term injuries to either Juuse Saros or Kevin Lankinen.
As for Angello, the 27-year-old was acquired back in March and finished the season strong with AHL Milwaukee, collecting seven goals and five assists in just 17 games. However, Angello wasn’t able to carry over that level of success in the playoffs as he was limited to just three points in 16 playoff contests. Nevertheless, the Preds have decided to bring him back where he will serve as injury recall depth next season.
Nashville Predators Sign Gustav Nyquist
Winger Gustav Nyquist has signed a two-year deal with the Nashville Predators worth $3.185MM per season, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
In a surprise twist to free agency day that not many expected, the Predators continue to pull in talent to fill out their NHL roster. One of the more unheralded players in the league, Nyquist is an above-average middle-six option for most teams. Finishing off a four-year, $22MM contract signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2019, Nyquist finished his year with the Minnesota Wild after being acquired at the deadline.
Hampered by injuries last season, Nyquist made a great return to the NHL, scoring five points in his last three games of the year. Following the Wild into the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, Nyquist scored another five points, all assists, in the team’s opening-round matchup with the Dallas Stars.
The signing of Nyquist gives the Predators an incredible amount of flexibility headed into next season. The new General Manager of the team, Barry Trotz, has already indicated that he plans on the team giving much more ice time to some of their younger players. However, if those players don’t play up to expectations this season, Nyquist is an option on the wing that can play on the team’s top three lines.
Nashville Predators To Sign Ryan O’Reilly
The Nashville Predators have made the biggest splash of the day so far, signing former Conn Smythe Trophy winner Ryan O’Reilly to a four-year contract worth $4.5MM per season, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
While many expected the trade of Ryan Johansen to Colorado and yesterday’s Matt Duchene buyout to signal a rebuild-like direction for Nashville under new GM Barry Trotz, today’s signings of O’Reilly and defenseman Luke Schenn suggest otherwise.
At 32 years of age, adding a Conn Smythe winner in Ryan O’Reilly is firmly a win-now signing. O’Reilly is at his most valuable in the postseason, and is talents would be wasted on a club building for some distant future rather than an immediate playoff run.
O’Reilly has long been regarded as one of the top two-way centers in hockey, though his form in St. Louis earlier this season did raise some concerns about how his offense will age as he gets deeper into his thirties. O’Reilly scored 58 points in 2021-22 but just 19 in 40 games to start the year with the Blues.
He did fare much better after a mid-season deal to Toronto, so Nashville will undoubtedly be hoping that his Toronto form is more indicative of what they’ll be getting for the next four years.
If nothing else, the addition of O’Reilly will be a huge benefit to the Predators’ current crop of inexperienced young centers, such as Cody Glass, Juuso Parssinen, and Thomas Novak. If O’Reilly can help those pivots grow into quality NHLers while also playing up to the standard he’s established throughout his career, a $4.5MM price tag will feel like a bargain.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images