CANUCKS RE-SIGN BOESER, RANGERS LAND GAVRIKOV AND DEVILS KEEP GOALIE ALLEN AS NHL FREE AGENCY OPENS
Forward Brock Boeser is staying put in Vancouver, after the Canucks opened the NHL’s free agency period Tuesday by re-signing one of their own.
The six-time 20-goal-scorer agreed to a seven-year, $50.75 million contract in an announcement the Canucks made a little more than a half-hour into the start of the signing period.
“Brock has been a huge part of our organization, and we are extremely happy to have him back in the fold,” Canucks general manger Patrik Allvin said. “Brock is a leader and culture-setter in our locker room, and we’re confident he will continue to play an important role for our team.”
With Boeser, Vancouver took one of the more high-profile free agents off the board in what was already regarded as a depleted pool of talent. Numerous teams spent the lead-up by securing players by taking advantage of a record $7.5 million jump in the NHL’s salary cap.
The New York Rangers signed Vladislav Gavrikov — considered the top defensive free agent available — to a seven-year contract worth $49 million, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
The New Jersey Devils thinned an already small pool of free agent goalies by re-signing Jake Allen to a five-year, $9 million contract.
The Philadelphia Flyers were among the first out of the gate in signing nine-year veteran forward Christian Dvorak to a one-year, $5.4 million contract, according to another person familiar with the deal.
Boston is signing rugged forward Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract worth $17 million, according to a third person with knowledge of the agreement.
Otherwise, a number of star players were already off the market.
The Vegas Golden Knights proved the big winners, acquiring star forward Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade deal agreed to Monday with Toronto to land free-agency’s most prized player. And the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers took Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand off the board by re-signing each to a lengthy contract.
The Panthers weren’t done securing their Cup core, re-signing Tomas Nosek to a one-year contract on Tuesday. The 32-year-old center played a valuable defensive role on Florida’s checking line against opposing teams’ top talent.
As the dust settled, the top players available include forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Jonathan Drouin and Carolina defenseman Dmitry Orlov.
Teams are expected to turn to the trade route in bids to improve their rosters.
Earlier, the Montreal Canadiens kicked things off on the trade market by acquiring forward Zachary Bolduc in a deal that sent defenseman Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues. Bolduc had 19 goals and 36 points as a rookie last year. Mailloux was a 2021 first-round draft pick and spent a majority of last season in the minors.
Two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton cleared salary cap space by sending winger Viktor Arvidsson, an 11-year veteran, to Boston for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
The Buffalo Sabres are among teams that could be active in not ruling out the possibility of dealing 24-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram. Another, and older, defenseman, Erik Karlsson, could be on the move from Pittsburgh. And Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi’s name has come up in trade buzz.
Teams also focused their attention on signing pending restricted free agents and extending contracts.
With Marner’s departure, the Maple Leafs announced the signing of pending restricted free agent forward Matthew Knies to a six-year, $46.5 million contract. The 22-year-old Knies is from Phoenix. He had 29 goals and 58 points in his second full season in Toronto.
The Canucks also reached agreements to sign goalie Thatcher Demko to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension and forward Conor Garland to a six-year, $36 million contract extension. Both players were entering the final years of their contracts and Tuesday was the first day they were eligible to sign extensions.
Carolina signed young forward Logan Stankoven to an eight-year extension worth $48 million. Stankoven, acquired from Dallas at the trade deadline as part of the return for Mikko Rantanen, will count $6 million against the salary cap through 2034.
By no means is this year’s free agency period expected to generate the headline-grabbing moves made a year ago, when the Nashville Predators spent a combined $115 million in salary to secure forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, defenseman Brady Skjei and goalie Scott Wedgewood.
But plenty of money is set to be spent. San Jose is nearly $20 million below the salary floor, and teams from Anaheim to Carolina and beyond have room under the cap to get better.
CANES INK F LOGAN STANKOVEN TO 8-YEAR, $48M EXTENSION
Forward Logan Stankoven made a long-term commitment to the Carolina Hurricanes by signing an eight-year, $48 million contract extension on Tuesday.
Stankoven, 22, recorded 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) and five game-winning goals in 78 games last season, including nine points (five goals, four assists) in 19 games with the Hurricanes.
Carolina acquired Stankoven and first-round picks in 2026 and 2028 and third-round selections in 2026 and 2027 from Dallas on March 7 in the deal that sent forward Mikko Rantanen to the Stars.
“From the moment he arrived in Raleigh, it was clear to us that Logan was a Hurricane,” Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky said. “We’re thrilled that he agrees and is committed to being a big part of this organization long term.”
Stankoven has recorded 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 102 career games with the Stars and Hurricanes. He was selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
SHARKS SIGN WILLIAM EKLUND TO 3-YEAR, $16.8M EXTENSION
The San Jose Sharks signed forward William Eklund to a three-year, $16.8 million contract extension on Tuesday.
The team also re-signed forward Colin White to a one-year, two-way deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The deal with Eklund, 22, carries an average annual value of $5.6 million and starts with the 2026-27 season.
Eklund set career highs in goals (17), assists (41) and points (58) and played 77 games in 2024-25. He led the team in assists and was second in points.
Eklund has 110 points (35 goals, 75 assists) in 174 games since the Sharks drafted him with the No. 7 overall pick in 2021.
White, 28, appeared in three games with San Jose in 2024-25, spending the bulk of the season with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League. He has 113 points (44 goals, 69 assists) in 323 games with five teams since the Ottawa Senators drafted him with the 21st overall pick in 2015.
REPORT: RANGERS SIGN D VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV TO 7-YEAR EXTENSION
The New York Rangers signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
The reported acquisition of Gavrikov comes with the Rangers also in talks about trading fellow defenseman K’Andre Miller.
Gavrikov, 29, recorded 30 points (five goals, 25 assists) and averaged a career-high 23:05 of ice time while playing in all 82 regular-season games this past season with the Los Angeles Kings. The 6-foot-3 stay-at-home defenseman was playing on a two-year contract worth $11.75 million.
Gavrikov totaled 135 points (29 goals, 106 assists) in 435 career games with Columbus Blue Jackets and Kings. He was selected by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
AVALANCHE SIGN F PARKER KELLY TO 4-YEAR EXTENSION
The Colorado Avalanche signed Parker Kelly to a four-year extension and signed fellow forward T.J. Tynan and defenseman Jack Ahcan to one-year contracts on Tuesday.
Kelly’s deal is worth a reported $1.7 million per season and runs through 2029-30. Financial terms for the other transactions were not immediately available.
Kelly, 26, contributed 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in his first season with the Avalanche in 2024-25. He has 54 points (25 goals, 29 assists) in 257 games with the Ottawa Senators and Avs.
Tynan, 33, appeared in nine games for Colorado in 2024-25 and tallied one assist. He has two assists in 30 career games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and Avalanche.
Ahcan, 28, made two appearances with the Avs in 2024-25 and accrued two penalty minutes. He has one goal in 11 career games with the Boston Bruins and Colorado.
COREY PERRY, 40, ONE OF FIVE PLAYERS TO SIGN WITH LA KINGS
Corey Perry, who recently enjoyed his 40th birthday this past May, signed a one-year $3.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
The Kings also announced agreements with former Canadiens right winger Joel Armia, former Devils defenseman Brian Dumoulin, former Stars defenseman Cody Ceci and former Senators goalkeeper Anton Forsberg.
Armia signed for two years, $5 million. Dumoulin inked a three-year, $12 million deal. Ceci agreed to 4 years at a $4.5 million average ($18 million) while Forsberg signed for two years, $4.5 million.
A 20-year NHL veteran, Perry spent most of the past two seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, including last year, in which he appeared in an impressive 81 games (19 starts), scoring 30 points (19 goals, 11 assists).
Perry, a right winger, was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, whom he competed for over 14 seasons, earning four All-Star nods (2008, 2011, 2012 and 2016) and hoisting a Stanley Cup with the 2007-08 Ducks.
Since then, he has skated for the Stars (2019-20), Canadiens (2020-21), Tampa Bay Lightning (2021-23), Chicago Blackhawks (2023) and Oilers.
For his career, Perry has scored 935 points (487 assists) over 1,392 games, good for 15th among all active players. His 448 goals are the seventh-most among active players.
Armia, 32, a first-round pick of Buffalo in 2011, has 207 points (103 goals, 104 assists) in 586 games over 11 years with the Sabres (2014-15), Winnipeg Jets (2015-18) and Canadiens (2018-25).
Dumoulin is a two-time Cup winner with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. The 33-year-old was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the New Jersey Devils on March 6, but did not score in five playoff appearances with the Devils. For his career, Dumoulin has 177 points (28 goals, 149 assists) in 706 games with the Penguins (2013-23), Seattle Kraken (2023-24), Ducks and Devils.
Ceci, 31, joined the Stars for their 2025 playoff run and tallied three assists over 18 playoff games. He has 235 points (52 goals, 183 assists) over 871 career games during 12 NHL seasons with the Senators (2013-19), Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-20) Penguins (2020-21), Oilers (2021-24), San Jose Sharks (2024-25) and Stars.
The 32-year-old Forsberg has a career goals-against-average of 3.04 and a save percentage of .904. He appeared in 30 games for the Senators last season, going 11-12 with a 2.71 GAA. He previously tended goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets (2014-17), Blackhawks (2017-18) and Carolina Hurricanes (2019-20) before joining the Senators in 2020.
GLEN GULUTZAN HIRED FOR SECOND STINT AS STARS’ HEAD COACH
Glen Gulutzan is getting a second chance behind the bench of the Dallas Stars.
The Stars on Tuesday hired Gulutzan as the team’s head coach.
Gulutzan, 53, replaces Pete DeBoer, who was fired by the team on June 6 shortly after Dallas lost in the Western Conference finals for the third straight season.
The Stars previously handed Gulutzan his first NHL head coaching opportunity. He went 64-57-9 in two seasons in Dallas before he was fired on May 14, 2013.
“We are thrilled to name Glen as the head coach of the Dallas Stars,” team general manager Jim Nill said. “Since his previous time in Dallas, Glen has worked tirelessly to establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in the NHL. His extensive NHL experience, both as a head coach and assistant coach, speaks to his ability to innovate and adapt to the modern game, as well as build relationships with his players.
“Glen has worked with some of the best players in the world and continually found ways to maximize their skill sets to contribute to team success. We have full confidence that he is the right person to elevate our team to the next level.”
Gulutzan spent two seasons as the head coach of the Calgary Flames from 2016-18 and posted an 82-68-14 mark. After being dismissed following his second season, he shuffled over to the other Alberta team, the Edmonton Oilers, where he has worked as an assistant coach since, helping the club to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances over the past two seasons.
“My family and I are excited to come back to Texas where I started my NHL coaching journey more than a decade ago,” Gulutzan said. “Jim and his staff have built a roster that is one of the most talented and deepest in the entire league.
“The right pieces are in place to compete for the Stanley Cup on a yearly basis. I’m ready to get to Dallas and start the preparation for next season.”
Per the Stars, Alain Nasreddine (assistant coach), Jeff Reese (goaltending coach), Patrick Dolan (head video coach) and Chris Demczuk (assistant video coach) will return to the team.
Under DeBoer, 57, the Stars fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in Western Conference finals in 2023 and the Oilers in six and five games in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
