Pacioretty returns to where it all started for him

8/20/23 – Max Pacioretty will be returning to the club that drafted him in the 1st round in 2007 after signing a one-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens.

Pacioretty played with the Canadiens for 9 seasons before joining the Vegas Knights in 2018, then Carolina in 2022. With the Hurricanes, Pacioretty played in 79 games, scored 26 goals, assisted on 28, and tallied 54 points. He becomes Montreal’s top-rated left wing.

Pacioretty sweepstakes has begun

8/15/23 – LW Max Pacioretty remains the last coveted free agent seeking a team after Patrice Bergeron signed Arizona, and Ryan O’Reilly signed with Washington. But, that may change soon. Up to six clubs are now talking to Pacioretty’s camp, including Ducks, Canadiens, Coyotes, Red Wings, and Devils. Where would he fit in the best is the question.

The Devils have an Elite and Top 6 F at LW, the Canadiens are short a LW, the Coyotes and Red Wings are over-stocked at the position, and the Ducks are weak at LW but have little cap space.

The best possible landing spot for Pacioretty is New Jersey, who have the cap space and who are in need of another winger.

Three top free agents remain unsigned

8/1/23 – The free agency signing period entered August with 3 top players still seeking teams (previous team, seeking):

C Ryan O’Reilly (STL), $7.35M
C Patrice Bergeron (BOS), $5.62M
LW Max Pacioretty (CAR), $5.05M

The Red Wings, who have over $25M in cap space, are interested in O’Reilly. Currently, Detroit has elite center Dylan Larkin, and Top 6 F Andrew Copp. After that, they have two 23-year old rated 75 and under, so O’Reilly’s addition would strengthen the depth. 

Update: 8/5 – Bergeron signs with Arizona… O’Reilly accepts offer from Washington…. Pacioretty breaks off talks with Detroit.
Update: 8/3 – The Capitals are also interested in O’Reilly… Coyotes interested in Bergeron…. Pacioretty in talks with New Jersey.

Pittsburgh replaces Jarry, sign former Islanders G Varlamov

7/13/23 – The Penguins front office found their new net protector, signing former Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov to a 1-year contract worth $3.53M. After the Penguins were eliminated in the 1st round of the playoffs, they made the decision not to re-sign Tristan Jarry. Jarry (playoffs: 3.24 GAA, .906 SV%) finished with miserable numbers in a 4-game sweep by the Rangers. 

Can St. Louis and Philly make the necessary tweaks for a 2023-24 playoff run?

The Flyers were in the playoff picture much of the season before falling to 9th, and the Blues were as high as 5th before sliding down to 11th-place. St. Louis needs help on both ends of the ice (2.94 GFPG, 22nd / 2.94 GAPG, 16th), while the Flyers were respectable on offense and defense (3.06 GFPG, 9th / 2.73 GAPG, 16th).

BLUES MOVES
7/4 – G Kevin Lankinen (81), 2yrs
6/29 – Re-signed D Steven Santini (76), 2yrs
6/29 – Re-signed RW Vladimir Tarasenko (92), 4yrs

FLYERS MOVES
6/29 – Re-signed RW Zach MacEwen (78), 2yrs
6/28 – Re-signed D Linus Hogberg (71), 1yr

Top defenders change teams

• RD Damon Severson, Top 4 Def, (New Jersey) signed by Seattle, 4-yrs, $5.38M per
• RD Kevin Shattenkirk, Top 4 Def, (Anaheim) signed by Detroit, 2-years, $5.39M per

G Frederik Andersen headed to Sabres? or Coyotes?

7/6/23 – Buffalo and Arizona are reported to be interested in signing elite goalie Frederik Andersen (2022-23: CAR, 2.40 GAA). Both clubs have the cap space, but the Sabres just signed former Carolina goalie Antti Raanta to a 2-year deal at $2.59M per. The Coyotes are more desperate to find a starting goalie. Karel Vejmelka played in 63 games and posted a 3.11 GAA and Arizona ranked near bottom in GAPG (3.38).

Update: Andersen signed by Coyotes, 4-years, $7.24M per season.

Bertuzzi getting offers, wants $7.17M

7/2/23 – Florida and Carolina are pursuing 28-year old LW Tod Bertuzzi who has spent his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings. As an Elite, 2-Way Forward, Bertuzzi scored 23 goals, assisted on 39, and had a +15 plus/minus. Bertuzzi also racked up penalty minutes (64). Who gets Bertuzzi? Carolina has over $35M in cap space, while Florida has little room ($10M).

Update: Bertuzzi signed by Arizona to a 5-year contract at $7.31M per season

Bruins bring back Pastrnak with mega-deal

6/29/23 – RW David Pastrnak inked a mega deal to remain with Boston, agreeing to a 7-year contract worth over $68.8M. Drafted 25th overall by the Bruins in 2014, Pastrnak has spent his entire career with the team, scoring 282 goals in 592 games. His best season was in 2019-20 when he tallied 95 points, scored 48 goals, and assisted on 47. The Bruins made the playoffs last season, but were eliminated in the 2nd round by Columbus. Pastrnak scored 7 goals, 14 points, 7 assists in 13 playoff games.

Chicago and Anaheim make the first big free agent transaction

6/23/23 – The Blackhawks strengthened their defense by adding 30-year old  defenseman John Klinberg (OVR 87). Klinberg was traded by Anaheim to Chicago for a 2023 2nd round pick. With that 35th pick, the Ducks selected 2-way forward Roberto Howden from the DEL league. Klinberg played in 76 games last season, scoring 10 goals, 41 assists, with 51 points.

NHL Entry Draft

The Edmonton Oilers selected 17-year old center Connor Bedard with the 1st pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Bedard played in the WHL for the Regina Pats. In 69 games, he scored 47 goals and assisted on 55 while averaging 21:20 of ice time. Edmonton finished 13th in the Western Conference, then went from 5th to 1st with the luck of the draw in the draft lottery. Chicago was the big winner though – jumping from 12th to 2nd in the lottery!

1 Oilers — C Connor Bedard, Sniper
2 Blackhawks — LW Stanislav Zykov, Playmaker
3 Islanders — C/RW Marcos Boyle, Sniper
4 Coyotes — C Dalibor Dvorsky, ?
5 Sharks — RW/LW Kristopher Gillies, ?
6 Canucks — C Brayden Yager, ?
7 Senators — C Zachary Benson, 2 Way Forward
8 Kings — D Cam Allen, 2 Way Defender
9 Canadiens — RW Liam Carlsson, 2 Way Forward
10 Canadiens — C Andrew Cristall, 2 Way Forward