The NHL's free agency period will open at noon Tuesday. I'll be right here throughout the day with updates on the Penguins' moves, and a few notable ones from around the league.
• The Penguins confirmed the Justin Brazeau and Parker Wotherspoon signings, and they also signed defenseman Caleb Jones to a two-year deal with a $900,000 cap hit. More on him in a bit. Note, again, that nothing on Anthony Mantha, which was never even reported to actually be a done deal earlier in the day.
• The Penguins signed 27-year-old forward Justin Brazeau to a two-year deal, $1.5 million per year. More of what Dubas said they'd do. Under 30, 2-3 years, not a contract that would block a young guy.
• Note: Kyle Dubas won't hold a press conference today. Not exactly a lot to talk about.
• The Penguins traded Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks for a 2028 third-round draft pick.
• Boris Katchouk gets a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Tampa. He was in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an AHL contract last year.
• Another reminder that there have been zero reports that the Penguins signed/are signing Anthony Mantha. Just a lone "sounds like they're working on something" from someone who doesn't generally break stuff like this. "Sounds like" isn't a report and "working on something" isn't a done deal. Again, could still happen. But nothing has happened. Media literacy remains dead.
• Mikael Granlund got paid. Three years, $7 million per year from the Ducks. Good for him.
• Lars Eller goes to the Senators. One year, $1.25 million.
• The Penguins re-signed Phil Tomasino, too. Also one year. Tomasino's deal is worth $1.75 million, and Dewar's is $1.1 million.
• The Penguins re-signed Connor Dewar for a year. Noted yesterday in here that they still wanted him back despite not qualifying him
• Matt Murray (the former Penguin, not the other goaltender who has the same name) signed a one-year deal with the Kraken for $1 million. Good for him.
• Brian Dumoulin is on the move, too. He signed a three-year deal with the Kings, $4 million per year.
• Former Penguin Cody Ceci gets $4.5 million per year for four years with the Kings.
• Former Penguin Jeff Petry gets a one-year, league-minimum deal in Florida.
• Nate Clurman signed in Montreal. Mostly in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, but was recalled and made his NHL debut with the Penguins.
• Just a note that the only thing about Anthony Mantha out there is that it "sounds like they're working on something" from someone who doesn't generally break stuff, then a bunch of aggregators take that and say he's signed. There's been zero actual reports that he's signed. Obviously could happen, but it's like nobody paid attention to how this started.
• Per Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year deal with a $1 million average annual value. Has spent most of his eight-year pro career in the AHL, last year was the first in which he was solely in the NHL and he played 55 games for Boston. He's 27. Right in line with what Dubas said they were going after -- two- or three-year deals, not in their 30s, who will push younger players but not block them.
• Per Elliotte Friedman, Rangers are "working on" trading K'Andre Miller to the Hurricanes.
• The Rangers signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov for seven years, $7 million AAV.
• Since it's slow on the Penguins' front, an interesting signing elsewhere: Corey Perry to the Kings for one year.
• Really, don't expect the Penguins to be too busy today, based on Kyle Dubas' comments yesterday. If they're going after other teams' RFAs, that probably won't happen today.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
3:03 am - 07.01.2025Cranberry, Pa.Final: NHL free agency, Day 1
The NHL's free agency period will open at noon Tuesday. I'll be right here throughout the day with updates on the Penguins' moves, and a few notable ones from around the league.
• The Penguins confirmed the Justin Brazeau and Parker Wotherspoon signings, and they also signed defenseman Caleb Jones to a two-year deal with a $900,000 cap hit. More on him in a bit. Note, again, that nothing on Anthony Mantha, which was never even reported to actually be a done deal earlier in the day.
• The Penguins signed 27-year-old forward Justin Brazeau to a two-year deal, $1.5 million per year. More of what Dubas said they'd do. Under 30, 2-3 years, not a contract that would block a young guy.
• Note: Kyle Dubas won't hold a press conference today. Not exactly a lot to talk about.
• The Penguins traded Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks for a 2028 third-round draft pick.
• Boris Katchouk gets a one-year, two-way NHL contract with Tampa. He was in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on an AHL contract last year.
• Another reminder that there have been zero reports that the Penguins signed/are signing Anthony Mantha. Just a lone "sounds like they're working on something" from someone who doesn't generally break stuff like this. "Sounds like" isn't a report and "working on something" isn't a done deal. Again, could still happen. But nothing has happened. Media literacy remains dead.
• Mikael Granlund got paid. Three years, $7 million per year from the Ducks. Good for him.
• Lars Eller goes to the Senators. One year, $1.25 million.
• The Penguins re-signed Phil Tomasino, too. Also one year. Tomasino's deal is worth $1.75 million, and Dewar's is $1.1 million.
• The Penguins re-signed Connor Dewar for a year. Noted yesterday in here that they still wanted him back despite not qualifying him
• Matt Murray (the former Penguin, not the other goaltender who has the same name) signed a one-year deal with the Kraken for $1 million. Good for him.
• Brian Dumoulin is on the move, too. He signed a three-year deal with the Kings, $4 million per year.
• Former Penguin Cody Ceci gets $4.5 million per year for four years with the Kings.
• Former Penguin Jeff Petry gets a one-year, league-minimum deal in Florida.
• Nate Clurman signed in Montreal. Mostly in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, but was recalled and made his NHL debut with the Penguins.
• Just a note that the only thing about Anthony Mantha out there is that it "sounds like they're working on something" from someone who doesn't generally break stuff, then a bunch of aggregators take that and say he's signed. There's been zero actual reports that he's signed. Obviously could happen, but it's like nobody paid attention to how this started.
• Per Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year deal with a $1 million average annual value. Has spent most of his eight-year pro career in the AHL, last year was the first in which he was solely in the NHL and he played 55 games for Boston. He's 27. Right in line with what Dubas said they were going after -- two- or three-year deals, not in their 30s, who will push younger players but not block them.
• Per Elliotte Friedman, Rangers are "working on" trading K'Andre Miller to the Hurricanes.
• The Rangers signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov for seven years, $7 million AAV.
• Since it's slow on the Penguins' front, an interesting signing elsewhere: Corey Perry to the Kings for one year.
• Really, don't expect the Penguins to be too busy today, based on Kyle Dubas' comments yesterday. If they're going after other teams' RFAs, that probably won't happen today.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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