NHL teams sign contracts worth $862 million on the first day of free agency

• On the first day of free agency, NHL teams agreed contracts worth $862 million for 102 players.
• Bowen Byram signed for $75 million and was the league’s highest-paid player, while Philadelphia gave three-year deals worth $90 million.
• New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers were among the teams that signed players with deals that, like Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers, averaged less than $862 million.

On the first day of free agency, NHL teams signed contracts totaling $862 million for 102 players, breaking down contracts into farm-league deals.

The biggest contract signed during the first day of free agency was Chicago: Bowen Byram agreed to $75 million, which would make him the highest-paid player with a base of $12.5 million per year. Philadelphia signed the highest average club figure — three-year deals worth $90 million, for which the contract includes a clause that guarantees certain playing time during the 2027-28 season.

Among the teams that signed the most expensive contracts, New York Rangers made the biggest splash by signing defenseman Sean Durzi to Marcus Pettersson. The Rangers also signed forward Vincent Trocheck from Utah, while his teammate Pavel Dorofeyev signed with the team after the 2027-28 season.

For Toronto Maple Leafs, general manager John Chayka announced that the club had signed a player with a contract that includes a clause for the team’s salary cap, and that the club’s contract would be no more than a certain amount. For the league, Chayka said that the club had signed a contract with a clause for the team’s salary cap. The club also signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defenseman Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, as well as forwards Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, Brandon Duhaime and Teddy Bleuger. The club also signed Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit, Brandon Carlo, Nick Robertson and Matias Maccelli, while the club also signed No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna.

San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, acquired “an agreement” through a trade involving Darnell Nurse to the team, along with Mason Marchment and Jacob Trouba. In addition, the club also signed prospect Ivar Stenberg, who was selected with the 2024 draft, and also signed two more players in the first round.

Florida Panthers, meanwhile, signed Bobrovsky, as well as a player who signed with the club, Brady Tkachuk, and Radko Gudas and Eetu Luostarinen. The club also signed that the club-permitted salary cap would be under the limit for 2024 and 2025.

Among the teams that signed the most contracts, Detroit Red Wings are expected to have a player without a cap hit due to the signing of Dylan Larkin, which, according to the club, is expected to be paid for the team. Detroit also signed forward Viktor Arvidsson and traded Keegan Kolesar.

Philadelphia Flyers, meanwhile, signed a player who could not violate the salary cap due to Nurse, John Carlson and Byram, but it was also noted that the club would have to pay the team’s No. 1 pick for the right to sign. The Flyers also signed forward Tyson Foerster, who was traded during the period.

Another reason for the contracts is that the teams, according to the club’s statement, “will be able to sign players for the future.” Buffalo Sabres, which acquired two players from the team, traded two players, and then signed Byram with Blackhawks and then traded Alex Tuch to Washington. The team also signed that it would sign Daxon Rudolph for the 4th round draft pick, and also signed Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier.

Dallas Stars, meanwhile, agreed to a deal that would keep Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent, under contract for a total of $100 million. The team also signed that Jim Nill’s team would sign Mavrik Bourque from Nashville for draft pick cap space, including Ilya Lyubushkin, while also signing Zach Werenski from Dallas.

The team also signed an agreement with New York Rangers that includes three signings and two trades. Meanwhile, president of the club Chris Drury said that he wanted to keep the team intact and that he would decide on the team’s future. Drury said, in particular, that the club’s “fourth line” — which is what he called it — would play a key role in the team’s upcoming season. The club also said that the club would sign two more players: Pavel Dorofeyev, and that the club would trade Sean Durzi to Marcus Pettersson. Meanwhile, Rangers, in turn, signed defenseman who is “the average-sized” and Igor Shesterkin, whose nickname is “the goalie.”

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