(Karl B DeBlaker / Associated Press)
Within the first three hours of free agency, teams had committed over $900 million in contracts, a product of the salary cap getting a big bump for the first time since before the 2020 pandemic. The cap is up more than 5% to $88 million for next season, with a possible leap to $92 million or more in 2025-26.
Jake Guentzel signed a $63 million, seven-year contract with Tampa Bay after they acquired his rights from the Hurricanes over the weekend, easing the blow of losing Stamkos.
“Things just didn’t work out in Carolina, and then I heard Tampa might be trading for my rights, so obviously I got really excited because everyone hears how good of a team and good of a spot this is,” said Guentzel, who will count $9 million against the salary cap through 2031. “The pedigree behind Tampa Bay, the winning culture — just a lot of high-end players that really make it intriguing to come to Tampa.”
◆ Fresh off helping Florida win the Stanley Cup, defenseman Brandon Montour signed a $50-million, seven-year contract with Seattle, and the Kraken added former Golden Knights center and ’23 champion Chandler Stephenson for $43.75 million over the same length of time.
◆ Vancouver signed former Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk for $38.5 million over seven years.
◆ Boston signed center Elias Lindholm to a seven-year contract worth $54.25 million and gave defenseman Nikita Zadorov $30 million for the next six seasons.
◆ New Jersey continued to build a playoff-worthy roster, signing a pair of defensemen, Brett Pesce for six years and $33 million and Brenden Dillon for three years and $12 million, and forward Stefan Noesen for three years and $8.25 million.
◆ San Jose signed forwards Tyler Toffoli for $24 million over four years and Alexander Wennberg for two years and $10 million, a person familiar with the deals told AP on condition of anonymity because the signings had not yet been announced.
◆ Toronto signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a six-year contract worth $27 million that counts $6.5 million against the salary cap through 2030.
◆ Columbus signed center Sean Monahan to a five-year contract for $27.5 million.