Free agents in the NHL | Artturi Lehkonen extends his stay in Colorado

When you play with a champion team, why not make the fun last?

Jean-Francois Teotonio
The Press

Guillaume Lefrancois
The Press

Artturi Lehkonen has signed a five-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He will earn an average of $4.5 million a year until 2027.

The former Canadian, traded at the trade deadline, did very well in the playoffs for Colorado. In 20 games, he got 14 points, including 8 goals. We will remember in particular his net in overtime against the Oilers which sent his team to the Stanley Cup final last June. It was the second year in a row that he had achieved this feat.

Last season, the forward, who stands out for his two-way play, scored 19 goals and got as many assists with the Canadiens and the Avalanche, for a total of 29 points.

“Artturi has integrated well into our team and has been instrumental in our road to the title,” said Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. It is incredibly versatile. He is an engine that never stops. He is very intelligent, very competitive and he knows his role. Offering a long contract to a player of this quality was a priority. »

Two Staals reunite in Florida

Marc Staal has a one-year contract with the Panthers, worth $750,000. His brother Eric will have the chance to assert himself during a professional trial. All according to Bob Mackenzie of TSN.

So there is a real possibility that two of the three Staal brothers will reunite in Florida next season.

Marc has spent the last two seasons in Detroit, after a long career with the New York Rangers. The defenseman has 16 points in 2021-22.

Eric, meanwhile, continues to hang on. The 37-year-old center played just four games last season… in the American League. He had shown leadership, more than anything else, with the Canadiens during the 2020-2021 season.

Burakovsky with the Kraken

Andre Burakosvky meanwhile goes from a champion team to a roster in his second year of existence. The left-winger has agreed to terms on a 5-year contract with the Seattle Kraken, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. He will receive an average of 5.5 million per season.

He scored 22 goals and 61 points with the Colorado Avalanche last season. In the playoffs, he recorded 8 points in 12 games en route to the Stanley Cup.

Home in Chicago

Let’s hope Max Domi has his way into the moving industry, because he has yet to change his address.

The former Canadian has agreed with the Chicago Blackhawks on the terms of a one-year contract for three million dollars.

Domi therefore joins a fourth team in less than 24 months, after the Canadiens, the Blue Jackets and the Hurricanes.

The son of Tie Domi had 39 points (11 goals, 28 assists) in 72 games last season. He was limited to 13 min 2 s per game on average.

In Chicago, Domi shouldn’t be short of playing time, joining a club that just let go of forwards Alex DeBrincat, Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome.

Kulak does not move

Brett Kulak has found his place in Edmonton. The former defender of the Canadian has agreed with the Oilers for a 4-year contract, worth 2.75 million annually.

Traded at the trade deadline on March 21, Kulak played 18 games with the Oilers in the regular season, before playing 16 more in three rounds of the playoffs.

This is his third team in the NHL, having played for the Flames from 2014 to 2018. Calgary drafted him in the fourth round at the 2012 auction.

Trocheck at MSG

Vincent Trocheck leaves Carolina for the Big Apple.

The center player has agreed with the New York Rangers on a seven-year contract, at 5.6 million annually.

In 2021-22 with the Hurricanes, Trocheck scored 21 goals and had 51 points in 81 games.

The American striker was traded from the Panthers to the Hurricanes in February 2020.

He has 150 goals and 378 points in 555 NHL games.

Contract extension for Thomas

In St. Louis, Robert Thomas goes to the bank. The striker has signed an 8-year contract extension, good for 65 million dollars (annual average of 8125 million).

Thomas, choice of 1^er tour of the Blues in 2017, exploded last season with a collection of 77 points (20 goals, 57 assists) in 72 games. However, he had a quieter series with 6 points in 12 outings.

Marchment finds its place

Mason Marchment blossomed offensively with the Florida Panthers last season, scoring 18 goals and 47 points in 54 games. He immediately took the opportunity to go to the bank: 4-year contract and 18 million with the Dallas Stars.

At 27, Marchment has only 90 games of NHL experience. Before his interesting year with the Panthers, he was relegated to a supporting role in Florida, after four seasons mostly spent in the American League.

Ryan Strome in Anaheim

Center Ryan Strome has signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

Strome, 29, has spent the past four seasons with the New York Rangers. He had 21 goals and 33 assists in 74 games last season.