This NHL offseason is bustling, thanks to the salary cap increase from $83.5 million to $88 million, providing teams with more financial flexibility.

The rise in the cap has led to a lively free agency period, with YSL News Sports observing that the top 25 players were signed within just three days.

While the pace has started to slow down and the Columbus Blue Jackets have filled the last vacant coaching position, there are still more deals anticipated.

Star players like Leon Draisaitl, Sidney Crosby, Mitch Marner, and Igor Shesterkin are now eligible for contract extensions. Meanwhile, restricted free agents, including Jeremy Swayman, Lucas Raymond, Seth Jarvis, and Moritz Seider, are looking for fresh contracts.

Here are some of the most significant NHL transactions from the 2024 offseason:

Aug. 14: Auston Matthews Named Captain of the Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially appointed Auston Matthews as their 26th captain, making him the first captain from the United States in the team’s history.

Former captain John Tavares, who held the position since 2019, expressed his belief that it was the right moment to pass on the leadership to the two-time 60-goal scorer.

“This decision signifies the growth of a player who possesses a remarkable skill set and an unwavering desire to win,” Tavares stated at a press conference, adding that he believes Matthews is well-prepared for the responsibilities of leadership. “He truly deserves this honor.”

Matthews, a California native raised in Arizona, is set to begin the first year of a four-year, $53 million contract that makes him the highest-paid player in terms of salary cap hit. He was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft.

“Being a captain is something very meaningful,” Matthews said, who will turn 27 next month. “It was an emotional moment for me when (Tavares) reached out to let me know he wanted to pass on the captaincy.”

Aug. 14: Ryan Getzlaf Joins NHL Player Safety Department

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced that former player Ryan Getzlaf is now part of the team led by chief disciplinarian George Parros, who was also his teammate on the Anaheim Ducks. Getzlaf spent his entire NHL career with the Ducks, winning a Stanley Cup in 2007, and served as their captain for 12 seasons. He retired in 2022 as the leading scorer in Ducks history.

Aug. 13: Blues Extend Offer Sheets to Oilers Players

The St. Louis Blues have offered contract sheets to two restricted free agents from the Edmonton Oilers: defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway, as confirmed by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

The Oilers have until August 20 to respond and match the offers; if they choose not to, they will receive draft picks as compensation from the Blues.

Broberg’s offer is for two years at $9.16 million, which would require sending a second-round pick to the Oilers if they do not match. Holloway has been offered two years at $4.58 million, which would mean a third-round pick compensation. – Field Level Media

July 31: Evgeny Kuznetsov Signs with Russian Team

SKA Saint Petersburg announced the signing of forward Evgeny Kuznetsov to a four-year deal with the Kontinental Hockey League. Kuznetsov and the Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terminate his contract during the offseason. The 2018 Stanley Cup champion with the Washington Capitals was traded to Carolina at the deadline after being cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program. Kuznetsov, 32, concludes his NHL journey with 575 points from 743 games played.

July 30: Rangers Add Ryan Lindgren for One Year

The New York Rangers have successfully wrapped up a major offseason task by signing restricted free agent Ryan Lindgren to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, as first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The 26-year-old defenseman was scheduled for arbitration on Friday.

The Rangers opted to offer significantly more than Lindgren’s $3.6 million qualifying offer to keep the contract short, prioritizing flexibility for next year when key young players like Alexis Lafrenière, K’Andre Miller, and Igor Shesterkin will require more expensive contracts. This decision raises questions about Lindgren’s future in New York, but a one-year deal is a sensible choice given the anticipated salary cap challenges for the 2025-26 season. – Vince Z. Mercogliano, lohud.com

July 29: Wild Sign Brock Faber to an Eight-Year Extension

The Minnesota Wild have secured rookie of the year finalist Brock Faber with an eight-year contract extension. This deal will start in the 2025-26 season and is expected to average $8.5 million per year. The 21-year-old Faber was notable for tying the rookie record for assists (39) and leading in average ice time (24:58) and blocked shots (150). His impressive 47 points set a new record for points by a rookie defenseman, surpassing Filip Kuba’s previous mark of 30 set in 2000-01.

July 29: Hurricanes finalize two-year deal with Martin Necas

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Martin Necas to a two-year contract valued at $6.5 million against the salary cap, thereby circumventing arbitration. This agreement is a good outcome for the Hurricanes, especially after losing players like Jake Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, and Stefan Noesen to free agency. Additionally, they have mutually agreed to end Evgeny Kuznetsov’s contract. Necas, who is 25 years old, was fourth on the team in goals with 24 and tied for third in total points with 53. The Hurricanes still need to secure a contract with forward Seth Jarvis.

July 27-28: Blue Jackets sign two RFAs

The Columbus Blue Jackets managed to avoid arbitration by signing forward Kirill Marchenko to a three-year contract that carries a $3.85 million cap hit. The 24-year-old has exceeded 20 goals in his first two NHL seasons, accumulating a total of 44 goals. On the previous day, the Blue Jackets also secured forward Kent Johnson with a three-year deal worth $1.8 million against the cap. Cole Sillinger remains as the last restricted free agent for the team.

July 26: Patrik Laine is cleared from assistance program to pursue trade

Patrik Laine’s request to be traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets has gained momentum.

The Finnish forward has been released from the NHL/NHL Players’ Association’s player assistance program, allowing him to engage directly with coaches, executives, and other players across the league for the first time since entering the program on January 28 for undisclosed reasons.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell has refrained from commenting on the latest developments but expressed optimism in a conversation with the Columbus Dispatch about working out a trade for Laine this summer. According to Waddell, a significant barrier in negotiations was Laine’s prior inability to communicate with him or other GMs while in the assistance program. – Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch

July 25: Flyers lock up Travis Konecny with eight-year extension

Forward Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $70 million. The new deal, which will kick off in the 2025-26 season, will make Konecny, 27, the highest-paid player on the Flyers roster. Last season, he set career bests with 33 goals, 68 points, and six short-handed goals in 76 games, leading the team in all key offensive categories. “There’s such a bright and exciting future with this team, and I can’t wait to be a part of it for the next nine years and see what we will accomplish,” Konecny stated. – Field Level Media

July 24: Sabres reach agreement with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Buffalo Sabres have reached terms with goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, thereby avoiding an arbitration hearing. The five-year contract has a cap hit of $4.75 million. This marks a significant increase for the restricted free agent from last season’s $837,500, after he established personal bests with 54 games played, 27 wins, and a goals-against average of 2.57. Next season, the Sabres aim to break a 13-season playoff drought with a young goalie tandem featuring Luukkonen, 25, and Devon Levi, 22.

July 24: Oilers appoint Stan Bowman as general manager

The Edmonton Oilers have appointed Stan Bowman as their new general manager. Bowman is recognized for securing three Stanley Cup championships but also for his resignation following a 2021 report regarding how the Chicago Blackhawks managed a sexual-assault allegation during their championship run in 2010. Recently reinstated by the league, Bowman shared his insights about his time away from the NHL, stating, “I can assure you that such incidents will never occur under my leadership again.”

July 23: Sabres finalize contract with Beck Malenstyn

Forward Beck Malenstyn, who was traded from the Washington Capitals, has signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres worth a $1.35 million cap hit. Previously, he had filed for salary arbitration. Malenstyn is appreciated for his defensive skillset, penalty-killing ability, and physical style of play, leading the Capitals in hits last season with 241. He also recorded personal bests of six goals, 15 assists, and 21 points.

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has also filed for arbitration.

July 22: Blue Jackets announce Dean Evason as new head coach

The Columbus Blue Jackets have appointed a new head coach.

Dean Evason has been chosen to lead the Blue Jackets after agreeing to a multi-year contract following the dismissal of Pascal Vincent on June 17. Excluding interim coaches, Evason, who is 59, becomes the 11th head coach in the franchise’s 24-year history.

He steps in after Todd McLellan opted out of the selection process earlier this month. Although Evason may lack the extensive experience of McLellan, he previously coached the Minnesota Wild for five seasons until November. He holds a record of 147 wins, 77 losses, and 27 overtime losses over 251 games with the Wild, including four playoff appearances. – Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch

July 22: Joe Pavelski announces retirement

Joe Pavelski has officially announced his retirement, as confirmed by both him and the Dallas Stars. After stating in June that he would take the upcoming season off, the 40-year-old concludes his career with 476 goals and 1,068 points spread across 1,332 regular-season games with the San Jose Sharks and Stars. Notably, he holds the record for the most playoff goals by a U.S.-born player with 74 and played a key role in leading the Stars to consecutive trips to the Western Conference finals. While he never won a Stanley Cup, he made it to the Final in 2016 with the Sharks, securing 14 goals and four game-winners in that playoff season, and again in 2020 with the Stars. He served as the captain for the Sharks during his time there.

July 20: Canucks sign free agent forward Daniel Sprong

Winger Daniel Sprong has signed a one-year deal worth approximately $975,000 with the Vancouver Canucks. He recently completed two consecutive seasons with over 40 points, despite averaging only 11 to 12 minutes per game. Sprong is expected to add depth scoring to the Canucks, who ranked sixth in the league in goals per game last season. After the Seattle Kraken decided not to extend a qualifying offer to him in 2023, and with the Detroit Red Wings allowing him to enter free agency, he is eager to prove himself again.

July 19: Red Wings and Joe Veleno come to an agreement

The Detroit Red Wings and forward Joe Veleno have reached a two-year agreement valued at $4.55 million, as per reports.

According to Sportsnet, he submitted a request for salary arbitration following a standout season where he achieved a personal best with 12 goals and a total of 28 points while playing in a bottom six position.

July 17: Hurricanes and Evgeny Kuznetsov agree to contract termination

The Carolina Hurricanes have placed forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. He successfully cleared the waivers, leading to his contract being terminated, which allows Kuznetsov to play in Russia. He had one year remaining on his contract with a salary cap hit of $7.8 million. The Washington Capitals, who traded him to the Hurricanes the previous season, retained half of that amount, meaning both teams are now no longer affected by that cap hit.

This mutual decision marks another roster shift for the Hurricanes this offseason. They were unable to re-sign Jake Guentzel, a player acquired at the trade deadline, and subsequently traded his rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he signed. Several players, including defensemen Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce, along with forwards Teuvo Teravainen and Stefan Noesen, also departed via free agency. New additions for the offseason include defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Matt Walker, as well as forwards Jack Roslovic and William Carrier.

Kuznetsov participated in the NHL/NHL Players’ Association assistance program last season, finishing with just 24 points across 63 games. Notably, he scored an impressive 32 points during the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup playoff run and was recognized for his distinctive goal celebration of flapping his arms like a bird.

Later that day, the Hurricanes announced they have re-signed forward Jack Drury to a two-year contract, which carries a $1.725 million cap hit.

July 16: Kings re-sign Quinton Byfield

Quinton Byfield, the No. 2 overall pick from the 2020 draft, has been re-signed by the Los Angeles Kings for five years, averaging $6.25 million per year. Byfield was a restricted free agent and enjoyed a breakout season last year, improving from three goals and 22 points to 20 goals and 55 points after moving into a top six role. If he maintains this trajectory, this contract could prove beneficial for the Kings in the future.

Also: The St. Louis Blues reported that defenseman Torey Krug is facing pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle; he will be reevaluated in six to eight weeks. If surgery is necessary, Krug could miss the entire 2024-25 season due to previous injuries. Additionally, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs secured a two-year contract after stepping up during the playoffs following an injury to Thatcher Demko.

July 13: Rangers and Blue Jackets make player signings

The New York Rangers have re-signed defenseman Braden Schneider to a two-year contract with a reported cap hit of $2.2 million. Meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets and goalie Jet Greaves agreed on a two-year deal that allows him to avoid arbitration. The contract is structured as a two-way deal for the first year, which pays him less in the American Hockey League, but transitions to a one-way deal in the second year.

July 11: Tij Iginla of Utah signs entry-level contract

Tij Iginla, the son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, was the first pick of the Utah Hockey Club, selected sixth overall in June. Last season, he amassed 84 points in 64 games while playing with Kelowna in the Western Hockey League. He is one of the latest first-round selections to ink a three-year entry-level contract, joining others from the June draft.

Also: The Lightning and defenseman J.J. Moser reached a two-year contract valued at $6.75 million, avoiding arbitration. Moser was acquired from Utah in a trade for Mikhail Sergachev.

July 10: Ryan Suter inks deal with Blues

Ryan Suter, a defenseman age 39 who was bought out for the second time in his career, has signed a one-year contract worth $775,000, with the potential to earn an additional $2.225 million in performance bonuses. The Dallas Stars bought out the final year of his previous three-year contract, following his earlier buyout from the Minnesota Wild in 2021.

July 8: Capitals appoint Chris Patrick as general manager

Chris Patrick has been promoted to general manager of the Washington Capitals, becoming the seventh individual to hold this position in the team’s history. Brian MacLellan has been elevated to president of hockey operations. Chris Patrick is the son of the Capitals’ chairman, Dick Patrick.

The Capitals have been particularly active this offseason, acquiring players such as Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane, Jakob Chychrun, and Logan Thompson, in addition to signing Matt Roy, Brandon Duhaime, and Taylor Raddysh.

July 6: Top NHL draft picks sign contracts

The top two picks from the NHL draft, No. 1 Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) and No. 2 Artyom Levshunov (Chicago Blackhawks), have both signed three-year entry-level contracts, opting not to return for an additional college season. Their development paths may diverge, with Celebrini expected to start the season with the Sharks, while Levshunov’s future may fluctuate based on his training camp performance, possibly starting in the American Hockey League.

July 5: Fourteen players apply for salary arbitration

A total of fourteen restricted free agents have submitted requests for salary arbitration, as announced by the NHL Players’ Association.

The players involved, listed alphabetically, include: Jake Christiansen (Blue Jackets), Connor Dewar (Maple Leafs), Jack Drury (Hurricanes), Ty Emberson (Sharks), Jet Greaves (Blue Jackets), Ryan Lindgren (Rangers), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sabres), Beck Malenstyn (Sabres), Kirill Marchenko (Blue Jackets), J.J. Moser (Lightning), Martin Necas (Hurricanes), Spencer Stastney (Predators), Joe Veleno (Red Wings), and Oliver Wahlstrom (Islanders).

The most notable name is Necas, who has been in trading discussions. Moser and Malenstyn joined the team via offseason trades.

Hearings are scheduled to occur between July 20 and August 4, although most players settle prior to these hearings.

July 3: Kraken appoint Jessica Campbell as assistant coach

Jessica Campbell has made history by being hired as an assistant coach on Dan Bylsma’s staff for the Seattle Kraken.

She is the first female to hold the title of full-time assistant coach in the NHL.

At 32, Campbell previously made history in the American Hockey League when she was brought on board as an assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022. Bylsma, the former Stanley Cup champion, brought Campbell along with him to the NHL after being appointed as the Kraken’s coach in May.

“If the team finds success and my contribution is worthwhile, it could pave the way for others,” she expressed.

July 1-4: Initial phase of free agency

During the early days of free agency, the Nashville Predators emerged as winners by signing players like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights lost some significant players at the start, but have since made additions. On Day 3, the Detroit Red Wings successfully signed two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko.

This overview highlights the significant moves made in the opening days of the 2024 NHL free agency.

June 24-July

1: Who was traded before free agency?

Both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Washington Capitals made significant trades ahead of free agency. The Lightning sent away Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot but acquired Jake Guentzel’s contract rights, signing him to a seven-year deal worth $63 million. Meanwhile, the Capitals brought in forwards Dubois and Mangiapane, defenseman Chychrun, along with goalie Thompson, while parting ways with goalie Darcy Kuemper and Beck Malenstyn.