NHL free agency rumors 2019 tracker: Latest buzz, news from around the league

July 1 is Canada Day and also the start of what should be an exciting NHL free agency period.

There are many very good unrestricted and restricted free agents available for teams to pursue, beginning with three Columbus Blue Jackets stars. Blue Jackets winger Artemi Panarin, center Matt Duchene and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are three of the top five players on the market, and it'll be interesting to see if Columbus is able to retain any of them.

Free agency often is not where teams make their most impactful moves, but it's a great time to find the role players, such as the bottom-six forwards and third-pairing defensemen who provide valuable depth in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In fact, the most active Canadian teams in free agency during the salary cap era have won a combined zero Stanley Cup titles.

#Leafs & #Habs have been Canada's most active teams on Day 1 of #SigningSeason since 2006 pic.twitter.com/u3takpvO4A
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) July 1, 2019

Click here for the top 25 NHL free agents this summer>>>

Keep it right here for the latest rumors, contracts and other news from the start of NHL free agency.

5:50 p.m.: The action has quieted down considerably. There are still good players unsigned, including defenseman Jake Gardiner.

Nothing yet to report on free agent Jake Gardiner. Highly-skilled #mapleleafs defenseman has multiple options, but term seems to be biggest issue coming off a back injury that has actually healed quite nicely since the season
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2019

#Isles announce G Semyon Varlamov has agreed to a four-year deal.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) July 1, 2019

Anders Lee gets $7 million AAV on a 7-year deal with the #isles
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) July 1, 2019

Hearing that the Habs first discussed the offer sheet scenario involving Brayden Point but then shifted gears to Sebastian Aho after thinking they'd have a better chance to get the player. Both Point and Aho are represented by agent Gerry Johansson.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

2:50 p.m.: News is still trickling in. Here's the latest.

The Canadiens have announced that they have tendered an offer sheet to restricted free agent Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes. The proposed contract is for five years, with an average annual value of $8.454 million.#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 1, 2019

Jordie Benn confirms he received the same 2-year/$2M offer from Habs. Elected to sign with #Canucks
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) July 1, 2019

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1145751214623272962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Brett Richie @NHLBruins 1 / approx $1M #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019

Gus Nyquist is heading to Columbus.#signingseason
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2019

1:06 p.m.: Sergei Bobrovsky is headed to Florida.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1145740026866802689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Sergei Bobrovsky's seven-year deal with #FlaPanthers carries a $10M AAV -- second to Carey Price ($10.5M) among NHL goaltenders.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2019

12:35 p.m.: Reported deals are still coming in.

Per @davidamber, Tyler Myers will get $16M of his $30M deal from #canucks in signing bonuses.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 1, 2019

Max Lagacé @NHLBruins 1 / $700 000 (2 way) #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019

Red Wings bring back Valtteri Filppula on 2-year contract.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 1, 2019

Connolly gets 4-year deal w Fla. ($3.5M per year).
— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 1, 2019

12:20 p.m.: Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin are off the board.

Noel Acciari’s AAV is $1.67M on a three year deal in FLA.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2019

Panarin deal with Rangers will come in at around $11.6M per, Post is told
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2019

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1145726257780408320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Penguins confirm Tanev deal is 6 years, $3.5 million AAV. That should do it for the Penguins today. Jim Rutherford plans to speak with reporters at 2.
— Dave Molinari (@MolinariPGH) July 1, 2019

Cam Talbot agreed to $2.75M, 1-year deal with Flames.

Mike Smith $2M, 1 year plus incentives with Oilers.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) July 1, 2019

Mats Zuccarello to the Wild, 5 years and $30 million, is official.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) July 1, 2019

Duchene contract with Preds includes $28 million in signing bonus money. Year by year total: $10 mil, $8 mil, $10mil, $8mil, $9 mil, $6 mil, $5 mil.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2019

Jason Spezza to the Maple Leafs, 1 year deal, $700k, is official.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) July 1, 2019

Noon: Free agency has begun! Here's the latest.

Not yet confirmed, but hearing Panarin's deal with NYR will come in at 7-years in the neighborhood of $84M.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019

Hearing that the San Jose Sharks are closing in on re-signing RFA star winger Timo Meier, huge signing for them. They kept UFA star D Erik Karlsson off the UFA market and now are about to lock up a key core player.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

Ron Hainsey @Senators 1 / $3.5M #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019

6 Years https://t.co/1GJDmCpIP8
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) July 1, 2019

Andrej Sekera @DallasStars 1 / $1.5M + $500 000 bonis performance (performance bonuses) #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2019

11:50 a.m.: Connor Clifton is staying in Boston.

Three more years of #CliffyHockey. #NHLBruins have agreed to terms on a three-year extension with Connor Clifton worth $3 million total. He has one year left at $725k, extension can be papered as soon as today.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2019

11:46 a.m.: Bruins fourth-line forward Noel Acciari could be headed to the Florida Panthers.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1145719978315964416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

11:15 a.m. ET: Here's a look at the latest rumors and reports as noon approaches.

OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jimmy Vesey.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 1, 2019

Thomas Vanek is in talks with multiple teams, but nothing is close as of now.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019

As my colleague @RussoHockey first reported, Ryan Hartman expected to sign for $1.9 M AAV x two years with the Wild today
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

Hearing that the Florida Panthers are the front-runners to land UFA D Anton Stralman today. Believe the contract being discussed is three years, $16.5 million total
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

According to sources, Carolina got calls from 3 different teams today on Sebastian Aho, hinting at an offer sheet. The 'Canes told them they would match any offer sheet. Carolina did tell them they would entertain trade conversation. Believe that Habs is among 3 teams who called
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

Hearing Tampa Bay is the front-runner to land UFA goalie Curtis McElhinney. Not a done deal yet but the Lightning right now are most likely destination.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2019

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1145705946519408640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Patrick Maroon is in talks with several clubs, but as of now nothing's close. Blues aren't officially out of it, but right now it sounds like he'll be moving on.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 1, 2019

Keep an eye on Micheal Ferland as it relates to the #Avs.

There are "hurdles" as it stands with the most notable aspect being term, a source has told The Athletic.
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) July 1, 2019

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NHL free agency rumors 2019 tracker: Latest buzz, news from around the league

By Nick Goss • Published July 1, 2019 • Updated on July 1, 2019 at 5:53 pm

Click here for the top 25 NHL free agents this summer>>>

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