The week ahead of official free agency has made for some interesting reading and gossip.
Players and teams are free to have open discussions ahead of signing day. John Tavares ended his tour of “potential” new homes with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning. It would be a stunning turn of events if Tavares is anywhere other than the New York Islanders or the Toronto Maple Leafs.
One new name to the moving list is Columbus Blue Jackets unrestricted free agent, Jack Johnson, who is reported to be signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“If we can add another defenseman, I’d be pretty happy going into opening night,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said on NHL.com.
It was not a good year for Johnson in Columbus as he picked up 11 points on the year and was a healthy scratch in Blue Jackets’ six-game stint in the post season.
Reduced ice time led Johnson to request a trade in January of this year but was obviously ignored.
The Penguins traded away Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick to the Buffalo Sabres as a cap space move ahead of the Johnson signing.
Restricted free agent forward, Devante Smith-Pelly, re-signed with the Washington Capitals this week.
Smith-Pelly had a standout Stanley Cup Final series. His only blemish was an errant clearing attempt in Game 1 of the series that led to the Vegas Golden Knights’ game-winning goal.
After that first game muff, Smith-Pelly was solid and scored three goals and delivered solid hits throughout the other four games of the Final.
His signing also helped Washington with the cap space as he reportedly might well have been signed elsewhere for more money.
One forward of interest in this free agency is Paul Stastny late of the Winnipeg Jets.
Stastny was acquired by the Jets from the St Louis Blues as the trade deadline and kicked in four goals and 13 points through 19 games in the regular season with Winnipeg.
The playoffs brought out the best in Stastny as collected six goals and 15 points in 19 games through the Western Conference Final series.
The Jets would benefit from Stastny playing a full season with the Jets but the cap space for a small market team will difficult.
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