The Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals each made room on their ledgers with trades on Friday.
The Knights traded Colin Miller to the Buffalo Sabres for draft picks. They also traded away three years of Miller’s salary at $3.875 million annually. Not a big dent in the cap hit but enough to make a play for someone on Monday, 1 July. 
Buffalo gave picks in the 2021 and 2022 entry draft for a blueliner who can play now and not have to w3ait for the draftees to mature into NHL-ready defensemen.
The bigger trade from Friday was the Caps’ decision to send Andre Burakovsky to the Colorado Avalanche.
In exchange, the Avs sent Scott Kosmachuk and second and third-round picks in next year’s entry draft.
“We are excited to be adding a big, fast, skilled winger like Andre,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. “He already has a lot of NHL experience at a young age and is a Stanley Cup winner who has performed well in the playoffs. At just 24, he is entering the prime years of his career, and we feel with an added role he will be a great addition to our team.”
Burakovsky will be a restricted free agent on 1 July; he had asked for a trade ahead of the season;s trade deadline in February.
Courtesy of NHL.com
“We pursued it at the deadline, but it would have had to be a home run then,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. “We would have had to bring back a player at that point. To trade him for picks at the deadline didn’t make any sense when we were trying to put together a playoff run.
“Had the player not requested the trade, I would have preferred to keep him in that third-line role for this season.”
Kosmachuk has been incing with the Colorado Eagles, the Avs’ affiliate in the AHL.
In non trade news,Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson signed contract extensions with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Each player was scheduled to become a restricted free agent 1 July.
“Kasperi has been with us four years,” Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said, “and [it’s been great] to watch him grow as a person and player to last year, where he finally cracked the team out of training camp and played full time. He was outstanding on the penalty kill, used his speed, moved up and down the lineup, whatever we asked of him, he was great.”
Kapanen inked a three-year deal worth $9.6 million contract. The cap hit is $3.2 million annually.
“There was never a doubt that I wanted to go anywhere else,” Kapanen said. “I wanted to stay in Toronto. That was my No. 1 priority and ever since I got traded here, it’s been an honor to play for the Marlies [of the American Hockey League] and the Maple Leafs and it’s something special to me. To get this deal done, it’s huge for me.
“It feels amazing. Now I can relax and focus on the upcoming season. It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders for sure. It means everything to me to play for the Leafs and be here for another three years.”
Johnsson resigned four years for $13.6 million; his cap hit will be $3.4 million.
“Andreas … bet on himself last season, took his qualifying offer and then despite his slow start, had a great season,” Dubas said. “We love the competitiveness and the joy he brings to the rink every day in the way that he plays. He’s been a big part of things in the organization for a number of years and it was great to see him establish himself as an NHLer full time.
“To know we have those guys locked in for more than just one year is nice relief for us and we hope for them gives them the ability to relax, come in and continue to develop and reach their potential, which we don’t think either is close to yet.”
Toronto fans now await a decision or signing on forward Mitchell Marner who is set for restricted free agency on Monday. Expectations are in the range of $10.5 million cap hit on any deal for the 22-year old Marner.
Other big names in the RFA bin on Monday will include Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point, Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, Winnipeg Jets forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen, and Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk.
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