Sweep of free agency through 5 July 2015

As the NHL free agency period extends into summer months the names of moving players become intriguing.

Over the holiday weekend, Joel Ward moved from the Washington Capitals to the San Jose Sharks and signed a three-year deal

“Originally when the season ended, my first thought was to maybe head back [to the Washington Capitals],” Ward said on NHL.com, “and just kind of more and more into the summer and free agency period, it just seemed unlikely.

“So I knew that was a possibility, and when I got a chance to talk to [Sharks coach Peter [DeBoer], that really helped me sway of being in a good situation.”

The Caps had added Justin Williams on Wednesday and traded with the St Louis Blues to acquire T.J. Oshie; both of those moves left Ward little room in the Caps locker room.

On Sunday, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Nazem Kadri to a one-year deal.  Kadri had a rough year with the Leafs this season and was suspended for a period of time in the latter stages of the campaign.

For the season, Kadri had 18 goals and 21 assists, not his best numbers since being the seventh pick in the 2009 draft.  Reports have placed the one-year deal at $4.1 million.  Toronto may be banking on Kadri blooming, finally, in the absence of Phil Kessel who was traded away to the Pittsburgh Penguins.