NHL general managers are beating the deadline and getting their pending free agents re-signed before the July 1 start of free agency.
The Dallas Stars were the latest, getting forward Matt Duchene, 34, re-signed to a four-year, $18 million contract on June 19. He led the Stars with 82 points in 82 games and set a career best with 52 assists.
The Chicago Blackhawks had signed leading goal scorer Ryan Donato to a four-year, $16 million contract on June 18.
Duchene’s four-year contract is a change from his recent deals, though it is team-friendly. After the Nashville Predators bought him out in 2023, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Stars and had a 65-point season. He signed another one-year, $3 million deal before averaging a point a game last season.
“As our team’s leading scorer last season, he helped to solidify our forward group while also providing invaluable leadership off the ice and in the community,’ general manager Jim Nill said. ‘The fit with Matt and our team has been seamless from the start, and we’re looking forward to continuing to pursue our shared goal of bringing a championship to Dallas.’
The Stars needed to clear out cap space after the signing so they traded 22-goal scorer Mason Marchment and his $4.5 million contract to the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-rounder.
In other free agency news, Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic, a trade deadline acquisition, could be getting closer to a deal.
‘We’re talking, my agent’s talking,’ he said during the Oilers’ end-of-season media availability. ‘Hopefully, something will get done here.’
The New York Islanders’ Kyle Palmieri and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Yanni Gourde re-signed earlier.
A look:
Pending unrestricted free agent forwards
Mitch Marner, Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett, Panthers
Brad Marchand, Panthers
John Tavares, Maple Leafs
Brock Boeser, Canucks
Nikolaj Ehlers, Jets
Mikael Granlund, Stars
Patrick Kane, Red Wings
Claude Giroux, Senators
Andrei Kuzmenkov, Kings
Evgenii Dadonov, Stars
Jonathan Drouin, Avalanche
Pending unrestricted free agent defensemen
Aaron Ekblad, Panthers
Vladislav Gavrikov, Kings
Nate Schmidt, Panthers
Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets
Dmitry Orlov, Hurricanes
Matt Grzelcyk, Penguins
Brent Burns, Hurricanes
Ryan Lindgren, Avalanche
Pending unrestricted free agent goalies
Jake Allen, Devils
Vitek Vanecek, Panthers
Ilya Samsonov, Golden Knights
Alexandar Georgiev, Sharks
Dan Vladar, Flames