Fantasy Take – Latest NHL Moves

The Detroit Red Wings have acquired forward Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators for forward Dominik Kubalik, defense prospect Donovan Sebrango, a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft. The Red Wings get: DeBrincat, a smallish (5-8, 178 lb.) winger who was a one-time point-per-game scorer [...]

The Seattle Kraken have signed winger Kailer Yamamoto to a one-year deal worth $1.5M AAV. The Kraken get: a diminutive (5-8), high-upside winger with a lot to prove. According to the DobberHockey BT model, smaller players such as Yamamoto need about 400 NHL games of experience to truly come into their own. Yamamoto has played [...]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed winger Tyler Bertuzzi to a one-year deal worth $5.5M AAV. The Maple Leafs get: a hardworking, tenacious buzzsaw and former 30-goal scorer who is still in his prime. Although Bertuzzi isn’t anywhere near the size of his uncle (Todd Bertuzzi), Tyler nonetheless plays hard. It’s surprising that he barely [...]

The Florida Panthers have signed forward Evan Rodrigues to a four-year deal worth $3.0M AAV per season. The Panthers get: an underrated and (until now) underpaid forward who can play any position up front, and both special teams. Rodrigues had 39 points in 69 games (a 46-point pace) playing mostly with Mikko Rantanen and Nathan [...]

The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (Ghost-Bear) to a one-year deal worth $4.125M. The Red Wings get: a one-dimensional puck-moving defenseman who re-found his game over the past two seasons. Not to the extent where he can put up 60+ points like he did in 2017-18, but definitely back to a level [...]

The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year deal worth $825,000. The Rangers get: a one-dimensional puck-moving defenseman who runs hot and cold. Fantasy Players Impacted: Look at this signing the way you looked at it last year when the Capitals signed him. Gustafsson had two points in nine games. Then [...]

The Florida Panthers have traded winger Anthony Duclair to the San Jose Sharks for Steven Lorentz. Duclair missed most of 2022-23 with an Achilles injury, playing in just 20 games. He was able to participate in the Panthers’ long playoff run, averaging about 0.5 PTS/GP between the regular season and the playoffs. He scored a [...]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year deal worth $4.15M. The Leafs get: a smart, skilled offensive defenseman. Klingberg is only 30 (turns 31 next month), coming off several semi-productive seasons riddled with short-term injuries. He had a 67-point season back in 2017-18, but has been unable to top 47 [...]

The Detroit Red Wings have signed forward J.T. Compher to a five-year contract with an AAV of $5.10 million. Compher was able to take advantage of his pre-UFA season, posting a career-high 52 points in 82 games. Prior to that, he had never reached the 35-point mark since debuting with the Avalanche in the 2016-17 [...]

Numerous backup/timeshare goalies have changed teams during the free agency period. Dollar amounts are cap hits and not total salary. Jonathan Quick, 1 year, $825,000, NY Rangers Now in the twilight of his career, the 37-year-old Quick is coming off a career-worst (since 2008-09) 3.41 GAA and .882 SV% split between Los Angeles and Vegas. [...]