NHL free agency rumors 2019: Live updates, news on signings, trades and more

Sammi Silber

NHL free agency rumors 2019: Live updates, news on signings, trades and more image

With free agency under way, it's been quite a start to the offseason; from the Canadiens making an offer sheet for Sebastian Aho to Mitch Marner's future up in the air, there hasn't been any shortage of excitement, as July 1 came and went.

Big names like Artemi Panarin, Joe Pavelski and Matt Duchene have found new homes, while blockbuster trades between teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators have shaken up the league. In addition, some clubs like the New York Rangers have been able to become a playoff contender in a matter of days thanks to the open market.

NHL TRACKER 2019: Complete list of all 31 teams' free agents

We're starting to see answers to the NHL's biggest questions, and there are still several to come as free agency carries on.

You can follow along with the latest updates, rumors and rumblings around the league right here.

NHL free agency rumors 2019: Live updates, news, rumors

(All times ET)

Monday

1:47 p.m. — The San Jose Sharks re-signed RFA Kevin Labanc to a one-year deal (undisclosed financial terms). Labanc was a force for San Jose in the regular season, putting up 17 goals and 56 points during the regular season. He also added nine points in the Sharks' postseason campaign and was a huge part of their run to the Western Conference Final. He's only gotten better over the years as his point totals have continued to increase significantly, going from 20 to 40 to 56 over his three years at the NHL level. He should continue to serve as an asset on offense for San Jose, especially after the Sharks lost Joe Pavelski in free agency.

1:33 p.m. — The St. Louis Blues are bringing back Zach Sanford on a two-year contract that carries an AAV of $1.5 million. The 24-year-old had eight goals and 20 points in 60 games with the Blues this season and also put up four points in eight playoff games en route to the Cup. Sanford and St. Louis were able to avoid arbitration as he will serve as a depth forward and strenghten the Blues' bottom-6.

Sunday

1:58 p.m. — The Arizona Coyotes inked 2019 11th overall pick, defenseman Victor Soderstrom, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Arizona had traded with Philadelphia to move up and select the Swedish blueliner, who had seven points in 44 SHL games with Brynas IF last season (following a stint with the J20 club in SuperElit). He brings strong two-way play and skating to the lineup and will likely bring a lot of insurance on defense, while also bringing offense from the blue line with an underrated shot and solid puck-moving ability.

1:30 p.m. — The Hurricanes have officially matched the Canadiens' offer sheet and re-signed forward Sebastian Aho to a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $8.454 million. The 21-year-old led Carolina in scoring last season with 30 goals and 83 points and has proven that he will be a key member of their core for years to come. There was never truly a question that the Hurricanes, who still have over $10 million in cap space after the signing, would match Montreal's offer. It also ensured that re-signing Aho wouldn't be dragged out through the summer and that he will be present for the first day of training camp.

Saturday

10:10 a.m. — The Buffalo Sabres continue to add to their offensive arsenal, signing forward Marcus Johansson to a two-year contract that carries an AAV of $4.5 million. During the regular season, the 28-year-old had 12 goals and 27 points in 48 games with the Devils before being dealt to the Bruins at the deadline. In Boston, he had just three points in 10 games with Boston to close out the year, but he was able to step up to the plate in the postseason with four goals, 11 points and 11 takeaways in 22 games. He joins Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner and Jimmy Vesey and will look to help them potentially climb into a playoff spot this season by providing depth scoring.

Friday

12:35 p.m. — The Islanders and Canadiens are reportedly two clubs considering an offer sheet for Mitch Marner. Another RFA that could be targeted is Patrik Laine, and the Habs are reportedly in on him. The Finnish right wing has registered at least 30 goals a season for the last three years he's been in the NHL, and he had 30 goals and 50 points in 82 games with the Jets this season (career lows).

8:24 a.m. — There is reportedly at least one team that's considering presenting an offer sheet to Marner. The 22-year-old registered a team-leading 94 points with the Maple Leafs this season. The rumored amount is $12.5 million, which would be impossible for Toronto to match as it only has $3.65 million remaining in cap space.

Tuesday

2:30 p.m. — The WInnipeg Jets inked Mark Letestu to a one-year, two-way deal. The 34-year-old center most recently played in the Blue Jackets organization and had 21 goals and 50 points in 64 games with the team's AHL-affiliate Cleveland Monsters last season. He should provide extra organizational depth down the middle and is the type of player who can serve as a utility forward and play many different roles. He can operate well on the power play, kill penalties, play a 200-foot game and win face-offs. He also has years of NHL experience and can fill in when necessary.

11:58 a.m. — The Carolina Hurricanes took no time to match Montreal's offer sheet for Sebastian Aho (although it would have been comical and added dramatic effect if they took the whole week) and will re-sign him to a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $8.454 million. It's no surprise that Carolina would spend to keep the 21-year-old in the lineup; he led the team with 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games last season and is a critical part of the team's core.

Monday

10:06 p.m. — Patrick Maroon, coming off a Cup-winning season with St. Louis, is still mulling over his options. Edmonton is one of the teams he's been in contact with and he is considering a return. Meanwhile, the Oilers are reportedly nowhere near done, as they still have several needs left to address before the start of the season, including adding more depth throughout their lineup. The team is in dire need of top-scoring right wings and currently only signed Markus Granlund and Tomas Jurco, two pieces that, while provide depth, won't bring the scoring they need on the top-6.

6:57 p.m. — The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired right-handed blueliner Tyson Barrie and center Alex Kerfoot in exchange for center Nazem Kadri, defenseman Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-rounder. Barrie wlll take on a top-4 role (left vacant by the departure of Nikita Zaitsev and Ron Hainsey) on the Toronto blue line and also bring offense to the table, as he's the kind of player that can quarterback a power play and also start the breakout or join the rush. Kerfoot, 24, will replace Kadri and had 15 goals and 42 points in 78 games this season and has the potential to continue growing his game. In return, the Avalanche get a new, physical center in Kadri and more insurance on defense.

5:52 p.m. — The Islanders have replaced Robin Lehner and signed goaltender Semyon Varlamov to a four-year deal. The 31-year-old netminder registered a 2.89 GAA and .909 save % in 49 starts this season. He'll compete with the likes of Thomas Greiss for a starting role, one that Varlamov couldn't find in Colorado.

5:46 p.m. — The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing in goaltender Robin Lehner on a one-year, $5 million contract. He'll join Corey Crawford and form a new tandem and will compete with Crawford for the starting spot. Lehner, who was considered for the Vezina, had an outstanding season with the Islanders, going 25-13-5 with a 2.13 GAA and .930 save %. Crawford, who missed a huge portion of 2017-18 after struggling with vertigo-like symptoms, came back this year and registered a 2.93 GAA and .908 save % while going 14-18-5.

5:34 p.m. — The Hurricanes and goaltender Petr Mrazek are closing in on a two-year extension. The 27-year-old has finally found his footing in Carolina and established himself as a starter with a 23-14-3 record and a 2.39 GAA and .914 save % this past season. He also was vital in leading the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final.

4:35 p.m. — Anders Lee has decided to stay on the Island long-term. The Islanders captain signed a seven-year extension that will pay him $49 million. Lee had 28 goals and 51 points in 82 games this year and has been a 50-plus point scorer over the last three seasons. With New York losing out on Panarin, they at least get reassurance and avoid further negotiation with the 28-year-old center.

3:45 p.m. — The Washington Capitals have signed forward Brendan Leipsic, adding more depth to the bottom-6 after inking Richard Panik and Garnet Hathaway to contracts earlier in the morning. The trio is expected to fill the voids on the bottom-6 and create competition within the lineup, as players like Travis Boyd, Chandler Stephenson and Nathan Walker will have to compete to make the opening night roster for that spot as the extra forward.

2:41 p.m. — The Montreal Canadiens make an offer sheet to Carolina Hurricanes RFA Sebastian Aho. The proposed deal would pay him upwards of $8 million annually over five years. Aho has signed the offer sheet and the Hurricanes now have a week to match it. Aho, who finished with 30 goals and 83 points, is a versatile forward who would bring a lot more power and an offensive surge to a growing arsenal that features Max Domi, Brendan Gallagher and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

2:02 p.m. — Edmonton finds a right wing in free agency, picking up AHLer and Calder Cup champion Tomas Jurco on a one-year contract. The 26-year-old had 12 goals and 27 points in 33 AHL games split between the Springfield Thunderbirds and Charlotte Checkers this season; he last played in the NHL with Chicago in 2017-18, where he had six goals and 10 points in 29 games with the Blackhawks. Though he isn't a proven NHL forward, the 6-foot-2, 187-pound forward brings size and speed to the lineup and at the very least will provide depth on a low-risk deal, while also having the potential to develop into a goal-scorer with the Oilers.

1:50 p.m. — The New Jersey Devils just keep getting better as the offseason goes on, signing Wayne Simmonds to a one-year, $5 million contract. The 30-year-old had 17 goals and 30 points in 79 games split between Philadelphia and Nashville this season and has proved to be a consistent 20-plus goal scorer throughout his career. He also won the Mark Messier Leadership Award this season. With Simmonds, the Devils get another high-scoring forward that now joins an offensive arsenal consisting of Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.

1:16 p.m. — The Dallas Stars continue to add to their offense and managed to sign Joe Pavelski to a three-year, $21 million deal, as well as Corey Perry to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. Both of these players are huge additions to the Stars' offense, which already has Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Alexander Radulov. Pavelski finished 2018-19 with 38 goals and 64 points in 75 games with the Sharks, while Perry, who was limited due to injury, had six goals and 10 points in 31 games with Anaheim before being bought out. Both may be veterans, but they still have a lot of talent and are players that can play top-6 minutes and generate a lot of scoring opportunities. Dallas now has arguably one of the best offenses in the NHL.

1:01 p.m. — What had been rumored for days finally becomes reality, as Sergei Bobrovsky signs a seven-year deal with the Florida Panthers that carries an AAV of $10 million. This makes him the league's second-highest-paid goalie behind Carey Price. With Roberto Luongo retired and James Reimer in Carolina, the Panthers now have a new starter as they begin a new era and look to become a playoff caliber team.

1:00 p.m. — The New York Rangers officially won the bid for Artemi Panarin, reportedly signing him to a seven-year deal with an AAV of about $11.6 million. New York has built an impressive team over the course of the last few weeks through the means of adding Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox and Kaapo Kakko, and now, Panarin will help bolster the offense even more as the Rangers look to return to playoff territory.

12:44 p.m. — The Vancouver Canucks made yet another impressive addition to their blue line, finding their top-pairing right-handed guy in Tyler Myers. They signed Myers, who was arguably the top blueliner on the market, to a five-year deal that has an AAV of $6 million. The 6-8, 229-pound defenseman had nine goals, 31 points and a plus-11 rating in 80 games with Winnipeg this season. Look for him to bring stability to the Canucks' defense corps as he fills the void left by Ben Hutton. Vancouver also signed Jordie Benn on Monday and will likely see Quinn Hughes draw into the NHL next season.

12:32 p.m. — The Predators are reportedly finishing up their new deal with Matt Duchene — he will likely become their number-one center as he signs a long-term deal and also gets a lot of perks with the new contract, including an NTC and several signing bonuses. He should help Nashville maintain a lot of their offensive prowess heading into next year.

12:03 p.m. — The Penguins have signed Brandon Tanev to a six-year contract with an AAV of $3.5 million. Tanev should help the Penguins not only get more depth on the bottom-6 but a physical, solid presence that plays a strong two-way game. The 27-year-old had 14 goals and 29 points in 80 games last season, as well as a whopping 278 hits.

11:55 a.m. — Edmonton awards right wing Alex Chiasson with a two-year extension that carries an AAV of $2.15 million. He finished the year with 22 goals and proved to have a lot of chemistry alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, as well as shown his worth as a top-6 winger. 

11:32 a.m. — The Canadiens are putting the finishing touches on a one-year deal for goaltender Keith Kinkaid. He will likely take the backup spot to Carey Price, as Charlie Lindgren mans the net with the AHL-affiliate Laval Rocket.

11:10 a.m. — The Rangers have traded forward Jimmy Vesey to Buffalo in exchange for a 2021 third-rounder. Vesey should bolster the Sabres' scoring, as they finished 23rd in the league with an average of 2.70 goals per game last season. Vesey had 17 goals and 35 points in 81 games with New York last season. He will join Jeff Skinner and Connor Sheary on what's becoming a strong left side.

11:09 a.m. — According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, the Panthers are the favorites for signing defenseman Anton Stralman. The 32-year-old should add more insurance on the right side and can potentially fulfill a top-4 role. He had two goals, 17 points and a plus/minus rating of plus-12 in 47 games last season.

10:47 a.m. —  According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, at least three teams have reached out to the Hurricanes regarding an offer sheet — with Carolina stating they will match anything that comes there way.

10:24 a.m. — Jordie Benn has found a new home, as he's reportedly set to sign with the Canucks. Vancouver is in need of a left-hand shot on the top-4, especially with Ben Hutton not returning and Quinn Hughes preparing to step into a full-time NHL role. He's able to fill in on the top-4 and play big minutes, while also providing some puck-moving ability, as Hughes paces his development and eases into the league.

9:53 a.m. — Sounds like Markus Granlund will be staying in Western Canada. After time with Calgary and Vancouver, it looks like he's heading to Edmonton. 

9:47 a.m. — The Dallas Stars are reportedly ready to sign D Andrej Sekera, who was bought out by Edmonton, to a one-year deal. The 33-year-old should help add a veteran presence to their blue line and give Dallas insurance on the left side, which is currently manned by Esa Lindell, Jamie Oleksiak and Miro Heiskanen.

9:18 a.m. —  The Senators are bringing on defenseman Ron Hainsey and forward Tyler Ennis on one-year deals that pay $3.5 million and $700,000 respectively. Both former Leafs have a good relationship with current Ottawa bench boss DJ Smith, who ran the defense in Toronto last season. Hainsey, 38, will provide a leadership role and take over on the top pairing on the right-hand side. Ennis will also help establish a new culture with the Senators while also working to bring his numbers up and compete potentially for a top-6 spot.

9:07 a.m. — Will we see an offer sheet today? Rumors are swirling that the Carolina Hurricanes are lowballing Sebastian Aho and they may not come to a consensus.

8:42 a.m. — The Oilers are bringing in more help on the wing, signing Markus Granlund to a one-year deal. The 26-year-old had 12 goals and 22 points in 77 games with the Canucks last season, as well as 32 takeaways and just nine giveaways. A sound two-way forward, Granlund will be able to fill in on the left side and perhaps compete with Milan Lucic and Jujhar Khaira for a spot on the top-6.

8:34 a.m. — Jason Spezza is expected to sign with the Maple Leafs on a one-year deal. The 36-year-old had eight goals and 27 points in 76 games last season and can serve Toronto in multiple roles. He will likely fill in as their bottom-6 center (4LC) and be a guy who can play on special teams, win faceoffs and play a 200-foot game.

8:25 a.m. — Ottawa and Toronto finally complete the long-speculated swapping of defensemen as Nikita Zaitsev and Cody Ceci change uniforms in a six-player trade.

Sunday

7:31 p.m. — It looks like Dallas has won the bid for Pavelski, as they will likely sign him to a three-year deal. The deal will help the Stars fill the void that will be left by Mats Zuccarello, while also giving their core a veteran presence and a pure goal-scorer that completes the top-6.

5:59 p.m.  Though Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin were thought to be signing together, the two are now not likely to be heading to the same team. It seems to be a lock-in that Bobrovsky is Florida's new starter and the Islanders are the New York club that won Panarin over (he also visited the Rangers) with "The Breadman" joining Jordan Eberle at right wing and filling out the Isles top-6.

Semyon Varlamov is also said to potentially be joining Panarin on the Island to fill the void left by 2019 Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner, who may be heading to Carolina. However, Varlamov will have to prove his worth as a starter, compete with Thomas Greiss and live up to big expectations as last year's Isles tandem won the Jennings Trophy with the fewest goals against in the league.

4:32 p.m. —  The Oilers reportedly found their starting goaltender, with Mike Smith is prepared to stay in Alberta and play his ninth straight season in the Pacific Division. At 37, Smith was able to help the Flames clinch the Pacific Division in 2018-19 — as well as the Western Conference —  and his expected role as Edmonton's No. 1 netminder is his to lose to Mikko Koskinen.

3:23 p.m. — The Wild are said to be all-in on Mats Zuccarello, who opted to test the market rather than stay in Dallas after being acquired from the New York Rangers at the deadline. If Zuccarello signs in Minnesota, he will be the perfect fit and could give them the boost in scoring they desperately need — especially on a weaker-looking right side. Zucc is the kind of talent that would more than surely become the Wild's top-line RW out of the gate, followed by Kevin Fiala and Luke Kunin.

1:40 p.m. —  Things are getting interesting for Corey Perry, who was recently bought out by the Ducks. The 34-year-old right wing has a number of suitors, including the Oilers, who are making a big push and are in dire need of top-6 right wings. It would be a win-win for Edmonton and Perry, as they would finally find a capable, high-scoring RW for Connor McDavid. Perry may have struggled in 2018-19 but he can get his game back to where it was with another chance at playing on the top-6.

12:09 p.m. — The Panthers cleared up some much-needed cap space and shipped out James Reimer. With the netminder out, and Roberto Luongo retired, it's almost a given that Sergei Bobrovsky will be Florida's starter next season. All that's left to consider is which of the Panthers' AHL goaltenders will be promoted to full-time NHL backup: Samuel Montembeault or Chris Dreidger.

9:00 a.m. — The Oilers put defenseman Andrej Sekera on waivers and plan to buy out his contract, which carries a cap hit of $5.5 million. This frees up a lot more space to work with as Edmonton has several needs to address, from depth on the wing to goaltending.

9:00 a.m. — The Flyers placed defenseman David Schlemko, who didn't appear in any games with Philadelphia after being acquired in February, on waivers to buy out his contract. This also goes hand-in-hand with freeing up more space heading into July 1, as the Flyers now have over $15 million to bring in much-needed scoring and address some of their RFAs, including Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov.

Friday

3:11 p.m. — It seems that Joe Pavelski's long tenure in San Jose is over as he looks to be set on playing elsewhere. He had meetings with the Stars and Lightning earlier in the week, as per TSN's Pierre LeBrun. For either Dallas or Tampa Bay, Pavelski would join a talented core and bring a veteran presence to two teams with the potential to make Stanley Cup bids. The Stars do have an extra $2 million to work with and could likely out-bid the Lightning if need be.

8:21 a.m. — Cam Talbot and the Flames are reportedly ready to come to an agreement that would make the former Oiler, who was traded earlier last season to the Flyers, their new starting goaltender as Mike Smith hits the market. Talbot's coming off the worst season of his career, where he maintained a .892 save pct. and a 3.40 goals-against average through 31 games between Edmonton and Philadelphia. This opportunity should give Talbot the chance to bounce back, especially with an upgraded defense in front of him.

Sammi Silber