Hurricanes and Rangers Trigger NHL Free Agency Frenzy in Divisional Rivalry

Don Waddell, the general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, entered NHL free agency with low expectations for improving his team’s roster. He even told his staff they might not need to come to the office. However, within four hours, Waddell surprised everyone by securing significant signings. Along with retaining their starting goaltenders, Antti Raanta and Frederik Andersen, and re-signing forward Jesper Fast, the Hurricanes also added defenseman Dmitry Orlov and forward Michael Bunting.

Waddell remarked on the changing perception of the Hurricanes as they establish themselves as contenders: “Things have changed here. We used to chase players and have to overpay. We’ve become a destination place. We’re getting those calls first. And it’s nice to be in that position.” This rivalry between the Hurricanes and the Rangers has extended beyond the ice and into the realm of free agency.

The New York Rangers made notable additions to their roster as well. They signed forwards Blake Wheeler, Nick Bonino, and Tyler Pitlick, defenseman Erik Gustafsson, and goaltender Jonathan Quick, a two-time Stanley Cup champion who recently backed up the Vegas team.

Rangers GM Chris Drury expressed his excitement about the signings, emphasizing his lifelong dream of being part of the organization: “I’m biased. It was my life’s dream to be a Ranger, and I think it’s a pretty special place to play. We’re fortunate the players we did sign today wanted to be here and believe in what we’re trying to do.”

Despite the limited availability of high-end talent in the free agent class and the challenges posed by the salary cap, NHL general managers wasted no time in addressing their team’s needs. They swiftly filled roster gaps and pursued key signings to bolster their lineups.

For instance, newly appointed Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz kick-started his tenure by securing the services of Ryan O’Reilly, one of the game’s top two-way forwards, on a four-year, $18 million contract. The Predators also added winger Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Luke Schenn to their lineup.

The Detroit Red Wings signed J.T. Compher, a forward who won the Stanley Cup in 2022, to a five-year, $25.5 million contract. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche lost Compher but made moves to acquire Ross Colton and signed forwards Miles Wood and Jonathan Drouin.

Alex Killorn, a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2020 and 2021, secured a lucrative four-year, $25 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks. The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed goalie Tristan Jarry to a five-year, $26.875 million deal and added defenseman Ryan Graves to their roster.

The Minnesota Wild’s GM, Bill Guerin, could only watch as an observer due to limited cap space, expressing his desire to be more active in the signings. However, he acknowledged that most of his team was already intact.

Noteworthy free agents still available include Patrick Kane, who will miss the start of the season due to hip surgery, former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, and wingers Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Bertuzzi.

The Hurricanes and Rangers, both successful teams in the Metropolitan Division in recent years, grabbed much of the spotlight in this free agency frenzy. Carolina secured the services of top defenseman Dmitry Orlov, while the Rangers made impactful additions such as Blake Wheeler and Jonathan Quick.

Orlov, who signed a two-year, $15.5 million contract with the Hurricanes, expressed his desire to be part of a competitive team: “I want to be on a good team who has a big goal to get in the end. I need to make a good decision for me, and I want to play on a good team. So, I think I made the right decision.”

Bunting, coming off two successful seasons in Toronto, signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract with Carolina, while Fast returned to the Hurricanes for a fourth season on a two-year, $4.8 million deal. The Hurricanes’ strong goalie tandem, Raanta and Andersen, also signed new contracts.

The Rangers faced budget constraints, but they managed to add Wheeler and Quick on one-year deals, allowing for potential additional earnings through performance-based incentives.

Other notable signings included the Buffalo Sabres upgrading their defense with Connor Clifton and Erik Johnson, the signing of Matt Duchene for next season, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquiring John Klingberg and Ryan Reaves, and many more.

This report was contributed to by AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno, AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard, and AP freelance writer Denis Gorman.

Source: AP NHL: [source link]

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