The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t spend free agency pretending the fix was only coming from the draft.
After using the first pick in the NHL draft on 18-year-old forward Gavin McKenna, new general manager John Chayka turned right around and added a major veteran piece, landing goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on a three-year, $21 million contract as free agency opened Wednesday.
Bobrovsky, nearly 38 and a two-time Cup champion, is headed to Toronto to address a need that has lingered for a while. Chayka didn’t hide what the move meant to the organization.
“Sergei’s a real game-changer for us in terms of the stability, the consistency, the durability,” Chayka said. “We think he’s really motivated to come into the largest hockey market in the world, and it’s important to him that he finish his career strong.”
For a Maple Leafs team trying to reset quickly after finishing last in the Atlantic Division and ending a nine-year playoff streak, Bobrovsky gives them a proven name in net after cycling through five goalies last season alone. Toronto also added veteran forward Nick Paul in a trade with Tampa Bay, then signed centers Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons and Jack Roslovic.
Bobrovsky’s departure from Florida came with a note of appreciation from Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who had just spent the week adding Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid in goal.
“A sincere thank you to Sergei Bobrovsky for all he did for this organization,” Zito said. “Things happen where decisions get made and people move on.
It’s part of our game. We have nothing but appreciation for Sergei.”
Around the league, the opening of free agency brought plenty of movement, with the San Jose Sharks emerging as one of the busiest teams. They added defenseman Jacob Trouba and forward Mason Marchment, while also trading for defenseman Darnell Nurse from Edmonton.
Trouba signed a four-year, $33 million deal, Marchment got five years at $33.75 million, and the Sharks sent defensive prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp to Edmonton for Nurse. After a 19-win jump and a finish just short of the playoffs, Trouba said San Jose’s rise was a major reason he wanted in.
“You want a team that you feel like you can grow with and make an impact and help these young guys,” Trouba said on a video call with reporters. “It’s important to get into where everybody wants to be is on a contending team, and I think we have a good opportunity in San Jose to do that.”
Utah also made a notable push, signing former Islanders captain Anders Lee to a three-year, $16.2 million contract and Vincent Trochek of the Rangers as it added muscle up front.
The Rangers, meanwhile, were active in a different way. Over a five-hour stretch, they made four trades, sending Trocheck to Utah for defenseman Sean Durzi, prospect Cole Beaudoin and a third-round pick in next year’s draft.
New York also picked up Marcus Pettersson from Vancouver for a conditional 2030 first-rounder, moved defenseman Will Borgon to Boston for picks, and completed another deal with the Bruins for backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo. The Rangers also signed former Tampa Bay forward Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Goalies kept moving elsewhere, too. Edmonton brought in Buffalo minor-league prospect Devon Levi in a trade after losing Stuart Skinner, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with Winnipeg. Minnesota signed Calvin Pickard, and Tampa Bay acquired Denis Hildeby from Toronto for forward Nick pPaul.
Elsewhere on the free-agent market, Washington signed Columbus winger Boone Jenner and San Jose defenseman Vincent Desharnais to four-year contracts, while Los Angeles added Nashville forward Erik Haula for two years and also brought in Mats Zuccarello from Minnesota. Chicago signed veteran defenseman Ian Cole, Colorado added former Seattle winger Jaden Schwartz, and Detroit signed Swedish winger Viktor Arvidsson.
Teams also worked to keep their own players in place. Florida re-signed Radko Gudas to a six-year deal worth $1.5 million annually.
New Jersey extended captain Nico Hischier on a five-year deal worth $58.5 million. Montreal kept Ivan Demidov on an eight-year, $73 million contract after the 20-year-old Russian forward led all NHL rookies with 62 points last season.
Philadelphia locked up Tyson Foerster for eight years at $56.8 million and extended goalie Dan Vladar for five years at $27.5 million.
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