As the summer months wind down and the start of the NHL season approaches, teams have been busy making moves to bolster their rosters for the upcoming campaign. With the NHL off-season in full swing, let’s take a look at some of the notable transactions that have taken place as of August 23.
One of the biggest moves of the off-season came when star defenseman Dougie Hamilton signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. Hamilton, who was previously with the Carolina Hurricanes, is expected to provide a significant boost to the Devils’ blue line and power play.
Another significant signing was made by the Seattle Kraken, who inked goaltender Philipp Grubauer to a six-year, $35.4 million deal. Grubauer, who was a key contributor to the Colorado Avalanche’s success last season, is expected to be the Kraken’s starting netminder in their inaugural season.
The Montreal Canadiens made headlines when they signed forward Mike Hoffman to a three-year, $13.5 million contract. Hoffman, who has a reputation as a goal scorer, is expected to provide some much-needed offensive firepower to the Canadiens’ lineup.
In terms of trades, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent defenseman Seth Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a package that included defenseman Adam Boqvist and first-round draft picks. Jones, who is considered one of the top defensemen in the league, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Blackhawks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a splash when they acquired goaltender Petr Mrazek from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Mrazek is expected to provide some stability in net for the Maple Leafs, who have struggled with inconsistent goaltending in recent years.
Overall, it has been an eventful off-season so far with plenty of player movement and roster changes. As teams continue to make moves in the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see how these transactions impact the upcoming NHL season. Stay tuned for more updates as the off-season progresses.