Opinion | Johnny Gaudreau’s stunning move and other takeaways from Day 1 of NHL free agency

Three years ago the Blue Jackets were on the other side of this equation.

Buoyed by an encouraging season, they were out there stretching themselves to the point of discomfort trying to keep a big-name free agent. The Blue Jackets were willing to pay Artemi Panarin $13 million US per year in July 2019 and saw him take less to bolt for the Big Apple instead — signing a seven-year deal with the Rangers at an $11.6 million AAV.

It was a crushing turn.

Amid the elation of landing Johnny Gaudreau on Wednesday night, the Blue Jackets front office could understand the emotions being felt back in Calgary better than most.

They emerged from the shadows to nab the 115-point winger on a $68.25 million, seven-year contract — more than $15 million less than what the Flames offered on an eight-year deal, according to sources.

It was a stunning development that had the entire industry asking “what happened?”

Here’s what we know: Gaudreau heard great things about the Blue Jackets organization from others who have played there, including long-time friend Eric Robinson. That put them on the short list of Eastern-based clubs he was considering after declining Calgary’s last offer. And when Philadelphia didn’t create the cap room needed to get into the bidding in a serious manner, he had to choose between the Devils, Islanders and Columbus.

Fire the cannon!

From the Blue Jackets side of the equation, it was an opportunity too good to pass on. They actually got Gaudreau’s signature on a contract free of signing bonus payments — a sign of his commitment to their cause.

Columbus hasn’t had enough good players on its roster since the end of that 2018-19 season and it’s just added a great one. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen considers him to be a superstar.

On a wild opening day of free agency, there was no bigger story than Gaudreau’s unexpected decision.

Here are 10 other news, notes and observations that stand out:

1. The Flames were feeling it in a bad way. With good reason.

So, what’s next?

Navigating the Matthew Tkachuk situation suddenly takes on huge importance. Gaudreau’s former linemate is sitting on a $9 million qualifying offer for next season and has until 5 p.m. ET on July 22 to formally accept it.

That would walk him right to unrestricted free agency in July 2023.

Essentially, the 24-year-old winger holds all of the cards here. There’s an option to negotiate with the Flames on a longer-term extension or take the one-year QO. There’s also no rush to make any decisions while the front office regroups from the Gaudreau earthquake over the next week.

What makes things even more challenging for Calgary is the team’s cap space will go quickly. If Tkachuk gets $9 million and RFA Andrew Mangiapane signs for $5.5 million annually — roughly his expected market value — the Flames will only be left with approximately $5 million to take care of defenceman Oliver Kylington and any other additions.

It’s hard to imagine them improving the roster under those parameters. And it’s hard to imagine them completely blowing up an 111-point team, too.

Tough days and weeks ahead.

2. Ottawa? Ottawa??

The Senators sent a charge through their fan base with arguably the most impactful off-season of any team so far.

That was punctuated by the signing of Claude Giroux on the opening day of free agency. He was lured home with a $19.5 million, three-year contract, but also by the bold moves of a front office desperate to build a playoff-calibre team in the tough Atlantic Division.

This was a seal of approval signing.

Giroux had other viable options from teams with better winning percentages and more obvious ambitions, but still chose the Sens. To see him walk his young son Gavin through Canadian Tire Centre on Wednesday was to have some pride restored in an organization that’s just lived through down times.

Giroux should even get his familiar No. 28 sweater after Connor Brown was dealt to Washington for a 2024 second-round pick on Wednesday night. Pierre Dorion isn’t done, either. The Senators GM is still in the market for a defenceman.

3. Any criticism of the Maple Leafs decision to go with a Matt Murray/Ilya Samsonov goaltending tandem is fair game.

All of the second-guessing about the particulars of the Murray trade is not.

The Senators retained 25 per cent of Murray’s $6.25 million cap hit as part of the deal that also saw third- and seventh-round picks transferred to Toronto. The court of public opinion seemed to decide that anything less than having Ottawa retain the maximum 50 per cent was a mistake.

Except here’s the challenge: The Senators had another deal in their back pocket where they would have kept 25 per cent on Murray, per sources. And the nixed trade to Buffalo last week also would have seen them keep back that same amount of salary.

Basically, it was Murray at 75 per cent of his salary or no Murray at all.

“We’d love to have pushed for more and done a better deal,” Leafs GM Kyle Dubas told reporters in Toronto. “But it was either make that deal or move on elsewhere, and we elected to make the deal.”

The Leafs are betting on upside, especially after adding Samsonov on a $1.8 million, one-year contract after he wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer by Washington. Samsonov is a 25-year-old former first-round pick, while Murray is a 28-year-old with two Stanley Cup rings.

Neither is a sure thing.

But the tandem may prove to be no less risky than the five-year deals given to 30-somethings Jack Campbell and Darcy Kuemper in free agency.

4. The Oilers were thrilled to land Campbell on a $25 million, five-year contract.

They had swung and missed on goaltending the two previous summers: Jacob Markstrom picked a shorter offer from Calgary as a free agent in 2020 and the Oilers engaged in trade talks with Arizona on Kuemper last July, only to see him dealt to Colorado instead.

This time they got their man.

They had no choice, really, with Mikko Koskinen having already left for Switzerland and Mike Smith too banged up to continue his career.

Campbell was welcomed with big smiles from former Leafs teammate Zach Hyman, who was among those Oilers management consulted with during a deep dive on the goaltender before the signing.

Ken Holland’s other two moves saw him keep two members of last year’s Western Conference finalists on sensible four-year deals: Steady defenceman Brett Kulak, who got a $2.75 million AAV; and first-line winger Evander Kane, who got a $5.125 million AAV.

While Kane’s grievance with the San Jose Sharks is ongoing over a terminated contract and it’s unclear what — if anything — he’ll recoup from that, he’s now essentially guaranteed to be made whole.

Kane was due $19 million over the next three seasons on the original Sharks deal and will instead make $20.5 million in Edmonton over the next four.

5. There was no more heart-warming story than Mason Marchment earning security for the first time in his NHL career with an $18 million, four-year deal from the Dallas Stars.

Undrafted, the 27-year-old took a long road to play in the league before exploding in Florida last season with .87 points per game.

His family was also recently struck by tragedy when his father Bryan — a former NHLer and current scout for the San Jose Sharks — died suddenly during draft week in Montreal. He was only 53.

One can only imagine the swirl of emotions.

Mason’s free-agent decision came down to Carolina and Dallas, with the Stars winning out in part of his familiarity with the coaching staff. He’s known assistant Steve Spott since he was a kid and also has a relationship with head coach Pete DeBoer.

No doubt they’ll provide a supportive environment after a difficult time.

6. The Hurricanes made a pretty bold pivot after failing to land Marchment.

In fact, they made two big trades on a day normally dominated by signings — acquiring defenceman Brent Burns (at 66 per cent of his salary) from San Jose while also adding winger Max Pacioretty and 24-year-old defenceman Dylan Coghlan from the cap-strapped Vegas Golden Knights.

Tidy business from one of the NHL’s best-run front offices.

Consider their off-season so far: They parlayed RFA defenceman Tony DeAngelo into three draft picks from Philadelphia after failing to come to terms on a contract; and they preserved the cap space necessary to make the Burns/Pacioretty/Coghlan trades by letting Vincent Trocheck and Nino Neiderreiter walk in free agency.

The total cost of Wednesday’s deals?

Fourth-line forward Steven Lorentz, goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional 2023 third-round pick to San Jose. And “future considerations” — ie. nothing more than taking on Pacioretty’s $7 million cap hit — to Vegas.

To top it off, they signed versatile winger Ondřej Kaše on a $1.5 million, one-year deal — luring him away from Toronto without having to outbid the Leafs.

7. The biggest official news out of Boston came via trade — they sent Erik Haula to New Jersey for Pavel Zacha.

What that deal hinted at was bigger news to come.

Moving Haula appeared to clear the decks for David Krejci’s return after a season spent back home in Czechia. And one would have to believe it would include another year for Patrice Bergeron, who has been pondering retirement.

Those will likely be team-friendly, one-year contracts when they’re signed, too, with low guaranteed salaries and age-35 bonuses that are eligible to be carried over a season, if necessary.

8. Speaking of trades, what will become of J.T. Miller?

Canucks GM Patrik Allvin told reporters in Vancouver that he didn’t receive any calls on the winger Wednesday, but that could change as teams regroup in the days ahead. Not everyone landed the free-agent fishes they desired.

Plus cap space is looking pretty tight after Vancouver landed winger Ilya Mikheyev on a four-year contract carrying a $4.75 million AAV.

There’s still another shoe to drop there.

9. The biggest surprises among contracts handed out on Day 1 of free agency?

Few would have predicted Erik Gudbrandson’s ability to command $16-million on a four-year term, which he got from Columbus. The veteran right-shot defenceman was coming off a strong season for the Flames and filled a specific need the Blue Jackets prioritized.

And how about defenceman Matt Benning receiving a four-year deal from San Jose carrying a $1.25 million AAV? He’d never previously signed a contract longer than two years during his NHL career.

Charlie Lindgren must be pinching himself after signing a $3.3-million, three-year deal to become the Capitals backup goaltender. He opened eyes by playing five strong NHL games for St. Louis last season and going on a long AHL playoff run in Springfield.

It may not have been a surprise, per se, but Ondrej Palat was handsomely rewarded for leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning after 11 years and a whole lot of success with the organization. The 31-year-old winger got $30 million on a five-year deal from the New Jersey Devils.

10. Nazem Kadri is the next big domino to fall.

He was given a lot to chew on after hitting the open market for the first time in his career and the Colorado Avalanche are believed to still be among the teams in the mix for him.

Other notable names still working on deals?

John Klingberg, Nino Neiderreiter, Dylan Strome and Phil Kessel were the only unsigned members remaining from CJ’s UFA Big Board as of Thursday morning.

Chris Johnston writes about sports for NorthStar Bets. NorthStar Bets is owned by NordStar Capital, which also owns Torstar, the Star’s parent company. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterchris

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