Penguins sign Malkin and PO Joseph, Avs sign Georgiev + more!
NHL players without qualifying offers became free agents on July 13. Here is a look around the league at the latest signings and talent that has moved to the free agency list.
Penguins sign Evgeni Malkin to a 4-year contract extension
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed star center Evgeni Malkin to a four-year, $24.4 million contract extension that will pay him an annual salary of $6.1 million, the Post-Gazette reports.
Over the course of his career, Russian-born Malkin, 35, has won three Stanley Cup titles and a Hart trophy as a member of the Penguins. He was the second overall choice by the Penguins in the 2004 NHL draft.
"Evgeni is a generational talent who will be remembered as one of the greatest players in NHL history," Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. "His hockey resume and individual accomplishments speak volumes about him as a player, and we are thrilled to watch him continue his remarkable legacy in Pittsburgh."
Oilers defenseman Duncan Keith announces retirement
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Duncan Keith has announced his retirement, having played only a single season with the team after being acquired from the Chicago Black Hawks in 2021.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Keith, 38, was the 54th overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2002 NHL draft. During his career, he was a three-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Norris Trophy winner, and 2015 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient while with Chicago. He was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players in history, playing in over 1200 games, and holds the record as being only the second player in NHL history to have 2000 block shots, NHL.com reported.
Alexandar Georgiev signs 3-year deal with Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have acquired goaltender Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers in a trade that will also give them Colorado's third-round and fifth-round selections in the 2022 NHL Draft and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Georgiev signed a three-year deal with the Avs worth $10.2 million, the Denver Post reported.
"It feels special," Georgiev said of joining the Avalanche. "I’ve been hoping to get an opportunity to play for a team like this. It’s special."
"They just won the Cup, obviously, and they have the core that’s going to stay for a while together and I get an opportunity to play for them," he added. "It’s unbelievable. Felt unreal. And really blessed for that."
The Bulgarian-born 6-foot-1, 180-pound Georgiev, 26, joined the Rangers as a free agent in 2014, NHL.com reported.
Penguins re-sign defenseman P.O Joseph to a 2-year deal
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed defenseman P.O (Pierre-Olivier) Joseph, 23, to a two-year deal worth $825,000 annually. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound defenseman played the majority of last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and only suited up for four games with Pittsburgh in 2021-22.
He was originally drafted by Arizona in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, NHL.com reports.
Wild acquires goaltender Gustavsson
The Minnesota Wild have acquired goaltender Filip Gustavsson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for goaltender Cam Talbot.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound, Sweden-born Filip Gustavsson, 24, was the 55th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 draft. Gustavsson made 16 starts in 18 games with Ottawa last season and went 5-12-1 with a 3.55 goals-against average (GAA) and a .892 save percentage (SV%), NHL.com reports.
Top 20 free agents
Here is a list of the top 20 free agents in the NHL, according to the New York Post:
Johnny Gaudreau, LW (Flames), Nazem Kadri, C (Avalanche), Ondrej Palat, F (Lightning), Valeri Nichushkin, F (Avalanche), Andre Burakovsky, F (Avalanche), Andrew Copp, F (Rangers), Patrice Bergeron, C (Bruins), Claude Giroux, C (Panthers), David Perron, LW (Blues), Ryan Strome, C (Rangers), Vincent Trochek, C (Hurricanes), John Klingberg, RD (Stars), Evander Kane, LW (Oilers), Jack Campbell, G (Maple Leafs), Mason Marchment, LW (Panthers), Ben Chiarot, LD (Panthers), Ilya Mikheyev, LW (Maple Leafs), Nikita Zadorov, LD (Flames).
Only one player on this list of 20 has been re-signed so far, Evgeni Malkin, C (Penguins).