National Hockey League Free Agency started on Wednesday. Here are 21 Canadians who switched teams either through free agency or a trade.
1) Claude Giroux–The right winger from Hearst, Ontario signed a three-year deal worth $19.5 million with the Ottawa Senators. Giroux had 21 goals and 44 assists for 65 points in 2021-22 with the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers.
2) David Perron–The left winger from Sherbrooke, Quebec signed a two-year deal worth $9.5 million. Last season with St. Louis he had 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points. In addition to the Blues, Perron has played for the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, and Vegas Golden Knights.
3) Brent Burns–The defenseman from Barrie, Ontario was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Carolina Hurricanes with forward Lane Pederson for forward Steven Lorentz of Kitchener, Ontario and a third round draft pick in 2023. Last season Burns scored 10 goals and 44 assists for 54 points. In addition to the Sharks, he played for the Minnesota Wild. Lorentz had eight goals and five assists for 13 points.
3) Ryan Strome–The center from Mississauga, Ontario signed a five-year deal worth $25 million with the Anaheim Ducks. Last year with the New York Rangers, Strome had 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points. In addition to the Rangers, Strome has played for the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.
5) Mason Marchment–The left winger from Uxbridge, Ontario signed a four-year deal worth $18 million with the Dallas Stars. Last year with the Florida Panthers, he had 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points. In addition to the Panthers, Marchment has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
6) Darcy Kuemper–The goaltender from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan signed a five year deal worth $26.25 million with the Washington Capitals. He had a record of 37-12-4 with five shutouts, a goals against average of 2.54 and a save percentage of .921 last season with the Colorado Avalanche. Kuemper has also played for the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, and Arizona Coyotes.
7) Max Domi–The left winger from Winnipeg, Manitoba signed a one-year contract worth $3 million with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year Domi had 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points with the Columbus Blue Jackers and Carolina Hurricanes. He has also played with the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens.
7) Connor Brown–The right winger from Toronto, Ontario was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the Washington Capitals for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Last year Brown had 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points. In addition to the Senators, he has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
9) Ben Chiarot– The defenseman from Hamilton, Ontario signed a four-year contract worth $19 million with the Detroit Red Wings. Last year with the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers, Chiarot had nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points. In addition to the Jets and Panthers, he has played for the Winnipeg Jets.
10) Justin Schultz–The defenseman from Kelowna, British Columbia signed a two-year contract worth $6 million with the Seattle Kraken. Last year with the Washington Capitals Schultz had four goals and 19 assists for 23 points. In addition to the Capitals, he has played for the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
10) Nicolas Aube-Kubel–The right-winger from Slave Lake, Alberta signed a one-year contract worth $1 million with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Last year with the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche, Kubel had 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points.
12) Nick Cousins–The center from Belleville, Ontario signed a two-year contract worth $2.2 million with the Florida Panthers. Last year with the Nashville Predators, Cousins had nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. He has also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights.
13) Martin Jones–The goaltender from North Vancouver, British Columbia signed a one-year-contract worth $2 million with the Seattle Kraken. Last year with the Philadelphia Flyers, Jones had a record of 12-18-3 with a goals against average of 3.42 and a save percentage of .900. Jones has also played with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
14) Erik Gudbranson– The defenseman from Ottawa, Ontario signed a four-year contract worth $16 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last season with the Calgary Flames, Gudbranson had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points last year with the Calgary Flames. In his career, Gudbranson has also played for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators.
14) Andreas Athanasiou–The center from Woodbridge, Ontario signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last season with the Los Angeles Kings, Athanasiou had 11 goals and six assists for 17 points. In his career, Athanasiou has also played for the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.
16) Marc Staal–The defenseman from Thunder Bay, Ontario signed a one-year deal worth $750,000 with the Florida Panthers. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, Staal had three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. In his career, Staal has also played with the New York Rangers.
17) Colin Miller–The defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario signed a two-year deal worth $3.7 million with the Dallas Stars. Last season with the Buffalo Sabres, Miller had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. He has also played for the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights.
18) Nic Deslauriers–The defenseman from Lasalle, Quebec signed a four-year deal worth $7 million with the Philadelphia Flyers. Last season, Deslauriers had eight goals and five assists for 13 points with the Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild. He has also played for the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.
19) Matt Benning–The defenseman from Edmonton, Alberta signed a four-year deal worth $5 million with the San Jose Sharks. Benning had 11 assists with the Nashville Predators last season. He has also played with the Edmonton Oilers.
20) Eric Comrie–The goaltender from Edmonton, Alberta signed a two-year deal worth $3.6 million with the Buffalo Sabres. Last season Comrie had a record of 10 wins, five regulation losses, and one loss in extra time, with a goals against average of 2.58 with the Winnipeg Jets. He also played with the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils.
21) Dustin Tokarski–The goaltender from Watson, Saskatchewan signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season Tokarski had a record of 10 wins, 12 regulation losses and five losses in extra time. with a goals against average of 3.27 and a save percentage of .899.
