Stamkos bolts Tampa for Nashville as Predators spend big in free agency | CBC Sports

The Nashville Predators made a big splash as NHL free agency opened Monday by signing Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault in a jaw-dropping series of moves topping $100 million (all figures US) that made Smashville the centre of attention across hockey.

Stamkos said he was signing with the Predators, leaving Tampa Bay after 16 seasons that included winning the Stanley Cup twice and making two other trips to the final. Terms were not immediately known, but Stamkos reportedly will get $32 million for four years.

“It’s not for a lack of effort on my side (to try) to make things work out in Tampa, but it’s not fair to Nashville for me to sit here and say I really wanted to be in Tampa,” Stamkos said on TSN in Canada. “Everyone knows I did. It didn’t work out, and I’m just as thrilled to be joining the Nashville Predators for a multitude of reasons. You can see by how aggressive they’ve been today that their commitment to winning is second to none.”

Marchessault, the 2023 playoff MVP and another standout veteran forward, got a five-year deal worth $27.5 million, according to a person familiar with the contract. The Predators also signed defenceman Brady Skjei to a $49 million, seven-year contract and backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood to a $3 million, two-year contract, according to two others with knowledge of the moves.

Jake Guentzel signed a $63 million, seven-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning after they acquired his rights from Carolina over the weekend. Guentzel will count $9 million against the salary cap through 2031.

“Things just didn’t work out in Carolina, and then I heard Tampa might be trading for my rights, so obviously I got really excited because everyone hears how good of a team and good of a spot this is,” Guentzel said. “The pedigree behind Tampa Bay, the winning culture — just a lot of high-end players that really make it intriguing to come to Tampa.”

Hours after a rainy rally celebrating the first championship in franchise history, Florida beat the midnight buzzer to re-sign 57-goal scorer Sam Reinhart to an eight-year contract worth $69 million (all figures US).

Cross-state rival Tampa Bay beat the rush to have the chance to negotiate exclusively with Jake Guentzel over the weekend, then signed the point-a-game playoff player to a $63 million, seven-year deal. That is well worth the third-round pick the Lightning sent Carolina for Guentzel’s rights, especially after realizing they would be parting ways with Stamkos, their longtime captain who has been around since 2008.

Chris Tanev and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to a six-year, $27-million US contract Monday. The 34-year-old defenceman, whose deal is worth $4.5 million per season, had two goals and 19 points in 75 games in 2023-24 with the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, but his value comes at the other end of the rink in a shutdown role.

The Leafs also signed goaltender Joseph Woll, a restricted free agent, to a three-year extension for just under $11 million.

Key transactions:

• The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed forward Connor Brown to a one-year contract worth $1 million.

• Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen agreed to contracts with Chicago, providing a major offensive lift for the rebuilding team. Bertuzzi received a $22 million, four-year deal. Teravainen’s agreement is worth $16.2 million over three seasons.

• Chigago also reached deals with goaltender Laurent Brossoit ($6.6 million, two years) and veteran forward Craig Smith ($1 million, one year).

• Fresh off helping Florida win the Stanley Cup, defenceman Brandon Montour signed a $50 million, seven-year contract with Seattle, and the Kraken added former Golden Knights centre and ’23 champion Chandler Stephenson for $43.75 million over the same length of time.

• The Ottawa Senators traded Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals for fellow defenceman Nick Jensen and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft. 

• The Vancouver Canucks have signed left-winger Jake DeBrusk to a seven-year deal with an annual-average value of $5.5 million.

• The Calgary Flames have re-signed forward Yegor Sharangovich to a five-year, $28.75-million contract.

• In other Flames transactions to kick off NHL free agency, Calgary-born defenceman Jake Bean came home after agreeing to a two-year contract worth $1.75 million per year, forward Ryan Lomberg signed a two-year, $4-million contract and right-winger Anthony Mantha agreed to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million.

• The Edmonton Oilers  signed forward Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year, $4-million contract.

• The Boston Bruins signed Elias Lindholm for seven years, $52.5 million and Nikita Zadorov for six years, $30 million.

• The Winnipeg Jets have signed goaltender Eric Comrie to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $825,000.

• The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Alex Barre-Boulet to a one-year, one-way contract. The Canadiens did not provide the contract’s value, but multiple outlets report it’s worth $775,000.

• The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Juraj Slafkovsky  to an eight-year, $60.8-million contract extension beginning in 2025-26.

• New Jersey signed defenceman Brett Pesce to a six-year contract worth $33 million.

• San Jose signed winger Tyler Toffoli for $24 million over four years.