NHL Free Agent and Trade Catch-Up: Celebrini Gets Paid and Next Season Takes Shape

Hey folks. We're continuing our offseason catch-up with some of the notable signings and trades that have taken place as teams continue putting the finishing touches on their rosters.

The marquee discussion in this batch is a franchise player of the future and the league's next generational superstar getting paid like one. Beyond that, we're catching up on the moves that could have a fantasy impact as we start shifting our attention toward next season.

With the offseason beginning to slow down, it's time to start thinking about how these moves will affect player value, deployment, and ultimately where players should be going in your fantasy league drafts. We're getting closer, folks. Let's dive in.

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Cole Sillinger - Columbus Blue Jackets - $4.625M AAV - Three Years

Happy to see Sillinger stick with the Blue Jackets. He brings some secondary scoring while continuing to develop into a dependable two-way center, and at just 23 years old, there is still plenty of room for his game to grow. Columbus gets some stability down the middle while keeping a young player who fits into the long-term plans of this team.

Fantasy outlook: Sillinger is a depth forward with some sneaky upside. His middle-six role gives him a consistent opportunity to produce, but his fantasy ceiling will depend on whether he can eventually move into a more prominent offensive role. He is not a player I would reach for in a draft, but he is certainly worth keeping an eye on as a late-round pick or waiver wire option if his deployment improves.

Akira Schmid - Florida Panthers - $2M AAV - Two Years

Great deal for the Panthers here, avoiding arbitration and giving themselves two years to see exactly what they have in Schmid. He has shown flashes of being a legitimate NHL starter, and getting another season to develop behind an established No. 1 gives Florida plenty of flexibility. If he continues to improve, this could end up looking like a very team-friendly deal.

Fantasy outlook: Schmid is an interesting depth goalie with legitimate upside. Playing behind Markstrom limits his immediate fantasy value, but the opportunity to learn and develop in a strong organization could set him up for a much larger role down the road. He is worth a late-round pick in deeper leagues or a dynasty stash for anyone looking toward the future.

Macklin Celebrini - San Jose Sharks - $18.8M AAV - Five Years

Is this a bonkers deal that makes Celebrini the richest player in the league? Yes. Did the Sharks also give him a blank piece of paper that he could write any number on because he is a once-in-a-lifetime generational player? Also yes. Celebrini is the next Connor McDavid, and you can quote me on this. He brings everything you want in a franchise player, and he just keeps getting better. The Sharks are betting that he will be the face of this franchise and potentially the entire league for years to come. The deal makes him the highest-paid player in NHL history at $18.8 million per season.

Fantasy outlook: This is about as elite as it gets. Celebrini just put up 115 points at age 20, and his combination of goal scoring, playmaking, shot volume, and powerplay production gives him legitimate first-round fantasy value in every format. He is already an elite fantasy player, and the scary part is that we probably haven't seen his ceiling yet. In dynasty leagues, he is the kind of player you build your roster around for the next decade.

Thomas Novak - Pittsburgh Penguins - $4.65M AAV - Three Years

Dubas continues to lock up the guys who have become part of the roster, and Novak falls into that category. There is nothing particularly flashy about this signing, but Novak has proven he can be a reliable bottom-six forward who can move around the lineup and provide secondary scoring when needed. Pittsburgh clearly values that versatility and consistency.

Fantasy outlook: This is a streamer at best. Novak's value is largely tied to the opportunities that come with playing on a relatively thin Penguins' roster, and he has enough offensive ability to take advantage when he gets elevated. He is not someone I would target early in a draft, but he can be a useful waiver wire option when the deployment is there.

Collin Graf - San Jose Sharks - $4.25M AAV - Three Years

Without a doubt, Graf is a player of the future for the Sharks, who continue to build out their young core and lock these players into place. He might not have the name recognition of Celebrini or Will Smith, but Graf is becoming an important piece of the Sharks' long-term plans. He is a young dynamo who continues to improve and still has not reached his prime, making this another smart investment in the future of San Jose.

Fantasy outlook: Graf is an intriguing dynasty depth forward who could see his fantasy value climb quickly as his role grows. He has the skill to become a legitimate offensive contributor, and the Sharks are giving him every opportunity to develop alongside their young stars. I would keep him on the radar as a late-round dynasty pick, especially if his deployment continues to increase.

Nikita Grebenkin - Philadelphia Flyers - $1.1M AAV - Two Years

Backcheck, forecheck, paycheck! Grebenkin gets a reasonable two-year deal from the Flyers after putting together his first full NHL season, and this is a good opportunity for him to continue developing into a reliable depth forward. He brings plenty of physicality and energy, and Philadelphia clearly sees enough upside to keep him around as part of their young core.

Fantasy outlook: This is a streamer at best, but there is some value here in category leagues. Grebenkin is a physical depth player who can help with hits and other peripheral categories, but his offensive production and deployment will keep his fantasy ceiling relatively low. If his role grows, he could become more interesting, but for now he is best left on the waiver wire in standard formats.

Sabres and Capitals Trade

To the Buffalo Sabres: Zac Funk

To the Washington Capitals: Tyler Kopff

Fantasy Breakdown

This is another minor league swap, with Buffalo acquiring Funk from Washington in exchange for Kopff. Neither player has made his NHL debut yet, so this is another low-risk move between organizations looking to see if a change of scenery can unlock something more from a young player. 

For Buffalo, Funk brings some offensive upside and a chance to continue developing within a new organization. Washington gets Kopff, who will now have an opportunity to work his way through the Capitals' development system and try to turn things around after a relatively quiet season. This isn't a trade that is going to change either NHL roster, but these are the kinds of organizational moves that can occasionally uncover a player who was simply stuck in the wrong situation.

Fantasy breakdown: There is very little immediate fantasy value here. Neither Funk nor Kopff has played an NHL game, and both remain long shots to become fantasy relevant in the short term. Dynasty managers in extremely deep leagues can keep tabs on Funk given his scoring production in the ECHL, but for the vast majority of fantasy leagues, this is one to file away and revisit if either player starts climbing the organizational depth chart.

Ducks and Canadiens Trade

To the Anaheim Ducks: Sean Farrell

To the Montreal Canadiens: Sasha Pastujov

Fantasy Breakdown

This is a pretty straightforward one-for-one minor league swap, with the Ducks acquiring Farrell from Montreal and the Canadiens bringing in Pastujov. Neither player has established himself as an NHL regular, so this is really about giving two young forwards a fresh start and seeing if either can turn their offensive potential into a legitimate NHL opportunity. 

I like this kind of move for both organizations. Montreal gets a 23-year-old forward in Pastujov who has shown some offensive ability at the AHL level, while Anaheim gets Farrell, who has already had a brief taste of the NHL and brings some additional playmaking ability. There isn't much risk here for either side, and both players get a chance to reset their development with a new organization.

Fantasy breakdown: Neither player should be on the fantasy radar in standard leagues right now, but both are worth keeping an eye on in deep dynasty formats. Farrell has already shown he can produce at the AHL level, while Pastujov is coming off a similarly productive season. If either player earns a legitimate NHL role, they could become interesting waiver wire or dynasty options, but for now, this is strictly a prospect watch.