NHL Free Agent Catchup: More Big Names Sign Ahead of Training Camp

Hey folks. With training camps just around the corner, some of the bigger names still available are finally finding new homes. There has been plenty of movement around the NHL over the last few days, and the Montreal Canadiens have been especially busy, bringing back some familiar faces while also making a surprising addition.

I wanted to catch up on some of the latest signings and look at what they mean for the players involved and their fantasy value heading into the season. With camp about to open, there isn't much time left for these players to settle into their new situations. Let's dive in.

Want to take your fantasy hockey analysis further? EDGE+ members can now chat with our AI Expert, ask follow-up questions, and dive deeper into player breakdowns with longer conversations.

Mark Stone - Vegas Golden Knights - $9M AAV - Two Years

I like this deal for the Golden Knights. Stone is still a really good hockey player who brings proven production, grit, leadership and a ton of experience to this Vegas lineup. The biggest concern is always going to be his health, but if he can stay on the ice, Vegas gets another couple years with its captain while keeping the term relatively short. At $9 million per season, I think this is a pretty good bargain for a player of Stone's caliber.

Fantasy outlook: I would not expect Stone to repeat everything he did last season, especially as he gets older, but there is still plenty of fantasy value here. He should remain a key offensive player for Vegas, and his all-around game gives him value beyond just points. I would not be reaching for him based on last year's numbers, but if his draft price reflects some regression, Stone can still be a solid fantasy option.

Chris Kreider - Montreal Canadiens - $5.4M AAV - One Year

This seems like a pretty easy deal for the Canadiens to make. Kreider brings secondary scoring, physical play and a ton of veteran experience to a young Montreal roster that is trying to take the next step. He is coming off a 50-point season with Anaheim, so there is still some offense left in the tank, and Montreal is only giving him one year. I do have to question why the Canadiens signed the guy who hurt franchise goaltender Carey Price back in 2014, though. I have a feeling some Montreal fans are going to have a hard time forgetting that one.

Fantasy outlook: Kreider should have some value as a depth forward, especially if Montreal gives him a good even-strength role and some powerplay time. I would not expect another 50-point season at 35 years old, but he can still provide some goals and physical production while playing around some of the Canadiens' young stars. He is not someone I would be targeting early in drafts, but he is worth keeping an eye on if he lands in a strong offensive role.

Zack Bolduc - Montreal Canadiens - $4.2M AAV - Four Years

I really like this signing for the Canadiens. Four years at $4.2 million is a pretty reasonable commitment for a 23 year old secondary scorer who can play up and down the lineup and still has room to develop. Bolduc also brings some physicality to the lineup, which gives Montreal another useful piece as this young roster continues to grow. The Canadiens get some cost certainty while keeping a young player who could continue to take on a bigger role.

Fantasy outlook: Bolduc is the type of player I really like in deeper fantasy leagues. He can contribute offensively while also giving you some physical production, and his ability to move around the lineup should give him opportunities. I wouldn't be drafting him in standard leagues, but he is a very interesting late-round option in deeper formats and someone I would keep on the waiver wire radar if his role grows.

Cam Talbot - Columbus Blue Jackets - $1.65M AAV - One Year

The biggest thing for me with this signing is what it means for the Blue Jackets' other goalies. Talbot is an experienced veteran who can give Columbus some insurance in net, but the timing of this signing makes things interesting with fantasy drafts happening right now. Are the Blue Jackets actually considering a three goalie system, or is this simply adding some veteran depth? Either way, this creates some questions around both Elvis Merzlikins and Jet Greaves heading into camp.

Fantasy outlook: I suspect Greaves has won the net after his performance last season, and I still think it is his job to lose. Talbot could simply be insurance if Greaves struggles or gets hurt, but fantasy managers need to keep an eye on this situation. I would be hesitant to draft Greaves as confidently as I was before this signing, and I would also avoid assuming Talbot is going to take over the starting job. This is one of the goalie situations I will be watching very closely during training camp.

Drake Batherson - Ottawa Senators - $10.75M AAV - Eight Years

This is a big win for a Senators franchise that really needed one. Batherson is one of Ottawa's best forwards and getting him locked up for the long term gives this team some much needed stability. The $10.75M AAV is certainly a big number right now, but Ottawa is betting on Batherson continuing to be one of its core players for the next eight years. I think that number could look like a bargain by the end of this deal.

Fantasy outlook: Batherson should continue to be a major offensive piece for Ottawa and remains a very good fantasy forward. He is entering his prime years and should continue to see top-six minutes and powerplay time, giving him a strong floor for fantasy managers. I would expect him to remain a consistent point producer for years to come, making this a deal that is just as important for fantasy managers in dynasty leagues as it is for the Senators.

Alex Newhook - Montreal Canadiens - $5.55M AAV - Four Years

Again, another home run for the Canadiens as they continue locking up their young talent. Newhook has really come into his own in Montreal, and I think this is a bargain deal that gives the Canadiens some cost certainty while he continues to develop. He is a key piece of this young roster, and getting the deal done before training camp is exactly what Montreal needed. His playoff performance last season only made it more important to get him locked up long term.

Fantasy outlook: Newhook has quietly become a really nice fantasy player, especially for managers who are willing to dig a little deeper than the obvious names. His versatility should continue to give him opportunities in Montreal's middle six, and there is still room for his offensive game to grow. I don't think he is suddenly going to become a fantasy superstar, but he is the type of player I am happy to grab later in drafts and someone who can become a very useful fantasy piece if his role continues to expand.

Justin Sourdif - Washington Capitals - $6.35M AAV - Eight Years

This is a risky move for the Capitals, especially committing eight years to a player who is still relatively young and unproven. That said, I think the $6.35 million AAV makes the risk much more acceptable. Sourdif showed some flashes of brilliance last season, and more importantly, he gives Washington something it desperately needs right now: youth. Alex Ovechkin isn't going to be there forever, and the Capitals need to start preparing for the next version of this team. Locking up a young player they believe can be part of that future makes sense.

Fantasy outlook: Sourdif is a really interesting dynasty player for me. I wouldn't expect him to suddenly become a fantasy star this season, but the long-term opportunity is what makes him so appealing. Washington is going to have to transition away from its aging core at some point, and Sourdif could find himself with a much bigger role as that happens. He is a player I would be willing to take a chance on in dynasty drafts, especially if he is still available in the middle or later rounds.

Cutter Gauthier - Anaheim Ducks - $13.5M AAV - Six Years

This is the biggest signing of the batch and a critical one for the future of the Ducks. Gauthier is an elite young forward who has already shown that he can be a major offensive weapon in the NHL, and this is the type of player Anaheim can build its franchise around. I would have liked to see the Ducks get him locked up for longer than six years, but getting this deal done was absolutely necessary. Gauthier is too important to this young roster to risk losing him down the road.

Fantasy outlook: I still think Gauthier is underrated in fantasy hockey. He should be going in the first few rounds of every draft, and I would not be surprised if he has a true breakout season that finally gets fantasy managers to realize just how good he can be. The talent is there, the opportunity is there, and Anaheim is going to continue building its offense around him. I think by the end of this season, we could be talking about Gauthier as one of the more valuable young forwards in fantasy hockey.