For the Chicago Blackhawks, what's old is new again ... again.

On the heels of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Nashville Predators in the first round of last season's playoffs, general manager Stan Bowman promised significant change, but ironically, he's employed a familiar strategy by bringing back old members of the Blackhawks' dynastic success.

He's previously tried the method at the 2016 trade deadline, going all in by acquiring Andrew Ladd. Bowman did it again by signing Brian Campbell to a team-friendly deal last offseason, and again by orchestrating a reunion with Johnny Oduya before the 2017 playoff push.

Now, after altering the makeup of the Blackhawks' roster via trades and free agency, Bowman has brought in more familiar faces, welcoming Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp - two key cogs in the club's championship years - back to the team.

Although previous trips down memory lane haven't yielded much success for Bowman and the Blackhawks, there's reason to believe this summer's key moves warrant a different result.

The signings of Sharp and acquisition of Saad - although the latter came at the price of shipping off dynamic winger Artemi Panarin - address one of Chicago's biggest issues from a season ago: forward depth. The recent additions should solidify an offense that went stagnant when it mattered most.

With Sharp in the fold, Chicago can expand its attack, instead of relying so heavily on Patrick Kane to create the majority of the club's offense. Sharp endured an arduous season with the Dallas Stars in 2016-17, limited to just 48 games because of two concussions and hip surgery. In spite of this, the veteran forward showed glimpses of promise.

Sharp generated just over three shots on goal per game last season, but owned a career-low shooting percentage of 5.5 percent. Based on his career numbers, it's hard to believe that trend will continue should he stay healthy.

Now 35, Sharp is just one season removed from a 55-point campaign, and with a career production rate of 0.68 points per game, Chicago should benefit from his offensive flair, which comes at a cost of just $800,000 (plus another $200,000 in bonuses). His presence should also help fill the void left behind by Marian Hossa at both ends of the ice.

In Saad, the Blackhawks get a player back who they never wanted to get rid of in the first place. Feeling the pressure of an impending offer sheet, Bowman sacrificed Saad to the Blue Jackets after he emerged as one of the most important pieces to Chicago's Stanley Cup win in 2015.

He might not be the offensive catalyst Panarin was for the last two seasons, but Saad is definitely a quality producer in his own right, coming off a 53-point campaign in Columbus. Perhaps most importantly, though, Saad's return gives Jonathan Toews a consistent winger again.

Toews has been dealt a revolving door of wingers since Saad's departure, and his offensive numbers have predictably dipped. Saad's greatest asset is his speed, but is skilled in shot-suppression as well. Paired with Toews, head coach Joel Quenneville has a trustworthy combo to throw against opponent's top lines, as opposed to pairing his captain with younger, less experienced players, which was often the case a season ago.

The Blackhawks, collectively, can now roll the formerly formidable duo of Toews and Saad together, with a second line featuring Kane and Artem Anisimov, while Sharp occupies the wing on the third unit. Suddenly, Chicago's attack appears much more balanced.

After marching to the top of the Western Conference standings in the regular season, Chicago managed just three goals in four disappointing playoff games. Its offense became too predictable for Nashville's fortuitous defensive corps, and it showed. But now, months into an offseason where maintaining the status quo wouldn't be good enough, and committing to deliver change, Bowman appears to have bettered his club without altering his approach at all.

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For some NHLers, offering a club a hometown discount is a necessary sacrifice in order to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing in your own back yard. Such was the case for prized free-agent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk when the New York Rangers came calling.

The New Rochelle, N.Y., native accepted a four-year, $26.6-million deal Saturday, capitalizing (sorry, Washington) on an opportunity that Shattenkirk feels may have only presented itself once.

"It's an opportunity that may only come once in my career, and I felt like this was my chance," Shattenkirk said, according to Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "It's a team I'm extremely excited about. A lot of the factors outside of money and term came into play, and that's ultimately what won the decision for me."

The 28-year-old immediately provides the Rangers with an injection of offensive talent on the blue line, as Shattenkirk has registered 40 or more points in five straight seasons.

As the top free agent of the class, Shattenkirk was expected to command anywhere from five to seven years and at least $6 million to $7 million per season.

According to Shattenkirk, taking less money and term was worth it: " ... Obviously, there were some sacrifices to be made, but in my mind those sacrifices are what you leave on the table to live out a dream like this."

The hometown discount that Shattenkirk offered the Blueshirts played a key role in getting the deal done, a fact that New York general manager Jeff Gorton attributes solely to his newest defenseman.

"You have to give credit to Kevin on this one," Gorton said. "Here's a player who really wanted to be here and left money on the table. It sent a pretty strong message to us."

Shattenkirk is set to become an unrestricted free agent once again in the summer of 2021.

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The initial rush of the NHL's free-agent frenzy has come and gone, and several big names are off the board. Despite hundreds of millions of dollars being shelled out in search of improvement, the spending spree isn't about to stop, as several impact players remain without a contract.

Below, we've compiled a list of the top free agents still available.

Alexander Radulov

After a stellar season with the Montreal Canadiens, Radulov is the top impact forward still on the board. The soon-to-be 31-year-old racked up 18 goals and 36 assists last season, and because of that, Radulov is reportedly seeking quite a lucrative pact to sign.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported the Canadiens and Dallas Stars were battling for his services, but several teams need top-six scoring, and the longer the clock is allowed to tick, more teams may become involved.

Patrick Marleau

Marleau's partner in crime, Joe Thornton, reportedly is staying put in San Jose on a one-year deal, but the hockey world awaits a decision from the veteran winger.

As a 37-year-old last season, Marleau played all 82 games, scoring 27 goals to go along with 19 assists. He was reportedly offered a two-year deal to stay with the club that drafted him second overall in 1997, but Marleau's drawn significant interest elsewhere as well, making his impending decision one to keep a close eye on.

Jaromir Jagr

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Jagr's agent announced his client will be hitting the open market, but the first day of free agency didn't warrant an immediate change of scenery for the 45-year-old.

The second most-prolific scorer in NHL history still has some game, notching 46 points last season for the Panthers.

Andrei Markov

Markov's spent the entirety of his 16-season career with the Canadiens, but with the arrival of Karl Alzner in La Belle Province, the writing could be on the wall for the end of the veteran's tenure in Montreal.

The 38-year-old reportedly asked for a two-year, $12 million contract, which doesn't exactly fit in the Canadiens books as of now. However, Markov is still a reliable top-four defender and decent point-producer, and shouldn't have to wait long to find some suitors.

Thomas Vanek

Vanek's skated for six teams since the start of the 2013-14 season, but a player with his skill set is always in high demand.

The 33-year-old winger netted 48 points in 68 games last season split between the Red Wings and Panthers, but shouldn't cost too much for teams to add adequate scoring depth.

Cody Franson

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

The market for defenseman is at an all-time high, but Franson can provide cheap value for a team looking to upgrade its blue line.

Franson's never been the flashiest defender, but he's consistently put up points in his career, with 205 points in 527 games. He also owned a respectable 50.4 corsi-for percentage at even strength for the defensively inept Sabres last season.

Jarome Iginla

The demand for Iginla was never expected to be too high, but the 40-year-old has expressed interest in playing this coming season, still in search of the championship that has eluded him his entire career.

Iginla endured the disaster that was the Colorado Avalanche for 61 games last season before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, where he produced nine points in 19 games.

Drew Stafford

Stafford proved to be one of the more valuable trade-deadline acquisitions last season, chipping in eight points in 18 games upon arriving in Boston from Winnipeg.

He's a middle-six winger with size and decent scoring touch, and should be able to find a landing spot sooner rather than later.

Shane Doan

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Doan, like Iginla, is in search of a ring to conclude an illustrious career. However, the demand for 40-year-old wingers isn't exactly skyrocketing at the moment.

The longtime Coyotes captain produced 27 points last season and is likely searching for a short-term offer from a contending team.

Jussi Jokinen

After reportedly being bought out by the Panthers, Jokinen needs a new home. The veteran winger was limited to 69 games and 28 points last season, but has proven to be a strong possession player throughout his career.

At even strength last season, Jokinen had a 53.4 corsi-for percentage, and could be a cheap, reliable pickup for a team in search of offensive depth.

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The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms with unrestricted free-agent netminder Darcy Kuemper, the team announced Saturday. The deal carries an annual average value of $650,000.

Kuemper, a former sixth-round pick, has spent the first five seasons of his career with the Minnesota Wild. He appeared in 18 games during the 2016-17 season, and finished with an 8-5-0 record.

The 27-year-old Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native owns a career goals-against average of 2.60 to go along with .910 save percentage.

Kuemper will serve as a backup in L.A. to former Vezina winner and current Kings No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Quick.

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The free-agency frenzy brings out the big bucks. We saw that again this year with the long-rumored addition of Kevin Shattenkirk to the New York Rangers. Or with Karl Alzner, who was given more than 23-million reasons to call Montreal home.

But that doesn't mean there aren't bargains to be had in the summer silly season. Here are five players who all signed for $2 million or less, who will prove provide their new teams with plenty of bang for their buck:

Alexander Burmistrov

The Deal: 1 year, $900,000 with Vancouver Canucks

The former eighth overall pick flashed his offensive brilliance in a short stint with the Arizona Coyotes last season, as he tallied 14 points in 26 games. It was a major uptick from the two points he secured in 23 games with the Winnipeg Jets before landing in the desert.

The Canucks are betting on Burmistrov to offer that sort of scoring consistency over the long term, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Russian forward that will see him earn under $1 million next season. Burmistrov was one of four signings the Canucks made Saturday, as the team also inked forward Sam Gagner, defenseman Michael Del Zotto, and netminder Anders Nilsson.

Mike Cammalleri

The Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Los Angeles Kings

Cammalleri is headed back for his second tour of duty with the Kings, agreeing to a one-year deal with Los Angeles for a cool million bucks. While he battled the injury bug last season, limiting him to just 61 games, he still put up 31 points, coming in at just over a half-point-per-game pace on an awful New Jersey squad.

While Cammalleri likely won't be a major offensive force for the Kings like he was when he scored 80 points during the 2006-07 campaign with Los Angeles, the salary and term of his pact makes his signing a low-risk move for the Kings, particularly for a club that was short on offense last season.

Scott Hartnell

The Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Nashville Predators

Hartnell is going back to where it all began, accepting a one-year deal with the Predators. In Nashville, he can fill a need for the club and also aim for his first Stanley Cup. The Predators, of course, lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's Finals, while the addition of Hartnell should help recoup some offense lost in the departure of James Neal, who was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights.

It's a fresh start for Hartnell, who earlier this week had the final two years of his contract bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hartnell's production dipped last season, falling to 37 points on the campaign, but he could enjoy a bounce-back year in familiar surroundings in Nashville.

Ryan Miller

The Deal: 2 years, $4 million with Anaheim Ducks

Goaltending depth - or lack thereof - roasted the Ducks in the playoffs. But adding Miller better prepares Anaheim for next spring, as the veteran 'keeper offers some reliable insurance behind starter John Gibson. Gibson saw just 52 games last season, so Miller could get more than spot duty in Orange County.

Miller, who will be 37 when the season kicks off in October, is seen as more of a secondary option at this point in career, making him a perfect fit in Anaheim. With the Canucks last season, he appeared in 54 games, posting a respectable .914 save rate on a Vancouver club that finished ahead of only the lowly Colorado Avalanche.

Patrick Sharp

The Deal: 1 year, $1 million with Chicago Blackhawks

Yet another player returned to his old stomping grounds Saturday, as Sharp found his way back to Chicago, inking a one-year agreement with the Blackhawks. Sharp was part of three Stanley Cup champion squads in the Windy City, winning it all in 2010, 2013, and 2015.

While Sharp's low-money deal reflects a willingness to fit into the Blackhawks' tight salary cap structure, it's also fair payment for a veteran forward who struggled through last season. Sharp skated in just 48 games last year with Dallas as he battled a concussion and ended the campaign early by undergoing hip surgery, wrapping the campaign with just 18 points.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

(Contract information: CapFriendly.com)

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The Nashville Predators have acquired defenseman Alexei Emelin in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, with a 2018 third-round pick going Vegas' way.

Emelin's Golden Knights career ends before it starts, as the rearguard spent less than two weeks in the Vegas organization.

In six seasons with the Habs, Emelin totalled 14 goals and 58 assists to go along with an impressive 1,235 hits, and will add an element of depth to already stacked blue line in Nashville.

Emelin becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

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The frenzy never gets old.

More than 70 contracts were consummated in the first four hours after the NHL's annual summer signing window opened, according to CapFriendly, though some of the biggest names remained unsigned.

A deluge of deals came down before the biggest fish on the market was scooped up, and some of them were better conceived than others.

Here are some winners and losers from the first afternoon of this summer's free-agency period:

Winners

New York Rangers

It took about two-and-a-half hours, but the Rangers made the most significant splash, landing the No. 1 target, Kevin Shattenkirk.

Getting the offensively skilled blue-liner signed was a big enough win on its own, but landing him on a four-year deal rather than a five or six-year pact was the real victory for the Blueshirts.

He gives New York a productive power-play quarterback and bona fide top-pairing defenseman on a contract that could have been much worse.

Nashville Predators

The Predators made a couple of solid depth signings Saturday, turning back the clock by adding versatile veteran Scott Hartnell on an extremely team-friendly one-year, $1-million deal and picking up former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Bonino on a four-year, $16.4-million agreement.

The Hartnell deal was particularly savvy despite the 35-year-old's decreased production this past season, considering the Columbus Blue Jackets still owe him $5 million over the next four years after buying out his previous deal earlier this week.

Carolina Hurricanes

Reunited and it feels so good.

Justin Williams was one of a handful of players who rejoined former teams Saturday, and the Hurricanes did well by getting him to return to Raleigh on a two-year, $9-million deal.

Yes, he's 35, but he scored more than 20 goals in each of the last two seasons with the Washington Capitals, and his playoff prowess is well documented.

The up-and-coming Hurricanes should benefit from his experience, his nose for the net, and of course, his knack for timely scoring.

NHL general managers as a whole

If there was one major takeaway from the initial hours of free agency, it was that NHL GMs clearly learned from the blunders of years past.

Only a few of the contracts signed Saturday were unreasonable, cap hit-wise, and most of the deals were of the relatively short-term variety.

No free agent signed a contract of more than five years in length in the opening hours of the frenzy, as the majority of the agreements came with one, two, or three-year terms.

Whether it was due to the newly flat salary cap or the less-than-elite free-agent crop, or both, the trend toward shorter, more affordable contracts was clearly evident.

Losers

Winnipeg Jets

Yes, the Jets went out and got a defenseman and a goaltender, but both players come with big-time question marks.

Dmitry Kulikov was limited to 47 games this past season with a back injury that made him feel like an old man, as he told the Olean Times Herald's Bill Hoppe back in February.

He's 26 years old.

The Jets also addressed their goaltending Saturday, but Steve Mason hardly inspires confidence.

The former Philadelphia Flyers netminder posted a .908 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA while losing more games (29) than he won (26) in 2016-17. He's definitely capable of playing well for stretches, but it's been a few years since he's been reliable over a full season.

Montreal Canadiens

Marc Bergevin just loves making questionable moves.

This one certainly wasn't on the level of the P.K. Subban trade as far as controversial transactions go, but the Canadiens GM pulled off another head-scratcher Saturday, giving bottom-pairing defenseman Karl Alzner a five-year deal worth a reported $23.125 million.

Alzner is incredibly durable, and plays a stay-at-home style, but if the Canadiens are counting on the rearguard to consistently log top-pairing minutes, it could be a long season in Montreal.

Bergevin failed to address the Canadiens' biggest need, that being down the middle, coming away with journeyman Peter Holland rather than landing a much better center like Martin Hanzal.

The Canadiens GM could redeem himself in the coming days if he's able to sign Carey Price to an extension and get Alexander Radulov back on a reasonable new deal, but Saturday's moves left something to be desired.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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One of George McPhee's most intriguing moves of the past few weeks was acquiring the rights to Russian winger Nikita Gusev from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The move raised questions due to the fact that Gusev still has a year remaining on his current contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg. On Saturday, McPhee provided some clarity on the situation.

"That's at least a year away," McPhee said when asked about the young sniper, according to NHL.com. "We knew that when we traded for him, it might be a year away. But he came in for a little bit here and hope that he liked what he saw. We'll talk to him next spring."

Gusev, 24, is coming off an impressive season for SKA in which he buried 24 goals while adding 47 assists in 57 regular-season games - good enough for fourth in league scoring.

While Gusev would have clearly added offensive punch to McPhee's lineup, he would have, perhaps more importantly, also formed a nice tandem with former St. Petersburg teammate Vadim Shipachyov. The duo played the past two seasons together in Russia, helping SKA to the 2016-17 league championship.

The reunion, however, will have to wait at least one more year.

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