If he clears waivers, the buyout will go as follows, per PuckPedia.
Season
Initial cap hit
Buyout cap hit
2024-25
$2.6M
-$66K
2025-26
N/A
$533K
Because Boqvist is under 26 years old, it's a 1/3 buyout, which nets the Blue Jackets a small cap credit for the upcoming campaign.
Boqvist was a key part of the Blue Jackets' return package in the 2021 trade that sent Seth Jones to Chicago. The Blackhawks selected Boqvist eighth overall in 2018.
The 23-year-old struggled with injuries during his three seasons in Columbus, never playing more than 52 games. He boasts promising offensive ability but has struggled defensively.
Columbus also reportedly won't issue a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent forward Alex Nylander, making him unrestricted. Nylander was a revelation for the Blue Jackets last season, scoring 11 goals in 23 games with the club down the stretch.
Schmidt was set to enter the final year of his contract. If he clears waivers, the buyout will look as follows:
Season
Initial cap hit
Buyout cap hit
2024-25
$5.95M
$2.716M
2025-26
N/A
$1.616M
The 32-year-old was relegated to a third-paring role this past season and produced 14 points in 63 games.
Winnipeg acquired Schmidt from the Vancouver Canucks in 2021 for a third-round pick.
The Jets already re-signed blue-liner Dylan DeMelo to a four-year, $19.6-million contract. Logan Stanley is a pending restricted free agent, while Brenden Dillon and Colin Miller are pending unrestricted free agents.
The move will make Brannstrom an unrestricted free agent.
The qualifying offer would've been $2 million, and Brannstrom could've earned more with his arbitration rights.
Brannstrom was the centerpiece of the return package in the 2019 Mark Stone trade, but the 5-foot-10 defenseman hasn't carved out a consistent top-four role during his six seasons in Ottawa.
The 24-year-old, who was selected 15th overall by Vegas at the 2017 draft, will become one of the youngest UFAs available.
Brannstrom recorded a career-high 20 points in 76 games this past season, averaging 16:35 per contest. He's routinely posted strong defensive underlying numbers when placed in a sheltered, third-pairing role.
The 2024 class of unrestricted free agents may be lacking a surefire superstar talent, but it more than makes up for it with its depth. Several of these players will be looking to cash in with long-term deals as the salary cap makes its first significant jump since the pandemic.
With free agency opening Monday, we take out our crystal ball and predict where the most notable UFAs end up. The order of each player's appearance on the list is based on their predicted average annual value.
Ages as of Oct. 10 (the start date of last season).
Editor's note: Sam Reinhart (Panthers), Jake Guentzel (Lightning), and Patrick Kane (Red Wings) were removed from the list after reportedly signing deals before the market opened.
Brady Skjei
Age: 30 Position: LD Prediction 🔮: Signs with Predators on 7-year deal with $8M AAV
The Predators have the most cap space of any team that made the 2024 playoffs. They could desperately use some help up front, but finding a replacement for Ryan McDonagh on the second pairing is also a big need. Skjei is the most complete defenseman in the class. He could handle tough matchups on the second pairing and help ease captain Roman Josi's burden.
Steven Stamkos
Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / Getty
Age: 34 Position: LW/RW/C Prediction 🔮: Signs with Red Wings on 3-year deal with $7.5M AAV
Even after clearing cap space Saturday, GM Julien BriseBois said Stamkos will test the open market. If the Lightning strike out on Guentzel, perhaps they circle back to Stamkos, but we don't see that happening in this universe.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman clearly has something up his sleeve after paying a second-round pick to get Jake Walman's contract off the books. It was Yzerman who convinced Stamkos to stay in Tampa Bay eight years ago. Could he convince him to come to Detroit and help the Red Wings get over the hump? It's possible.
Brandon Montour
Age: 30 Position: RD Prediction 🔮: Signs with Kraken on 5-year deal with $7M AAV
The Kraken have money to spend, and while adding scoring punch up front might be a more pressing need, Montour - one year removed from a 73-point campaign - is the best offensive defenseman in the class. Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson are a mainstay top pairing, but Montour would fit nicely with the towering Jamie Oleksiak to round out a stellar top four on defense.
Elias Lindholm
Age: 29 Position: C Prediction 🔮: Signs with Bruins on 6-year deal with $6.5M AAV
The Bruins have had a gaping hole down the middle of the ice since Patrice Bergeron retired. Nobody can replace a franchise icon of Bergeron's ilk, but Lindholm boasts several similar qualities - right-handed, good two-way game, can play the bumper on the power play. After a down year split between the Flames and Canucks, Lindholm joins the Bruins at a perceived discount. There's a chance he can thrive in Jim Montgomery's system alongside David Pastrnak and/or Brad Marchand.
Jonathan Marchessault
David Becker / NHL / Getty Images
Age: 33 Position: RW/LW Prediction 🔮: Re-signs with Golden Knights on 4-year deal with $6.5M AAV
Marchessault could probably get a higher AAV elsewhere on the open market after a career-high 42-goal season, but the Day 1 Golden Knight opts to stay in Vegas with the help of an extra year of term.
Brett Pesce
Age: 29 Position: RD Prediction 🔮: Signs with Devils on 6-year deal with $6M AAV
The Devils have holes on their blue line after trading away Kevin Bahl and John Marino this offseason. They reportedly cleared cap space in an attempt to target Pesce, and it makes sense. Pesce could serve as a rock-solid, steady presence on the right side of a pair with young phenom Luke Hughes.
Matt Roy
Age: 29 Position: RD Prediction 🔮:Signs with Ducks on 5-year deal with $6M AAV
The longtime Los Angeles Kings defender takes the short drive down the coast to join Anaheim, who have deeper pockets and outbid its in-state rivals. The Ducks' blue line is full of youthful left-handed options with Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellwerger, andveteran Cam Fowler is still under contract for a couple more years. But bringing in Roy would give them another option - in addition to Radko Gudas - to play tough minutes on the right side.
Teuvo Teravainen
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Age: 30 Position: LW/RW Prediction 🔮: Signs with Predators on 5-year deal with $6M AAV
The Predators would surely feel pretty good with themselves if they're able to leave free agency with a pair of former Hurricanes in Skjei and Teravainen. "Turbo" can play high in the lineup in an offensive role or lower on a shutdown line, and can help both the power play and the penalty kill. A versatile, responsible player like Teravainen seems to be the kind of guy GM Barry Trotz would covet.
Tyler Toffoli
Age: 32 Position: RW/LW Prediction 🔮: Signs with Kings on 4-year deal with $6M AAV
Toffoli started his career in L.A. Could he end it there, too? The fit makes sense. The Kings need to replace some offense up front after losing Pierre-Luc Dubois and, potentially, Viktor Arvidsson, who's a pending UFA. Toffoli is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons and would bring good vibes to the dressing room as a member of L.A.'s 2014 Cup-winning team.
Sean Monahan
Age: 29 Position: C Prediction 🔮: Signs with Blue Jackets on 4-year deal with $5.5M AAV
The Blue Jackets need to find a way to get Johnny Gaudreau going, as that seven-year investment has not paid off after two seasons. So why not bring in his former running mate in Calgary? Monahan's time with the Flames didn't end well, as he dealt with injuries. But he's healthy now and coming off a stellar 26-goal, 59-point season. Could he and Gaudreau recapture their magic in Columbus? The Jackets could use a veteran, top-six forward.
Nikita Zadorov
Age: 29 Position: LD Prediction 🔮: Signs with Maple Leafs on 5-year deal with $5M AAV
Toronto still needs another top-four defenseman, even after acquiring Chris Tanev's rights on Saturday. GM Brad Treliving tried to acquire both Tanev and Zadorov during the regular season, as he knows both from his days in Calgary. Treliving also covets size and nastiness on the blue line, and the 6-foot-6, 248-pound Zadorov brings exactly that. Zadorov, coming off a strong postseason with the Canucks in which he became a favorite among the media for his soundbites, seems built for the spotlight in Toronto.
Jake DeBrusk
Age: 27 Position: LW/RW Prediction 🔮: Signs with Canucks on 1-year, $5M deal
The Canucks strike out on Guentzel, but get a pretty intriguing consolation prize in DeBrusk, one of the youngest UFAs available. DeBrusk could certainly get a longer-term deal if he wants, but it wouldn't be shocking if he looked to rebuild his value after a down year, then cash in big time in 2025. DeBrusk has reached the 25-goal mark three times in his career, but he could easily pot 30-plus playing in Vancouver alongside Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller.
It's worth noting that DeBrusk's father, Louie, was teammates with Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet for two seasons with the then-Phoenix Coyotes.
The Buffalo Sabres are buying out the final three seasons of Jeff Skinner's contract, general manager Kevyn Adams announced Saturday.
The buyout will make Skinner an unrestricted free agent and will create over $7.5 million in cap space for the Sabres this coming season.
Season
Initial cap hit
Buyout cap hit
2024-25
$9M
$1.44M
2025-26
$9M
$4.44M
2026-27
$9M
$6.44M
2027-28
N/A
$2.44M
2028-29
N/A
$2.44M
2029-30
N/A
$2.44M
Skinner produced a career-high 82 points in 2022-23 but managed only 46 points in 74 games in 2023-24.
The 32-year-old has proved to be a defensive liability despite his offensive production over the last three seasons.
Jeff Skinner will be bought out by BUF.
- Very efficient goal-scorer - Strong chance creator, especially off rush - Inconsistent playmaker - Not much of a puck carrier - Agile but not fast skater - Uninvolved defensively and on the forecheck with little physicality pic.twitter.com/cincRug9ZZ
Skinner, a sniping winger, has reached the 30-goal mark six times in his career, netting a personal-best 40 in 2018-19 during his first season in Buffalo.
The Hurricanes' No. 7 pick in 2010, Skinner won the Calder Trophy in 2011 and spent his first eight years in Carolina. He was traded to Buffalo in 2018 before signing an eight-year, $72-million contract with the Sabres in 2019.
The New Jersey Devils dealt netminder Akira Schmid and former top prospect Alexander Holtz to the Vegas Golden Knights for forward Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick, the teams announced Saturday.
Schmid gives the Golden Knights goalie depth after the club traded away Logan Thompson earlier Saturday. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said shortly after the deal that Schmid projects as the No. 3 and the team will try to acquire a backup.
Schmid struggled in 2023-24, posting an .895 save percentage in 19 NHL games and an .894 mark in 23 AHL appearances. However, in 2022-23, he recorded a .922 save percentage in 18 regular-season NHL games, then a .921 mark in nine postseason contests, helping the Devils upset the New York Rangers in Round 1.
The Swiss netminder is a pending restricted free agent.
The Devils selected Holtz seventh overall in 2020. The Swedish winger established himself as a full-time NHLer for the first time in 2023-24, recording 16 goals and 12 assists in 82 games while averaging just 11:38 per contest. His underlying numbers were poor, though.
Holtz, 22, carries a cap hit of $894K before becoming an RFA in 2025.
Cotter brings far less upside than Holtz but has a more defined player archetype. In 2023-24, he notched seven goals, 18 assists, and 233 hits while playing a bottom-six role. His defensive metrics were strong.
The 24-year-old is under contract for two more seasons with a $775,000 cap hit before becoming an RFA in 2026.
The Vegas Golden Knights traded goaltender Logan Thompson to the Washington Capitals for pick No. 83 and a 2025 third-rounder, the teams announced.
Thompson had requested a trade, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed.
Vegas used the 83rd selection on the 6-foot-5 Belarusian netminder Pavel Moysevich. He posted a .942 save percentage in 13 KHL games in 2023-24.
Thompson is entering the last year of his contract with a sub-league minimum cap hit of $766,667. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
The 27-year-old owns a lifetime .912 save percentage and a 2.67 goals against average in 103 career games.
Thompson appeared in a career-high 46 games in 2023-24, posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.70 goals against average. He stopped 6.85 goals above expected, per Evolving-Hockey.
Thompson will likely share the Capitals' crease with fellow lefty goalie Charlie Lindgren in 2024-25. Washington traded veteran netminder Darcy Kuemper earlier in the offseason to the Los Angeles Kings for Pierre-Luc Dubois.
The trade leaves an opening in Vegas' crease behind Adin Hill.
Thompson had a previously scheduled autograph signing at the draft and still honored it despite the trade.
Logan Thompson is a champ for staying to sign autographs and take pictures with fans 30 minutes after being traded. pic.twitter.com/sJ2QByxorT
The Utah Hockey Club made a pair of splashes to bolster its blue line Saturday.
First, the Tampa Bay Lightning traded defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Utah for Conor Geekie, J.J. Moser, a 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto), and the 199th pick in Saturday's draft.
The Lightning used pick No. 199 on forward Noah Steen from Mora IK in Sweden.
Then, the New Jersey Devils sent blue-liner John Marino and pick No. 153 to Utah for pick No. 49 and a 2025 second-rounder (via Edmonton).
The Devils selected 6-foot-4 Russian goaltender Mikhail Yegorov with pick No. 49. He spent last season with the USHL's Omaha Lancers. Utah picked defenseman Ales Cech out of Czechia with the 153rd selection.
Sergachev is set to enter the second season of an eight-year contract worth $8.5 million annually. There is no salary retention involved the deal.
The 26-year-old racked up a career-high 64 points in 2022-23. He was limited to just 34 games this past season due to foot and leg injuries. Sergachev was a key piece of the Lightning's back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.
Mikhail Sergachev (traded to Utah) is a fine middle-pairing defenseman. The Lightning dumped his $8 million cap hit and acquired assets. pic.twitter.com/bMKu6o8z2w
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Sergachev ninth overall in 2016 before trading him to the Lightning in a deal for Jonathan Drouin in 2017.
Geekie was selected 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4 center tallied 99 points in 55 games in the WHL last season. He also represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Moser was a second-round pick by the Coyotes in 2021. The 24-year-old has been a mainstay on Arizona's blue line the last three seasons, playing 205 games while logging 20:22 per contest. He produced a career-high 31 points in 2022-23 and is a pending restricted free agent.
Marino recorded 25 points in 75 games last season. The 27-year-old is signed for three more seasons with a $4.4-million cap hit. He isn't known for his offensive abilities but has been a strong defensive defenseman during his five-year NHL career.
While further moves could still be made, Utah's top four on defense could look as follows for its inaugural campaign:
LD
RD
Mikhail Sergachev
John Marino
Juuso Valimaki
Sean Durzi
Utah previously had no defensemen signed for the 2024-25 season. The club re-signed Valimaki later on Saturday, though Durzi remains an RFA.
The Devils have holes on their blue line after dealing Marino on Saturday and Kevin Bahl earlier in the offseason. However, they're reportedly expected to pursue pending UFA Brett Pesce.
The Washington Capitals traded restricted free-agent winger Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres for the 43rd pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Saturday, the teams announced.
The Capitals then used the pick to select Cole Hutson, a defenseman out of the U.S. National Team Development Program and brother of highly touted Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson.
Malenstyn just completed his first full NHL season, tallying six goals and 15 assists in 81 games. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder is a a high-energy, bottom-six winger who racked up a team-high 241 hits in 2023-24.
The Delta, British Columbia, native is 26 years old and eligible for salary arbitration this summer.
The Sabres still owned the 42nd pick as part of the move down the board from 11 to 14 on Thursday. They added blue-liner Adam Kleber from the USHL's Lincoln Stars with the pick.
Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams said following Thursday's trade that he hoped to use the extra draft pick as ammunition to improve the NHL roster.
The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Alexandre Texier to the St. Louis Blues for a 2025 fourth-round pick, the teams announced.
Additionally, the Blues signed Texier, who was a pending restricted free agent, to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million annually.
Texier set career highs in goals (12), assists (18), and games played (78) with the Blue Jackets last season. He showed plenty of promise in 2021-22, producing 11 goals and nine assists in 36 games.
He didn't play in the NHL in 2022-23 at the recommendation of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, instead spending the season with Zurich in the Swiss league.
A product of France, Texier can play center but has prominently been used on the wing. He turns 25 in September.
The Blue Jackets drafted him in the second round in 2017.
