NHL.com’s Top July 1st Signings

July 1st was a slew of big events across the NHL, including the opening of the free transfer season, and the league’s teams went shopping.

Over 100 players changed teams and over $1 billion was spent in the first 12 hours. Plus, for good measure, a few trades were made.

In a real fireworks display, different explosions appeal to different people. Some are drawn to big, bright, loud explosions; others like more subtle, less intrusive displays.

It was similar on Monday for NHL fans.

Each of these major moves attracted attention in its own way, but each was perceived differently.

We asked ten NHL.com staffers for their favorite personnel moves from Monday. Here are their answers in alphabetical order:

Chychrun was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators (for defenseman Nick Jensen and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft) rather than as a free agent, but the 26-year-old defenseman is exactly what the Capitals needed. Washington was looking to add an offensive element to its defense after finishing 31st in the NHL in goals by defensemen last season with 20, trailing only the Chicago Blackhawks (19), and 30th in the league with 134 points by defensemen. John Carlson accounted for a team-high 10 of those goals and 52 points. No other Capitals defenseman scored more than three goals, and Rasmus Sandin (23) was the only other defenseman with more than 20 points. Chychrun tied his NHL career high with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) last season, including seven power-play goals, and his skating and passing will help the team transition from defense to offense. — Tom Gulitti, Editor

When you take a team that was one win away from the Western Conference finals last season and add a tough, perennial 20-goal scorer to the mix, that’s a big move for me. DeBrusk wanted a fresh start after seven seasons with the Bruins, and he’s getting it in Vancouver on a seven-year, $5.5 million-per-season contract. That could be a steal, as DeBrusk has plenty of opportunity to flourish with his new teammates, forwards JT Miller, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, and defenseman Quinn Hughes. The 27-year-old doesn’t have to worry about where he’ll be playing next season and can focus on playing hockey. He scored 40 points last season and led the Bruins — a team with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand — in the Stanley Cup playoffs with 11 points. –David Satriano, Editor

The Devils were sorely lacking a commanding presence on defense last season, as evidenced by the club allowing an average of 3.43 goals per game, which ranked 26th in the league, while also having the seventh-fewest shots and fourth-fewest blocks. The addition of defenseman Brett Pesce was huge, but I think Dillon will be a defenseman who challenges opponents to test his mettle in the corners or in front of goalies Jacob Markstrom or Jake Allen. Dillon should bring back memories of the Devils’ past, when players like Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko patrolled the ice and not only defended their end, but also their teammates when needed. Since joining the league in 2011-12, Dillon ranks 11th among all players in shots (2,174) in 892 games. — Mike G. Morreale, Senior Writer

For me, the 29-year-old center would be a perfect fit for Boston. Is it Patrice Bergeron? Of course not, but Lindholm is an extremely solid center who scored 42 goals for the Calgary Flames in 2021-22 and is very reliable in his own end of the ice. He should relieve Charlie Coyle of some of the defensive duties and will be a nuisance for a slew of talented players in the Atlantic Division. Lindholm had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 13 playoff games for the Vancouver Canucks last season, proving he can be counted on in big moments. — Brian Compton, Editor-in-Chief

Steven Stamkos, who joined the Predators from the Tampa Bay Lightning, was the biggest outburst Monday. But Marchessault’s arrival from the Vegas Golden Knights might be the most beautiful. There’s nothing like Marchessault with a chip on his shoulder. Marchessault burst onto the scene with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17 but was left unprotected in the expansion draft and drafted by the Golden Knights. He embraced the “Golden Misfits” vibe that came with the team of castoffs. He had a franchise-record 75 points (27 goals, 48 ​​assists) in 2017-18 and helped the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final against all odds in his first season. In 2022-23, he helped the Golden Knights win their first-ever Cup, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists). Now he believes he’s been rejected again. The rest of the NHL should watch out as his latest revenge tour plays out on Broadway. — Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Editorial Director

The Kraken needed a top-tier defenseman. They got one in Montour, who signed a seven-year, $50 million contract (average annual value of $7.14 million). Montour brings Stanley Cup Playoff pedigree, having played in the Cup finals in two straight seasons and winning the Cup with the Panthers in June. The 30-year-old scored 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 66 regular-season games last season; Montour was sidelined until November after undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer of 2023. But he had a career-best year in 2022-23, when he scored 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games and was a key part of this year’s Stanley Cup Playoff campaign, when he scored 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 24 games. Montour should be a great fit for Seattle, which is looking to return to the postseason after missing it last year. — Tracey Myers, Editor

The Oilers could be the big benefactor of the Buffalo Sabres’ decision to release Skinner and buy out the final three seasons of the forward’s eight-year, $72 million contract ($9 million annually) on June 30. Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with Edmonton on Monday, adding another talented forward to an already incredibly talented roster led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Skinner is entering his 15th NHL season and has yet to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs, so he’ll be incredibly motivated for the Oilers, who reached Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season. Skinner scored more than 30 goals six times and had a franchise-high 82 points (35 goals, 47 assists) in 79 games with Buffalo two seasons ago. If Skinner can catch passes from McDavid or Draisaitl while also playing point guard in the top six, he could have a big offensive season for a third of what Buffalo paid him for 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 74 games last season. — Derek Van Diest, Editor

Since officially taking over as Nashville’s general manager last year, Barry Trotz has vowed to add some sparkle to the franchise. He wants to make a splash. While his roster has been solid, he wants to add some sparkle and fun to his team in a city known for it. Mission accomplished. The Predators handed out $111.5 million to four players — forwards Stamkos and Marchessault, defenseman Brady Skjei and goaltender Scott Wedgewood — in free agency Monday, and there was no bigger signing than the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain. It’s not just what Stamkos, who signed a four-year, $32 million contract, produces on the ice. He’s a future Hall of Famer. Put his name on a marquee outside Bridgestone Arena, and with apologies to Roman Josi, Juuse Saros and Filip Forsberg, you’ll be drawn to him. Oh, did I mention he was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning teams, has 555 career goals, is one of the sport’s greatest leaders and one of the game’s most eloquent ambassadors? At 34, he’s coming off a 40-goal season. Forget that Trotz was a sensation; this was more like hockey’s version of a tsunami. Good job. — Mike Zeisberger, Editor

The time frame is too long. Six years for a 34-year-old? Not ideal. But I’m not looking at the second half of the contract. That’s going to be problematic. The first half is the years that matter to a team that’s winning now, with a coach that’s winning now, Craig Berube. Tanev is pushing them in that direction, and at $4.5 million a season, he should be exactly what they need, at exactly the price they need for at least three seasons. He brings physicality, drive, strong defense, and a mean streak that are more than necessary to a Maple Leafs lineup, not to mention an elite ability to make the first pass outside the zone to start an attack. Tanev won’t be the complete answer in Toronto. That still has to come from the core. But Tanev will be a big part; he’ll play a huge role. If the Maple Leafs can figure that out in the first three years of his contract, we dare say they’ll win the Stanley Cup, the second half won’t matter as much. If they fail to do so, Berube, general manager Brad Treliving and president Brendan Shanahan won’t have to worry about the final three years of his contract because they won’t be in Toronto to see it through. — Dan Rosen, Senior Writer

Yes, there were bigger moves on Monday (see Predators), but this is my favorite. San Jose is not only undergoing a major rebuild, but a rebuild that is centered around forward Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Much like the Chicago Blackhawks did last year by surrounding Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, with experienced players, the Sharks did the same here, signing Toffoli to a four-year contract. He won’t just be there to help Celebrini acclimate to the NHL; he’ll be there when he shines. Not only is Toffoli a 12-year NHL veteran with a Stanley Cup championship on his resume, he’s also well-versed in the Pacific Division, having played eight seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, 10 games with the Vancouver Canucks in 2019-20 and parts of two seasons with the Calgary Flames. Even if Celebrini decides to play one more year at Boston University, he will be able to count on three seasons of study under Toffoli. — Bill Price, Editor in Chief