Free agency started quietly for the Canadiens with few additions, but a lot of the players who were in the organization last season have found new homes.
Joel Edmundson was the one contracted player traded by Kent Hughes, sent to the Washington Capitals for two 2024 draft picks. [EOTP]
Jonathan Drouin, after years of rumoured interest from the team, is a member of the Colorado Avalanche. [TSN]
Alex Belzile has signed with the New York Rangers on a two-year deal. [Daily Faceoff]
Anthony Richard has joined the Boston Bruins organization. [CBS Sports]
Kent Hughes discussed the timing of the Edmundson trade, his desire to trade away some contracted forwards, and the reaction to David Reinbacher’s selection in his free-agency press conference:
Reinbacher arrived in Brossard for training camp, which gets under way today. See the list of participants if you missed it the first time:
Around the league and elsewhere
A few of the major transactions made on the opening day of free agency:
The Ottawa Senators have addressed their long-standing goaltending issues by signing one of the top players in 2022-23 by goals saved above average, Joonas Korpisalo. [Silver Seven]
Ryan O’Reilly declined to negotiate a new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed with the Nashville Predators instead. [On The Forecheck]
That space was opened up after the buyout of Matt Duchene, who has now signed with the Dallas Stars. [Defending Big D]
Radko Gudas has travelled to the opposite coast to join the Anaheim Ducks. [Sportsnet]
Blake Wheeler signed a one-year contract with the Rangers. [TSN]
The Maple Leafs have added John Klingberg to their blue line. [Pension Plan Puppets]
The largest deal of the day was an eight-year extension for goaltender Ilya Sorokin. [NHL.com]
