The New York Rangers reeled in the biggest free agent, the Winnipeg Jets hope they found an answer to their goaltending issue and the Montreal Canadiens tried to stabilize their defence on the first day of NHL free agency Saturday.
The Rangers signed Kevin Shattenkirk for four years, the Jets landed Steve Mason on a two-year deal and the Canadiens signed Karl Alzner for five years. Justin Williams also returned to the Carolina Hurricanes on a two-year deal, Nick Bonino joined the Nashville Predators, and Sam Gagner signed with the Vancouver Canucks.
The San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, got in front of free agency concerns down the line by extending Marc-Edouard Vlasic for eight years and goaltender Martin Jones for six years. Both were due for unrestricted free agency next summer.
Cam Fowler, a 25-year-old defenceman who was also a year away from UFA status, signed an eight-year extension with the Anaheim Ducks.
Shattenkirk was arguably the most talented player available in a mostly star-less free agent class. The 28-year-old has been one of the highest scoring defencemen in the league -- fourth last year with 56 points -- and now joins a Rangers squad that also re-signed Brendan Smith, bought out Dan Girardi, traded Derek Stepan and added Ondrej Pavelec to back up Henrik Lundqvist.
Winnipeg was plagued by goaltending woes last year with Connor Hellebuyck, most notably, unable to excel in the No. 1 role as the Jets missed the post-season.
Mason is coming off a relatively poor year with the Philadelphia Flyers (.908 save percentage), but excelled in the two seasons before that. He won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2009.
He's a worthwhile gamble for a team with plenty of talent up front, led by 19-year-old Calder runner-up Patrik Laine.
Alzner is a risky bet for the Canadiens, who also traded for flashy young forward Jonathan Drouin and defenceman David Schlemko this off-season. The Burnaby, B.C., native had only 13 points last season with concerning underlying numbers -- both in five-on-five situations and on the penalty kill.
The six-foot-three 219-pounder, who turns 29 in September, signed for just over $23 million.
The Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins added veteran defenceman Matt Hunwick on a three-year deal and also signed backup goaltender Antti Niemi as a replacement for Marc-Andre Fleury, who left for Vegas.
The Penguins, however, lost Bonino to Nashville, Trevor Daley to Detroit and Ron Hainsey to Toronto -- the latter on a two-year deal with a $3-million annual cap hit. The Leafs also re-signed goaltenders Curtis McElhinney and Garret Sparks.
Williams was among the more prized free agents, a three-time Cup winner -- including with Carolina in 2006 -- who scored 20 goals in each of his two seasons with Washington.
"We said that we needed goal scoring and veteran leadership, and Justin will bring us both," Hurricanes GM Ron Francis said.
Martin Hanzal also signed for three years in Dallas, Benoit Pouliot and Chad Johnson joined the Sabres, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Girardi and the Chicago Blackhawks continued remaking their roster by adding Patrick Sharp and Tommy Wingels.
Sharp was part of three Cup wins with the Blackhawks, who recently re-acquired Brandon Saad in a deal that sent 2016 Calder winner Artemi Panarin to Columbus.
In addition to Gagner, the Canucks also added Michael Del Zotto (two years) and Patrick Wiercoch (one year) to their defence and 25-year-old Alexander Burmistrov up front.
Recently bought-out power winger Scott Hartnell rejoined the Predators on a one-year deal and Radim Vrbata hooked up with his seventh NHL team, the Florida Panthers.
