UNDATED (AP) _ The New York Rangers have landed a marquee forward on the first day of the NHL’s free-agent signing period, while the Montreal Canadiens have become the first team in six years to sign a player to an offer sheet.
The Rangers have inked Artemi Panarin (ahr-TEH’-mee pah-NAH’-rihn) to a seven-year, $81.5 million deal, taking the high-scoring forward away from the Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old Panarin had 28 goals and 59 assists for Columbus last season. Panarin won the Calder Trophy with Chicago as the league’s top rookie four years ago and has career totals of 116 goals and 204 assists in 322 games with the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets.
The Canadiens have signed Carolina forward Sebastian Aho (AH’-hoh) to a five-year, $42.27 million offer sheet. The 21-year-old Finn is coming off a breakout season, scoring 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games.
As part of the offer, Montreal is offering an $11.3 million lump sum payment within a week of Aho’s signing and another for $9.87 million next July 1. The Hurricanes have seven days to decide whether to match the offer, work out a deal involving Aho or take Montreal’s first-, second- and third-round pick in 2020 as compensation.
The Florida Panthers were able to land the top free-agent netminder available, getting Sergei Bobrovsky (boh-BRAHF’-skee) on a seven-year, $70 million contract. The two-time Vezina (VEH’-zih-nuh) Trophy winner led the NHL with nine shutouts last season while compiling a 2.58 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
The Panthers also had extra money on hand to sign forwards Brett Connolly and Noel Acciari, along with defenseman Anton Stralman. Connolly had career highs with 22 goals and 46 points for the Capitals this past season.
In other NHL free-agent news:
_ The Predators have inked forward Matt Duchene (doo-SHAYN’) to a seven-year, $56 million deal. Duchene has averaged 57 points during his 10-year career and provided 31 goals and 70 points while playing for the Senators and Jackets last season.
_ The Blue Jackets began restocking their lineup by signing winger Gustav Nyquist to a four-year, $22 million deal. Columbus also re-signed defenseman Ryan Murray to a two-year, $9.2 million contract and backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo (YOO’-nuhs kohr-pih-SAH’-loh) to a one-year contract.
_ The Islanders held onto their captain by giving Anders Lee a seven-year, $49 million package. The Isles also inked netminder Semyon Varlamov (SEHM’-yahn vahr-LAH’-mahv) to a four-year deal and allowed goalie Robin Lehner (LEH’-nur) to head to the Blackhawks on a one-year, $5 million package.
_ Longtime Sharks captain Joe Pavelski has left to sign a three-year, $21 million contract with Dallas. San Jose also lost winger Joonas Donskoi, who signed a four-year $15.6 million with Colorado. However, the Sharks were able to re-sign restricted free agent forward Timo Meier.
_ The Maple Leafs have agreed to sign veteran center Jason Spezza (SPEHT’-suh) to a one-year deal worth roughly the league-minimum $700,000 salary.
_ The Leafs made another blockbuster deal by acquiring defenseman Tyson Barrie, forward Alex Kerfoot, a restricted free agent, and a 2020 sixth-round pick from Colorado. The Avalanche got back forward Nazem Kadri (KA’-dree), prospect defenseman Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-round pick.
