The New York Rangers landed the biggest fish in free agency by agreeing to terms with winger Artemi Panarin on a seven-year contract, reportedly worth $81.5 million (all dollars U.S.).
The team announced the deal about an hour after the NHL free-agent market opened on Monday. The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers were among the other teams bidding for Panarin’s services.
Panarin has 116 goals and 204 assists for 302 points in 322 regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets. Panarin recorded a career-best 87 points last season with Columbus.
Also Monday:
- The Florida Panthers signed goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to a seven-year contract worth $70 million. Bobrovsky was Florida’s top free-agent target this summer, especially after last week’s retirement of longtime goalie Roberto Luongo. Bobrovsky has a 2.46 goals-against average over nine NHL seasons, the last seven of those with Columbus. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner was second in the NHL with 37 victories last season and led the league with nine shutouts. Panthers general manager Dale Tallon called Bobrovsky “an elite starting goaltender who has consistently proven to be one of the best in the NHL.”
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