Canadian teams make moves ahead of NHL free agency’s opening bell
A trio of Canadian NHL teams went to work ahead of free agency’s opening bell.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth for a conditional third-round pick at the 2027 draft Monday. The 24-year-old with a contract worth US$3.425 million for the upcoming season is coming off a disappointing 18-point campaign, but put up 17 goals and 40 assists in 2023-24.
The Edmonton Oilers re-signed winger Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year, $1.3-million contract. Claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Blues in November, Kapanen combined for 14 points in 67 regular-season games in 2024-25. The 28-year-old added six more points, including an overtime goal in the second round, across 12 playoff contests.
The Canucks got in on the action by re-upping four depth players after they helped the club’s American Hockey League affiliate to a championship. Vancouver inked two-year deals with forwards Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Raty. Defenceman Guillaume Brisebois and forward Max Sasson signed one-year agreements.
