2023 NHL Free Agency Blog

11:30 a.m., July 9

Kraken Agree to Terms with Cale Fleury

2:30 p.m., July 7

Will Borgen Agrees to Terms on 2-Year Deal

12:45 p.m., July 7

Kraken Agree to Terms with Forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare

In an effort to replenish forward depth plus fortify the penalty kill and boost the team's faceoff prowess, Kraken agreed to terms with French-born forward Pierre-Edouard on a one-year, $775,000 contract Friday. The 38-year-old forward notched 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 73 regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and added a goal and an assist in six playoff games.

Bellemare has played wing and center in his nine seasons. He has posted a faceoff percentage of 51.4 percent over his career and has performed effectively on penalty kill units for Philadelphia, Vegas, Colorado and Tampa Bay. Bellemare is widely admired and respected by teammates and coaches around the league.

"We've seen him for three days and it feels like he's been here for three years," Lightning coach Jon Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times during the first week of Bellemare's first training camp in 2021. "That's how he's fit in here. The demeanor, the confidence that he carries, it fits well in our room."

4:00 p.m., July 3, Day 3

Connor Carrick Returns to Kraken Organization on One-Year Two-Way Deal

The Kraken announced Monday that they agreed to terms with defender Connor Carrick on a one-year two-way contract worth $775K. The deal brings the 29-year-old back to the organization - Carrick played in 59 games (10-22-32) with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) during the 2021-22 season when that team served as the AHL affiliate for the Kraken.

Carrick comes back to Seattle after a career year with the Providence Bruins in which he set new personal records in points (44) and assists (38). His 38 setups were the most of any skater on the Providence roster and sixth best among all AHL defenders.

1:05 p.m., July 2, Day 2

Spokane native Yamamoto, Kraken Agree on One-Year Deal

Free-agent forward Kailer Yamamoto is returning to his home state to play for the Kraken, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with $1.5 million AAV. The 24-year-old first-round pick (2017, No. 22 overall) has played his entire NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers.

He has notched 50 goals and 68 assists over 244 NHL games after he starred at the Western Hockey League Spokane Chiefs (he racked up 99 points in his final season). He scored 10 goals and added 15 assists during the 2022-23 regular season after a 41-point season in 2021-22.

In a twist, Yamamoto was moved to the Detroit Red Wings in a separate deal last week. Detroit then decided to buy out Yamamoto's contract, making him available as a free agent. The Kraken brain trust is enthusiastic about Yamamoto's upside and not deterred by his 5-foot-8, 153-pound stature.

"Kailer is a speedy, hard-working playmaker with good hockey sense," said Kraken GM Ron Franics. "We're happy to welcome him to the Kraken."

3:30 p.m., July 1, Day 1

Four Kraken Players Move on via Free Agency

Four members of the Kraken found a new home on Saturday after their current contracts with Seattle came to end.

Carson Soucy, Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong were all restricted free agents meaning that the Kraken could retain their rights by extending a qualifying offer prior to July 1 even if a contract wasn't in place. But general manager Ron Francis said, with young players like Tye Kartye and Shane Wright making cases to play at the NHL level next season, the organization decided to allow each player to see if the open market provided more opportunity.

Ultimately Soucy signed with Vancouver, Geekie is heading to Boston, and Daniel Sprong will play in Detroit.

Ryan Donato - an unrestricted free agent meaning he was free to negotiate with any club because the Kraken no longer owned the rights to the player - has a new contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. In a classy move, after signing, Donato called Francis to thank him and the organization for the past two years.

Kraken fans will remember key contributions from all four of these players throughout the club's young history. It was Donato who scored the first goal in Kraken history and Sprong, called "a success story" by Francis, earned his way to the first 20-plus goal season of his career after returning to the Kraken last season initially on a try out.

Echoing the voices of many Kraken faithful, Francis expressed how happy he was for each new opportunity these players have, thanked them for their contributions, and wished them great success.

2:10 p.m., July 1, Day 1

Kraken Agree to Deal with 10-Year Veteran D-man Dumoulin

Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin has agreed to terms with the Kraken on a two-year contract at $3.15 million average annual value. Dumoulin, originally drafted by Carolina in 2009, has been a fixture with the Penguins since the 2013-14 season.

The 6-foot-4, 207-pound won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh (2016 and 2017) and rejoins fellow blueliner and then-teammate Justin Schultz, who accepted a contract offer from the Kraken last summer on the first day of free agency.

"Brian is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and is coming off of his most productive season offensively," said Seattle GM Ron Francis. "He has been a consistent, reliable defenseman throughout his career. We are happy to welcome him to Seattle."

Dumoulin notched 25 points (one goal, 24 assists) for the Penguins this past hockey year, playing the entire 82-game slate. He has notched 19 goals and 120 assists in 546 regular season games and four goals and 21 assists in 81 postseason games.

A long-time partner with future Hall of Famer Kris Letang on Pittsburgh's first defensive pair, Dumoulin is highly respected for his physical presence and on-ice approach, plus his textbook abilities to control gaps with opponents, awareness in all zones (especially the defensive end), stick work and making the first pass for successful zone exits.

12:00 p.m., July 1, Day 1

Veteran NHL-Tested Forward John Hayden Agrees to Terms with Seattle

Bringing physical play and a scoring touch, free agent forward John Hayden agreed to terms with the Kraken Saturday on a one-year, two-way contract with $775,000 AAV. He was a key member of AHL Coachella Valley's tremendously successful first season and was a solid, reliable contributor when called up to the Kraken this past season. He scored 16 goals and 17 assists with the Firebirds and scored two goals in seven games with the Kraken before moving to the injured reserve list with a lower-body injury. Hayden rehabbed aggressively to return for the last 10 games of Coachella Valley's deep run to the Calder Cup Final.

11:55 a.m., July 1, Day 1

Kraken Agree to Terms with Forward Marian Studenic

Seattle agrees to terms with Slovakia-born forward Marian Studenic to a one-year, two-way deal for $775,000 AAV. Studenic, 24, has appeared in 44 NHL games, 25 at the start of his pro career with New Jersey and 19 games that last two seasons with Dallas, including three with the Stars this past season. The 6-foot-1, 178-pound left-handed shot wing logged 21 goals and 27 assists for AHL Texas during the regular season and added two goals and four assists in eight playoff games.

11:45 a.m., July 1, Day 1

Kraken Sign Defenseman Schuldt

Defenseman Jimmy Schuldt returns to the fold on a one-year, two-year contract at $775,000 average annual value (AAV) after posting a solid season for AHL Western Conference champion Coachella Valley. Schuldt notched eight goals and 24 assists during the regular season, then scored some big goals (five goals, four assists) in the Firebirds' run to Game 7 overtime in the Calder Cup Final.

Perhaps as importantly, Schuldt, 28, was a defensive partner and mentor to AHL rookie All-Star and 2021 second-round draft choice Ryker Evans.

8:30 a.m., July 1, Day 1

As a gorgeous Seattle weekend unfolds among the city's streets and surrounding mountains and water, NHL fans, perhaps most especially up on Canada Day, can add free-agent intrigue to the day's activities. Whether out and about or glued to a screen for all of the latest transactions, the first day of NHL free agency always offers a few surprises and heavy speculation.

We'll skip too much speculation here, but stay with our app, website and social channels for the latest about Kraken players possibly on the move plus who the Kraken have targeted to sign from the other 31 NHL squads. Last year's Day 1 netted forward Andre Burakovsky, defenseman Justin Schultz and goaltender Martin Jones. There is no arguing the wisdom and production of those moves, even with Burakovsky missing the second half of the season and playoffs with a torn groin.

Burakovsky, who's expected to be 100 percent for training camp, will be a welcome returnee to the Kraken lineup. Schultz delivered a stellar season and was clutch performer during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He remains under contract as one of four SEA defensemen under contract as of July 1, along with Adam Larsson, Jamie Oleksiak and Jaycob Megna. Jones collected 27 wins last season. He will be back on the free agent market Saturday.

The Kraken announced Friday the team made qualifying offers to restricted free-agent defensemen Vince Dunn, Will Borgen and Cale Fleury, plus forward and Coachella Valley Firebirds star Kole Lind. The deadline for NHL teams to issue qualifying offers to pending restricted free agents was 2 p.m. Pacific time Friday. By issuing the offers, teams are given the right of first refusal or draft choice compensation should the player sign an offer sheet with another team. All four players can seek arbitration (rare that teams and players take that step) if they think it necessary to come to terms with the Kraken.

As a result of Friday's decision, both Kraken regulars Morgan Geekie and Daniel Sprong, both not qualified, can sign with any team without compensation of some type for Seattle. The Kraken can sign both, but no longer would be required to go to arbitration.

The most notable among Seattle unrestricted free agents and players to watch this day and month: Defenseman Carson Soucy, multi-purpose Ryan Donato and the aforementioned Jones. Check back for our 2023 Free Agency Blog updates as the news comes across.