NHL free-agency analysis: Breaking down Monday's signings

The NHL free-agent market officially opens July 1 at noon ET. Below, theScore's lead hockey writer John Matisz breaks down the day's biggest moves.

Maple Leafs re-sign G Joseph Woll to 3-year deal

Can Woll stay healthy? That's the main question here, because based solely on on-ice performance and his upward trajectory, the 25-year-old deserves this deal, which includes a $3.66-million AAV. In fact, if Woll's healthy, we may be calling this contract an underpayment by Year 2. Woll's a rare goalie development success story for the Leafs and is now their starter of the present and future. As of this writing, Toronto doesn't have a backup, though Laurent Brossoit or Anthony Stolarz appear to be targets. Woll with either is a solid tandem.

Devils sign D Brett Pesce, D Brenden Dillon

New Jersey isn't messing around. After a disappointing 2023-24, GM Tom Fitzgerald reshaped his blue line with a trade Sunday night (he acquired Johnathan Kovacevic from Montreal) and these two signings. Pesce's contract is for six years with a $5.5-million AAV, while details on Dillon's contact haven't yet been reported. Both defenders are large, reliable veterans. The left side of the Devils' back end now features Luke Hughes, Dillon, and Jonas Siegenthaler. The right side is Dougie Hamilton, Pesce, and Simon Nemec. Kovacevic is a quality seventh guy with some upside. Further, 2022 second-rounder Seamus Casey, a righty, is progressing well, too. Toss in the acquisition of starting goalie Jacob Markstrom and hiring of coach Sheldon Keefe and New Jersey - which had the sixth-worst defense last year - should allow significantly fewer goals next season.

Maple Leafs sign D Chris Tanev to 6-year deal

Tanev's one of the NHL's best pure defenders. He fills a gaping hole on Toronto's right blue line. The $4.5-million AAV is tolerable in an $88-million cap world. In other words, I get why the Maple Leafs pulled the trigger: the fit between player and team is undeniable. But, boy, that term is scary, especially since the contract includes a full no-move clause. While Tanev has aged exceptionally well for a defensive defenseman who blocks a ton of shots, at some point he'll hit his decline. He turns 35, not 25, in December - the second half of this contract won't be pretty. Yet GM Brad Treliving - Tanev's old boss in Calgary - surely doesn't care, as he's attempting to win a Cup while superstar Auston Matthews remains in his prime, and this deal brings the Leafs closer to that goal (at least on paper).

Blackhawks sign F Tyler Bertuzzi to 4-year deal

File this one under the "Blackhawks needed to give Connor Bedard better options for linemates" category. Good for Bertuzzi, who will be making a career-high $5.5 million a year moving forward. Factor in the allure of potentially playing with a special player in Bedard and there's no mystery as to why Bertuzzi chose Chicago over a long line of suitors. The 29-year-old is a hard-working winger with a scoring touch and jam - two things the roster severely lacks. Fun fact: Chicago is Bertuzzi's fourth Original Six team.

Lightning sign F Jake Guentzel to 7-year deal

Tampa Bay, who acquired Guentzel in a Sunday night trade, locks up one of the most coveted free agents. The $9-million average annual value has some sticker shock, but it's a fair number given Guentzel's track record (four-time 30-goal scorer, clutch in the playoffs, good defensively). Guentzel will be 30 when the 2024-25 season starts and 37 when this deal expires, so there's some risk baked into the deal. That said, Guentzel profiles as the type of guy who'll buck the aging curve and continue to produce in his mid-30s. He's an extremely smart winger who consistently finds open ice near the opposing team's net. He and Zach Hyman tied for the league lead in expected goals per game last season. The only potential issue with this splashy signing is what's been lost elsewhere on the roster. The Lightning already traded top-four defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to clear cap space and will likely lose franchise icon Steven Stamkos in free agency. I don't know if they've improved overall, yet I assume GM Julien BriseBois isn't done for the day.

Panthers re-sign F Sam Reinhart to 8-year deal

Compromise. That's what this deal is all about. Reinhart is coming off a career year of 57 goals and 94 points. Had he tested the open market, he would have been in line for a higher AAV than what he ultimately signed for - $8.625 million. But Reinhart wanted to stay in Florida, and the Stanley Cup champion Panthers wanted to fit him into their internal cap structure. So, the player gets the maximum amount of years and the team gets a lower AAV. Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Gustav Forsling are now all signed through at least 2029-30 - and none are overpaid. That's some savvy cap management by general manager Bill Zito. Reinhart, who turns 29 in November, may never score 50 goals again. But if he can pot 40 a year for the next few while continuing to be one of the best defensive forwards in hockey, the first half of this deal will look like a serious bargain.

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