NHL Free Agency: Schmidt, Vanecek Off to Utah Mammoth

Although the Florida Panthers kept most of their team around for the coming season, a few moved on when the NHL Free Agency period opened up on Tuesday afternoon.

Defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was bought out by Winnipeg last summer, parlayed his strong season with the Panthers by signing a three-year deal with the Utah Mammoth for $10.5 million.

Backup goalie Vitek Vanecek is also headed to Salt Lake City after getting a one-year deal.

The Panthers re-signed Tomas Nosek on Tuesday morning before the market got going, with Nico Sturm — who had replaced Nosek at the trade deadline — moving back to the Minnesota Wild on a two-year contract.

Fort Lauderdale’s Jaycob Megna got a two-year, one-way deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Others of interest who changed teams on Tuesday include Nick Bjugstad, who left Utah and signed for two years in St. Louis. Alex Lyon is off to Buffalo.

Also: Steven Lorentz gets three years to stick with his hometown Maple Leafs, and Evgenii Dadonov is headed to the Devils.

There just was not a lot going on Tuesday what with many teams — most notably, the Panthers — keeping all of their players from moving on.

Nic Ehlers is the top free agent target, and he did not sign on Tuesday.

Brock Boeser, the No. 2 target on opening day, stayed in Vancouver with a seven-year contract.

There just wasn’t a lot to do on Tuesday.

Unless you run Florida Hockey Now.

That made for a busy day.

Six stories on Tuesday.

Not too shabby.

FHN / FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW

• What the Florida Panthers’ Opening Night lineup should look like.
• Bill Zito refused to take credit for keeping the Three Amigos and for basically running it back with the 2025 Stanley Cup champs.
• With Schmidt off to Utah, Florida grabbed veteran d-man Jeff Petry.
• Tomas Nosek dug the Panthers so much, he came back for another run.
• We tried to warn you about Tuesday.
• Florida got its new backup goalie under contract.
• The Florida Panthers are in Dynasty Mode. That’s bad news for the rest of the NHL.
• Ekblad was the second high-profile Florida free agent to come off the board, getting an eight-year deal on Monday afternoon.
• Then came Marchand.
• Bennett wants to be part of a Florida Panthers dynasty.
• Don’t forget to subscribe to the FHN YouTube channel to watch interviews with the Florida Panthers throughout the offseason. Bennett and Zito from Saturday, Ekblad and Zito from Tuesday up now.

NHL LINKS / NATIONAL HOCKEY NOW

• The top remaining free agents from Sportsnet.
• Rumors about those top free agents. From Sportsnet.
• The free agent tracker. Yup, from Sportsnet.
• The Utahs made some moves.
• Dallas has a new/old coach.
• William Eklund gets a new deal from the San Jose Sharks.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins trade goalie Alex Nedeljkovic to those Sharks.
• The Philadelphia Flyers were busy.
• Jonathan Drouin finds a home with the New York Islanders.
• Tanner Jeannot gets a nice deal (for him) from the Boston Bruins.
• Quiet day for the Chicago Blackhawks.
• The Detroit Red Wings head to the bargain bin on Day 1.
• Ehlers to the Colorado Avalanche?

2024 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 2025

FLORIDA PANTHERS

UP NEXT

• Start of NHL Free Agency: Opened Tuesday
• Panthers Development Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Today, Thursday
• Panthers Rookie Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early September
• Prospect Showcase @ Tampa Bay Lightning: Early September, Wesley Chapel
• Training Camp: Mid-September
• Exhibition Games: Starts Sept. 21 @ Nashville (doubleheader)
• Opening Night: Oct 7-9 (opponent, time, date TBA)