Devils Digest: A Busy Week in The Metropolitan Division

NEWARK, N.J. -- The highly anticipated conclusion of the 2023-24 season is hours away. While it marks the end of regularly scheduled games, it signals that free agent frenzy is just around the corner.

While the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers battled for the league's highest honor, general managers around the Metropolitan Division were busy making moves to improve their clubs for the 2024-25 season.

Here is a rundown of all the news from the last week.

New Jersey Devils

• Arguably, the biggest Metropolitan Division news came from the New Jersey Devils . On Jun. 19, general manager Tom Fitzgerald landed his goaltender when he acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round draft pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

• A couple of days later, Fitzgerald made another trade. He sent Utica Comets leading goal scorer Graeme Clarke to the Minnesota Wild for forward Adam Beckman.

Carolina Hurricanes

• The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed former Devils defenseman Ty Smith to a one-year, two-way contract . The organization acquired him from Pittsburgh along with Jake Guentzel on Mar. 7, 2024. Smith's last NHL game was on Jan. 18, 2023, against the Ottawa Senators.

Related: Former Devils’ Defenseman Ty Smith Traded From Penguins to Hurricanes

• On Jun. 14, the Hurricanes re-signed blueliner Jalen Chatfield to a three-year, $9 million contract extension. Per the press release , the deal will pay Chatfield an average annual value (AAV) of $3 million through 2026-27. If not re-signed, the 28-year-old would have been an unrestricted free agent on Jul. 1.

Columbus Blue Jackets

• The Columbus Blue Jackets concluded the week by signing 23-year-old Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension ($2.1 million AAV) through 2025-26. In his career, he has five points (four goals, one assist) in seven games. He has more goals against New Jersey than any other league opponent.

New York Rangers

• The New York Rangers placed two-time Stanley Cup champion Barclay Goodrow on waivers in an effort to gain salary cap flexibility. The San Jose Sharks claimed him and are now responsible for his remaining contract, which has three years left and an average annual value of $3,641,667.
According to The Athletic's Peter Baugh and Eric Stephens, "Goodrow has a 15-team no-trade list. It's unclear if San Jose was on that list, but it would have mattered only if the Rangers tried to trade him. The waiver system potentially served as a workaround. (from 'Sharks claim Barclay Goodrow, opening up cap space for Rangers, The Athletic , 06-19-24).

Philadelphia Flyers

• On Jun. 23, reports surfaced that Matvei Michkov is being released by his club in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The Philadelphia Flyers have not made any official announcement regarding the seventh pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Pittsburgh Penguins

• The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to a two-year contract . The 28-year-old has a record of 3-1-0 in four games with a goals-against average of 2.77 and a save percentage of .911 against the Devils in his career.

Washington Capitals

• Pierre-Luc Dubois is back in the Metropolitan Division. The Washington Capitals acquired him in a one-for-one trade with the Los Angeles Kings for goaltender Darcy Kuemper. Throughout his career, he has amassed 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 17 games against New Jersey. He has more points against the Devils than any other Metropolitan Division team.

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