Back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Blake Coleman was among the other top free agents to sign in the opening minutes of free agency, getting $29.4 million over six years from the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.
His old team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, was expected to make minor moves in free agency with limited cap space.
Coleman’s trade from the Devils to the Lightning in February 2020 couldn’t have gone better for Tampa Bay or the gritty forward.
Coming off a three-year contract with a cap hit of $1.8 million, Coleman was due for a raise after getting 14 goals and 31 points in 55 regular-season games last season. He also added 11 points in 23 playoff games.
In other moves, Calgary acquired defenseman Nikita Zadorov from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2022 third-round draft pick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.