Here we are once again on one of the best days to be a hockey fan – NHL Free Agency! Starting at noon today, we’ll see teams throwing ridiculous sums of money at players who will spend the rest of their contracts attempting to justify not being bought out.

Oh yeah, the Buffalo Sabres might be in play today trying to fill out the roster in General Manager Jason Botterill and Head Coach Phil Housley’s second season at the Sabres.

How to Watch Free Agency Coverage

In USA: NHL Network will be showing Sportsnet’s ‘Hockey Central: Signing Season’ starting at 11:00am EST.

In Canada: Both Sportsnet and TSN will have coverage of free agency starting at 11:00am EST.

Online: NHL.com

What to Watch For

The biggest move the Sabres could make today is trade (or not) Ryan O’Reilly, once his $7.5 million bonus is paid out he becomes a much more attractive candidate for a number of teams, with Montreal Canadiens and St Louis Blues leading the way.

Among the top free agents whose futures will be decided today are forwards John Tavares (New York Islanders), James van Riemsdyk (Toronto Maple Leafs), Paul Stastny (Winnipeg Jets), James Neal (Vegas Golden Knights), Rick Nash (Boston Bruins) and Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks), along with defenseman Mike Green (Detroit Red Wings).

Live Tracker

Here are the extensions and signings that have been made official so far, we’ll be updating this tracker as the day goes on –

July 1, 2018

• TRADE: Buffalo Sabres trade Ryan O’Reilly to the St Louis Blues for Tage Thompson, Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, 2019 1st Rd pick & 2021 2nd Rd pick – CLICK HERE
• New York Islanders – LEO KOMAROV, UFA, 4 YEARS, TOTAL $12M, CAP HIT $3M
• Columbus Blue Jackets – Riley Nash, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $8.25M, CAP HIT $2.75M
• Vancouver Canucks – JAY BEAGLE, UFA, 4 YEARS, TOTAL $12M, CAP HIT $3M
• Pittsburgh Penguins – MATT CULLEN, UFA, 1 YEAR, $650 THOUSAND
• Boston Bruins – JOHN MOORE, UFA, 5 YEARS, TOTAL $13.75M, CAP HIT $2.75M
• Toronto Maple Leafs – JOHN TAVARES, UFA, 7 YEARS, TOTAL $77M, CAP HIT $11M
• Buffalo Sabres – SCOTT WILSON, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $2.10M, CAP HIT $1.05M
• Montreal Canadiens – MICHAEL CHAPUT, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $1.3M, CAP HIT $650 THOUSDAND
• Arizona Coyotes – MICHAEL GRABNER, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $10.05M, CAP HIT $3.35M
• Washington Capitals – NIC DOWD, UFA, 1 YEAR, $650 THOUSAND
• St. Louis Blues – CHAD JOHNSON, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $1.75M, CAP HIT $1.75M
• Chicago Blackhawks – CHRIS KUNITZ, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $1M, CAP HIT $1M
• Carolina Hurricanes – PETR MRAZEK, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $1.5M, CAP HIT $1.5M
• Arizona Coyotes – MICHAEL GRABNER, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $10.05M, CAP HIT $3.35M
• Toronto Maple Leafs – JOS JOORIS, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $650k, CAP HIT $650k
• Montreal Canadiens – MATTHEW PECA, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $2.6M, CAP HIT $1.3M
• Dallas Stars – VALERI NICHUSHKIN, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $5.9M, CAP HIT $$2.95M
• Boston Bruins – JAROSLAV HALAK, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $5.5M, CAP HIT $2.75M
• Boston Bruins – JOAKIM NORDSTROM, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $4M, CAP HIT $2M
• Montreal Canadiens – THOMAS PLEKANEC, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $2.25M, CAP HIT $2.25M
• Tampa Bay Lightning – RYAN MCDONAGH, EXTENSION, 7 YEARS, TOTAL $47.25M, CAP HIT $6.75M
• Minnesota Wild – GREG PATERYN, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $6.75M, CAP HIT $2.25M
• St. Louis Blues – TYLER BOZAK, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $15M, CAP HIT $5M
• New York Islanders – THOMAS HICKEY, UFA, 4 YEARS, TOTAL $10M, CAP HIT $2.5M
• Edmonton Oilers – KYLE BRODZIAK, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $2.4M, CAP HIT $1.2M
• Vegas Golden Knights – PAUL STASTNY, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $19.5M, CAP HIT $6.5M
• Detroit Red Wings – THOMAS VANEK, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $3M, CAP HIT $3M
• Detroit Red Wings – JONATHAN BERNIER, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $9M, CAP HIT $3M
• Detroit Red Wings – MIKE GREEN, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $10M, CAP HIT $5M
• Dallas Stars- ANTON KHUDOBIN, UFA, 2 YEARS
• Chicago Blackhawks – CAM WARD, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $3M, CAP HIT $3M
• Philadelphia Flyers – JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK, UFA, 5 YEARS, TOTAL $35M, CAP HIT $7M
• Calgary Flames – DEREK RYAN, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $9.3M, CAP HIT $3.1M
• Buffalo Sabres – CARTER HUTTON, UFA, 3 YEARS, TOTAL $8.25M, CAP HIT $2.75M
• Buffalo Sabres- SCOTT WEDGEWOOD, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $425K (TWO WAY), CAP HIT $425K
• St. Louis Blues – DAVID PERRON, UFA, 4 YEARS, TOTAL $8M, CAP IT $4M /

June 30, 2018

• Vegas Golden Knights – RYAN REAVES F, RFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $5.55M, CAP HIT $2.775M
• Arizona Coyotes – NIKLAS HJALMARSSON D, UFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $10M, CAP HIT $5M
• New Jersey Devils – EDDIE LACK G, UFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $650K, CAP HIT $650K
• San Jose Sharks – LOGAN COUTURE C, UFA, 8 YEARS, TOTAL $64M, CAP HIT $8M
• Montreal Canadiens get F Joel Armia, G Steve Mason, 2019 7th-Round Pick, 2020 4th-Round Pick; Winnipeg Jets get D Simon Bourque/

JUNE 29, 2018

• Los Angeles Kings – DREW DOUGHTY D, UFA, 8 YEARS, TOTAL –, CAP HIT —
• Carolina Hurricanes – VALENTIN ZYKOV F, RFA, 2 YEARS, TOTAL $1.35M, CAP HIT $675K
• Florida Panthers – FRANK VATRANO F, RFA, 1 YEAR, TOTAL $925K, CAP HIT $925K
• Washington Capitals – MICHAL KEMPNY D, UFA, 4 YEARS, TOTAL $10M, CAP HIT $2.5M/