The Latest from NHL free agency (all times Eastern):
10:15 a.m.
The Buffalo Sabres have reached an agreement to sign free-agent goalie Carter Hutton to a three-year, $8.25 million contract.
A person with direct knowledge with negotiations confirmed the deal to The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because contracts cannot be announced until the NHL’s signing period opens later Sunday. FoxSportsMidwest.com first reported the deal.
The 32-year-old Hutton has six seasons of NHL experience, including the past two with the Blues, where he split starting duties with Jake Allen. He finished with a 17-7-3 record and a 2.09 goals-against average in 32 games last year.
The Sabres have needs at goalie after electing not to re-sign third-year starter Robin Lehner and veteran backup Chad Johnson.
Hutton would form a tandem with Linus Ullmark, who is pegged to make the jump to the NHL level on a full-time basis after spending the past three years developing in the minors.
— AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow
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10 a.m.
Star center John Tavares did not sign with the New York Islanders before midnight, taking an eight-year deal out of the equation and eliminating his old team’s biggest advantage.
As of Sunday morning, Tavares had still not announced a decision on where he will sign on what could be a seven-year deal worth upward of $70 million. The 27-year-old playmaker and his representatives met with the Islanders, his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning last week.
Paul Stastny, who was traded from St. Louis to Winnipeg and produced 15 points in 17 playoff games, and Toronto’s Tyler Bozak are the next-best centers available.
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9:45 a.m.
A person with direct knowledge of discussions tells The Associated Press that veteran forward Thomas Vanek is expected to sign with the Detroit Red Wings once the NHL’s free agency period opens.
The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Sunday because talks are still ongoing, and teams are not allowed to announce deals until the signing period opens at noon Eastern.
Vanek is a 13-year NHL veteran and will return to Detroit, where he spent a portion of the 2016-17 season. He’s an 11-time 20-goal-scorer, and opened last year playing in Vancouver before closing the season with Columbus.
Vanek became the highest drafted Austrian-born player when the Buffalo Sabres selected him with the No. 5 pick in 2003.
Overall, he has 357 goals and 396 assists for 753 points in 965 career NHL games.
The top draw of free agency is forward John Tavares of the New York Islanders.
— AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow
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