A dark horse made the biggest splash on day one of NHL free agency.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Columbus Blue Jackets have won the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes.
Friedman reports that the former Calgary Flames All-Star agreed to a seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets, paying the 28-year-old $9.8 million a season.
I think it is 7x$9.8M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 13, 2022
On the eve of free agency, Gaudreau reportedly turned down an eight-year contract with a $10.5 million AAV from the Flames.
After free agency opened at noon on Wednesday, the front-runners for Gaudreau's services changed throughout the afternoon.
The Philadelphia Flyers were a popular pick to land Gaudreau; however, they lacked the necessary cap space. Later in the day, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said the team wasn't in on Gaudreau.
Chuck Fletcher announces they are done with the free agency market. They are officially out on Johnny Gaudreau. Says the reality is, they didn't have the cap space.
— Giana Han (@giana_jade) July 13, 2022
After the Flyers bowed out of the bidding, it seemed the race to land Gaudreau would come down to the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders.
Elliotte Friedman on Johnny Gaudreau on NHL Network: "I think the Islanders are in this. I think the Devils are in this. I don't think Philadelphia is in it that heavy."#Isles
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) July 13, 2022
Ultimately, the Blue Jackets shocked the hockey world, sneaking back into the mix to land arguably the most coveted free agent on the market.
The whispers have been there all day: Columbus is lurking in the shadows of this Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes. https://t.co/E5ohc0JimT
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 13, 2022
Gaudreau posted career highs in goals (40), assists (75) and points (115), playing in all 82 regular-season games last season. In 12 playoff games, Gaudreau finished with 14 points (3 goals, 14 assists).
A six-time All-Star, Gaudreau officially walks away from the Flames as the franchise's fifth-leading all-time scorer. His 609 career points rank him fifth, behind only Theoren Fleury (830) and Hall of Famers Joe Nieuwendyk (616), Al MacInnis (822) and Jerome Iginla (1,095).
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