Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson celebrates his goal in Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Sabres on April 21 in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP file photo)

Two-time Stanley Cup champion goalie Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Maple Leafs on Wednesday, leaving Florida and filling a long-unaddressed need for Toronto hours into the NHL’s free agent signing period.

Bobrovsky on the verge of turning 38 joins an Auston Matthews-led team seeking to transition on the fly under a new coach and new general manager, and coming off a draft in which it selected Gavin McKenna with the No. 1 pick. The Leafs bottomed out last year, finishing last in the Atlantic Division following a nine-year playoff run.

Though nearly a decade removed from winning the Vezina Trophy for a second time as the NHL’s top goalie with Columbus in 2017, Bobrovsky is regarded as an upgrade for the Leafs, who gone through a carousel of goalies, including five last season alone. He reunites with Anthony Stolarz, after the tandem helped the Panthers win the Cup in 2024.

“A sincere thank you to Sergei Bobrovsky for all he did for this organization,” said Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who this past week had traded for goalies Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. “Things happen where decisions get made and people move on. It’s part of our game. We have nothing but appreciation for Sergei.”

Bobrovsky was regarded as one of the top players available in a thin pool of free agents, and wasn’t the only goalie on the move. To make room for him, the Leafs traded Dennis Hildeby and draft picks to Tampa Bay for forward Nick Paul.

Detroit signed Swedish winger Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year contract worth $10 million after he helped Boston return to the playoffs this spring. Arvidsson, 33, had 25 goals and 54 points last season.

The New York Rangers added Oliver Bjorkstrand (Tampa Bay) for $4.5 million next season.

Goalie Stuart Skinner is heading to Winnipeg on a two-year contract worth $7.5 million with the Jets, who have been listening to trade offers for three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Skinner helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and ’25 before losing to Florida each time, and spent the end of last season in Pittsburgh.

Panthers, Sharks busy

Florida signed rugged defenseman Radko Gudas, who just turned 36, to a six-year deal worth $1.5 million annually for a total of $9 million. The 36-year-old Gudas played in Florida for three seasons from 2020-23 and spent last season with Anaheim. The former team captain joins another former team captain, Brady Tkachuk, as a new arrival in South Florida.

The fast-improving Sharks are suddenly a destination, with San Jose acquiring Darnell Nurse in a trade with Edmonton, signing fellow defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year, $33 million deal and adding forward Mason Marchment on a five-year, $33.75 million contract. They sent defensive prospects Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp to the Oilers for Nurse.

After the Sharks enjoyed a 19-win jump in the standings and barely missing the playoffs, Trouba called being part of a team on the rise behind Macklin Celebrini one of the biggest reasons he signed in the Bay Area.

“You want a team that you feel like you can grow with and make an impact and help these young guys,” Trouba said on a video call with reporters. “It’s important to get into where everybody wants to be is on a contending team, and I think we have a good opportunity in San Jose to do that.”

Chicago got veteran defenseman Ian Cole (Utah) for next season at $4.75 million.

Washington, which is still waiting on winger Alex Ovechkin’s decision about whether to return for a 22nd NHL season, signed Columbus winger Boone Jenner ($23 million) and San Jose defenseman Vincent Desharnais ($16.8 million) to four-year contracts.

Trades

Many teams are going the trade route to try to improve this summer. The Rangers got their backup goalie that way, sending minor leaguer Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick to Boston for Joonas Korpisalo.

Nashville acquired pending restricted free agent forward Mavrik Bourque from Dallas. The Predators sent a 2027 second- and a 2028 third-round pick to the Stars for Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.

The Blackhawks signed Bowen Byram to a six-year, $75 million contract extension, making him the NHL’s top-paid defenseman in average annual salary. The signing comes a week after Chicago acquired the sixth-year player by trading the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft to the Buffalo Sabres.

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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.

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