2022 NHL free agency: What have been the main signings of day 2?

In the second day of the 2022 NHL free agency period, there weren’t a ton of moves, but there definitely were a few interesting ones. Join us for a look at who went where.

2022 NHL free agency is off and running

The clear shocker from Day 1, was the move made by now former Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau. The high-scoring winger joined the Columbus Blue Jackets, in what has got to be considered the biggest deal in years. As for the rest of the field, we saw the Penguins with some shrewd moves in the market and the Golden Knights with quite the opposite, to name a few. Yet, it must be said that things went more or less as expected. This brings us to Day 2, which has in fact followed a similar trend of not many big moves, but a few interesting ones. Let’s take a look.

2022 NHL free agency moves from Day 2

Though the start of free agency traditionally starts on July 1, it began on Wednesday, July 14 this year due to a shift in the 2021-22 season. None the less, it was no less intriguing as teams looked to retool their rosters with trades and extensions. Here’s our take on the most interesting moves from the second day of the 2022 NHL free agency period:

Calle Jarnkrok goes to Toronto Maple Leafs

Journeyman Calle Jarnkrok has stopped in quite a few ports of his career. Indeed, the veteran center has been on the roster of the Predators, Kraken and Flames in just the past two seasons alone. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have any gas left in the tank, as the four-year, $8.4 million contract he just signed with the Maple Leaves would seem to indicate. Jarnkrok, now 30 scored 12 goals and added 14 assists in 49 games with the Seattle Kraken last season.

The Flyers welcome back Morgan Frost

Having been heavily linked with Johnny Gaudreau for some time, it must not have been the best moment when they learned he had rejected their offer, in favor of a move to the Blue Jackets. It should be said, however, that given Gaudreau’s reasons for his choice, there was little they could have done. Regardless, the Flyers managed to negotiate a deal to bring home one of their former players, Morgan Frost. While, some will be quick to point out that Frost spent the majority of his first stint in Philadelphia playing in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Frost has improved. It will be a big year for former No. 27 overall pick who’s signed aa $800,000 contract.

The Predators snap up Zach Sanford

A former Stanley Cup winner with the Blues back in 2019, forward Zach Sanford spent the last season between the Ottawa Senators and the Winnipeg Jets. A six-foot-four forward, Sanford registered nine goals and 12 assists across 80 games last season and also had a career high in hits with 169 as well as 67 blocked shots. Having now agreed to a one-year contract worth $850, 000, it will be interesting to see what Sanford does with a new challenge.

The Jets’ Ashton Sautner move is about depth

The Winnipeg Jets added another defenseman to their roster on Friday, with the signing of Ashton Sautner to a one-year, two-way contract. The Flin Flon native put pen to paper on a deal that will see him paid $750,000 per season. Sautner, 28, has been in the Vancouver Canucks system for his entire career, however the Jets are clearly hoping he can provide some much-needed depth at the position. Interestingly, Sautner has only played some 23 games at NHL level having spent most of his career in the minor leagues, but again this is about bulking up the back up for the Jets. but is very likely headed back to the minor leagues, given he hasn’t appeared in the NHL since 2019-20.

Remember to check back in with us here as we continue to bring you updates through the 2022 NHL free agency period!