Buying season is almost upon NHL general managers.

Free Agency opens Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET with plenty of intriguing situations and scenarios.

There are stars about to potentially leave the only team they’ve ever played for. And after a busy spell in the draft last week — and again on Monday night — there’s big pressure on hockey’s most important position.

The Canadian Press looks at some of the scenarios to watch out for when the bell rings to open the free agent festivities:

MOVING STARS?

A disappointed Brad Treliving spoke to reporters for more than 15 minutes Tuesday night via Zoom after revealing that unrestricted free agent Johnny Gaudreau would not return to the Calgary Flames despite hopes otherwise.

The Calgary Flames general manager said the 28-year-old winger was “anguished” by his decision and said the reasons for his departure were ultimately a “family decision” and not a matter of money.

Gaudreau, a fourth-round pick by the club in 2011, had a career-high 40 goals, 75 assists and 115 points in 2021-22, becoming a more complete player.

Treliving, which had remained optimistic until Tuesday about the possibility of a deal with Gaudreau, said it would make calls Wednesday morning and check what is available, but was not going to spend recklessly to replace his star player.

“You’re not just going to go out and sign someone to replace Johnny. … The wrong decision right now, I can tell you, is to react on reflex and just try to rush in and replace the player with the wrong answer. We just have to take a deep breath. It’s been a long process,” the chief executive added.

Evgeni Malkin, meanwhile, signed an 11-hour deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Malkin signed a four-year contract worth $24.4 million that spans the 2025-26 season and has an average annual value of $6.1 million.

“Evgeni is a generational talent who will be remembered as one of the greatest players in NHL history,” Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. “His hockey resume and individual accomplishments speak volumes about him as a player, and we’re thrilled to see him continue his remarkable legacy in Pittsburgh.”

The 35-year-old won three Cups with the franchise that selected him No. 2 overall in 2004, but played just 41 games in 2021-22 due to injury.

Number one defenseman Kris Letang re-signed with the Penguins last week and will continue his career alongside Sidney Crosby.

fold riddle

A few teams have big goalie holes to fill.

While the Toronto Maple Leafs went the trade route Monday night by acquiring Matt Murray from the Ottawa Senators, the Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals are among the clubs in need of significant help.

Jack Campbell, Toronto’s No. 1 option last year, is set to become a UFA, while the organization traded free agent Petr Mrazek to the Chicago Blackhawks in the draft to free up space salary cap.

That opened the door to the trade with Ottawa for Murray, who in turn signaled that Campbell is almost certain to leave.

Edmonton could also need two new goaltenders in 2022-23. Mikko Koskinen has decided to sign from Switzerland, and Mike Smith, 41,’s playing status for next season remains uncertain.

Some other teams got more clarity in the Montreal draft, with the Colorado Avalanche trading and signing Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers, and the Detroit Red Wings doing the same with Ville Husso as part of a deal. with the St. Louis Blues.

The New Jersey Devils acquired Vitek Vanecek from the Capitals, while Marc-André Fleury re-signed with the Minnesota Wild. Washington then announced on Monday that it would not offer a qualifying offer to Ilya Samsonov, which means the Capitals now need two goalies.

Campbell and Darcy Kuemper of the Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche are the only big names on the UFA roster heading into Wednesday.

“It feels a bit like last year,” Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said of the goaltending carousel ahead of Murray’s acquisition. “You can change the names of the teams a bit, but a team or a goalkeeper can end up without a place.

“Or a place that the team or the goalkeeper doesn’t want so much.”

CENTERS OF ATTENTION

As the goalie market dwindles, there are plenty of centers available – at the right price, of course.

Nazem Kadri should get all the attention. He played for the Avalanche in their Cup win and looks set for a big payday.

And then there’s Patrice Bergeron, who has yet to join the Boston Bruins, Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp from the New York Rangers, Vincent Trocheck from the Carolina Hurricanes and Paul Stastny from the Winnipeg Jets.

THE WING

Gaudreau is the star attraction on the wing, but there is plenty of experience and skill to become available.

Claude Giroux was acquired by the Presidents’ Trophy winners Florida Panthers at the trade deadline after spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Flyers, but looks set to hit the road again.

Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin is absent from the board after re-signing with the Avalanche on Monday, but Andre Burakovsky is an attractive option, as are Edmonton’s Evander Kane, Tampa Bay Lightning’s Ondrej Palat and Florida’s Mason Marchment .

BLUE-LINE BOOST

Fewer high-end prizes will be available in defense.

There are still plenty of opportunities for GMs in need, however.

The Dallas Stars’ John Klingberg leads the board after Letang opted to stay in Pittsburgh, followed by Colorado’s Josh Manson and Florida’s Ben Chiarot.

FRG SWING?

Most eyes will be on UFAs, but there are also intriguing restricted free agents available for potential offer sheets.

A team that owns a player’s RFA rights has the option of matching or receiving draft picks as compensation, but there have still been a few attempts in recent years.

Carolina matched Montreal’s offer of Sebastian Aho in the summer of 2019. The Hurricanes then signed Jesperi Kotkaniemi on an offer sheet last August — an offer the Canadiens refused to match. Before this small burst, the last offer sheet presented dated back to 2013.

Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk tops this year’s RFA list after a career-high 42 goals, 62 assists and 104 points.

Patrik Laine of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pierre-Luc Dubois of Winnipeg – traded for each other in January 2021 – also have RFA status as of Wednesday, unless something changes.

And then there’s Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, a southpaw and former first-round pick awaiting a new contract as he sits behind Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin and Timothy Liljegren on Toronto’s depth chart.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 11, 2022.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press