NHL Free Agency Starts With Flurry of Defenseman Signings

When the NHL free agent signing period started at 12:01 p.m. ET Thursday, the stampede to sign defensemen was like hockey's version of a gold rush.

Within 20 minutes, it was reported Sergei Gonchar had left the Pittsburgh Penguins to sign a three-year, $16.5 million with the Ottawa Senators. By dinnertime, the four other blue-chip defensemen --Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin (Pittsburgh), Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver Canucks) and Anton Volchenkov (New Jersey Devils) -- had all signed long-term deals worth at least $20 million.

"The surprise was how quickly everything happened," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "Ottawa acted immediately. It almost looked like 12:05. There were decisions more quickly than normal."

After losing Gonchar, Penguins GM Ray Shero reacted aggressively by signing Michalek for $20 million over five years. Later, he signed Martin for $25 million over five years.

"It's tough to replace Gonch, but I think our defense today is a more-rounded group," Shero said.

The Phoenix Coyotes tried to re-sign Michalek until 11:59 a.m. Coyotes GM Don Maloney said, "We were close, but not close enough."

"I don't know if people realize what a really good player Michalek is for being 27," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said. "By being coached by Wayne Gretzky and then Dave Tippett, (Michalek) has matured into an excellent defensive player."

Lamoriello tried to re-sign Martin even after he became unrestricted at noon. When Martin signed elsewhere, the Devils signed Henrik Tallinder for four years at an average of $3.35 million a season.

With or without Martin, the Devils had always planned to go aggressively after Volchenkov. He was considered the most interesting defenseman in the group because he is among the league's top shot blockers and offers a physical edge to his shutdown role.

"He is going to do something in our zone that we have not had recently," Lamoriello said. "(Not) since Scott Stevens left. He is going to make it very difficult to play in our zone."