Hometown Returns Continue to Trend This Offseason
NHL free agency has now been in full swing for four days and there are still three months remaining until the 2023-24 season begins. While there is no action happening on the ice at the moment, plenty is happening off of it. Many NHL players are opting to sign for teams that they rooted for as children, or returning to the areas that they grew up in. As John Tavares did in 2018 when he signed a long-term contract with his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, players still consider their home cities as legitimate contenders for the next step in their NHL careers. This trend has continued in the 2023 offseason and shows no signs of stopping.
Max Domi follows in the footsteps of his father
Forward Max Domi signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the beginning days of free agency. NHL legend Tie Domi, Max’s father, spent the majority of his 16-year career with the Maple Leafs, which made it his son’s favorite team to root for.
Domi now joins an exciting Maple Leafs team that is building off of the success of winning a round one series for the first time since 2004. A homegrown speedy forward that can be a great compliment to star players is ideal for the needs of the Toronto hockey club. Max Domi’s passion for his new, but familiar team will only make him and everyone around him better.
Kailer Yamamoto joins the newest NHL franchise, which happens to be in his home state
Winger Kailer Yamamoto chose to sign a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on day two of being a free agent. Unlike Domi, Yamamoto did not grow up rooting for the Seattle Kraken, simply because they did not exist. However, the young forward grew up in the city of Spokane, Washington, so it is easy to imagine he would have rooted for his new team if possible.
As one of the highest-scoring teams from the 2022-23 season, the Seattle Kraken hopes to reignite Kailer Yamamoto’s offensive game. Yamamoto will not have to be a top winger on the team, which will allow him more room for potential mistakes and improvement. He will be the first-ever Washington native to play for the Kraken, which is just another positive to this signing. Kailer Yamamoto will have the opportunity to reintroduce his game to the league in the state that he grew up calling home.
Kevin Shattenkirk returns to his college hockey home
Veteran Kevin Shattenkirk also decided to take the returning route this year in free agency, by signing a one-year, $1 million contract with the Boston Bruins. Unlike Domi and Yamamoto, Shattenkirk did not spend his entire childhood in the city of Boston. He was a star defenseman for Boston University from 2007-10 and captained them in his junior year as well. With his name constantly being associated with the Bruins for years, the Shattenkirk signing makes sense from all angles.
With the potential departures of longtime Bruins Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the Shattenkirk contract comes at a perfect time. He can bring more veteran presence to a contending team as well as Stanley Cup experience, from winning it all in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a few tough years in Anaheim, Kevin Shattenkirk will have a real shot at hoisting the Stanley Cup again in the city where his professional career began.
Jonathan Quick finally ends up on his childhood team
An icon of the last decade, Jonathan Quick had a decision to make coming into this year’s free agency. He was not necessarily ready to retire once and for all after his third career Stanley Cup win, which led him to sign a one-year, $925,000 contract with the New York Rangers. The star goaltender grew up in Connecticut rooting for the New York team, so it seems to be a perfect match to live out the potential end of his NHL career.
The New York Rangers already have a solidified number-one goaltender in Igor Shesterkin, which means that Quick will be playing the backup role. This is familiar to him as he also stepped back in Vegas to let Adin Hill and Laurent Brossoit have the spotlight. He can be a huge help not only to Shesterkin, his partner in net, but to the entire Rangers team. The New York club is quite a mystery to the NHL as it never meets expectations year after year, but Quick may be one of the missing puzzle pieces. Jonathan Quick brings a veteran mindset, championship experience, and passion for the team that he has had since childhood. It is likely that Quick’s presence only influences the Rangers squad positively in 2023-24.
