Red Wings sign two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko away from the Panthers

The raiding of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers continued Wednesday with the Detroit Red Wings signing winger Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year contract worth $9.5 million.

Tarasenko, 32, is the sixth player from Florida’s Game 7 lineup to leave in free agency, not an uncommon theme around the NHL as other teams look to replicate that success. The 2019 and 2024 Cup winner will count $4.75 million against salary cap through the 2025-26 season, a deal that carries a no-trade clause in year one and limited protection in year two.

He joins three-time champion Patrick Kane on the Red Wings as they try to end a franchise-worst playoff drought at eight seasons. Kane re-signed for $4 million with $2.5 million in additional incentives.

After adding Tarasenko, Detroit traded away one of his former St. Louis Blues teammates, sending forward Robby Fabbri and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick to Anaheim for 22-year-old goaltending prospect Gage Alexander.

Tarasenko scored five goals and had four assists on the run to the Panthers' first title in franchise history after joining them prior to the trade deadline.

Sam Reinhart re-upped for $69 million over eight years and the core led by Matthew Tkachuk and captain Aleksander Barkov remains in tact. Young forward Anton Lundell, a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, $30 million contract earlier in the day.

Of course, without infinite cap space, it is not possible to keep everyone. Brandon Montour signed in Seattle, fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and backup goaltender Anthony Stolarz in Toronto and forwards Ryan Lomberg in Calgary and Kevin Stenlund in Utah. Josh Mahura, a regular on the Panthers blue line on their 2023 run to the final and who played 30 games for them during the regular season, is reuniting with Montour after signing a $775,000 contract with the Kraken.

Among the other signings around the league Wednesday, Philadelphia re-signed RFA forward Bobby Brink for $3 million over two years, while Columbus added veteran defenseman Jack Johnson for next season at $775,000.

“Jack Johnson is a consummate professional who has been a very good player and leader in this league for many years and will be a great asset to our team, particularly the young defensemen we have in our organization,” general manager Don Waddell said. “He is in tremendous shape, plays a simple, hard game, has won a Stanley Cup and has great passion for this city and organization and we are thrilled to welcome him back.”

Johnson won the Cup with Colorado in 2022. Edmonton, which lost to Florida, is doing its best to copycat the Panthers by winning a year after falling just short in the final. The Oilers lost only a couple of depth players — forwards Warren Foegele and Sam Carrick and defenseman Vincent Desharnais — and brought back Connor Brown, Corey Perry, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Troy Stecher and Calvin Pickard, all of whom were free agents.

“I think these guys all believe in their teammates,” CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson said earlier this week. “All those guys coming back tells me everything I need to know about this team, and we’re happy to have all those guys back.”

Jackson and the front office also signed veteran forwards Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner and replaced Desharnais with 30-year-old Josh Brown. The Oilers and Panthers are early co-favorites to win the Stanley Cup in 2025, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

“Just to have the chance to win,” said Henrique, who took a nearly 50% pay cut to stay. “I think the group there is a special group. I had so much fun being part of this year and just wanted more of that.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, center left, hugs right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (10) at the end of Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

Florida Panthers right wing Vladimir Tarasenko kisses the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Monday, June 24, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

SYDNEY (AP) — Tom Wright scored a solo try to give Australia a nine-point buffer in the 69th minute and the Wallabies hung on for a 25-16 win over Wales on Saturday to start Joe Schmidt’s coaching tenure on a positive note.

Schmidt replaced Eddie Jones as head coach in the wake of Australia’s disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign last year, including a 40-6 loss to Wales, and delivered a victory in his first test as coach.

“Yeah, a great result. We weren’t perfect tonight by any means, but the grit we showed out there ... really pleased with that result,” new Wallabies skipper Liam Wright said.

The Wallabies had a 13-10 lead after a grinding first half in a heavy dew that featured a yellow card for both teams.

Prop Taniela Tupou scored the opening try in the 21st minute, barging over from the back of a maul after the Wallabies battered the line, to give Australia a 13-3 lead. Wales prop Gareth Thomas was sent to the sin-bin immediately.

Despite being a man down, the Welsh kicked for touch instead of taking points from a penalty four minutes later and it paid off when they were awarded a penalty try after forming a 10-man driving maul from a close-range lineout.

Australian flanker Fraser McReight was sent to the sin-bin for dragging the maul down close to the line, and Australia clung to a three-point cushion at the break.

Wales equalized at 13-13 six minutes into the second half via a Ben Thomas penalty goal after dominating the period after the break.

But the Australians retaliated quickly, with Filipo Daugunu coming off the blind wing, chiming into the backline between the Wales midfielders and sliding over into the right corner in the damp conditions in the 53rd to make it 18-13.

Wales had a try disallowed five minutes later when James Botham crashed over with his first touch following a lineout, only to be called back because a teammate joined from in front of the ball.

Tom Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, went on for his test debut in the 64th minute and, after Wales cut the margin to two points with a penalty goal, he had a very quick impact on the game.

Lynagh started a counter-attacking move when he sent the ball right to fullback Wright, who burst through a gap and sprinted upfield in a 50-meter solo run before stepping inside the cover defense and diving over for the match-clinching try.

Lynagh converted to make it 25-16 and ensured Wales slumped to an eighth consecutive defeat since the group stage of the World Cup.

The loss extended a drought for Wales, which hasn't beaten the Wallabies in 12 tests on Australian soil since 1969.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Referee Pierre Brousset shows a yellow card Australia's Fraser McReight, second left, during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Players react following the first rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. Australia defeated Wales 25-16.(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Wales' Josh Hathaway attempts to catch the ball during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia's Tom Lynagh leaps to take the ball during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia's Tom Wright scores a try during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia's Jake Gordon leaps to take the ball during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia's Tom Wright runs to score a try during the rugby international between Australia and Wales in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)