SEATTLE — On Tuesday, the Kraken freed up funds to pay their young talent and space for a homegrown defenseman waiting in the wings, dealing veteran Brian Dumoulin to the Anaheim Ducks for a fourth-round draft pick.

On Monday, the Kraken signed right-handed defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year, $50 million contract with an average annual value of $7.14 million. Assuming 2021 second-round draft pick Ryker Evans is ready to make the jump to the NHL full time — and the Kraken gave every indication that is the case — that meant the Kraken would carry too many defensemen with seven.

General Manager Ron Francis played it close to the vest, reminding that the team often carries seven defensemen, with one in the press box, ready to fill in if needed. But the next morning he dealt Dumoulin for a pick in 2026.

More importantly, the Kraken shed $3.15 million in salary. In addition to Monday’s free-agent spending spree — Chandler Stephenson also got a pricey seven-year $43.75 million deal — they are in negotiations with young forwards Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen, both of whom are restricted free agents.

Dumoulin signed in the summer of 2023 and played one season in Seattle and set a career-best in goals with six. He appeared in all but two games and was primarily used on the third defensive pairing with Justin Schultz, who is an unrestricted free agent.

“We want to thank Brian for his contributions to the Kraken this past season,” Francis said in a statement. “He was an important part of our defensive core, and we are wishing him all the best in Anaheim.”

Dumoulin also spent time playing alongside Evans, 22, who was eased into the Kraken lineup while retaining his AHL postseason eligibility. He had 10 points (four goals) in 18 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds during their just-wrapped run to the Calder Cup Finals.

“He’s a smooth skater, an excellent skater,” new Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said of Evans, whom he’s coached at the AHL level already. “He’s developed into a hard defender — maybe a little bit underrated part of his game. A great offensive guy with the puck. A great first pass, a great, intelligent jumping up into the play.

“And he’s continuing to get comfortable.”

Schultz was a right-handed shot and Dumoulin was left, which means between Montour (right) and Evans (left), the Kraken are once again carrying three lefties and three righties.

LIGHTNING: Two-time Stanley Cup champion defenseman Victor Hedman has signed a four-year, $32 million extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a deal that will keep him under contract with the team through the 2028-29 season.

SCHEDULE: Newly relocated free agents Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault had big reasons to circle their calendars when the NHL released its full regular-season schedule.

As for the Stanley Cup Final rematches, the defending champion Florida Panthers travel to play at Edmonton on Dec. 16. The two teams are scheduled to meet in Florida on Feb. 27 to complete their two-game series.

Here’s some highlights from the NHL’s 1,312-game schedule, which opens with the New Jersey Devils playing the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 4 and 5 in Prague, Czech Republic, and closes with a six-game slate on April 17.

A day after leaving Tampa Bay to sign with Nashville in free agency, Stamkos and the Predators are scheduled to travel to play the Lightning on Oct. 28. Meantime, Marchessault, who also signed with the Preds, will have to wait until April 12 for his first scheduled return to Las Vegas to play the Golden Knights.

The Bruins open their season Oct. 8 at Florida.

BLUES: The St. Louis Blues acquired Radek Faksa from Dallas and Mathieu Joseph from Ottawa in a pair of trades for future considerations and in a separate move signed Pavel Buchnevich to a long-term extension.

The deal with the Senators also netted the Blues a 2025 third-round draft pick. Joseph has two years left on his contract at an annual salary cap hit of $2.95 million, and Ottawa was looking to clear cap space to re-sign Shane Pinto, which it then did hours later on a two-year, $7.5 million deal.

Buchnevich signed for $48 million over six years, a contract that counts $8 million against the salary cap from when it begins in 2025-26 through the 2030-31 NHL season.