June 2016 – Pro Hockey Rumors

Buffalo Re-Signs McCabe To Three-Year Deal

By natebrown | at June 30, 2016 8:30 pm

According to Renaud Lavoie via Twitter, Buffalo restricted free agent Jake McCabe signed a three-year, $4.8MM deal. The cap hit is $1.6MM. CapFriendly also confirmed the move and included specifics about the contract.

The 22-year-old defenseman played in 77 games for the Sabres, registering 14 points (4-10). After a productive first full year in the NHL, McCabe will most likely see his ice time increase from an average of 19:07 this past season.

In related news, Patrick Williams tweets that Buffalo also re-signed forward Cole Schneider to a one-year deal. In 74 AHL games with both Binghamton and Rochester, Williams had 56 points (21-35). Schneider recorded no points in two games with the Sabres.

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PHR’s Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 8:25 pm

Initially published on June 21st, 2016.

With free agency less than two weeks away, it’s time to unveil our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agent List. The rankings were voted on by the PHR writing team and were based on talent and projected demand, not what we forecast for their new contracts.

Last summer, we saw GM’s show more restraint when it came to opening their wallets. That was due to the salary cap only increasing slightly and with the predictions that it won’t change much for 2016-17, we’re projecting that teams won’t be free spending again this time around. Sure, the top players will still get the big bucks but some of the middle-tiered players may not have quite the market they’re hoping for. We also have taken into consideration that some free agents may take a little less to stay where they are.

All predictions are independent of each other and no specific consideration has been given to no-trade or no-move clauses. Any players that have been or will be bought out are not included on this list.

Without further ado, here are our rankings and projections.

1. Steven Stamkos – Lightning – 8 years, $72MM. It’s extremely rare that a player like Stamkos ever gets to the market. He’s one of the top pure goal scorers in the league (only Washington’s Alex Ovechkin has more goals in the last five seasons) and at 26 years old, he’s in the prime of his career. A blood clot he sustained late in the year may give a couple of teams pause but if he makes it to free agency, he still should have no shortage of suitors. (Signed with Lightning, 8 years, $68MM)

2. Kyle Okposo – Sabres – 7 years, $47.25MM. Okposo has been under the shadow of linemate John Tavares for most of his career but he has quietly become a legitimate front line player in his own right. He has been one of the more consistent point-producing right wingers (a position that’s not too deep in terms of top-end talent) and is young enough that whoever gets him shouldn’t have to worry too much about a drop off towards the end of the contract. (Signed with Sabres, 7 years, $42MM)

3. Milan Lucic – Kings – 5 years, $28.75MM. Lucic is the prototypical power forward that every team wants to have on their side. He has picked up at least 44 points and been in the top 12 in hits in each of the last three seasons. Perhaps even more impressive is his durability given the style he plays as he has missed just ten games in the last six years. Despite that, it’s reasonable to expect that to change as he ages and accordingly, he may have some challenges getting a six or seven year deal. (Signed with Oilers, 7 years, $42MM)

4. Keith Yandle – Panthers – 6 years, $41.4MM. It’s a fairly weak UFA class of blueliners which should work to Yandle’s benefit as he is unquestionably the best of those available. He’s a high end point producer at his position which will make teams overlook some of his defensive concerns. Brent Seabrook received $6.875MM to extend in Chicago; Yandle in an open market should be able to come in at a similar price tag per year. (Signed with Panthers, 7 years, $44.45MM)

5. David Backes – Wild – 6 years, $34MM. Like Lucic, Backes is the big, physical forward that all teams covet and Backes provides the further benefit of playing center. He has surpassed the 20 goal mark in each of the last five full seasons and consistently hovers around the 45-60 point range year after year. Consistency, size, and skill are all elements that GM’s will covet in free agency and Backes has them all so despite the fact he’s older than some of the other players in our rankings (32), he should be able to command a long-term deal. (Signed with Bruins, 5 years, $30MM)

6. Andrew Ladd – Panthers – 6 years, $37.5MM. Ladd is coming off a bit of a down year as his 46 points tied for his lowest output since 2009-10. However, he’s still viewed as a legitimate top line winger and is seemingly a lock for around 25 goals year in, year out. Ladd showed some signs of slowing down late in the season which has to be taken into consideration but he’s enough of a consistent threat at this stage of his career that teams will be still be willing to go long-term with him, even if he’s not quite the same player by the end of it. (Signed with Islanders, 7 years, $38.5MM)

7. Frans Nielsen – Red Wings – 5 years, $25MM. While his Islander teammate Okposo is getting most of the attention, Nielsen heads to the market as one of the more underappreciated players available. He won’t be a top level scorer but he’s a high level two-way player that easily fits in on a second line for any team and will put up above average point totals for someone in that position. He won’t be the splashy acquisition but he should be a very effective addition for whoever gets him. (Signed with Red Wings, 6 years, $31.5MM)

8. Mikkel Boedker – Maple Leafs – 6 years, $31.5MM. Boedker is one of the youngest UFA’s in this class and is young enough to catch the eye of rebuilding teams as well as contenders which should increase his negotiating leverage. He has improved offensively in recent years to the point where he should be expected to put up 45 or more points per season moving forward as a second liner. Boedker isn’t the type of acquisition that should put a team over the top but he’s a core piece that can be part of a long-term plan. (Signed with Sharks, 4 years, $16MM)

9. Alex Goligoski – Coyotes – 5 years, $27MM. For teams that are looking for an offensive punch from the blueline but either strike out on Yandle or don’t want to spend as much to fill that role, they’ll turn to Goligoski first. He’s not ideally a top pairing defender but fits well as a second pairing option that can log a lot of power play time. The market for second pairing defensemen has grown in recent years and Goligoski should be able to extend that trend. (Signed with Coyotes, 5 years, $27.375M)

10. Loui Eriksson – Bruins – 5 years, $27.5MM. Eriksson posted his best output since 2011-12, picking up 30 goals and 33 assists last season. It also happened to be his first 50 point campaign since 2011-12, the last of four straight years with 63 or more points. Eriksson is certainly a reliable two-way player that can play both wings and brings a lot to the table but was 2015-16 an outlier in terms of production or a sign of things to come? That’s a key question GM’s will have to ask themselves. (Signed with Canucks, 6 years, $36MM)

11. Alexander Radulov – Capitals – 1 year, $5.25MM. Radulov is a polarizing player around the league. He has twice left the NHL to go play back home and in his last stint was sat down in the playoffs for breaking curfew. However, he also is a dynamic offensive player that can fit in anyone’s top six right away. It’s believed he’s seeking a short-term deal which is ideal for both sides as with some of the question marks surrounding him, it’s doubtful anyone will want to give him a long-term pact. (Signed with Canadiens, 1 year, $5.75MM)

12. Kris Russell – Bruins – 4 years, $18MM. Russell is an interesting test of the old school vs new school type of player evaluation. He’s frequently among the leaders in shot blocking which, to some, is a sign of a defensive strength. Others view it as a weakness considering there are so many shots to block when he’s on the ice. 2015-16 was a down year offensively compared to the previous two which also complicates things. He has logged enough ice time in recent years to suggest he could handle a second pairing role in the right situation which should still land him a sizable deal.

13. Eric Staal – Islanders – 2 years, $10MM. Some players thrive in their contract years. Staal wasn’t one of them, putting up his lowest point total since his rookie campaign and didn’t fit in particularly well after a deadline deal to the Rangers. Those struggles likely take the big money, big term deal off the table. The 31 year old Staal may be wise to seek a spot where he can quickly rebuild his value in the hopes of getting one last big contract a year or two down the road. If that’s the way he goes, he could wind up being somewhat of an upside signing for whoever lands him. (Signed with Wild, 3 years, $10.5MM)

14. Brian Campbell – Rangers – 1 year, $3.5MM base plus $1.5MM in incentives. Campbell has seen his role reduce a bit the last couple of years and at 37, may have some difficulty securing a long-term deal. That makes it likely that he’ll be forced to go with one year deals and since he’s over 35, he’s also eligible for incentives. That will open up his market somewhat to more of the cap-strapped teams who may be willing to defer the bonus charges to the 2017-18 cap. Campbell isn’t a top pairing player at this stage of his career but he’d slot in nicely as a second pairing option for next season. (Signed with Blackhawks, 1 year, $1.5MM base plus $750K in incentives)

15. Dan Hamhuis – Red Wings – 3 years, $12.75MM. Whoever gets Hamhuis will be making a risk/reward signing. He has been injury prone in each of the last two seasons, missing 47 games over that span. At 33 years of age, that’s cause for concern. When healthy though, Hamhuis is still a quality second pairing defenseman in a shutdown role and because of his age and recent injuries, should wind up getting a shorter term and cheaper deal than some of the other comparable blueliners. (Signed with Stars, 2 years, $7.5MM)

16. Troy Brouwer – Canadiens – 5 years, $23MM. Physical top six forwards (especially right wingers) are always in high demand on the open market and Brouwer’s strong postseason (eight goals, five assists in 20 games) will only cement that. He’s also quite durable for a power forward, having missed just one game in the last five years. That said, physical wingers tend to break down with age and whoever signs him should prepare themselves for the last year being somewhat of an anchor on the salary cap. (Signed with Flames, 4 years, $18MM)

17. James Reimer – Flames – 2 years, $6MM. Reimer has the distinction of being the top goalie available in the market where there aren’t many teams looking for starters. Unfortunately, there are questions as to whether or not he is a legitimate starting goalie which lowers his market even further. Reimer will likely be forced to look for a short-term deal in a 1B or platoon situation to try to build on his strong 2015-16 campaign in the hopes of getting the big contract a year or two down the road. (Signed with Panthers, 5 years, $17MM)

18. Jiri Hudler – Devils – 4 years, $16MM. Many view Hudler’s 2015-16 output (46 points in 72 games) as a disappointment but that was largely due to the 76 points he put up the year before which created unrealistic expectations. He’s not an ideal top line option but is one of the better second line wingers available. However, many general managers still emphasize size and at 5’10, Hudler’s smaller stature may reduce his suitors. (Signed with Stars, 1 year, $2MM)

19. Lee Stempniak – Canucks – 2 years, $5.5MM. Stempniak has been somewhat of a hockey nomad in the past three years, suiting up for six different teams in that time. A 51 point campaign with New Jersey and Boston should finally give him a little of bit of stability with a multi-year deal but given that he’s usually around the 30 point mark, there will still be hesitation to give him a big contract. Stempniak won’t be anyone’s Plan A but as the big names start to sign, teams should turn to him as a fallback option. (Signed with Hurricanes, 2 years, $5MM)

20. Shane Doan – Coyotes – 1 year, $3.5MM base plus $1MM in incentives. Doan went a long way towards putting to rest the idea that he was finished coming off a down year in 2014-15. Last year, he led Arizona with 28 goals, his highest total since 2008-09. At this point of his career (he turns 40 in October), he’s going to be looking for year-to-year contracts and anyone that wants him is going to be looking to do the same. He’s not a dominant front liner anymore but he can still play in the top six. (Signed with Coyotes, 1 year, $3.87MM base plus just over $963K in incentives)

21. Jamie McGinn – Hurricanes – 3 years, $10.5MM. McGinn has been a second/third line ‘tweener’ for most of his career which isn’t a great label to have entering free agency. He can provide some secondary offense while bringing size and physical play to the table and is certainly a serviceable 6th/7th forward. If McGinn wants to have a bigger role and paycheck moving forward though, he may have to go to a lower team in the standings to get it. (Signed with Coyotes, 3 years, $10MM)

22. Jason Demers – Stars – 4 years, $18MM. Demers has flown under the radar for most of his career but is a quality two-way defender. He’s someone that doesn’t particularly excel at any particular role but isn’t weak in any areas either making him a capable option to fit in just about anywhere on a second pairing. If teams don’t think they’ll have a shot at the top guys, Demers should be one of the first calls GM’s will make to players in that second tier. (Signed with Panthers, 5 years, $22.5MM)

23. Teddy Purcell – Ducks – 3 years, $10.5MM. Purcell has been thought of as an underwhelming offensive winger but if you look closely, he has been around the 35-45 point range for five straight years. He’s not the 65 point player he was before the lockout but he’s still a quality secondary scorer that can fit in on a lot of second lines. Purcell won’t be a prized acquisition this offseason but he’ll be a nice Plan B or C for someone. (Signed with Kings, 1 year, $1.6MM)

24. P.A. Parenteau – Maple Leafs – 2 years, $5MM. Parenteau had a nice bounce back season after being bought out by Montreal last summer, leading the Leafs in goals (20) and finishing second in points (41). However, part of that stems from the fact he played a much bigger role than he should have since he was on a basement team. Still, Parenteau has done enough to earn a multi-year deal at a rate better than the $1.5MM he earned with Toronto last season. (Signed with Islanders, 1 year, $1.25MM)

25. Kris Versteeg – Predators – 2 years, $6.4MM. Versteeg has bounced around in recent years but that was largely due to his $4.4MM cap hit more than his actual production. He has surpassed 30 points in each of the last three years as a second or third line player and has more playoff experience than most players on the open market. He’ll have to take a bit of a pay cut moving forward but Versteeg is still worthy of another decent money contract. (Signed with SC Bern in the Swiss NLA)

26. David Perron – Ducks – 3 years, $11.55MM. Perron looked to be heading towards a very underwhelming year before a midseason trade for Carl Hagelin revitalized him. He picked up 20 points in 28 games after joining Anaheim and showed that there is still top six upside to his game. At 28, he’s one of the younger free agents on the market and can play both wings which should boost his value. He picked the right time to get hot late in the year and should cash in accordingly next month. (Signed with St. Louis, 2 years, $7.5MM)

27. Radim Vrbata – Avalanche – 1 year, $3.7MM. Vrbata picked a bad year to struggle, putting up his lowest point total (27) since 2003-04 with Carolina. He struggled with consistency at both ends of the rink and wound up moving up and down Vancouver’s lineup as a result. That said, he’s just a year removed from a 31 goal, 63 point campaign so there should be some interest. But given his age (35) and struggles last season, he’ll likely have to settle for a one year deal. (Signed with Coyotes, 1 year, $1MM in base salary plus $2.25MM in incentives)

28. Darren Helm – NY Rangers – 3 years, $9.75MM. Helm is one of the top skaters in the league and has used that to his advantage to become one of the NHL’ top third line centers. He also has shown signs of some offensive skill, scoring a total of 40 goals over the past three years. Helm isn’t good enough to be a top six guy over the long haul but he’s the type of player that a team can build their checking line around which should result in a strong market for the 29 year old. (Signed with Red Wings, 5 years, $19.25MM.)

29. Jason Chimera – Capitals – 1 year, $2.25MM. Chimera rebounded nicely in 2015-16, more than doubling his output from the previous year, tallying 20 goals and 20 assists and did so while spending a lot of time on Washington’s third line. At 37, he shouldn’t be seeking a multi-year deal and given that he has been up and down the last four seasons, the bidding for his services shouldn’t get too high either. If he has a repeat of last year in 2016-17, he could be a bargain in this UFA class. (Signed with Islanders, 2 years, $4.5MM)

30. Luke Schenn – Devils – 3 years, $8.25MM. Schenn acquitted himself nicely after joining the Kings partway through last season as a bottom pairing defender. His game is limited to a physical, stay-at-home role but he is the youngest rearguard on the market at just 26 years of age. He may try to catch on to a contending team in a similar spot on the depth chart as last year or on a younger squad where he could play more minutes than he has in recent years. (Signed with Coyotes, 2 years, $2.5MM)

31. Chad Johnson – Ducks – 1 year, $1.5MM. Johnson had a strong campaign with Buffalo after being thrust into the starting role for a big chunk of the year due to an injury to Robin Lehner. Unfortunately for him, the #1 vacancies are few and far between and are more likely to be addressed via trade than in free agency. Johnson will likely be limited to seeking a spot on a team that’s looking for an above average backup goalie instead of maximizing on potential playing time. (Signed with Flames, 1 year, $1.7MM)

32. Dale Weise – Flyers – 2 years, $4.5MM. Weise was on pace for a career best season with Montreal (26 points in 56 games) before being dealt to Chicago near the trade deadline where he struggled considerably (just one assist in 15 contests). He has outplayed the fourth line role he had early in his career but doesn’t have the consistency or skill to be a regular top six forward either. At this stage, he’s a two-way third liner with a bit of perceived offensive upside based on his time with the Canadiens. (Signed with Flyers, 4 years, $9.4MM)

33. Alex Tanguay – Coyotes – 1 year, $2.5MM. Tanguay is getting up there in age (he’ll turn 37 in November which likely limits him to a one year deal) but is still capable of producing in a second line role. He doesn’t bring much else to the table in terms of defensive or physical play but Tanguay would be a strong fit for a team looking for either a short-term second line upgrade or a bridge player until a prospect is ready.

34. Shawn Matthias – Hurricanes – 2 years, $3.2MM. He was able to earn a nice contract ($2.3MM with Toronto) coming off an 18 goal season in 2014-15 but Matthias wasn’t able to duplicate that success last season. Once thought of as a third liner that could hold his own in a pinch on the second line, he’s now best suited as strictly a bottom six forward which may limit his suitors. Matthias is someone that may have to wait until a lot of the top forward goes before his market begins to emerge in free agency. (Signed with Jets, 2 years, $4.25MM)

35. Riley Nash – Devils – 1 year, $1.25MM. Nash isn’t as well known as a lot of the other bottom six forwards on the market but is a player who will give a team reasonable production from the third line and doesn’t have many glaring weaknesses in his game. That said, players like that don’t tend to have a bunch of suitors in free agency and thus he may be forced to take a short-term deal with a team that can give him a bigger role to help showcase himself for down the road. (Signed with Bruins, 2 years, $1.8MM)

36. Roman Polak – Panthers – 2 years, $5.6MM. Polak certainly has his limitations – he’s a physical third pairing defender and not a lot more than that – but there are always teams looking for tough veterans to improve their depth. Since he is coming off a lengthy postseason run, he should be higher up in the minds of some of those GM’s which should give him at least a few suitors in July. Polak should be able to land a bigger contract than a typical third pairing defender would typically get. (Signed with Maple Leafs, 1 year, $2.25MM)

37. Matt Martin – Canucks – 4 years, $11MM. Fourth liners seldom get big money in free agency but Martin is no typical fourth liner and is often thought of as one of the best in the league in that role. There is always a premium placed on tough guys that can score and move up to the third line in a pinch – see Brandon Prust’s deal with Montreal four years ago. Martin is one of those players so he should have plenty of teams looking his way on July 1st and the more suitors there are, the higher the price tag. (Signed with Maple Leafs, 4 years, $10MM)

38. Matt Cullen – Retirement. Cullen was a late offseason signing with Pittsburgh and wound up playing a big role, scoring 16 goals and 16 assists in a bottom six role. However, coming off a Stanley Cup title and the fact he turns 40 in November, there’s a decent chance he opts to retire as a champion. If Cullen does decide to play another season though, he should be able to do a bit better than the $800,000 he made with the Penguins last season. (Signed with Penguins, 1 year, $1MM)

39. John-Michael Liles – Rangers – 1 year, $1.75MM. Liles is getting up there in age (35) and his role is decreasing by the season but he still should have a good year or two left in him. He’s a third pairing defenseman at this stage of his career but is still a strong enough puck mover to help on the second unit on the power play which gives him a niche to fill. Liles is a depth player at best moving forward but still should draw a fair amount of interest this offseason. (Signed with Bruins, 1 year, $2MM)

40. Ben Lovejoy – Blackhawks – 2 years, $2.1MM. Lovejoy should benefit from Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup run, one where the 32 year old played a regular role. He doesn’t have any major strengths in his game but can log some minutes on the third pairing without being a significant liability. Lovejoy may be in tough to find a team where he’s guaranteed a full-time role but as a 6/7 defender, he should draw interest from several teams. (Signed with Devils, 3 years, $8MM)

41. Karri Ramo – KHL. Ramo has been adequate at best since making his return to the NHL three years ago. He won’t be able to find a spot as a starting goalie so if he wants a big money deal like he had with Calgary (he earned $3.8MM last year), he’ll have to go back to the KHL to get it. If he wants to stay in North America, Ramo would be a viable candidate for several backup jobs but would have to take a significant pay cut to land one.

42. Dan Boyle – Retirement. Boyle has seen his play decline in recent years but is still capable of playing third pairing minutes while being a threat from the point. However, he has hinted that he’s leaning towards retirement (though no formal announcement has been made) which is why he’s this low on the list. If Boyle does come back though, he should be able to secure a one year deal without much difficulty, though it would have to come at a significant pay cut from the $4.5MM he earned each of the last two years.

43. Brad Richards – Avalanche – 1 year, $2MM. Richards has slowed down in recent years and is far removed from the top line center he once was. At this stage of his career, he’s more of a third liner that can move up when injuries arise and play the power play. For teams looking for some short-term veteran help or a placeholder until a rookie is ready, Richards can still bring enough to the table to justify another one year contract. (Retired)

44. Kyle Quincey – Wild – 1 year, $1.5MM. Quincey didn’t live up to the big money contract he got two years ago from the Red Wings ($4.25MM per year) as injuries and ineffectiveness relegated him to a depth role on the blueline and even had him in the press box some nights as a healthy scratch. He’s still fairly young (30) and is a prime candidate for a change of scenery. Quincey will likely be forced to sign a one year deal with the hopes of rebuilding his value with another organization.

45. Chris Stewart – Jets – 1 year, $1MM. The former first round pick has underwhelmed for most of his career and that was certainly the case last year in Anaheim, where he collected just 20 points in 56 games while spending a lot of time as a scratch. However, he’s still young (28) and has the size that will pique the interest of a few general managers though he will once again have to sign a ‘prove it’ contract as he did last offseason. (Signed with Wild, 2 years, $2.3MM)

46. Sam Gagner – Blackhawks – 1 year, $1MM. Last year was by far the worst of Gagner’s career. He found himself scratched at times and eventually went unclaimed through waivers although his contract may have played a role in that. The 26 year old no longer is viewed as a top six forward and doesn’t have enough of a two-way game to warrant a bottom six spot on most teams. Gagner could get some two year offers but may be better off taking a one year deal with a squad where he can try to rebuild some value and try his luck on the market next offseason. (Signed with Blue Jackets, 1 year, $650K)

47. Brad Boyes – Training Camp PTO – 1 year, $700,000. Boyes struggled to find a contract after being bought out last summer, settling for a professional tryout in training camp and parlayed that into a cheap deal with Toronto. He can play both center and the wing and is one of the NHL’s top career shootout performers but Boyes isn’t good enough to play a top six role and isn’t capable of playing in a bottom six capacity either which could leave him on the outside looking in again this offseason.

48. Jordie Benn – Maple Leafs – 2 years, $2.5MM. The elder of the Benn brothers has been a regular in a depth role for the Stars the past three seasons. He’s not the most skilled of blueliners but can log a regular shift at even strength and pitch in on the penalty kill. Teams that are lacking in terms of blueline depth or have someone they feel isn’t quite ready to start in the NHL at the beginning of the season should take a look at the 28 year old. (Signed with Stars, 3 years, $3.3MM)

49. Patrik Elias – Devils – 1 year, $2MM base plus $2MM in incentives. Elias missed most of last season with knee issues but when healthy, showed he still has something left in the tank, picking up eight points in 16 games. He’s certainly not a top line player any more but still could help a team in a second line role. Given Elias’ injury history and age (40) though, whoever signs him would be wise to have a backup plan just in case as well.

50. Jhonas Enroth – Sharks- 1 year, $1.4MM. Enroth had a strong campaign as the backup goalie to Jonathan Quick with the Kings. He’s undersized for a netminder but that hasn’t stopped him from playing in the NHL for the last six seasons. Enroth turns 28 this weekend as well and it’s not crazy to think he could land a multi-year deal. If not, he should still benefit from being one of the top backup goalies available on the market. (Signed with Maple Leafs, 1 year, $750K)

6 comments Free Agency Newsstand

Wild Re-Sign Zac Dalpe And Tyler Graovac

By natebrown | at June 30, 2016 7:16 pm

According to CapFriendly, the Minnesota Wild have re-signed forwards Zac Dalpe and Tyler Graovac. Dalpe spent time with the Wild in 2015-16 while Graovac primarily played with AHL affiliate Iowa, though he did appear in two NHL games. Both were restricted free agents. Chad Graff also tweeted confirmation of the deals.

Dalpe’s deal is a one-year, 600K two-way contract while Graovac’s is a two-year, $1.25MM deal. The cap hit is $625k. Graovac will have a two-way deal in 2016-17, but a one-way deal in 2017-18.

The 23-year-old Graovac played 39 games in Iowa, notching 16 points (5-11). Dalpe appeared in eight games for Iowa and had 4 points (3-1). In addition to two games (1 goal) with the Wild during the regular season, Dalpe suited up for three games in the playoffs, registering no points.

0 comments Minnesota Wild Newsstand

Atlantic Notes: Red Wings, Lightning, Bruins

By natebrown | at June 30, 2016 5:44 pm

The Detroit Red Wings are apparently talking more with Darren Helm after many analysts figured his time in Detroit was up. This all changed after Steven Stamkos was locked up in an eight-year deal with the Lightning. Craig Custance tweets that both Helm and the Wings will talk until tomorrow when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. An afterthought after Drew Miller signed a one-year extension, Helm could fill a need at center now that Stamkos is off the market, though it will not be the type of production Stamkos would have generated. Helm, 29, has spent his entire career with the Red Wings.

Nick Cotsonika wonders where the Red Wings go from here after not even getting a chance to talk with Stamkos. Cotsonika reports that Stamkos would have been the first bona-fide superstar signing for Detroit in quite some time, and that a quarter-century of success has its drawbacks in terms of not drafting generational talent due to having lower draft picks. The Red Wings, Cotsonika writes, will have to be deft at not only acquiring the right free agent, but outbidding other teams without overpaying.

Other Central Division notes:

Speaking of Stamkos, Kevin McGran writes how the 25-year-old never intended to leave Tampa in the first place. Though he had the chance to be a “hometown hero,” Stamkos opted to stay with the Lightning where the opportunity to win a Cup remains very strong. McGran reports that not only did Stamkos sign for a very cap friendly $8.5MM, he did so knowing it was about $3MM less than what he could have received on the open market.
DJ Bean reports that the Bruins would have preferred to trade Dennis Seidenberg instead of buying out his contract. Bean writes that a source told him that general manager Don Sweeney never approached Seidenberg with a trade scenario. Seidenberg’s contract included a no trade clause until December. Bean surmises that this either meant no one was interested in taking Seidenberg’s contract or if willing to take it, they would have expected a return similar to the Blackhawks Bryan Bickell trade that included Teuvo Teravainen.

Hurricanes Buy Out James Wisniewski

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 4:03 pm

The Hurricanes announced that they have bought out the remainder of D James Wisniewski‘s contract. As he had a full no-move clause, he did not have to go through the waiver process like six other players did earlier today.

Wisniewski played in just one game with the Hurricanes after being acquired last offseason for G Anton Khudobin. He tore his ACL in that contest (in his second shift, playing just 47 seconds) and missed the remainder of the season recovering from knee surgery. In order for him to be bought out, Wisniewski must have received a clean bill of health from team doctors.

He was due a salary of $3MM in 2016-17 with a cap hit of $5.5MM. Instead, the Hurricanes will pay Wisniewski $2MM in salary over the next two seasons and will incur a cap charge of $3.5MM in 2016-17 and $1MM in 2017-18.

Wisniewski has played in 552 career NHL games between the Blackhawks, Ducks, Islanders, Canadiens, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes, collecting 53 goals and 221 assists. He could be an intriguing third pairing option for teams looking for blueline help in free agency.

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Capitals Re-Sign Tom Wilson

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 3:11 pm

Washington announced they have re-signed pending restricted free agent Tom Wilson to a two year, $4MM deal. TSN’s Bob McKenzie was first with the report. Wilson will make $1.75MM in 2016-17 and $2.25MM in 2017-18. That sets up his qualifying offer to be $2.25MM in the 2018 offseason.

Wilson was the Capitals’ 1st round pick (16th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Last season, he played in all 82 regular season games, collecting seven goals and 16 assists with a team-high 163 PIMS (more than three times the amount any of of his teammates had) while averaging 12:54 per game. He also finished tenth in the league in hits with a career high 253.

Wilson also added an assist in 12 postseason contests while logging 12:01 per night.

In his career, Wilson has played in 231 games, all with the Caps, scoring 14 goals and 36 assists with 486 PIMS. He should continue to play in Washington’s bottom six while providing plenty of physical play.

0 comments Newsstand Transactions Washington Capitals Tom Wilson

Minor Transactions: 6/30/16

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 2:39 pm

Here is where we’ll keep track of today’s minor transactions:

Long-time NHL veteran Steve Thomas has been hired by St. Louis as an Assistant Coach, the team announced. Thomas spent the last two seasons in a similar role with Tampa Bay.
LW Matthias Plachta, who spent time in Arizona and Pittsburgh’s farm systems last season, has signed with Adler Mannheim of the DEL. The German League team announced the signing (link in German). Plachta was dealt to the Penguins at the trade deadline in exchange for LW Sergei Plotnikov.
New York Rangers prospect LW Carl Klingberg has signed with EV Zug of the NLA, the Swiss team announced (link in German). Klingberg played in the KHL last season, picking up 17 points in 55 games. He last played in the NHL with Winnipeg in 2014-15 and has a total of 12 career games under his belt. The Rangers acquired Klingberg in March of 2015 in a trade for Lee Stempniak.
The Stars re-signed G Maxime Lagace to a one year contract, the team announced. Lagace split last season between Dallas’ AHL and ECHL affiliates in Texas and Idaho, playing in a total of 47 games. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Washington announced the re-signing of C Zach Sill to a two year, two-way contract. He played in 10 games with Washington and another 63 with their AHL affiliate in Hershey last season. Sill has two goals and three assists in 93 career NHL contests.

0 comments Transactions

Bruins Re-Sign Torey Krug

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 1:31 pm

The Boston Bruins have agreed to terms with D Torey Krug on a four year, $21MM deal, the team announced Thursday. NHL analyst Aaron Ward was first with the report. The $5.25MM AAV represents a sizable increase on the $3.4MM he earned last season. Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt adds that the deal contains a no-trade clause that kicks in for the final two years of the contract.

The announcement comes mere hours after the team placed fellow blueliner Dennis Seidenberg on waivers for the purposes of a contract buyout.

Last year, Krug played in a career best 81 games with the Bruins, picking up four goals and 40 assists while averaging 21:36 of ice time per game. Those 44 points ranked him 9th in the NHL amongst all defenders. His goal total was a big drop from the past two years where he had 14 and 12 respectively but at the same time, he set a career high in assists.

Krug signed with Boston in 2012 as an undrafted free agent. In 241 career NHL games, he has 30 goals and 90 assists. With Zdeno Chara showing signs of slowing down in recent years, the Bruins are likely expecting Krug to take on more of the load and be a top pairing blueliner moving forward.

The Bruins now have just over $17.6MM in cap space remaining according to Cap Friendly. With just 16 players signed, they are expected to be active in the free agent market in the coming days.

0 comments Boston Bruins Newsstand Transactions Torey Krug

Snapshots: Ladd, Blues, Brouwer, Lucic, Staal, Eriksson, Avalanche, Vanek

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 1:11 pm

Thursday is the final day of the free agent interview period before the craziness begins on Friday. The Islanders have brought left winger Andrew Ladd in for a visit, reports Newsday’s Arthur Staple. Ladd picked up 25 goals last season split between Winnipeg and Chicago and will be one of the most sought after forwards to hit the market on Friday.

Other free agent news and notes:

The Blues will likely look to add a couple of forwards and a backup goaltender in free agency, suggests Fox Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland. Louis has a pair of key forwards heading to market in David Backes and Troy Brouwer that will need to be replaced if they don’t re-sign. The team expects Vladimir Sobotka back, but he is more likely to be a bottom six piece while the other two are top six forwards.
Speaking of Brouwer, he met with the Flames earlier this week and is building an offseason home there, reports ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun. In that same piece Brouwer notes that he has also been in talks about returning to the Blues.
Milan Lucic met with representatives from Dallas, including owner Tom Gaglardi, on Wednesday, reports TSN’s Frank Seravelli.
Eric Staal has received interest from the Predators, writes Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. Vingan adds that Nashville has reached out to Ladd as well as Loui Eriksson.
The odds of Eriksson and Boston getting a deal done by Friday unless things change drastically, writes WEEI’s D.J. Bean. Eight teams have reportedly shown interest in the 30 year old, including the Canadiens.
James Mirtle of The Globe and Mail suggests Colorado “has something big brewing”. No further specifics are known at this time.
Michael Russo of The Star Tribune reports that Los Angeles, Arizona, Chicago, and Vancouver are among the teams that have reached out to the recently bought out Thomas Vanek.

0 comments Colorado Avalanche Snapshots St. Louis Blues Andrew Ladd Eric Staal Loui Eriksson Milan Lucic Thomas Vanek Troy Brouwer

The Latest On Brian Campbell

By Brian La Rose | at June 30, 2016 12:02 pm

Brian Campbell will be one of the top defensemen on the UFA market on Friday. He has already indicated to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune that he is “totally fine” with signing a one year contract which, at 37 years of age, isn’t a big surprise.

Campbell told Kuc in a separate article that there are two key elements to his wish list: He’d like to go to a winning team and to a place where he wants to go. A combination of those two has Chicago at the top of his list. When asked about rejoining his former team, Campbell had the following to say:

“I’m hopeful. A lot of people know it’s my No. 1 place I’d like to play. So I’ll wait and see and hopefully it all works out.”

Finding the right fit financially with the Blackhawks may be a bit of a challenge though. Chicago has just over $5MM in cap space and only 19 players under contract. Campbell told Kuc he’s willing to take a discount to go to the Hawks but how much of one remains to be seen. There’s no doubt he’ll take a reduction from the more than $7.1MM he earned each of the last seven years but is there an amount that works for both sides?

Fortunately for Chicago, Campbell is eligible for a bonus-laden contract. That would potentially allow them to give him a smaller base salary with some reachable incentives that could be charged against the 2017-18 salary cap. While that would create challenges for next season’s salary cap situation, it would allow them to add Campbell now who would give them a legitimate top four blueliner to round out their back end.

Campbell ranks 14th on PHR’s Top 50 UFA list with a projected contract of a $3.5MM base salary and another $1.5MM in incentives. If Chicago wants to work Campbell under their cap this season, he may have to take a lot less of a base salary and more performance incentives.

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Month: June 2016