Snapshots: MacArthur, Scheifele, Staal
After missing most of last season due to concussion troubles, Ottawa left winger Clarke MacArthur is completely healthy, GM Pierre Dorion told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
MacArthur was expected to be a keg cog for the Senators last season, fresh off signing a five year, $23.25MM contract (a $4.65MM AAV). However, recurring symptoms prevented him from playing in all but four games last year, where he was held pointless while averaging just 10:52 per night. Dorion expects that a healthy MacArthur will bring a lot more balance to Ottawa’s lineup.
“He’s the piece we missed the most last year. We missed his on-ice presence, we missed his off-ice presence. Having a healthy Clarke MacArthur from Day 1 — who could have played last year he had clearance from the doctors —will be a big thing for us. It solidifies our top six and it solidifies our top nine…”
In his previous two seasons with the Senators, MacArthur was a key contributor in their top six, picking up 40 goals and 51 assists in 141 games. It’s likely that he will reprise his role inside the top six, potentially alongside newcomer Derick Brassard.
[Related: Senators’ Depth Chart]
More tidbits from around the hockey world:
- Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele will be under a lot more pressure in 2016-17, notes Pro Hockey Talk’s Cam Tucker. Not only has Scheifele made considerable improvements in each season, which has vaulted him into the discussion to be their top center, he’s also beginning the first season of a new eight year, $49MM contract he signed last month. On top of that, he’s also expected to be in the discussion to replace Andrew Ladd (who signed with the Islanders) as the Jets’ new captain. Scheifele has largely been under the radar in his NHL career but that’s likely to change next season.
- Many expected that the Wild would have to trade one of their young defensemen this offseason to bring in a core top six center. Instead, GM Chuck Fletcher opted to go for more of a short-term fix with the addition of Eric Staal, a decision that was largely made to keep their blueline corps intact, writes Dan Myers of NHL.com. Staal is expected to start next season alongside Zach Parise who played a part in recruiting the 31 year old to Minnesota.
Remaining Restricted Free Agents
At the beginning of free agency on July 1st, there were 126 restricted free agents. As we approach the middle of August, that number is down to just 20. Here is a look at who still needs to be re-signed. This list excludes RFA’s that have already signed a contract overseas or a minor league deal.
Anaheim: C/RW Rickard Rakell, D Hampus Lindholm
Arizona: RW/LW Tobias Rieder
Boston: None
Buffalo: C/LW Zemgus Girgensons, D Rasmus Ristolainen
Calgary: LW Johnny Gaudreau, C Freddie Hamilton, C Sean Monahan, D Tyler Wotherspoon
Carolina: None
Chicago: None
Colorado: None
Columbus: None
Dallas: RW Valeri Nichushkin
Detroit: C Louis-Marc Aubry, D Ryan Sproul
Edmonton: None
Florida: None
Los Angeles: None
Minnesota: None
Montreal: None
Nashville: D Stefan Elliott
New Jersey: None
NY Islanders: G Christopher Gibson, C Ryan Strome
NY Rangers: None
Ottawa: D Cody Ceci
Philadelphia: None
Pittsburgh: None
San Jose: None
St. Louis: None
Tampa Bay: RW Nikita Kucherov, D Nikita Nesterov
Toronto: None
Vancouver: None
Washington: D Dmitry Orlov
Winnipeg: D Jacob Trouba
At this point, the holdups for many of these deals can be classified into three categories: 1) Star players working on long-term deals, 2) Good players that are likely to sign short-term ‘bridge’ contracts, and 3) Depth players who are likely looking for the right balance of NHL vs AHL pay.
The deadline for signing restricted free agents is still three and a half months from now (they must be signed by 4:00pm CST on December 1st). However, the players on this list that will be participating in next month’s World Cup of Hockey may want to get their deals done before the tournament starts so that talks aren’t being held during the event. For the rest, training camps don’t open for another month so mid-September is really the first notable deadline to get something done if the hope is to have the player signed, sealed, and delivered before the first day of camp.
A Closer Look At Jimmy Vesey’s Suitors
We’re quickly approaching the last day before Harvard Crimson forward Jimmy Vesey can sign with any team of his choosing. The Buffalo Sabres hold his exclusive negotiating rights through Monday because of a June trade with the Nashville Predators. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that there have been some last minute talks between the Sabres and Vesey. Still, both the player and his agent, Peter Fish, have maintained their desire to reach free agency.
That said, let’s take a look at which teams are said to be in the running, and what kind of fit they can provide.
- Boston Bruins: The Bruins have been named as a potential suitor for a long time now. While more recent reports suggest they may not be serious contenders, there’s reason to think they’d be of interest to Vesey. Vesey is a Massachusetts native, and his father Jim was briefly a Bruin. Despite missing the playoffs in consecutive years, few think the Bruins are a bad team. They could reasonably provide a strong shot at contention if other prospects contribute right away. One impediment is in his position. With Brad Marchand, Ryan Spooner, and Matt Beleskey at left wing, Vesey wouldn’t necessarily have to disappoint to end up on the fourth line quickly.
- Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres hold his rights for at least the next several hours, and as mentioned above, they’re still negotiating. They also have a group that’s fairly young, and their best players will peak with Vesey. Sabres forward Jack Eichel has been playing with and recruiting Vesey all summer. There’s a lot to like about the situation in Buffalo. The problem is that it raises questions about why he has not yet signed. It’s not unfair to wonder if he already has a location in mind. If the Sabres haven’t convinced him yet, it’s hard to imagine the ability to hear out rivals will help their cause.
- Chicago Blackhawks: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has reportedly been watching Vesey much of the summer. The team is perhaps the most intriguing suitor for Vesey. They’re constant contenders, with three Stanley Cups this decade, and have a hole at left wing on their top line. Assuming Artemi Panarin will stay on the second line with Patrick Kane, consider the sales pitch. If you win a left wing spot fought over mostly by rookies, you could start the season on a line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa. Not a bad way to start your career. It’s not every day a team can offer both an easier path to ice time and a more serious chance to win.
- New Jersey Devils: A recent addition to the Vesey discussion, the Devils stand out among the suitors. They’re not a recent contender, a huge market, in any way connected to him, or in particular need of a left wing. But maybe that’s why it makes sense. Fish told PuckDaddy’s Josh Cooper that Vesey likes to be under the radar. New Jersey is a calmer market, having less media. With Taylor Hall and Mike Cammalleri at left wing, nothing will be handed to him. If he underachieves in New Jersey, he goes and learns what he needs to in the minors. If he underachieves in Chicago, he’s dragging down a Cup contender in one of America’s largest cities.
- New York Rangers: Giving us a reason to take what agents say with a grain of salt, Fish also wondered aloud about the New York Rangers. Speaking to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Fish said “it’s special playing in the Big Apple.” Agents want every team to think they have a chance, or fans to, out of hopes it will drive the bidding war. Sometimes they’ll contradict themselves to achieve this. That said, the Rangers have never had a problem recruiting free agents. They do, however, run into the same problems other listed teams do. With Rick Nash and Chris Kreider both at left wing, there’s not an obvious open spot. This likely won’t stop them from bidding, because at Nash’s age, you can’t take anything for granted.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: The original suitor for Vesey, many NHL fans originally heard of him through rumors surrounding the Leafs. Mentioned as a potential favorite in almost every report, the Maple Leafs drafted his brother Nolan in 2014, and employ his father as a scout. As a rebuilding team, they offer many of the same age-related advantages as the Sabres do. The problem as of right now is that he’d have no idea what he’s getting into. While the only real lock to play on the left wing is James van Riemsdyk, the Leafs gave solid looks to all of Nikita Soshnikov, Brendan Leipsic, and Josh Leivo last year. They also acquired left winger Kerby Rychel from the Blue Jackets at the draft. Even if you write off the Maple Leaf careers of Milan Michalek, Brooks Laich, and Colin Greening, the organization is stacked with players with potential. Not even have would have to pan out to cost Vesey ice time. It’s not every day players with other options sign on for a tough fight to make a last place team.
Jhonas Enroth and the Toronto Maple Leafs
Earlier this summer we reported on a rumor that free agent goalie Jhonas Enroth was close to signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had acquired Frederik Andersen from Anahiem, shipped off last Jonathan Bernier (also to Anaheim), and traded away James Reimer at the deadline. As it stands now, one of Garret Sparks or Antoine Bibeau are set for the backup role, but most pundits agree that the Leafs are looking for a more experienced backup. Bibeau has not played an NHL game, and Sparks was wildly inconsistent in his few starts at the season’s tail end.
That is where Enroth comes in. Enroth went 7-5-1 in 13 starts for the Los Angeles Kings last season, collecting a .922 SV% and a 2.17 GAA. It was the goalie’s best performance of his career, though playing on the Kings certainly helped. The backup goalie market is always saturated, and this year is no exception, but Enroth stands out as the best of the bunch. Most backups last year with similar numbers had either a low SV% and a high GAA, or vice-versa. Enroth represents the safe choice for a team looking for a stable veteran backup.
So why hasn’t Enroth signed? If Enroth is going to the Leafs as reported, the team will have to do some creative cap maneuvering. Right now the Leafs have a mere $435,000 in cap space—less than the league minimum salary. Part of the problem is that Jared Cowen‘s buyout is being held up due to injury. As we reported here, a player cannot be bought out unless they are healthy. Once Cowen’s situation is worked out, the Leafs will have more cap certainty. But that isn’t the full story. Teams can exceed the cap by 10% during the offseason as long as they are cap compliant once the season starts. That means that the Leafs can exceed the cap by $7.3MM, more than enough to sign Enroth. Becoming cap compliant shouldn’t be an issue either, as Stephane Robidas, Nathan Horton, and Joffrey Lupul are expected (but not guaranteed) to be placed on LTIR once the season starts.
The other explanation is that Enroth will not sign with the Leafs. If so, the Leafs will have slim pickings this late for a backup of Enroth’s caliber. Former Calgary Flames goalie Karri Ramo is the only comparable backup left on the market. He appeared in 37 games for the Flames, going 17-18-1 with a .909 SV% and a 2.63GAA. Those numbers are consistent throughout his career, so the Leafs know what they would be getting. The only other free agent goalies to play meaningful games last year are Anders Lindback (.894 SV% and 3.11GAA) and Joni Ortio (.902 SV% and 2.76 GAA), but neither represent attractive options.
Capology 101: International Tidbits
With the IIHF World Championships behind us, and the World Cup of Hockey on the horizon, PHR takes a quick look at how the CBA governs international play.
- Any revenue from the World Cup of Hockey will not be considered Hockey Related Revenue (HRR). Rather, the revenue will be split equally between the NHL and the NHLPA. That means that any money the World Cup of Hockey brings in has no effect on next year’s salary cap. Given that the World Cup—the first such tournament since 2004—is in hockey-mad Toronto, high revenues are expected, and would have had a significant effect on the salary cap if applicable.
- Moreover, the World Cup may actually have an adverse effect on HRR as the tournament takes the game’s brightest stars away from pre-season games. Teams usually play preseason games in different locales, and demand may suffer slightly as fans aren’t able to see a team’s top player.
- Revenue from International NHL games, however, such as regular season and pre-season games overseas, qualifies as HRR for salary cap purposes.
- A player is only eligible for the IIHF World Championships (usually held in May) if:
- the player’s club either did not make the NHL playoffs or was eliminated in an early round (1st or 2nd); and
- the national team (agent or otherwise) did not contact the player before his team was eliminated from the playoffs.
- The IIHF or Player’s National Team must also insure the player’s remaining SPC value, and any additional earning capacity should a player get injured. If a player is injured in the World Championships, the player is treated as being injured in an NHL game for CBA purposes. That means the player is still eligible for all benefits available to players injured in NHL games.
Off-Season To Date: Central Division
The NHL has entered its seasonal lull where teams are done signing free agents and will wait until training camp to make roster moves. Each team’s additions and subtractions will most likely remain static until the season starts, so compiling moves runs little risk of changing in the coming days. We have already documented the off-season moves of teams in the Atlantic Division and Metropolitan Division, and now we take a quick look cross-conference at the Central Division.
Chicago Blackhawks
Key Additions: Jordin Tootoo, Brian Campbell
Key Departures: Andrew Ladd, Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, Dale Weise, Tomas Fleischmann, Christian Ehrhoff, David Rundblad, Andrew Shaw
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $2,490,705
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: Another year, another cap-constrained selloff for the Chicago Blackhawks. This summer they managed to find a taker for Bryan Bickell, but it cost them young prospect Teuvo Teravainen. They also signed Brian Campbell to a one-year deal worth $1.5MM—a steal assuming Campbell doesn’t significantly decline this season. The ‘hawks are particularly tight on cap space this year because Artemi Panarin achieved most of his bonuses last year, and the resulting cap hit gets applied to the upcoming season
Colorado Avalanche
Key Additions: Joe Colborne, Fedor Tyutin, Patrick Wiercioch
Key Departures: Mikkel Boedker, Shawn Matthias, Nate Guenin, Nick Holden, Reto Berra
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $1,534,405
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: The Avalanche have had a tumultuous offseason. They waged a prolonged standoff with RFA Tyson Barrie before re-signing him to a four-year, $22MM deal, but then lost head coach Patrick Roy as he stepped down due to not having enough control. The Avs did not address their suboptimal possession metrics, nor did they boost their roster traditionally to compete in the historically tough Central Division.
Dallas Stars
Key Additions: Dan Hamhuis
Key Departures: Vernon Fiddler, Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell, Jason Demers, Colton Sceviour
Unsigned RFAs: Valeri Nichushkin
Cap Space: $7,984, 167
Projected Roster Size: 21
Notes: The Stars parted with significant defensive pieces and failed to upgrade its goaltending, but they still remain poised to challenge for first in the Central. They did sign Captain Jamie Benn to an eight-year, $76MM extension, a steep price but one most pundits found reasonable. The Stars still have ample cap room to sign another defenseman—even more if they decide to trade either goalie for a cheaper backup option.
Minnesota Wild
Key Additions: Eric Staal, Chris Stewart
Key Departures: Thomas Vanek, David Jones
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $2,168,909
Projected Roster Size: 21
Notes: Minnesota remained relatively static this offseason, letting Vanek walk but signing Eric Staal to a three-year, $10.5MM contract. The Wild are hoping that having Zach Parise healthy for the playoffs this year will be enough to challenge for the Central Division crown.
Nashville Predators
Key Additions: P.K. Subban, Yannick Weber
Key Departures: Shea Weber, Jimmy Vesey, Carter Hutton, Cody Hodgson, Paul Gaustad, Barret Jackman, Eric Nystrom
Unsigned RFAs: Stefan Elliot
Cap Space: $5,414,166
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: The Predators rocked the boat this offseason by shipping Weber off to Montreal for fellow Canadian defenseman P.K. Subban. With the move, the Preds hope to have a stalwart offensive-minded defensemen for the foreseeable future, but give up elite rock solid dependency in return. Overall the move should boost Nashville’s offense and help them take the next step in the Central.
St. Louis Blues
Key Additions: David Perron, Landon Ferraro, Carter Hutton
Key Departures: Brian Elliot, David Backes, Troy Brouwer, Steve Ott, Anders Nilsson
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $3,957,083
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: The Blues lost talent this offseason after Troy Brouwer and captain David Backes signed elsewhere in free agency. They also traded away goaltender Brian Elliot for draft picks, placing their trust in young Jake Allen. With the Blues’ young guns stepping up last year, the organization must have felt that they could afford to let Backes and Brouwer go. Finally, it was rumored this summer that the Blues would trade Kevin Shattenkirk—in the final contract year—but nothing has materialized to date.
Winnipeg Jets
Key Additions: Shawn Matthias
Key Departures: Grant Clitsome
Unsigned RFAs: Jacob Trouba, J.C. Lipon
Cap Space: $10,018,333
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: Winnipeg stayed relatively pat this summer, signing only Matthias to beef up the team’s bottom six. The focus is on what they haven’t done—namely, sign RFA Jacob Trouba to a new deal. Trouba will anchor Team North America’s defense this summer at the World Cup of Hockey, and a good performance could loosen Winnipeg’s pocketbook.
Training Camp Invite Tracker
Over the course of the offseason more and more players will accept invitations to join team training camps. Usually these are players trying to resurrect their career or to show that they have one or two more years left before retirement. Notable training camp invites last year included Lee Stempniak and Jonas Gustavsson.
Making a team as an invitee is harder than just being one of the top-12 forwards or top-6 defensemen. Teams are usually looking for specific needs, such as a speedy second line forward or a defenseman who can eat minutes. Teams may want to save their bottom roster spots for developing prospects, so invitees risk being cut unless they meet a team’s identified need.
Here are the notable players who have been invited to training camps thus far. The list excludes players that are attending camps but are already signed to minor league contracts or prospects who are hoping to earn a minor league deal. Check here often for updates.
Training Camp Invites
Anaheim Ducks:
Sean Bergenheim
David Booth
Yann Danis
David Jones
Arizona Coyotes:
Zach Boychuk
Boston Bruins:
Peter Mueller
Calgary Flames:
Luke Adam
Jamie Devane
Matt Frattin
Nicklas Grossmann
Chris Higgins
Lauri Korpikoski
Colby Robak
Carolina Hurricanes:
Raffi Torres
Colorado Avalanche:
Gabriel Bourque
Rene Bourque
Jiri Tlusty
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Keith Aule
Marc-Andre Bergeron
Mike Brown
Aaron Palushaj
Jarret Stoll
Edmonton Oilers:
Eric Gryba
Kris Versteeg
Ryan Vesce
Florida Panthers:
Justin Fontaine
Adam Pardy
Los Angeles Kings:
Lucas Lessio
Tom McCollum
Devin Setoguchi
Minnesota Wild:
Ryan Carter
Tomas Fleischmann
New Jersey Devils:
Brian Gibbons
Anders Lindback
New York Islanders:
Steve Bernier
Stephen Gionta
New York Rangers:
Maxim Lapierre
Ottawa Senators:
Matt Bartkowski
Philadelphia Flyers:
Corban Knight
St. Louis Blues:
T.J. Galiardi
Eric Nystrom
Chris Porter
Yan Stastny
Mike Weber
Tampa Bay Lightning:
James Wisniewski
Toronto Maple Leafs:
Jeff Glass
Raman Hrabarenka
Brandon Prust
Vancouver Canucks:
Jack Skille
Tuomo Ruutu
James Sheppard
Washington Capitals:
Drew MacIntyre
Off-Season To Date: Metropolitan Division
The NHL has entered its seasonal lull where teams are done signing free agents and will wait until training camp to make major roster moves. We have already documented the off-season moves of Atlantic Division teams, and now we take a quick look at the Metropolitan Division.
Carolina Hurricanes
Key Additions: Lee Stempniak, Teuvo Teravainen, Viktor Stalberg, Bryan Bickell
Key Departures: Riley Nash, Nathan Gerbe, James Wisniewski
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $16,736,667
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: Carolina got paid Teravainen to take Bickell’s contract by Chicago this summer, and added a top-ten free agent in Stempniak. The offense improved, but the defense remains an issue outside of Justin Faulk. In a stacked Metropolitan, the Hurricanes did not appear to do enough to challenge for a playoff spot.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Key Additions: Sam Gagner
Key Departures: Jared Boll, Fedor Tyutin, Justin Falk
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $3,817,857
Projected Roster Size: 20
Notes: Despite finishing last in the Metropolitan, the Blue Jackets are up tight against the cap, and did little to alleviate their situation. The cap situation prevented the Blue Jackets from making any major additions, but the team was expected to deal some higher-paid underperformers. Without any major changes, Columbus seems destimed to miss the playoffs once again.
New Jersey Devils
Key Additions: Taylor Hall, Beau Bennett, Vernon Fiddler, Ben Lovejoy, Marc Savard
Key Departures: Adam Larsson, Jiri Tlusty, Patrik Elias, Tuomo Ruutu, David Schlemko
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $12,319,404
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: The Devils made a blockbuster trade this offseason, landing Taylor Hall in exchange for Defenseman Adam Larsson. They also added two ex-Penguins in an effort to stay competitive in the Metropolitan. Elias is still deciding whether to retire, but if he returns, he says it will only be for the Devils.
New York Islanders
Key Additions: Andrew Ladd, P.A. Parenteau, Jason Chimera
Key Departures: Frans Nielson, Kyle Okposo, Matt Martin, Marek Zidlicky
Unsigned RFAs: Ryan Strome, Christopher Gibson
Cap Space: $3,658,524
Projected Roster Size: 24
Notes: The Isles’ forward corp received a shakeup this offseason, with their 2nd and 3rd leading scorers signing elsewhere as free agents. The team signed Ladd and Chimera to plug those holes, but only time will tell if those additions allow the Islanders to build off of their rare playoff success.
New York Rangers
Key Additions: Mika Zibanejad, Nathan Gerbe, Michael Grabner, Josh Jooris, Nick Holden, Adam Clendening, Maxim Lapierre (PTO)
Key Departures: Derick Brassard, Eric Staal, Viktor Stalberg, Keith Yandle, Dominic Moore, Dan Boyle
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $3,425,000
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: The Rangers let Yandle and Staal walk this summer but did not make any signing splashes of their own. They acquired Zibanejad from the Senators in a deal for Derick Brassard, a trade many view as a slight downgrade. New York’s window with Lundqvist is closing as he gets older, so it was a surprise to see the Rangers abstain from any big acquisitions this summer.
Philadelphia Flyers
Key Additions: Boyd Gordon, Dale Weise
Key Departures: Ryan White, Sam Gagner, R.J. Umberger
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $413,334
Projected Roster Size: 24
Notes: The Flyers are right up against the Cap and could not make any major additions this summer. It’ll be up to GM Ron Hextall to find creative solutions for improving the team if the Flyers make a playoff push.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Key Additions: None
Key Departures: Beau Bennett, Matt Cullen, Ben Lovejoy, Jeff Zatkoff
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: -$2,757,499.
Projected Roster Size: 24
Notes: The Penguins could not do much after winning the Stanley Cup given that they are over the cap by almost $3MM. Pittsburgh will alleviate some of that pressure by putting Pascal Dupuis on LTIR once the season starts, but the cap is harsh to Stanley Cup winners. The Penguins will have get used to shedding salary and picking up new parts on the cheap—something the Chicago Blackhawks have experienced more than once.
Washington Capitals
Key Additions: Lars Eller, Brett Connolly
Key Departures: Jason Chimera, Mike Richards
Unsigned RFAs: Dmitry Orlov
Cap Space: $3,454,871
Projected Roster Size: 21
Notes: The Caps tweaked their roster after losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in the 2nd round. They added Eller in exchange for draft picks, and let Chimera and Richards walk so that the team had cap room for Orlov. Orlov still isn’t signed, and a strong showing at the World Cup of Hockey for the Russian defenseman could force the Capitals to pay more than they expected.
Jimmy Vesey “Zeroed In” On Devils, Blackhawks
ESPN New Hampshire’s Jimmy Murphy tweets today that pending UFA Jimmy Vesey has “zeroed in” on the Chicago Blackhawks and the New Jersey Devils as potential landing spots. This comes after previous reports suggested Vesey had interest in the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Vesey, 23, was drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft by the Nashville Predators. After refusing to sign with the Predators this year, his rights were traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a third round pick in this year’s draft. While Vesey has refused to rule out signing with the Sabres, his agent has expressed his preference to reach free agency. He has also spent much of his off-season skating with Sabres forward Jack Eichel. We also know that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has spent time in Massachusetts watching Vesey play.
Vesey has spent the last four years playing left wing for Harvard University. Last year he scored 24 goals, 46 points, in just 33 games. Perhaps more impressively, he previously scored 32 goals, 58 points in 37 games for the Crimson in 2015. Vesey is free to sign with the Sabres, who hold his rights, at any point. He may begin to negotiate or sign with other teams on Monday, August 15th.
Off-Season To Date: Atlantic Division
While there’s still business to be done, most of the major moves are over with by now. Today we’ll be providing a run down of where teams stand, along with notes on what they have left to do. We’ll start with the Atlantic division. For our purposes, lists of arrivals, departures, re-signings, and remaining restricted free agents will include players without NHL rookie eligibility. Cap numbers and roster sizes are per CapFriendly.
Boston Bruins
- Key Arrivals: David Backes (UFA-Blues), Anton Khudobin (UFA-Ducks), Riley Nash (UFA-Hurricanes)
- Key Departures: Maxime Talbot (UFA-KHL), Chris Kelly (UFA-Senators), Jonas Gustavsson (UFA-Oilers), Lee Stempniak (UFA-Hurricanes), Loui Eriksson (UFA-Canucks), Matt Irwin (UFA-Predators), Landon Ferraro (UFA-Blues), Brett Connolly (UFA-Capitals)
- Re-Signings: Torey Krug, John-Michael Liles, Tyler Randell, Colin Miller
- Unsigned RFAs: None
- Projected Cap Space: $6,732MM
- Roster Size: 21 (11F, 8D, 2G)
- Notes: The Bruins lost a lot of depth this off-season, but should survive. They’ll be able to give greater roles to players like Frank Vatrano and Ryan Spooner. Should they produce as expected, that should more than make up for the losses.
Buffalo Sabres
- Key Arrivals: Dmitry Kulikov (trade-Panthers), Justin Falk (UFA-Blue Jackets), Kyle Okposo (UFA-Islanders), Derek Grant (UFA-Flames), Anders Nilsson (trade-Blues)
- Key Departures: Mark Pysyk (trade-Panthers), Carlo Colaiacovo (unsigned UFA), David Legwand (unsigned UFA)
- Re-Signings: Johan Larsson, Jake McCabe, Casey Nelson, Marcus Foligno
- Unsigned RFAs: Rasmus Ristolainen, Zemgus Girgensons
- Projected Cap Space: $8.15MM
- Roster Size: 23 (14F, 6D, 3G)
- Notes: Still in the building stage, the Sabres aggressively pursued new talent this year. It’s hard to tell where they are now, but they’re coming off a giant leap forward. Still, look for most of their improvement to come from younger players breaking out.
Detroit Red Wings
- Key Arrivals: Joe Vitale (trade-Coyotes), Thomas Vanek (UFA-Wild), Frans Nielsen (UFA-Islanders), Steve Ott (UFA-Blues)
- Key Departures: Pavel Datsyuk (trade-Coyotes), Brad Richards (retired), Kyle Quincey (unsigned UFA), Joakin Andersson (UFA-Sweden)
- Re-Signings: Brian Lashoff, Riley Sheahan, Drew Miller, Alexey Marchenko, Darren Helm, Danny DeKeyser, Luke Glendening, Petr Mrazek, Teemu Pulkkinen
- Unsigned RFAs: None
- Projected Cap Space: $0
- Roster Size: 24 (16F, 6D, 2G)
- Notes: That roster size will shrink at camp. The NHL limit is 23, so look for the Red Wings to demote at least two forwards. The team is going to look very different without Pavel Datsyuk, and GM Ken Holland hopes he can continiue using veteran depth to make up for aging and retiring legends. Dylan Larkin will also help.
Florida Panthers
- Key Arrivals: Jared McCann (trade-Canucks), Keith Yandle (trade-Rangers), Reto Berra (trade-Avalanche), Mark Pysyk (trade-Sabres), Colton Sceviour (UFA-Stars), James Reimer (UFA-Sharks), Jonathan Marchessault (UFA-Lightning), Jason Demers (UFA-Stars)
- Key Departures: Erik Gudbranson (trade-Canucks), Rocco Grimaldi (trade-Avalanche), Dmitry Kulikov (trade-Sabres), Quinton Howden (UFA-Jets), Dylan Olsen (unsigned UFA), Brian Campbell (UFA-Blackhawks), Jiri Hudler (unsigned UFA), Willie Mitchell (unsigned UFA), Al Montoya (UFA-Canadiens)
- Re-Signings: Jaromir Jagr, Greg McKegg, Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, Derek MacKenzie, Logan Shaw
- Unsigned RFAs: None
- Projected Cap Space: $4.329MM
- Roster Size: 24 (14F, 7D, 3G)
- Notes: Nobody had a busier off-season than the Panthers. They’re now analytically inclined, incredibly young, and defending Atlantic Division champions. The team will look scary as players start to break out. They prefer puck movers on defense, like Yandle and Demers, over more physical guys, like Gudbranson and Kulikov. If it works out, the Panthers are looking primed for a Cup run.
Montreal Canadiens
- Key Arrivals: Andrew Shaw (trade-Blackhawks), Shea Weber (trade-Predators), Alex Radulov (UFA-KHL), Al Montoya (UFA-Panthers), Zach Redmond (UFA-Jets), Chris Terry (UFA-Hurricanes)
- Key Departures: Lars Eller (trade-Capitals), P.K. Subban (trade-Predators), Michael Bournival (UFA-Lightning), Ben Scrivens (UFA-KHL)
- Re-Signings: Sven Andrighetto, Mark Barberio, Phillip Danault, Stefan Matteau,
- Unsigned RFAs: None
- Projected Cap Space: $855K
- Roster Size: 25 (14F, 8D, 3G)
- Notes: The attention focused on the Subban for Weber trade, but watch out for Alex Radulov. The KHL has become pretty strong the last few years, and he’s kept dominating it. He’s not a kid anymore, but the Canadiens added a dynamic winger, and will have arguably the NHL’s best goalie back next year. The expectations are high in Montreal, and success will largely hinge on those two.
Ottawa Senators
- Key Arrivals: Patrick Sieloff (trade-Flames), Mike Blunden (UFA-Lightning), Chris Kelly (UFA-Bruins), Derick Brassard (trade-Rangers)
- Key Departures: Chris Phillips (retirement), Patrick Wiercioch (UFA-Avalanche), Alex Chiasson (trade-Flames), Scott Gomez (unsigned UFA), Mika Zibanejad (trade-Rangers)
- Re-Signings: Mike Kostka, Mike Hoffman, Ryan Dzingel, Matt Puempel, Fredrik Claesson
- Unsigned RFAs: Cody Ceci
- Projected Cap Space: $8.78MM
- Roster Size: 22 (14F, 6D, 2G)
- Notes: There were a lot of questions about the Brassard trade, and for good reason. They got older and more expensive with very little reason. It’s easy to wonder if the Senators are just treading more water, even with a new GM and coach.
Tampa Bay Lightning
- Key Arrivals: Michael Bournival (UFA-Canadiens), Cory Conacher (UFA-Switzerland)
- Key Departures: Matt Carle (bought out), Mattias Ohlund (retirement), Jonathan Marchessault (UFA-Panthers)
- Re-Signings: Cedric Pacquette, Tye McGinn, Andrei Vasilevskiy, J.T. Brown, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Alex Killorn, Vladislav Namestnikov
- Unsigned RFAs: Nikita Kucherov
- Projected Cap Space: $6.591MM
- Roster Size: 20 (12F, 6D, 2G)
- Notes: The story of the off-season was re-signing players like Stamkos, Hedman, and Killorn. If they can get Kucherov signed to a reasonable deal, no Lightning fan will have anything to complain about.
Toronto Maple Leafs
- Key Arrivals: Frederik Anderson (trade-Ducks), Kerby Rychel (trade-Blue Jackets), Matt Martin (UFA-Islanders), Roman Polak (UFA-Sharks)
- Key Departures: Scott Harrington (trade-Blue Jackets), Mark Arcobello (UFA-Switzerland), Stuart Percy (UFA-Penguins), Sam Carrick (UFA-Blackhawks), Brad Boyes (unsigned UFA), Michael Grabner (UFA-Rangers), Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (UFA-Islanders), T.J. Brennan (UFA-Flyers)
- Re-Signings: Morgan Rielly, Nazem Kadri, Frank Corrado, Martin Marincin, Peter Holland, Josh Leivo. Connor Carrick
- Unsigned RFAs: None
- Projected Cap Space: $435K
- Roster Size: 24 (14F, 9D, 1G)
- Notes: While still re-building, the Leafs added some much needed toughness in Martin, and a legitimate starting goalie in Andersen. Still, look for Toronto’s big moves to be full-time call-ups for their top prospects, like William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. After that, don’t sleep on Nikita Zaitsev, a defenseman signed out of the KHL this year.