Jared Boll Signs Two-Year Deal With Anaheim
Jared Boll is off to the west coast, as according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, the Anaheim Ducks are the free agent forward’s likely landing spot. Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register confirmed the signing and gives us the financial details: Boll will receive a two-year deal that pays him $900K per season.
One of the league’s preeminent tough guys, Boll has 154 regular season NHL fights under his belt in during his nine year career. He has scored only 27 goals and 62 points across his 518 games.
After landing Boll, Anaheim will be even more dangerous with their fists; the team led the NHL in fighting majors last season with 42, and have brought back noted tough-guy coach Randy Carlyle to head the bench next season.
Boll would likely fill the same roll he always has, playing under eight minutes a night but providing some protection for the star players of his team. Anaheim seems like the perfect landing spot, as they continue to develop a young, mobile defense corps, and still have elite scoring talents up front.
Wild Ink Darcy Kuemper To $1.55MM Contract
As the deadline the salary arbitration deadline approaches, the Minnesota Wild have re-signed netminder Darcy Kuemper to a one-year, $1.55MM deal, according to a team release.
Kuemper was reportedly the target of many GMs earlier in the summer, but Wild manager Chuck Fletcher was hesitant to deal the young goaltender. As many do, Kuemper seems to be late-developing, having not been very highly regarded coming out of the draft in 2009.
With number one goaltender Devan Dubnyk performing well, Kuemper will be asked once again to be a backup as he continues along his development path. The 25-year old has now played in 84 games at the NHL level, and holds a career 2.47 GAA and .912 save percentage.
Avalanche Re-sign Calvin Pickard To Two-Year Deal
According to a team release, the Colorado Avalanche have re-signed netminder Calvin Pickard for two years prior to the arbitration deadline. Pickard got into 20 games at the NHL level last season, performing admirably with a 2.56 GAA and .922 save percentage.
Mike Chambers of the Denver Post gives us the financial details on the deal, which will see Pickard earn $925K in the first year, and $1.075MM in the second.
With Reto Berra dealt to the Panthers earlier this offseason, the door is wide open for Pickard to become the full-time backup for Semyon Varlamov. The duo will be earning a combined $6.925MM per season, a reasonable number for a team looking to get a handful of young RFAs under contract.
Pickard has performed well since being drafted 49th overall in 2010, and should eventually push for the starting role in Colorado. With Varlamov due to become an unrestricted free agent in three years, Colorado will see if the 24-year old Pickard has what it takes to become a number one in this league.
Islanders Re-sign J-F Berube
Arthur Staple of Newsday tells us that the New York Islanders have re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Jean-Francois Berube to a one-year deal worth $675K.
Berube made his NHL debut last season with the Islanders, getting into seven games throughout the year. He essentially spent the season as the team’s third goaltender though, spending most of his time in waiver-limbo between the club and it’s AHL affiliate.
In 2014-15 he was an outstanding performer on the Calder Cup winning Manchester Monarchs, but he’ll try to catch on this season and establish himself as a capable backup at the NHL level.
New Jersey Devils Sign Josefson, Gazdic
According to a team release, the New Jersey Devils have signed another one of their RFAs, this time in the form of Jacob Josefson. Josefson will receive $1.1MM on a one-way deal. The Devils have also signed free agent forward Luke Gazdic to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $700K at the NHL level, according to Brennan Klak of The Hockey Writers.
Josefson, 25, has played partial seasons for the Devils since 2010 after coming over from the Swedish Elite League, suiting up for 238 games during that span. Never an offensive threat, Josefson has provided value on the penalty kill, where he excels in suppressing shot opportunities. The young center will continue to work at his even strength consistency, trying to solidify his role as a shutdown player.
Gazdic spent last season bouncing back and forth between the Oilers and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield. The winger has scored double digit goals just once in his professional career, but will provide some veteran leadership on the Albany Devils this season.
Jordin Tootoo Signs With Blackhawks
According to a team release, the Chicago Blackhawks have signed free agent forward Jordin Tootoo. It’s a one-year contract for Tootoo, who played last season with the New Jersey Devils. General Fanager reports that the deal is worth $750K, though are still waiting on confirmation on whether it is a two-way deal.
The long-time Nashville Predator scored four goals and nine points for the Devils last season his 12th in the NHL. Tootoo, now 33, was the first player of Inuit decent ever to play in an NHL game when he made his debut on October 9th, 2003.
While Tootoo is getting into his mid-thirties, he’s still regarded as an effective agitator and fourth line player that is tough to play against. As the league moves away from fighting, Tootoo has remained among the league leaders, dropping the gloves nine times last season.
Linden Vey Signs One-Year Deal With Flames
According to Dean Molberg of Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, the Flames have signed former Vancouver Canuck Linden Vey to a one-year, two-way deal. Vey played half the season last year in the NHL, scoring four goals and 15 points. The 24-year old became a free agent when the Canucks chose to not give him a qualifying offer last month.
Vey has shown an ability to produce points at the AHL level but hasn’t quite established himself as an NHL player to date. In 2014-15, he played 75 games with the Canucks and contributed 24 points, a solid effort for a 23-year old, but hasn’t shown enough consistency in the defensive zone to be relied upon.
The Flames will take a shot at developing him into the scoring threat many believed Vey would become after a tremendous junior campaign in 2010-11 that saw the Saskatchewan native put up 116 points in just 69 games, albeit as an over-aged player.
Senators Sign Ryan Dzingel To One-Year Deal
After performing admirably at the AHL level the past two seasons, Ryan Dzingel got his chance with the Senators last season and put up 11 points in 30 games. For a reward, he has signed a one-year, two-way deal according to a team release. The team also released the financials; Dzingel will earn $750K at the NHL level, and just $72.5K in the AHL.
Since being selected with the 204th overall selection in the 2011 entry draft, Dzingel has put up points at every level. First, he went to Ohio State where he led the team in scoring for three straight seasons. After leaving college in 2013, the Illinois native has scored 31 goals in 119 AHL games, and made a good impression on his coaching staff while playing 30 games in the NHL last season.
The 24-year old will now try and fight his way back onto the bottom half of a roster that is looking to compete for the playoffs again, and prove that he can provide defensive responsibility while still producing in limited minutes. He’s already beat the odds of making it to the NHL, now he’ll try and stick.
Flyers Ink T.J. Brennan To Multi-Year Deal
According to a team release, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed free agent defenseman T.J. Brennan to a multi-year contract. Tim Panaccio of CSN gives us the financials: It’s a two-way deal which will pay Brennan $625K at the NHL level.
Brennan has long been a prolific offensive threat at the AHL level, twice winning the Eddie Shore trophy for the leagues best defenseman. Last season he put up 68 points in 69 games for the Marlies, leading the AHL’s best regular season club in points by a wide margin.
While he’s never really been given a chance at the NHL level, many believe that Brennan could help a big league powerplay. His defensive ability has been what has kept him in the AHL for so long, but perhaps a change of scenery and system will do the 27-year old wonders.
Pacific Notes: Oilers, Kings, Canucks
The Oilers trade for Adam Larsson was not well received in many parts of the hockey world, and TSN’s Travis Yost writes that just getting Larsson was not enough for Taylor Hall. Outside of opining that Larsson might not be as good as the Oilers think, he notes that the Devils were often better with Larsson on the bench. However, Yost also points out that Oilers bench boss Todd McLellan could do wonders for the young d-man by employing a “friendly two-way approach.” Yost provides a number of statistical defenses as to why Larsson may not be as bad as many think, but he concludes by indicating that Hall was more valuable than just a one for one trade for Larsson.
- The Los Angeles Kings are one of six teams that have been very quiet this offseason writes Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski. Despite signing Teddy Purcell, and Tom Gilbert, Wyshynski notes that the Kings are in need of a left wing after losing Milan Lucic to Edmonton and they have little cap room to spare. Wyshynski wonders if the Kings can move Dustin Brown, who was recently stripped of the captaincy. The cap concerns are troubling since Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson are both due raises after next season.
- Ben Kuzma writes that Canucks winger Jake Virtanen has to put on his “big boy pants” and plunge into the crowded rink filled with forwards. Kuzma writes how Virtanen has a number of different hurdles to clear, one of which includes impressing new assistant coach Doug Jarvis, who’s in charge of forwards and the power play. Kuzma insists that Virtanen possesses the skills to make an impact on the Canucks roster, but that his maturity last season suffered when his “attention span would waver or his conditioning wasn’t where it should be.” Virtanen had 13 points (7-6) in 55 games.