Benoit Pouliot Signs With Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres have signed recently bought-out Benoit Pouliot to a one-year, $1.15MM deal according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.
Pouliot was the fourth-overall selection in the 2005 draft, behind Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan and Jack Johnson (and ahead of Carey Price at #5) and has never quite found the success that preceded him. In 551 games, he’s registered 244 points and hit a low point last season with just 14 in 67 games for the Edmonton Oilers.
Buffalo will bring him in on an extremely cheap deal however, and considering the extremely low risk he could be one of the better signings of the offseason. Even if the 30-year old reverts to his 30-point self, he’ll be a steal for just over $1MM. A strong possession player, it was clearly time for him to move on in Edmonton and he’ll try to rebuild his value in the Eastern Conference.
Nashville Predators Trade Colin Wilson To Colorado Avalanche
According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Nashville Predators have traded Colin Wilson to the Colorado Avalanche for a fourth-round pick in 2019. No salary was retained in the deal, making this a clear cap-saving move for the Predators.
Wilson, 27, has been a consistent ~35 point player for the past several years and should see an increased role in Colorado. Drafted seventh-overall he never did turn into the dominant power forward they’d hoped for, but is a solid middle-six contributor. His contract, $3.9MM for the next two seasons, was the biggest reason for the move as Nashville needs room to sign their big group of restricted free agents.
Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson lead a big crop of players who need new contracts, and the team also added Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell later in the day in free agency. Though Wilson remains a useful player, his cap space was needed elsewhere.
Red Wings Sign Trevor Daley To Three-Year Deal
The Detroit Red Wings inked defenseman Trevor Daley to a three year/$9.534MM deal. TSN’s Bob McKenzie confirmed that the AAV was $3.178MM.
This move has been rumored for days, putting the bidding between the Red Wings and the Bruins. Detroit apparently won the bidding war for the two-time Stanley Cup champion, though it comes at a steeper price than others would have paid. PHR had Daley as the 23rd best free agent.
The 33-year-old defenseman is a puck mover Detroit craves and had 19 points (4-15) in 56 games last season. The Athletic’s Craig Custance wrote on Friday that Daley is a good locker room presence and quoted one general manager as saying he’s a “fourth forward.”
But he doesn’t come without concern. The Red Wings continue to talk about wanting to make the playoffs, despite clearly finishing behind the pack last season with only 79 points. While Daley adds some skill to the blueline, it seems like more of a band-aid move than a deal for the long term build of the team. Regardless, Detroit general manager Ken Holland has reiterated that his goal is to return to the playoffs, and the signing of Daley indicates this strategy.
Lightning Sign Dan Girardi
The Tampa Bay Lightning have added to their defensive corps on the first day of free agency, signing recently bought out New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi to a two-year, $6MM deal, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Girardi, who was scheduled to make $4MM with the Rangers this season, will now make $3MM yearly from the Lightning plus $1.1MM annually from his buyout, which puts him over what he would have made in New York.
Girardi is a polarizing player in the NHL. Many, including plenty of Rangers fans, felt that he was over-rated and overpaid in New York and is incapable of being a top-four defenseman in the NHL any more. Others rave about Girardi’s character and leadership and feel that he is a valuable asset. Regardless, Girardi will likely play a bottom-pair role for Tampa, but will be well-compensated to do so. The Lightning simply hope they are not the newest team to overpay Girardi and can instead get the most out of the veteran.
Girardi is coming off a career-low 15 points in 2016-17 and saw a drop off in hits and blocked shots as well. However, at one point Girardi was a guaranteed 20-30 point player who excelled at the defensive aspects of the game. The only question is which version of Girardi did the Lightning just commit to?
Flyers Re-Sign Mike Vecchione
If this headline seems familiar, that is because the Philadelphia Flyers did just sign major college free agent Mike Vecchione to his entry-level deal back in March. However, it was just a one-year contract with a promise attached to burn the year with play time in the NHL this past season. Now a restricted free agent, Vecchione is on to his second contract already, inking a two-year, $1.8MM deal with the Flyers. It is also a one-way contract, so Vecchione will be looked on to carve out a role in Philadelphia and could prove to be a major bargain at $900K.
Vecchione played in two NHL games in 2016-17, but saw only minimal ice time and did not record a point. A prolific scorer at Union College, Vecchione is expected to play a much greater role going forward. Scoring at a clip of nearly two points per game in the NCAA last year, if Vecchione’s small, speedy game translates, he could be dangerous for the Flyers right away.
In other small moves, the Flyers re-signed Corban Knight and brought in Ottawa Senators minor leaguer Phil Varone on two-year, two-way contracts this morning as well. Both Knight and Varone are veteran AHLers who add depth and experience to the Flyer’s group of call-up ready players.
Brian Boyle Signs With New Jersey Devils
Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that the New Jersey Devils will likely sign Brian Boyle, and that it will be a two-year contract. The deal is worth $2.55MM per season. Pierre LeBrun of TSN adds that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boyle’s former team, did not make an offer.
The 32-year-old center had been a bottom-6 center for the Tampa Bay Lightning for several years before they traded him at the deadline for Byron Froese and a second round pick in the 2017 draft. He was having one of his better season for the Lightning at the time, scoring 13 goals and nine assists in the first 54 games of the season, which almost equals his totals for the previous two. However, partially dealing with an injury, he struggled fitting into the Maple Leafs lineup and only tallied three assists in 21 games.
At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, the physical forward could be of major use to a young Devils’ squad. The big center even scored 21 goals for the New York Rangers in 2010-11. His specialties—defense, faceoffs and penalty killing—will be a big boost to the Devils as they look to return to relevancy. Hoping to compete for the playoffs this year, Boyle brings ample experience in the postseason with multiple teams.
Matt Hunwick Signs In Pittsburgh
According to Aaron Ward of NHL Network, former Toronto Maple Leaf and Michigan Wolverine (among other things) Matt Hunwick is heading to the Pittsburgh Penguins. That would make it a veteran defender swap from Toronto, who are expected to sign Ron Hainsey. The deal is for three years and $6.75MM total broken down as follows:
- 2017-18: $2.5MM
- 2018-19: $2.5MM
- 2019-20: $1.75MM
Hunwick has been a depth defenseman for his entire career, bouncing between the bottom pairing and the press box for years. His ability to play both sides, and an apparent outstanding leadership quality give him a market around the league and apparently enough to lock up both term and a solid salary.
The 32-year-old played in 72 games last year for Toronto, the third-most games played in his career. He finished the season with one goal and 18 assists for 19 points, which are his best totals since the 2008-09 season.
Nate Thompson To Sign With Ottawa Senators
Two-way center Nate Thompson will soon be reunited with former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher. TSN’s Aaron Ward reports the Boucher’s new team, the Ottawa Senators, are set to sign the character forward. It is expected to be a two-year deal worth $1.65MM per.
Thompson is a great fit for the Senators, filling an important role of centering the checking line. Ottawa had previously cut ties with 2016-17 energy liners Chris Neil, Chris Kelly, and Tommy Wingels, but can essentially replace the output of all three with Thompson. The 212-lb. forward enjoyed the best offensive seasons of his career in Boucher’s system in Tampa, and while took on a far greater role defensively in Anaheim in 2014-15, injuries and lack of productions have resulted in little ice time over the past two seasons. The Senators hope that, back under the tutelage of Boucher, Thompson may be capable of reaching his career-high 25 points from his Tampa days while also bringing back his 200+ hits with the Ducks.
The Senators are also working to re-sign 2016 trade deadline acquistion Viktor Stalberg, but nothing official has been reported as of yet.
Dmitri Kulikov Signs With Winnipeg Jets
According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Winnipeg Jets are closing in on a deal with defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. The deal is a three-year pact worth $4.33MM per season.
Kulikov is coming off a horrendous season in Buffalo, but has years of previously solid performance with the Florida Panthers in his career. He was expected to move into a top four role in Buffalo, but won’t be required to do the same in Winnipeg. Though the Jets did recently buy out Mark Stuart, Toby Enstrom is set to return and Josh Morrissey is ready for an even larger role.
By going after Kulikov, the Jets have bought a huge bounce-back candidate that could help their defense once again be among the deepest groups in the league. With the right-side depth of Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba they have three pairs that can play against nearly anyone in the league. That depth could come in handy if they want to get into the trade market, though their forward group also remains a deep group. In net, they’ve been linked heavily to Steve Mason, who should be able to form at least an average tandem with Connor Hellebuyck.
Nashville To Sign Nick Bonino For Four Years
TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the Nashville Predators are signing Nick Bonino to a four-year deal.
The former Pittsburgh Penguin had 37 points (18-19) in 80 games and added 7 points (4-3) in the playoffs. PHR had Bonino listed as the 11th best free agent out there, and correctly predicted a four-year deal.
Bonino will give the Preds some more depth up front, while playing a solid two-way game. What remains to be seen is how he does without having superstars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby facing other team’s top talent every night. Regardless, Bonino is a solid pickup which adds another piece for the defending Western Conference Champion.