Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for July 2019

Washington Capitals Re-Sign Vitek Vanecek

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Washington Capitals have re-signed restricted free agent goalie Vitek Vanecek to a three-year, $2.15MM contract that should set the young keeper up to emerge as an NHL candidate sooner rather than later. The team announced the long-term deal with their third-string goalie and noted that it becomes a one-way deal after year one and the salary jumps from $700K to $750K after year two. The 2014 second-round pick, who’s still searching for his first NHL appearance, at least adds some certainty to his future with this extension.

Vanecek, 23, was selected 39th overall in 2014 and has spent the last several seasons in the Capitals minor league system. Though obviously still young enough to take big steps forward, he has been passed over by Ilya Samsonov in terms of prospect ranking for Washington and will have to fight for playing time. The pair of young goaltenders will likely make up the AHL tandem this season, hopefully pushing each other to even greater performances.

It will be interesting to see where the Capitals go with their goaltending over the next several seasons, as current NHL starter Braden Holtby is on the final year of his current deal. After Sergei Bobrovsky likely set the market for any extension with his seven-year, $70MM deal with the Florida Panthers today, Washington may decide to try and hand off the duties to someone else while Samsonov and Vanecek mature in the minor leagues. A three-year deal for the latter will give him the time to do so, though he will not be waiver exempt starting in the 2020-21 season.

Carolina Hurricanes Re-Sign Petr Mrazek

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The run on goaltenders continues. As the dominoes of Robin Lehner and Semyon Varlamov fell, the Carolina Hurricanes determined that bringing back their starter was the best option. The team has announced a two-year, $6.25MM contract to bring back Petr Mrazek. Mrazek started 40 games for the Hurricanes last year, but will likely be asked to do even more moving forward.

When the 2018-19 season ended, Hurricanes GM Don Waddell made it clear that he wanted to re-sign the duo of Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney if possible. Just a few weeks later though it seemed like neither one would be back after talks failed to get extensions done. When things started falling this afternoon though, Waddell may well have realized that his best option in net was bringing back the man who got them to the playoffs a year ago.

Mrazek, 27, was a floundering goaltender without a team last year after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Hurricanes gave him an opportunity to prove that he could still compete at the NHL level with a one-year, $1.5MM deal and he went out and had his best season in several years. In those 40 appearances, Mrazek went 23-14-3 for the Hurricanes with a .914 save percentage and helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Unfortunately that success didn’t continue in the postseason where he posted just an .894 save percentage and was eventually replaced by McElhinney.

Still, the Czech goaltender ended up 15th overall on our Top 50 UFA list and ended up staying right where he was for a healthy raise to $3.125MM per season. He’ll get a chance to prove he is worthy of an even longer deal, but has some competition once again. The Hurricanes recently traded for James Reimer, who will actually be making more than Mrazek next season and also has a history of success in the NHL. The two will likely share the spotlight if Reimer stays with the organization for the year, giving them options as they try to contend for the playoffs once again.

Islanders Sign Semyon Varlamov To Four-Year Deal

at CDT | by 7 Comments

With Robin Lehner off the market, the New York Islanders went with their backup plan and grabbed former Colorado Avalanche keeper Semyon Varlamov. The team has announced that Varlamov has agreed to a four-year contact that will carry a $5MM average annual value. Varlamov will join Thomas Greiss in an Islanders’ tandem that is the reigning Jennings Trophy winners.

Varlamov, 31, has been a dominant goaltender in the NHL at times but on the surface doesn’t look like much of an upgrade from Lehner. Starting 39 games for the Colorado Avalanche last season he posted a .909 save percentage, but has been a Vezina finalist in the past and has a career .916 mark. He certainly could experience a boost in the Barry Trotz-led defensive system, but it is the length of the deal that seems out of place. Varlamov has dealt with injuries over his career and hasn’t played in a playoff game since 2014, not exactly the workhorse talent that GM Lou Lamoriello has targeted for his teams in the past.

The veteran goaltender came in at No. 20 on our Top 50 UFA list, though we projected him for just a two-year contract worth a total of $6.5MM. That number was obviously blown out of the water by the $20MM guarantee which includes a $6MM salary in year one. The Islanders had plenty of cap space to use today and were able to re-sign captain Anders Lee in addition to Varlamov, but the day clearly didn’t go as originally planned.  They’ll have to hope the tandem with Greiss can repeat last year’s performance and get them back to the playoffs in the Metropolitan Division.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Robin Lehner

at CDT | by 29 Comments

In perhaps the biggest surprise of free agency thus far, the Chicago Blackhawks have shockingly emerged as the victor for top available free agent goaltender Robin Lehner. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that the two sides were closing in on a deal, before adding that the terms have been agreed to. An even bigger surprise than the match? The contract. It is just a one-year deal for Lehner at $5MM, despite rumors he had been seeking a five-year term.

Lehner, 27, went without a qualifying offer from the Buffalo Sabres a year ago and was a free agent without a clear destination. The Islanders brought him in on a one-year $1.5MM deal, which ended up being one of the biggest moments of his life. Very publicly, Lehner dealt with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder but was able to overcome his mental health issues to find some sort of balance in his life on and off the ice. For the Islanders, he performed like a Vezina-caliber netminder (he finished third in the voting) with a .930 save percentage through 46 appearances, and was awarded the Masterton Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. In a touching speech at the NHL awards, Lehner told the crowd “I’m not ashamed to say I’m mentally ill, but that doesn’t mean I’m mentally weak.” 

At the end of the season Lehner made it clear that he was hoping to stay in New York, ready to re-sign with the Islanders if possible. On a conference call after signing with the Blackhawks however, he explained to those listening including team reporter Chris Kuc that “it not working out on Long Island had nothing to do with me” and that “we were still pretty much all-in with Long Island and they walked away, didn’t want to do anything.” New York’s loss is Chicago’s gain, as the Blackhawks will add a Vezina-caliber talent on just a one-year deal.

The question now becomes what happens to incumbent Corey Crawford and young Collin Delia. Crawford played just 39 games last season after returning from concussion issues and posted a .908 save percentage, but has one year remaining on his current contract that carries a $6MM cap hit. Delia too is on a one-way deal that pays him $1MM for the next three seasons, and looked to be pushing for a starting role in Chicago. The Blackhawks are sitting quite close to the salary cap after day one of free agent frenzy and likely have more moves up their sleeves.

Vegas Signs Goulbourne, Lernout, Megna

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After re-signing two depth players, Tomas Nosek and Brandon Pirri, as well as adding Patrick Brown, the cap-strapped Golden Knights continue to make minor additions where they can on the fringes of the roster. The team has announced that, in addition to Brown, three other new players are set to join the organization in forward Tyrell Goulbourne and defensemen Brett Lernout and Jaycob Megna. The trio each signed two-way deals worth $700K, with Goulbourne signing on for two years and the blue liners each at just one.

Lightning Ink Goalies Wedgewood And Martin, Forward Mueller

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Even more reason to believe that last year’s backup, Louis Domingue, is on the trade block? After signing his replacement, Curtis McElhinney, the Tampa Bay Lightning have added two more goalies to the mix in Scott Wedgewood and Spencer Martin. The team has also signed forward Chris Mueller. The trio have all agreed to one-year, two-way contracts.

Flames Sign Brandon Davidson, Byron Froese

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

After adding goalie Cam Talbot earlier, the Calgary Flames have addressed their depth at the other two positions, signing defenseman Brandon Davidson and forward Byron Froese, per team releases. Both veteran players have signed one-year, two-way contracts with NHL AAV’s of $700K.

Both Davidson, 27, and Froese, 28, have bounced around the hockey world of late and are hoping to find more stability by landing in Calgary. Davidson, an Alberta native, has spent two stints with the Edmonton Oilers, as well as time with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks in the last four years alone. Davidson has struggled to score at the NHL level, but has shown that he can be a dominant physical force at times. Froese, from nearby Manitoba, did not see any NHL action last year, but was traded nonetheless from the Montreal Canadiens to the Philadelphia Flyers. It was the second time in three years he had been traded and Philly became his fourth team in that span, joining Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. Like Davidson, Froese has really never been more than a part-time player at the highest level due to concerns about his offensive ability. However, he has established himself as a solid two-way forward.

Given the depth that the Flames have on both the blue line and up front, the odds are the Davidson and Froese will spend much of next season with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. However, their NHL experience and reliable defensive ability should make them top call-up options for Calgary when injuries strike.

Dallas Stars Add Tanner Kero, Re-Sign Reece Scarlett

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Dallas Stars continue an impressive day that already includes adding decorated veterans Joe Pavelski, Corey Perry, and Andrej Sekera by inking a pair of depth players. The team has announced a two-way contract with forward Tanner Kero, as well as defenseman Reece Scarlett. Both contracts carry a minimum NHL cap hit of $700K.

Kero, 26, has signed a two-year deal following a breakout season with the AHL’s Utica Comets. In 72 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kero was primarily used in a bottom-six role and his offense was somewhat limited. After a move to the Vancouver Canucks, Kero spent the whole season in the minors, but rediscovered his offensive touch with 57 points in 67 games. A versatile player who can be a top AHL scorer, but able to slot in anywhere in the NHL lineup, Kero could be a valuable asset for Dallas.

Scarlett, 26, is entering his third season with the Stars organization, but it may not seem that way. Scarlett was acquired from the Florida Panthers in a 2017 trade and played in 44 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars that season. However, he failed to produce the same offensive numbers as he had in his previous AHL seasons. Then, after re-signing with the team last summer, an injury cost him all but one game last season. Despite seemingly having a lot to prove after two seasons with the Stars, Dallas clearly likes the potential that Scarlett can bring on the blue line.

L.A. Kings To Sign Joakim Ryan, Martin Frk

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The Los Angeles Kings did not take part in the early rush of signings this afternoon, but they won’t leave day one of free agency without making a mark. Team insider Jon Rosen writes that the team has agreed to terms on one-year contracts with two young unrestricted free agents, defenseman Joakim Ryan and forward Martin Frk. He adds that it will be a one-way, $725K deal for Ryan and a two-way, $700K deal for Frk.

Ryan should be familiar to Kings fans as a former member of the rival San Jose Sharks. The Sharks declined to extend a qualifying offer to the 26-year-old, who had played in over 100 games with the team over the past two seasons, not including an impressive run as a starter in this year’s playoffs. While Ryan doesn’t excel at any one aspect, he plays a complete game and should compete for consistent ice time with L.A., even though the team has a number of possibilities on the blue line.

Frk, for all of his shortcomings, could be a nice value add on a two-way deal and minimum contract. The 25-year-old right wing is a talented shooter who has yet to find the right fit in the NHL. If he finds chemistry on the Kings, he could be a consistent goal-scoring threat. If not, he’s simply an experienced name to add to AHL depth chart.

Anders Lee Returning To New York Islanders

at CDT | by 5 Comments

The New York Islanders swung and missed on Artemi Panarin, but will get a pretty good consolation prize anyway. Captain Anders Lee has decided to re-sign with the team, inking a seven-year contract worth $49MM. Lee had a chance to test the market himself, but had always indicated he wanted to return to the Islanders. He’ll now take his place as the highest paid player on the team, with a cap hit of $7MM per season.

Lee, 28, has scored 102 goals over the last three seasons including 40 in 2017-18. The 6’3″ winger is a force in front of the net and can go on impressive streaks where he seems to score every night. While his offensive numbers dropped last season, his defensive game improved like almost everyone else under Barry Trotz and he was a huge part of the incredible improvement the Islanders experienced. Good possession numbers, even-strength production and physical play equal a very valuable player, and given his obvious leadership skills it seemed like a return was always in the cards.

Still, there was speculation about other teams reaching out to try and get their hands on Lee. After failing to sign him yesterday the Islanders could no longer offer him an eighth contract year, meaning those other teams may have been on the same footing theoretically. It’s obvious Lee never wanted to leave though, and actually announced that he was staying on his own Twitter immediately.

The Islanders have now re-signed a trio of key forwards over the last few months, inking Lee, Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson to keep this group together. While they did lose Valtteri Filppula today in free agency and still don’t have a goaltender to pair with Thomas Greiss, the team is relatively unchanged from last season and should still be contenders in the Metropolitan Division. With just over $13.6MM in cap space, GM Lou Lamoriello still has some flexibility when it comes to improving his club, though there is an obvious lack of talent on the free agent market at this point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top