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Vancouver Canucks Sign Christian Wolanin

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Per CapFriendly, the Vancouver Canucks have signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Christian Wolanin to a one-year, two-way deal paying him $750K in the NHL and $350K in the AHL.

Wolanin, 27, has 70 games of NHL experience between Ottawa, Buffalo, and Los Angeles. While it looked like Wolanin had legitimate NHL upside a few seasons ago with a 12-point year in 2018-19 in just 30 games at 23 years old, those days are behind him. A good option for a seventh defenseman, Wolanin adds to the pool of defensive depth Vancouver has built.

He’ll be competing with players like Kyle Burroughs, young Jack Rathbone, Noah Juulsen, and Wyatt Kalynuk to make the Canucks come training camp in September. If he doesn’t make the squad, he’s a risk to get claimed on waivers if the injury bug strikes other teams on defense.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Alex Limoges, Kyle Capobianco

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The Winnipeg Jets have signed free agent forward Alex Limoges to a one-year, entry-level contract, per a team tweet today. Financial terms are currently unavailable. Per CapFriendly, the team has also signed former Arizona Coyotes defenseman Kyle Capobianco to a two-year deal worth $762.5K per year. Per PuckPedia, the contract is a two-way deal in 2022-23 with a $750K NHL / $325K AHL split, and a one-way deal worth $775K in year two.

Limoges, a 24-year-old native of Virginia, actually already has a year and a half of professional experience under his belt with the San Diego Gulls. He turned pro in 2020-21 after his college career with Penn State concluded, spending the remainder of the season with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.

Staying in San Diego for the past two years, he’s been one of the most under-the-radar producers in the AHL during that time. He’s scored 34 goals, 27 assists, and 61 points in 85 games with the Gulls, and he also led the entire NCAA in points in 2018-19.

Now on an NHL contract for the first time, Limoges will get the chance to improve on those numbers in the Jets organization. If injuries strike Winnipeg hard this year, don’t be surprised if Limoges gets a crack at making his NHL debut.

Nashville Predators Sign Kevin Lankinen, Three Others

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The Nashville Predators supplemented their NHL/AHL fringe depth on defense yesterday, and they’re doing the same today on offense. The team announced a trio of signings separately on Thursday afternoon, signing Kiefer Sherwood to a one-year, one-way $750K contract, and Mark Jankowski and Cole Smith to one-year, two-way $750K contracts. They also signed former Chicago Blackhawks netminder Kevin Lankinen to a one-year, $1.5MM contract to back up starter Juuse Saros.

Despite Nashville receiving strong play from Connor Ingram in limited regular-season appearances and even turning to him as a starter in the playoffs over David Rittich, the team’s opted to bury him on the depth chart for another season. Lankinen had a rough season with the Blackhawks in 2021-22 after an up-and-down rookie campaign the year prior, finishing the year with an 8-15-6 record, 3.50 goals against average, and .891 save percentage. He’ll look to improve on those numbers (and stay healthy) on a more fortified Nashville team.

Sherwood, Jankowski, and Smith will be charged with playing top AHL roles once again, something they’re getting used to in their careers. Sherwood and Jankowski especially will be strong call-up options in case of injury with decent amounts of NHL experience.

Ottawa Senators Sign Antoine Bibeau, Jacob Larsson

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The Ottawa Senators may not be done adding to the NHL roster but at least part of the front office is also focused on improving the organizational depth. The team has signed Antoine Bibeau and Jacob Larsson to one-year, two-way contacts that carry cap hits of $750K at the NHL level. Bibeau will earn $100K and Larsson will earn $300K while in the AHL.

Bibeau, 28, actually found himself way down in the ECHL for part of this season, after signing a one-year contract with the Seattle Kraken. Because the Kraken were sharing an AHL affiliate, there wasn’t always room for him with the Charlotte Checkers, despite playing well whenever there.

The veteran netminder has four games of NHL experience but is a strong AHL option with a long history of success at that level. Given the recent departures from the Ottawa crease, he’ll slide into the depth chart as a reliable call-up option that isn’t focused on developing any longer.

Larsson meanwhile comes to the Senators as an interesting defensive option, after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old was selected 27th overall in 2015 and has 165 games of experience at the NHL level, including a full season as recently as 2020-21.

While Senators general manager Pierre Dorion may have bigger fish on his mind when targeting defensive upgrades, Larsson’s presence is certainly notable as they try to change the look of their group. Though he’s on a two-way deal, there’s a realistic scenario that sees him outplay some of the team’s other options in camp and earn his way onto the roster.

Dallas Stars Sign Riley Barber

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The Dallas Stars have added some more minor league depth, signing Riley Barber to a one-year, two-way contract.

Barber, 28, has been one of the most consistent offensive players in the AHL for years now, including this season when he had 28 goals and 53 points in 49 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. While that has only resulted in 16 appearances in the NHL (and zero points), he’ll be a huge help to the Texas Stars, where he can continue his outstanding minor league play.

There may be a handful of opportunities with Dallas but given how many other young players are in the pipeline, Barber’s addition is mostly about AHL success. Every team in the league now is committed to building a winning program in the minor leagues, seeing the impact it can have on the development of their young players. A veteran like Barber will help the program, even if he doesn’t move the needle very much for Dallas.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Zach Sawchenko

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The Carolina Hurricanes have added a goaltender to their pipeline, signing Zachary Sawchenko. The young netminder has agreed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K at the NHL level, $85K in the AHL, and includes a minor league guarantee of $110K. Sawchenko was left unqualified by the San Jose Sharks this week, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of the Canadian college level–a pipeline rarely used by NHL teams–in 2019, Sawchenko quickly worked his way up the Sharks depth chart and made his NHL debut this season. He played in seven games, posting a .901 save percentage and his first win near the end of the year.

No one should believe that Sawchenko will be taking over the Hurricanes’ crease right away but adding a 24-year-old netminder with NHL experience isn’t always an opportunity that presents itself. Given that he is still waiver-exempt, he’ll be loaned to the minor leagues at the start of the season where he can continue his development.

With Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta in place as the NHL tandem, the risk of injury is always high for the Carolina crease. Pyotr Kochetkov would be next on the depth chart but beyond him, the Hurricanes had no one signed after parting ways with Jack LaFontaine. Sawchenko will fill that gap, and may even get a chance to show what he can do in the NHL again, should injuries become an issue.

Chicago Blackhawks Sign Dylan Sikura

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The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing back a familiar face, signing Dylan Sikura to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750K at the NHL level. The deal will pay him a whopping $500K as an AHL salary and includes a minor league guarantee of $550K.

Sikura, 27, was one of the very best players in the AHL last season, scoring 73 points in 60 games with the Colorado Eagles. Scoring at the minor league level has never been a problem for the Northeastern University product, it’s that pesky transition to the NHL that has caused him problems.

In 58 games at the highest level, most of them coming with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018-19, Sikura has just three goals. That would be fine for a big, physical winger who can contribute in other ways, but the slight-framed Sikura has to be producing offense to really be a helpful player.

It will be interesting to see if he gets an extended look with the Blackhawks, given the depleted roster, or spends another year in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs. At the very least, he will probably get some games after the trade deadline, when the Blackhawks will probably be sellers.

New York Rangers Expected To Sign Andy Welinski

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According to CapFriendly, the New York Rangers have signed defenseman Andy Welinski to a one-year, two-way contract (link). The contract is worth $750K at the NHL level and $400K in the minors. The right-handed defenseman will serve as veteran depth for a Rangers team that had to part with some of their’s earlier today.

A third-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, Welinski has played parts of three NHL seasons, all with Anaheim. Welinski spent four years as a rock-solid defenseman for the University of Minnesota-Duluth before turning pro after the 2015-16 NCAA season. He would spend two full years with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, making his NHL debut during that second season in 2017-18. Welinski split 2018-19 between San Diego and Anaheim, returning to the AHL full-time in 2019-20, splitting 2020-21 once again, getting into just 16 games between both levels. The 29-year-old spent all of last season with the Stockton Heat in the Calgary Flames organization.

On a two-way contract, Welinski is a smart addition for the Rangers, who traded defenseman Patrik Nemeth away earlier today and lost Justin Braun in free agency as well. Though the organization has strong defensive depth between their stars and their prospects, the team did have to rely on depth this year at times too. Between yesterday’s Libor Hajek extension and today’s Welinski deal, the Rangers should have plenty of reserves should they deal with an abundance of injuries.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Josh Jacobs, Spencer Smallman

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As the reigning Stanley Cup Champions worked on bringing back two key players in Valeri Nichushkin and Josh Manson, they also brought in two depth pieces in that of forward Spencer Smallman and defenseman Joshua Jacobs, the team announced. Smallman’s contract runs for two years, while Jacobs’ is just for one. The Jacobs contract is a two-way deal, worth $750K at the NHL level and $265K in the minors, says PuckPedia. Smallman’s contract is worth $750K in the NHL this season, rising to $775K next season, according to PuckPedia. In the minors, the contract will pay Smallman $350K this season and $400K next season, but does guarantee him $400K this season regardless.

A fifth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, Smallman has spent his professional career between the ECHL and AHL levels in the Hurricanes’ system. This season, the 25-year-old had 27 points, 10 goals and 17 assists, in 65 games for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. Prior to his pro career, Smallman spent five years as a member of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, his best and final season coming in 2016-17, where he notched 30 goals and 49 assists in 60 games.

Once a top prospect in the New Jersey Devils organization, Jacobs hasn’t lived up to the expectations set for him after he was drafted 41st overall in 2014. Quite the opposite of Smallman, Jacobs made his way through three leagues before turning professional, starting with two seasons in the USHL as a member of the Indiana Ice before heading to college at Michigan State University for a season, finishing his amateur career with a season in the OHL as a member of the Sarnia Sting. Since then, Jacobs has spent most of his career playing in the AHL with the Devils, making a couple of appearances in the NHL with New Jersey. 2021-22 was Jacobs’ first season outside of the Devils organization, as he played for the Chicago Wolves, an affiliate of the Hurricanes.

Ottawa Senators Sign Three Players

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The Ottawa Senators have signed three depth options, inking Scott Sabourin, Jake Lucchini, and Kristians Rubins to one-year, two-way contracts. All three have NHL salaries of $750K. Sabourin will make $375K in the AHL while the other two will earn $130K.

At this point, with the Senators putting together a much more impressive NHL roster, it seems unlikely that any of the three will see extended play at the top level. Sabourin, while a fan favorite from his previous stint with the team, doesn’t offer much more than toughness and instigation. He was an important part of the Belleville Senators this season though, and will likely return to help their leadership group in 2022-23.

Rubins, left unqualified by the Toronto Maple Leafs, does have a bit of promise as a 6’5″ defenseman who moves well, though his overall upside is rather limited. The undrafted 24-year-old played three games for Toronto this year, his first taste of NHL action.

Lucchini, the only one of the three that hasn’t seen NHL time, actually had a breakout for Belleville this year, scoring 20 goals and 51 points in 72 games, leading the AHL Senators in scoring. His return, like Sabourin’s, is to keep that group together and build the “culture of winning” that is so often referenced in development circles.

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