Vinnie Hinostroza Signs With Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers have signed Vinnie Hinostroza to a contract after the young forward was not issued a qualifying offer by the Arizona Coyotes, according to team reporter Jameson Olive. James Mirtle of The Athletic reports the deal is just one-year in length and worth $1MM.
It’s somewhat shocking that Hinostroza could be had for such a low figure, given his history of success in the NHL and relative youth on the open market. The 26-year-old forward has scored 100 points in 246 games across four seasons, including a 16-goal campaign in 2018-19. Though that number dropped dramatically this year, Hinostroza also shot at an unsustainably-low 3.8%. If that number was at his previous career average of 9.1%, he would have had 12 goals in 68 games despite playing just over 13 minutes a night.
Since he still recorded 22 points in those 68 games, it’s hard to even understand why the Coyotes weren’t able to work out a deal. His qualifying offer would have been $1.5MM and he could have potentially secured more than that through arbitration, but seeing him sign in Florida for just $1MM must sting. That’s especially true with the Coyotes having such trouble scoring and when they instead went out and spent $2.5MM on Tyler Pitlick and John Hayden, both players that are arguably less effective than Hinostroza.
For Florida meanwhile, the signing continues a trend of acquiring players after their previous organizations cut them loose. The team also signed Alexander Wennberg and Radko Gudas today and traded for Markus Nutivaara earlier this week. At such low costs, each of these players represents a chance for some excess value this season in Florida. In Hinostroza’s case, it also reunites him with his former head coach Joel Quenneville, whom he played under in Chicago.
Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Xavier Ouellet
The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed depth defenseman Xavier Ouellet, inking him to a two-year, two-way contract. The contract will carry an NHL salary of $725K in 2020-21 and $750K in 2021-22.
Ouellet, 27, actually has 172 NHL games under his belt, even though he rarely stays up in the NHL for more than a few games at a time. His only full season was in 2016-17 when he suited up 66 times for the Detroit Red Wings, and he has played in 31 games with Montreal since arriving in 2018. More importantly, he’s been a leader and rock for the Laval Rocket, where he wore the “C” the last two seasons.
The minor leagues will be where he’s headed again, but having a defenseman with that much NHL experience stashed in the AHL is valuable. He can come up when injuries strike and faces little chance of being claimed on waivers upon his return.
Doctors Recommend Bryan Little Not Play In 2020-21
On a day of exciting news all around the league, this comes as quite the depressing story. Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has told reporters that Bryan Little has been instructed by doctors not to play this season. While Cheveldayoff did not comment on whether that means Little’s career is over, it doesn’t bode well for the veteran forward.
Little, 32, played just seven games in 2019-20. On November 5th, 2019, he was struck in the side of the head by a Nikolaj Ehlers slapshot and skated off the ice while holding a bloody towel to his head. Little had already dealt with a concussion earlier that year, but that game against the New Jersey Devils ended up being his last.
Not only was Little a consistent performer on the ice that had spent his entire career with the Jets/Thrashers organization, but he was a beloved teammate and a tireless worker in the community. That dedication to the organization was mentioned by Cheveldayoff today, when he called Little a “special person.”
If it is the end for Little, he’ll leave the league with 521 points in 843 career games, all for the one organization. He is still signed for four more seasons, so his contract will be moved to long-term injured reserve, making it technically possible for a return, but obviously, that’s a decision that won’t be made for some time.
The Jets meanwhile will get some cap relief from moving Little’s $5.3MM hit to LTIR, but they’d rather have the player back. It does help them fit in the recently acquired Paul Stastny, who slots in at on their second-line, a role that Little has occupied in the past.
San Jose Sharks Re-Sign Stefan Noesen
The San Jose Sharks have brought back one of their outgoing free agents, re-signing Stefan Noesen to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $925K according to Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News.
Noesen, 27, was actually a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators back in 2011, but took several years to make his mark in the NHL. That came in 2017-18 when he had a sneaky-good season for the New Jersey Devils, scoring 13 goals as part of an energy line with Blake Coleman. The duo rotated through linemates like Brian Gibbons, Travis Zajac and Miles Wood, creating a group of checking forwards that was a huge reason why the Devils made it to the playoffs.
Though he hasn’t been able to recapture that magic since, Noesen fit in well with the Sharks after he was claimed off waivers in December. He scored six goals in 34 games after the claim, even while playing in a bottom-six role. That included two game-winners, not something the Sharks were very used to this season.
Noesen will likely be a regular for the Sharks next year and so far he is their only signing since free agency has started. San Jose has been extremely quiet today, deciding not to jump on many of the mid-level players that have found homes.
Colorado Avalanche Announce Four Minor Contracts
The Colorado Avalanche are expected to be a potential landing spot for some of the very best free agents on the market, but for now they’ll announce some organization depth instead. Sheldon Dries, Miikka Salomaki, Kiefer Sherwood and Mike Vecchione have all signed contracts with the Avalanche. Financial details have not yet been announced.
Dries was already in the system, signed out of Michigan University in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. He has played in 45 NHL games over the years but does most of his damage in the minors. In 50 AHL games this season he recorded 21 goals and 35 points, making him an easy call-up option.
Starting with Salomaki, the other three names have NHL experience of their own. The 27-year-old former Nashville Predators forward has played 167 games at the highest level, but registered just 27 points in that time.
Sherwood, who is just 25, has played 60 NHL games over the last two seasons but was another strong minor league performer. He’ll provide even more goal scoring for the Colorado Eagles, a team that will be loaded once again.
Vecchione was a sought after college free agent in 2017 and ended up inking a deal with the Philadelphia Flyers, but hasn’t played in the NHL since that spring. Instead he’s been a monster in the minor leagues, recording seasons of 40, 38 and 36 points without even playing 70 games in a single one.
Detroit Red Wings Announce Three Minor Contracts
The Detroit Red Wings have agreed to terms with three minor league players, inking Kyle Criscuolo, Kevin Boyle and Riley Barber. Criscuolo and Boyle have both signed one-year deals, while Barber gets a two-year pact.
As the Red Wings reset their organization and get into a full rebuild, they needed players to fill out the depth chart in the minor leagues. All three players have experience in the NHL but shouldn’t be considered full-time options there at this point.
Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has moved out and strictly avoided any long-term deals so that he can build the team the way he wants, with only Dylan Larkin signed through the 2022-23 season. While he added a couple of veterans in Bobby Ryan and Jon Merrill, the Red Wings haven’t gotten into the bigger names on the market.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Matt Irwin, Brandon Davidson
Buffalo Sabres fans are still waiting for a difference-maker on the first day of free agency, but the front office continues to add depth to the organization instead. After inking Tobias Rieder earlier today, the Sabres have now signed Matt Irwin to a one-year, $700K contract according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Irwin, 32, has bounced around the league for the better part of a decade now, starting with the San Jose Sharks back in 2012. Undrafted, he now has 359 games at the NHL level, suiting up for the Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, and Anaheim Ducks.
With Lawrence Pilut playing in the KHL and Brandon Montour still unsigned, the Sabres had a need for some defensive depth. Irwin won’t be a difference-maker for the team, but he can provide stable third-pairing minutes or serve as a capable seventh defenseman.
A little later in the day, the Sabres also signed Brandon Davidson to a one-year, $700K contract, giving them another depth option on the back end. Davidson spent most of the 2019-20 season in the minor leagues with the Stockton Heat but does have 174 NHL games under his belt.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Gavin Bayreuther
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed a defenseman, just not the one that some are hoping for. Gavin Bayreuther has inked a one-year two-way contract with the team, coming over from the Dallas Stars organization after qualifying as a Group VI unrestricted free agent.
Bayreuther, 26, was a free agent signing by the Stars in 2017 and ever since he has been a strong performer at the minor league level. The AHL defenseman scored 29 points in 59 games this season and will be a great addition to the Cleveland Monsters if that’s where he ends up.
Dallas did give him an opportunity in the 2018-19 season to play 19 games at the NHL level, and actually held his own. Perhaps he’ll get a chance this season in Columbus as well, given their recent departures. Over the last few days the team has traded Ryan Murray and Markus Nutivaara, two full-time members of the NHL blue line.
Washington Capitals Agree To Terms With Justin Schultz
The Washington Capitals needed to add some defense after Michal Kempny suffered a torn Achilles in offseason training and they’ll pick up a former rival. Justin Schultz has agreed to a two-year contract with the Capitals that will carry a $4MM cap hit.
Schultz, 30, was a 51-point defenseman just a few years ago but has seen his offensive production almost completely dry up. When you’re supposed to be a play-driving defenseman, 12 points in 46 games just isn’t cutting it. Over the last three seasons, Schultz has played in just 138 games and has just 54 points, not enough when you also don’t provide much polish at the defensive end.
Perhaps it’s just the injuries that have sapped his production, but given how poor his possession statistics have also been it’s hard to know exactly what the Capitals are getting. For $4MM per season on a Stanley Cup contender, that’s a big risk to take.
Schultz fits in just ahead of the re-signed Brenden Dillon on the salary chart and reduces the Capitals remaining space to almost zero. Moving Kempny onto long-term injured reserve will give them a little more wiggle room, but without moving money out there isn’t a lot more the Capitals can do.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Andreas Borgman, Chris Gibson
The Tampa Bay Lightning have added an interesting young defenseman, signing Andreas Borgman to a one-year, two-way contract. Borgman became a Group VI unrestricted free agent this offseason because of his lack of NHL opportunity and had been playing in Finland.
Christopher Gibson has also signed a one-year, two-way deal with the team. He’ll serve as a depth goaltender for the system, but isn’t expected to challenge for NHL playing time after seeing only 14 appearances at the highest level throughout his career.
Borgman, 25, came over to play with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017 and actually suited up for 48 games right away. The undrafted Borgman ended up in the buried in the minor leagues, even after a trade to the St. Louis Blues this season. That led to the Group VI designation, but he’s still an interesting player to keep an eye on in the Lightning system.