St. Louis Blues Re-Sign Sammy Blais
The St. Louis Blues have decided to sign one of their own restricted free agents, inking Sammy Blais to a one-year contract. The deal will pay the young Blais $850K for the 2019-20 season, and will keep him a restricted free agent next summer.
Blais, 23, was a sixth-round pick of the Blues back in 2014 but has made quite a name for himself in his young professional career by blending a sneaky scoring touch with a big physical presence. The 6’2″ forward put that physicality on display for the Blues in the playoffs where he forced opponents to keep their heads up at all times and registered 70 hits in just 15 games. Though the offense hasn’t materialized at the NHL level he is a fine option in a fourth-line role already and may be given an even bigger role next season.
The question will be what kind of opportunity will be available on the Blues, given the continued development of several other young forwards. The team has four restricted free agents still to sign up front in Ivan Barbashev, Robby Fabbri, Zach Sanford and Oskar Sundqvist, all who can play in the bottom-six. There is also the group of Jordan Kyrou, Erik Foley, Dominik Bokk and Klim Kostin that will be pushing for NHL ice time before long, meaning Blais will need to fight for every chance he can get.
Montreal Canadiens Tender Offer Sheet To Sebastian Aho
It has finally happened. The Montreal Canadiens have tendered an offer sheet to Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes. The proposed contract is a five-year deal with an average annual value of $8.454MM. Sportsnet reports that Aho has indeed signed it, meaning the Hurricanes now have one week to either match the contract or allow Aho to join the Canadiens and receive draft compensation in return. A deal of this value would result in the Hurricanes receiving a first, second and third-round pick in 2020. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that the deal has the maximum amount of signing bonuses allowable—which would equate to approximately $21MM in the first 12 months—a contract structure the Hurricanes would have to match. If they do, Carolina would also not be able to trade Aho for a full year.
Appearing at a press conference soon after he received word of the offer sheet, Hurricanes GM Don Waddell admitted he was surprised that the offer wasn’t higher for Aho, and joked that it made his summer easier by removing any negotiations. To be clear, this will be Aho’s next contract one way or the other meaning he will carry a cap hit of $8.454MM for the next five years and reach unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. That’s obviously not an ideal situation for the Hurricanes, but actually isn’t a salary that is far away from what the two sides likely would have settled on.
In fact, this deal for Aho may well have ramifications around the league regardless of whether the Hurricanes match or not. The 21-year old forward switched to center full-time this season and reached new heights in basically every offensive category. With 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games, Selke and Hart trophy votes, Aho is deserving of a huge raise and was arguably just as valuable as some of the other top restricted free agents on the market. Those players and teams now have a five-year contract comparable, something that may not please some of the young stars.
It’s also important to remember that the first-round pick would be unprotected if the Hurricanes choose not to match the offer sheet.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Luke Schenn
Monday: The Lightning have officially announced the deal, adding Schenn at the expected bargain rate of $700K for one year. Schenn may end up being a fantastic value for Tampa Bay this season on a new look blue line.
Sunday: When Luke Schenn arrived in Vancouver late in the 2018-19 season it looked as though he might soon be pushed out of the league entirely. After surprising down the stretch though a market has materialized for his services and now he could be joining a Stanley Cup contender. Frank Seravalli of TSN reports that Schenn is expected to sign a one-year contract worth around $700K when free agency opens on July 1.
Schenn, 29, ended up just cracking our list of the Top 50 UFAs despite his down year, mostly because of those final 18 games with the Canucks. He played a total of 26 last season counting the eight times he suited up with the Ducks, and his routine as a part-time player might continue in Tampa Bay. The Lightning don’t desperately need him to step right into a major role, but are likely losing Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman as veteran defensive options. Schenn doesn’t have much (if any) offensive upside, but can at least play a little in his own end and contribute a physical presence.
Even though his stock has crashed dramatically since being drafted fifth overall in 2008, Schenn still ranks fourth in games played among all players selected that year. Trailing just Drew Doughty, Josh Bailey and Steven Stamkos, he has figured out a way to stay relevant in a league that quickly moved to a different style of defense. Probably born an era too late, the 6’2″ bruising defenseman has suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Ducks and Canucks.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Jujhar Khaira, Tomas Jurco
The Edmonton Oilers have signed power forward Jujhar Khaira to a two-year contract that will carry a $1.2MM cap hit. The 24-year old was a restricted free agent who was issued a qualifying offer by the Oilers last week. The team has also signed free agent forward Tomas Jurco to a one-year deal worth $750K.
Khaira, 24, was unable to take hold of the opportunity that presented itself last season on the Oilers, and recorded just three goals and 18 points in 60 games. On a team starved for production from the wing, the 6’4″ power forward was unable to give them any sort of offensive game and instead was limited to playing a physical, bottom-six role. There is still upside in the third-round pick, but Khaira will need to show he can be more than a fourth-line option this season under new head coach Dave Tippett or his opportunity at the NHL level may start to disappear.
If he wants to learn, Jurco knows all about opportunity disappearing. The 26-year old forward was selected 35th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2011 and for a time looked like a future staple in the NHL lineup. He was even traded for a third-round pick at the 2017 deadline because the Chicago Blackhawks believed he could deliver on his offensive potential. He didn’t, and before long Jurco would be accepting an AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers just to stay in North America. After an outstanding playoff run with the Checkers though, the Oilers will give him another chance on an NHL contract in training camp to make an impact at the highest level.
Wayne Simmonds Signs With New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have signed free agent forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year contract worth $5MM. Coming off a brutal season, Simmonds won’t sign for any term but does get a nice paycheck as he tried to re-establish his value around the league.
After scoring at least 24 goals for the last five consecutive seasons, Simmonds’ offense dropped off a cliff in 2018-19 and he had just 16 goals and 27 points when the trade deadline rolled around. At that point he was shipped off to the Nashville Predators, where things just got worse. Simmonds didn’t fit in at all with his new team, eventually being demoted to the fourth line and taken off the powerplay. He scored just three points for the Predators in 17 games down the stretch, and then was held scoreless in his two postseason appearances.
The question was whether Simmonds, who plays a physical, powerful game was hitting his decline phase early and would be out of the NHL in a few years. Even though he’s only 30 and hasn’t ever played fewer than 75 games in a non-lockout-shortened season, his effectiveness rapidly disintegrating. New Jersey is obviously willing to take a chance that he can bounce back, as a $5MM deal provides little room for excess value. It also doesn’t have a lot of risk for a team with plenty of cap space though, as even if he fails to get back to the 30-goal powerhouse he once was, he’ll be a free agent again in a year’s time.
If he can regain any of that production though, the Devils’ powerplay could be getting another elite talent. Already adding star draft pick Jack Hughes and offensive dynamo P.K. Subban, the Taylor Hall-led team could potentially be extremely dangerous with the man advantage.
Vegas Golden Knights Re-Sign Pirri, Nosek
The Vegas Golden Knights have brought back a pair of forwards, re-signing Brandon Pirri to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $775K and Tomas Nosek to a one-year contract worth $1MM.
Pirri, 28, can’t seem to convince anyone to reward him with consistent playing time despite scoring at every level. In 31 games for the Golden Knights last season he recorded 12 goals, and has 72 in 259 games despite averaging fewer than 14 minutes a night for his career. The second-round pick can flat out score goals, and he’ll be a depth weapon for the Golden Knights to insert into the lineup whenever they have the opportunity. Unfortunately Pirri has never been trusted to play a complete game at both ends of the rink, and may never earn the kind of big contract that players with his goal scoring talent usually command.
Nosek, 26, took a much different path to the Golden Knights, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Red Wings and winning a Calder Cup in the AHL before being selected in the expansion draft. He registered 17 points in 68 games for Vegas last season playing in a fourth-line role, and will be back to likely fill the same this season. The 6’3″ winger doesn’t bring a ton of offensive skill, but can do enough little things right to receive regular playing time from head coach Gerard Gallant.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare Signs With Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have added another veteran forward, signing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to a two-year contract according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Bellemare’s deal will carry a $1.8MM average annual value.
The 34-year-old forward produced two solid seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights after the team selected him the their expansion draft back in 2017. He immediately joined the franchise’s fourth-line energy line and centered one of their most effective lines, putting up 12 goals and 31 points over two seasons there. While the Golden Knights expressed interest in bringing Bellemare back, Vegas’ roster and salary cap space limited the team although the Golden Knights were involved in negotiations until late.
The Avalanche will add the veteran to helm the team’s fourth line as he likely will pair with newly re-signed Colin Wilson to revitalize the team’s bottom-sixth depth which needed some more skilled players. He should also play a key role in the team’s defense as he was one of Vegas’ top penalty killers.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Dea, Lazar
The Buffalo Sabres have signed a pair of depth forwards, inking Curtis Lazar and Jean-Sebastien Dea. Both players will carry a $700K salary, though Dea received a two-year deal while Lazar is under contract for just a single season.
The Sabres hope they can develop the play of Lazar who has struggled to succeed at the professional level. Lazar has always been considered a top prospect since his junior days and was a first-round pick in 2013 by the Ottawa Senators. He was known for his scoring as he tallied 99 goals over his final three seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. While he immediately joined the Senators when he went pro, he put up just six goals in each of his first two seasons, finally being sent down to the AHL the following year before Ottawa traded him to Calgary at the trade deadline in 2017. However, Lazar struggled even more after that, scoring three goals over the next season and a half. He played all, but one game, with the Stockton Heat last season.
The Sabres are hoping he can develop into a bottom-line depth option for a cheap price. Considered to be a great locker-room guy, he does possess leadership skills. During the 2015 World Junior Championships, he was captain of Canada’s gold-medal team with Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart.
Dea is another project as the undrafted free-agent from Pittsburgh was always considered to be a talented player, but he could never thrive at the NHL level, eventually getting claimed by the New Jersey Devils at the start of the year, but they couldn’t get enough out of him and were forced to place him on waivers, allowing Pittsburgh to bring him back. The Penguins eventually sent him to Florida at this year’s trade deadline, but he just played in the AHL. He played 23 games between Pittsburgh and New Jersey, but tallied just four goals and six points. He did, however, notch 18 goals between two different AHL teams last season, including 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Several Depth Players
The Philadelphia Flyers have added a good amount of depth to the organization today, signing six players:
- Andy Andreoff has signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $750K
- Kurtis Gabriel has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
- Nate Prosser has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Andy Welinski has signed a one-year contract worth $750K.
- Tyler Wotherspoon has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Jean-Francois Berube has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
- Chris Bigras has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Kyle Criscuolo has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
Andreoff should provide some bottom-sixth depth as he has 159 games of NHL experience with the Los Angeles Kings. However, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Peter Budaj last June, and lacked the firepower to break into the Lightning’s lineup. He was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he produced 26 goals and 55 points, while amassing 150 penalty minutes. The 26-year-old Gabriel also has quite a bit of NHL experience, but scored just two goals in 22 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, while also scoring just two goals in 32 games for the Binghamton Devils in the AHL. The 27-year-old Criscuolo spent all of last season with the Sabres affialiate in Rochester where he scored six goals and 20 points in 43 games.
The 33-year-old Prosser has spent most of his career with the Minnesota Wild, albeit a one-game appearance with the St. Louis Blues back in the 2017-18 season before they traded him back to the Wild. However, the defenseman spent most of last season with Iowa in the AHL and likely will stay in Lehigh Valley this season. Welinski could provide more value as a depth defenseman as the 26-year-old played in a career-high 26 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season, while showing off some offense while playing with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring eight goals there. However, he was never able to fortify a full-time role with the Ducks. The 26-year-old Wotherspoon, a former second-round pick in 2011, has spent the last two years in the AHL where the blueliner has played for the Stockton Heat, and this year, the San Antonio Rampage. He hasn’t seen any NHL action in two seasons. The 24-year-old Bigras comes to Philadelphia from the New York Rangers where he played 52 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring three goals and 24 points.
The team did sign Berube to likely serve as a depth option in Lehigh Valley. The 27-year-old Berube started his career with the New York Islanders, but eventually moved on to Chicago and eventually Columbus. He has appeared in 34 NHL games, but spent all of last season with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL where he finished with a 3.01 GAA and a .896 save percentage.
Richard Panik Signs With Washington Capitals
Monday: The Capitals have officially announced a four-year, $11MM contract with Panik, a deal that pays the two-way winger a $2.75MM AAV.
Sunday: The Washington Capitals were able to shed some salary recently by flipping restricted free agent Andre Burakovsky and his expensive qualifying offer to the Colorado Avalanche, and now they’re set to replace him with a more experienced winger. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN Richard Panik is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Capitals tomorrow. The deal could carry an average annual value “somewhere north of $2.5MM” tweets McKenzie.
Panik, 28, recorded 33 points in 75 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season and has now gone three years in a row with at least that many. That kind of production is exactly what the Capitals are looking for out of their bottom-six, especially after likely losing Brett Connolly to free agency as well. There’s actually a chance that the veteran forward could become even more than that playing in Washington, as Panik has been known to fit in well beside top players in a support role. The Capitals already have their superstars up front but needed a little more punch on the right side.
The question will be how this affects the rest of the summer for Washington, who may have a little flexibility right now but need to pay Jakub Vrana, Chandler Stephenson and Christian Djoos at some point. They also have to think about the future with Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby set to become free agents in a year’s time. While Panik is likely a bargain at $2.5MM, the four-year term could present some risk to a team that is always near the cap if he somehow fails to produce in Washington.