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Detroit Red Wings Sign Thomas Greiss

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Veteran netminder Thomas Greiss waited out the rush of goalie signings yesterday and has been rewarded. With multiple teams in need of help in net but few strong options still available on the open market, Greiss has cashed in on deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Greiss has agreed to a two-year, $7.2MM contract with Detroit. The Red Wings have confirmed the signing.

Greiss, 34, has been with the New York Islanders for the past five seasons, during which time he has established himself as one of the better backups in the NHL. Greiss has posted a .920 save percentage or better three times in his career, including a 2018-19 campaign in which he shared Jennings Trophy honors with Robin Lehner. While Greiss’ numbers slipped this past season, he was still a reliable backstop with a .913 save percentage and a .571 winning percentage in 28 starts.

He has also shown an ability to carry the load at times in his career and his new contract, a raise from his expired deal with the Islanders, indicates that the Red Wings believe he can challenge for the starting job. Greiss has played 41+ games in three seasons, all of which have come in the past five years with New York. Age is thus not a factor in his ability to take on a heavier load. Jonathan Bernier’s play improved significantly after a dismal start to his Red Wings tenure, but his hold on the starting job is far from secure. Greiss has had superior numbers between the two in each of the past two seasons, so if that translates to Detroit then Bernier could be in trouble. A 50/50 split is very possible, but there will be ongoing competition for even a slight lead share in net.

St. Louis Blues Sign Steve Santini

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The St. Louis Blues continue to re-work their defense corps ahead of next season. With Alex Pietrangelo presumably gone and Torey Krug now in the fold, the team has now also added Steve Santini. The Blues have announced a one-year, two-way contract with Santini. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed.

Santini, 25, recently had the final year of his contract – initially signed with the New Jersey Devils – bought out by the Nashville Predators, making him a free agent. In one season with Nashville, Santini only appeared in two NHL games and played a very limited role. Most of the time he was buried in the minors, where he was a solid defensive presence but failed to produce much offense.

In St. Louis, Santini currently looks like the No. 8 or 9 option on a deep unit. The two-way nature of his contract suggests that the Blues intend to send Santini back to the AHL, but he could be one of the first recalls in the event of an injury. With some older defenseman ahead of him who play physical games and could be at an injury risk, such as Carl Gunnarsson and Robert Bortuzzo, Santini could have the opportunity to step in as a substitute.

Winnipeg Jets Extend Luca Sbisa

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Luca Sbisa has joined Nathan Beaulieu in opting to return to the Winnipeg Jets blue line next season. The Jets announced that they have re-signed Sbisa to a one-year, $800K contract. The veteran defenseman played in 44 games with Winnipeg in 2019-20.

Sbisa, 30, was nearly out of the NHL just two years ago, forced to take a PTO with the New York Islanders in order to land a contract for the 2018-19 season only to play in nine games with the team. Yet, he made somewhat of a comeback last year, skating in more than half of the Jets’ games and showing that he can still be a reliable stay-at-home option. The big, physical defenseman is a difficult match-up and can be a useful player even if he isn’t skating every night.

That very well could be the reality for Sbisa, too. Re-signing their current defensemen isn’t going to help a Winnipeg blue line that needs to improve. The team will almost certainly add at least one defenseman by way of free agency or trade and if that happens to be a left-shot defender, that could leave Sbisa and Beaulieu to either play on their off-side or compete for play time.

St. Louis Blues Sign Jon Gillies

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While most NHL teams are adding experienced backups ahead of what is expected to be a condensed 2020-21 schedule, the St. Louis Blues did the opposite, trading away Jake Allen. As they head toward the new season with untested Ville Husso looking like the presumptive new backup, the Blues have added to their depth in net as a precaution. The team announced that Jon Gillies has signed a one-year, two-way contract. No financial terms have been disclosed.

Gillies, 26, brings a dozen NHL appearances with him to the No. 3 role with St. Louis. Gillies was once a top prospect for the Calgary Flames and was even ahead of David Rittich on the organizational depth chart. A star at Providence College, Gillies’ performance in the pros has been a bit more schizophrenic, but he has shown flashes of great ability.

If Husso falters as backup or if an injury occurs to he or starter Jordan Binnington, the Blues could do worse than Gillies as a fallback option. However, St. Louis could very well be in the market for an established veteran backup on the trade market later in the season.

Ottawa Senators Sign Matthew Peca, Logan Shaw

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The Ottawa Senators are bringing in some relatively young, but experienced depth up front. The team has announced the signings of forwards Matthew Peca and Logan Shaw to one-year, two-way contracts. Peca, who finished this past season in Ottawa, will make the minimum $700K in the NHL and $300K in the AHL, while Shaw has a slight advantage with a $725K NHL value and $375K AHL value.

Shaw, 28, may actually end up being a difference-maker for Ottawa this season. The big forward quietly played a semi-regular role for the Winnipeg Jets this season, playing in 35 NHL games versus just 16 AHL games. And while he didn’t contribute much offense – just five points – he was playing behind a deep, talented forward corps in Winnipeg. With the potential for more opportunity in Ottawa, Shaw could have a chance to shine. He recorded 27 goals and 46 points in 63 AHL games just two years ago and if even a portion of that output translates to the NHL, Shaw could be a bargain scorer for the Senators.

Peca, 27, was acquired by the Senators from the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline this past season in what was little more than a tryout for a new contract this season, which he seemingly passed. The small, hard-working forward has not been able to much in the way of offense in the NHL but has done enough to stay in the lineup on multiple teams and accrue some valuable experience. Peca could be a reliable bottom-six option for the Senators this season.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Brandon Baddock

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Is it still not clear that Montreal is looking to get bigger and tougher this off-season? If so, take a look at Brandon Baddock. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that the Canadiens have signed the forward to a one-year , two-way deal worth the minimum $700K at the NHL level and $110K in the AHL. The 6’3″, 220-lb. Baddock has topped 100 penalty minutes in each of his three pro seasons.

Baddock, 25, has yet to make his NHL debut but looks like a player who could make a difference on the fourth line. The former New Jersey Devils prospect is not afraid of puck battles or fist battles, as evidenced by his league-leading 154 PIM in the AHL in 2018-19. While his game may be defined by size and strength and his ability to disrupt play, his offense has also been gradually improving each year.

Between Baddock, the long-term commitment to Josh Anderson, and the addition of Joel Edmundson, Montreal is gearing up to be a much more difficult team to play against next season and in the future. However, the team also needs to be sure that they don’t forget about other areas that need improvement, such as their poor shooting numbers and 22nd ranked power play.

Calgary Flames Sign Jacob Markstrom To Six-Year Deal

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The Jacob Markstrom sweepstakes has a winner. The top goalie on the free agent market opted not to re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks but instead to join the rival Calgary Flames. The Flames have announced that they have agreed to terms with Markstrom on a six-year, $36MM contract. TSN’s Bob McKenzie adds that Markstrom’s deal carries a full No-Movement Clause.

Markstrom, 30, picked a good time to have a career year. In a market with numerous teams needing a new starting goalie, Markstrom was the consensus top option after posting a .918 save percentage and .535 winning percentage. Markstrom finished fourth in the Vezina Trophy voting for the best goalie in the league and was voted the Canucks’ team MVP. In a contract year, he established himself as a legitimate long-term starter.

What resulted was a bidding war for the netminder. Even after proclaiming all year that re-signing Markstrom was a priority, Vancouver could not keep up with rivals Calgary and Edmonton, opting instead to sign Braden Holtby to a short-term deal. Edmonton eventually fell out of the race as well and have yet to find a solution in net.

Calgary, who failed to come to terms on an extension with Cam Talbot prior to free agency opening, end up upgrading the position with Markstrom. David Rittich had failed to prove that he could be relied upon as a starter and will now settle into a backup role, if he is not traded away that is. Markstrom will add some much needed security on the back end for the Flames, who could lose defensemen T.J. Brodie and Travis Hamonic to free agency.

Minnesota Wild Sign Joseph Cramarossa, Dakota Mermis

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The Minnesota Wild are strengthening their depth, adding a pair of experienced minor leaguers. The team has announced that they have signed forward Joseph Cramarossa and defenseman Dakota Mermis to one-year, two-way contracts. Both players will make the minimum $700K at the NHL level; Mermis will get $250K in the AHL while Cramarossa gets $160K.

Mermis, 26, has the better chance of the two of making an impact on the NHL roster after playing in ten games with the New Jersey Devils this season. A productive, puck-moving defenseman, Mermis has shown an ability to contribute offensively even as a spot starter. Although the Wild have a solid top-six locked in, Mermis should compete for a roster spot as an extra defender.

Cramarossa, 27, has not played in the NHL for a few years, but is a dependable two-way AHL forward. He also is not afraid to play a physical game. Cramarossa won’t likely play a significant role for Minnesota, but could be a fourth-line option in the event of injury and should help with the defensive development of forward prospects down in Iowa.

Kevin Shattenkirk Signs With Anaheim Ducks

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The Anaheim Ducks were interested in Kevin Shattenkirk last summer when he was originally bought out by the New York Rangers. Shattenkirk instead opted to join a contender to repair his image and did that and more with the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. A year later, the Ducks now get their man. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that the two sides have agreed on a three-year deal with a $3.9MM AAV.

Shattenkirk, 31, did well for himself to turn an ugly exit from New York and a major pay decrease to join Tampa Bay into a new lucrative contract. With 34 points in 70 games, plus 13 points in the playoffs, Shattenkirk looked like his old self. Once considered one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the NHL, Shattenkirk may be inching back toward that label, even as he traverses his thirties.

Unlike when he joined New York, Shattenkirk is not heading to a situation in Anaheim where he is expected to be the No. 1 defenseman on a shallow blue line. He should be able to continue thriving  as he did in Tampa when he joins Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and company. The Ducks’ defense corps has lost some considerable talent over the past few years, but are working their way back to becoming an elite unit.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Tobias Rieder

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The Buffalo Sabres have dipped into the bargain bin to add a speedy, two-way winger. Veteran forward Tobias Rieder will sign with the team, according to The Score’s John Matisz. It is expected to be one-year, one-way contract for the league minimum $700K.

Rieder, 27, seemingly peaked at a young age, as he has recorded just 21 points over the past two years with Edmonton and Calgary after totaling 117 points in his first four NHL seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. However, a minimum contract is not much of a risk for Buffalo to take on the off-chance that Rieder can return to 30+ point form.

Even if this is just a minor depth addition, Rieder is a good penalty killer and a capable bottom-six forward. Should the Sabres succeed in re-signing non-qualified forward Dominik Kahun, Rieder could also come in handy with furthering the development of his fellow German. Kahun is a similar player to what Rieder was in his prime and the duo could work well together.

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