Hurricanes Sign Tennyson To One-Year Contract
Defenceman Matt Tennyson and the Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to one year, two-way contract worth $675K at the NHL level and $275K in the AHL. Tennyson put up 4 points in 29 games with San Jose last season.
Hurricanes GM Ron Francis said he believes Tennyson can play at the NHL level, and provides right-handed depth. Despite being an inexpensive depth option, the signing continues the trend of right-handed defensemen being valued additions to teams. At this point in his career, Tennyson figures to be a bottom-pairing or seventh defenceman at the NHL level but was signed early in free agency.
Tennyson was an un-drafted free agent signing by the Sharks in 2012, and has appeared in 60 NHL games over three seasons, totalling 14 points. He also scored 65 points in 169 AHL games with the Sharks’ AHL affiliates Worcester Sharks and then San Jose Barracuda.
Vesey Remains Committed To Free Agency
Jimmy Vesey will wait a little longer before deciding his future.
The Harvard grad says he’s committed to becoming an unrestricted free agent, but that won’t happen until August 15. The end-of-summer signing period won’t prevent him from being heavily sought-after. While Vesey has never publicly revealed his shortlist, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe reports Toronto, Boston, Buffalo, both New York teams, New Jersey, and “potentially” St. Louis and Philadelphia having potentially having major interest.
Vesey was drafted 66th overall in 2012 by the Nashville Predators. He played 4 seasons post-draft at Harvard, posting 144 points in 128 games. But when it came time to sign his entry-level contract with the Predators, Vesey declined to put pen to paper, despite allegedly saying he would. Not wanting to lose a good prospect for nothing, the Predators traded Vesey to Buffalo for the 70th pick in this year’s entry draft, recouping the draft pick they spent on Vesey but not the four years of development.
According to Frank Seravalli of TSN, the Sabres plan on making their pitch to Vesey sometime this week, with hopes of convincing him to sign and play with his good friend, Jack Eichel. Vesey and Eichel have been playing together on a summer league team for years now, and Eichel has already given Vesey the talk about Buffalo. However, Vesey’s agent confirmed that free agency is still the plan.
Despite being done school, Vesey will spend his summer doing homework on where he wants to sign. He has family connections in Toronto, with his dad working with the Maple Leafs and his brother being drafted by them. He’s spent four seasons playing in Massachusetts. His good friend plays with Buffalo.
All of the above-listed teams have room for Vesey in their top 6 forwards, and will be getting a highly-motivated player.
Free Agent Frenzy: Day 2 Activity
After yesterday’s absolute madness, that saw over $600MM dollars given out, day two had fewer fireworks. Teams still got a lot done, with the highlight being a five year, $22.5MM deal given to free agent defenseman (and right-handed shot) Jason Demers. Here is all of the day’s activity:
Trades:
To St. Louis: 2017 fifth round pick (BUF)
To Buffalo: G Anders Nilsson
(link)
Free Agent Signings:
D Nate Guenin (ANA) – One year, $600K (link)
C Alex Friesen (STL) – One year, undisclosed (link)
D Brad Hunt (STL) – One year, undisclosed (link)
C Wade Megan (STL) – One year, undisclosed (link)
D Chris Butler (STL) – One year, undisclosed (link)
C Jacob Doty (STL) – One year, undisclosed (link)
C Brad Malone (WSH) – One year, $575K (link)
G Kristers Gudlevskis (TB) – One year, undisclosed (link)
RW P.A. Parenteau (NYI) – One year, $1.25MM (link)
LW Chris Terry (MON) – One year, undisclosed (link)
D Philip Samuelsson (MON) – One year, $600K (link)
D Jason Demers (FLA) – Five years, $22.5MM (link)
C Vincent Trocheck (FLA) – Six years, $28.5MM (link)
D Julian Melchiori (WIN) – Two years, $1.25MM (link)
C Derek Grant (BUF) – One year, undisclosed (link)
G Anders Nilsson (BUF) – One year, $1MM (link)
D Roman Polak (TOR) – One year, undisclosed (link)
Entry-Level Contracts:
D Justin Holl (TOR) – One year, $925K (link)
D Ethan Bear (EDM) – Three years, $2.78MM (link)
C Conner Bleackley (STL) – Three years, $2.78MM (link)
G Jamie Phillips (WIN) – Two years, $1.35MM (link)
The Exceedingly Expensive Right-Handed Defenseman
The problem of right-handed defensemen (RHD) has been one for a while in the NHL, with teams struggling to find three good ones to slot into their blueline. Last season, there were only 80 of them that played in at least 41 games (half the season), compared to a whopping 111 southpaws.
Of the RHD group, the best are among the league’s elite, with all three of the top Norris trophy vote-getters skating on the right side (Drew Doughty, Erik Karlsson, and Brent Burns). This top group is being paid like the superstars they are, but it’s beginning to present as a trend throughout the league to overpay, through free agency or trade, for some of the mid-level (or bottom rung) talent.
Aaron Ekblad finds himself in that top group, and was rewarded with a whopping $60MM extension before his 21st birthday. The Panthers realized that he was worth $15MM (or, more accurately $1.15MM per season) more than another recent signee, Keith Yandle, despite only buying out four free agent years. This isn’t a mistake, far from it, it’s just the going rate for right-handed talent.
The Oilers were recently affected by it as well; they ended up trading one of the best wingers in the world for a good (and maybe great) RHD because it’s been so long since they’ve been able to find one. The Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson deal is a massive overpay because Edmonton were dead-set on the idea of acquiring a member of the NHL’s smallest communities.
We saw it most clearly when the right-handed Ben Lovejoy received a bigger contract (in total $) than Dan Hamhuis, despite being just 14 months younger than him. Most people would agree that the former Penguin isn’t the player Hamhuis is, but he is right-handed.
Lovejoy will also be earning more per season for the Devils than their own outgoing David Schlemko, who by all rights is a much better defenseman and is capable of about the same production offensively. He’s also more than three years younger than Lovejoy, albeit with a shorter track record to match.
The Maple Leafs even brought back Roman Polak today, a move which had many analysts scratching their head due to the Leafs’ glut of young blueliners in the minor league system. The Leafs know that Polak will be valuable again at this year’s deadline – last season they used San Jose’s need for a RHD to the tune of two second round picks (apologies to Nick Spaling).
It’s this extreme lack of options that makes today’s signing of Jason Demers by the Florida Panthers look so fantastic, as they locked up the top-4, RHD for just $4.5MM per season for the next five years.
When Kevin Shattenkirk is commanding pieces like Dylan Larkin in trade, and Larsson can net you a superstar in Hall, signing right-handed defensemen in their prime to reasonable contracts isn’t something that should be taken lightly – in fact, it’s almost never seen in today’s NHL.
Sens’ Prospect Colin White Headed Back To NCAA
According to a report from Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Senators’ prospect and former first-round pick Colin White has decided to go back to Boston College this season. The 19-year old was considered a possibility to crack the team’s NHL roster, but has decided to return to the Eagles for 2016-17.
White, selected 21st overall in 2015, exploded onto the college scene last season with 43 points in 37 games as a freshman. His 19 goals ranked third on the team, and those 43 points put him fifth in the entire H-East division.
While this shouldn’t scare any Senator fans, and doesn’t deserve any comparisons to the recent comments of Jimmy Vesey about hitting free agency, White did have a chance at cracking the roster as early as this season. Boston College is an outstanding program that will take control of his development for another season, and he should see an increased role in their offense as they go after another national championship.
Fellow Boston College standout Ian McCoshen recently signed on with the Florida Panthers after three seasons in college, and White may take a similar path.
Free Agent Profile: Kris Russell
After Friday’s spending frenzy, D Kris Russell is the most prominent player left on the open market. Because of the contrasting interpretation of his skill set, his free agency case is certainly interesting to follow.
Russell, though quite undersized for his position at just 5’10, has carved out a niche for himself in recent years as one of the preeminent shot blockers in the entire league. He has recorded at least 201 blocked shots in each of the last three seasons with a career high of 283 in 2014-15, more than 70 blocks more than the next highest player. Last year, his total dipped to 210 but that was still good enough for second highest in the league behind Colorado’s Francois Beauchemin.
How that stat is interpreted is what makes his particular case so intriguing. On the one hand, teams value players who are willing to put their body on the line to keep shots from getting through to the net. Those players have been handsomely rewarded in the past. On the other hand, the fact that Russell is on the ice for so many shots against can be interpreted as an indictment of his defensive play; if he was better in that regard, he wouldn’t have so many shots to block. Any GM who looks at it that way will either offer him less money or stay away from offering him a deal altogether.
Further complicating his value is Russell’s step back offensively compared to 2014-15. That season, he collected 30 assists and 34 points but last year, he had just 15 and 19, respectively. At 34 points, he can be classified as a two-way defender but under 20, that’s no longer the case. Russell’s agent may try to sell him as a two-way player but it’s not likely that he’ll get much traction there.
Potential Suitors
Toronto and Montreal were both linked to Russell on Friday but neither of them has the cap space to sign him outright (before taking any projected LTIR-bound players into consideration). Vancouver also was believed to have some interest but may not have a roster spot for him. Boston has the cap space and roster vacancy to fit him in, as do the Stars, where Russell finished last season. If Russell’s asking price drops, that will open up a few other landing spots as well.
Projected Contract
Russell is ranked 12th on our Top 50 UFA list and is the highest of the unsigned players on there. We project a four year, $18MM contract for the 29 year old.
Free Agent Frenzy: Day 1 Signings By Team
Here are all of the signings of day one of the free agent frenzy, broken down by team, with a link to the individual stories:
Anaheim Ducks:
None
Arizona Coyotes:
C Chris Mueller – One year, $600K (link)
LW Garret Ross – One year, $575K (link)
D Jamie McBain – One year, $600K (link)
LW Jamie McGinn – Three years, $10MM (link)
D Jarred Tinordi – One year, $700K (link)
G Justin Peters – One year, $600K (link)
D Kevin Connauton – Two years, $2MM (link)
D Klas Dahlbeck – One year, $750K (link)
C Ryan White – One year, $1MM (link)
Boston Bruins:
G Anton Khudobin – Two years, $2.4MM (link)
C David Backes – Five years, $30MM (link)
D John-Michael Liles – One year, $2MM (link)
C Riley Nash – Two years, $1.8MM (link)
C Tim Schaller – One year, $600K (link)
D Tommy Cross – One year, $600K (link)
RW Tyler Randell – One year, $600K (link)
Shane Doan Close To Re-Signing With Arizona
According to Sportsnet’s John Shannon, Shane Doan will not be testing free agency this season and is close to a new deal with the Arizona Coyotes. The only franchise Doan has ever played for, he’ll be entering his 21st season with the club.
Even at 39, Doan still ranked 20th on our list of the top 50 free agents after he put up another great season in 2015-16. Scoring 28 goals, the former 7th overall pick (of the 1995 Entry Draft!) now has 396 for his career, putting him in the top 100 of all-time (92nd).
Doan is a testament to loyalty, staying with his original club all these years despite only playing in 55 career contests and none since 2012. While he probably would get multiple offers from teams around the league who think he can still contribute as a top-6 scorer, going back to Arizona always seemed like the natural thing to do, and if Shannon is correct he should be able to play out the end of his career, never having left the Winnipeg/Phoenix/Arizona franchise.
Minor UFA Signings: 07/01/16
Along with all of the huge names that went early in today’s free agency period, teams made quite a few smaller moves to shore up the fringes of their NHL lineup. Here are the minor signings:
- Stuart Percy (PIT): One year, $525K (two-way)
- Mike Kostka (OTT): One year, $800K (two-way)
- Anton Khudobin (BOS): Two years, $2.4MM
- Jon Marchessault (FLA): Two years, $1.5MM/yr
- Colton Sceviour (FLA): Two years, $1.9MM
- Michael Bournival (TB): One year, $575K (two-way)
- Casey Bailey (OTT): One year, $874K (two-way)
- Sam Carrick (CHI): One year, $575K (two-way)
- Pierre-Cedric Labrie (CHI): One year, $575K (two-way)
- Adam Clendening (NYR): One year, $600K (two-way)
- David Warsofsky (PIT): One year, $575K (two-way)
- Klas Dahlbeck (ARZ): One year, $750K
Maple Leafs Sign Matt Martin To Four-Year Deal
According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs have made their first signing of free agency, inking forward Matt Martin to a four-year deal worth $10MM. After losing out on the chance to sign Markham native Steven Stamkos, the Leafs went after his former Sarnia Sting linemate in Martin – the two played together in 2007-08.
Martin was apparently a hot commodity this season despite never scoring 20 points in a single season. While he doesn’t offer much in the offensive end, he does carry his own in his own end and plays with an extremely physical style. Martin has recorded over 350 hits in three straight seasons, leading the league each time.
With Toronto expected to have a number of young players in the lineup next season, including 5’11” (if that) 164 pound (soaking wet) London Knight uber-prospect Mitch Marner, Martin will be expected to keep the peace on the ice and ensure those players can use their skill and speed to play in the offensive end.
While this seems somewhat backwards in today’s NHL, Martin isn’t a lumbering enforcer and can keep up with the play even with his 6’3″ frame. While he probably won’t play much more than the 11 minutes a night he received in New York, he’ll be a welcome addition to the Maple Leafs as they continue to rebuild.