Anaheim Signs Anthony Stolarz
After standing pat on day one of free agency, the Anaheim Ducks have come alive today with their third signing. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, has signed with the team, reports TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. It is expected to be a two-year, one-way contract for Stolarz worth $750K.
After parts of five seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization to begin his pro career, Stolarz finally got a change of scenery when he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in February for Cam Talbot. Stolarz was immediately considered a likely backup candidate for Edmonton moving forward, but failed to impress in six appearances with the team down the stretch and by all reports the Oilers made no attempt to keep him.
Stolarz now joins yet another team in Anaheim and hopes he can get his career back on track. Stolarz was a second-round pick in 2012 and injuries have prevented him from playing up to the expectations of his high draft price. Still just 25 though, Stolarz still has upside and his underlying numbers, in both the NHL and AHL, have been good when healthy.
Managing their depth in net could be tricky for the Ducks, however. Anaheim re-signed Ryan Miller to a one-year deal and may see Stolarz as the future backup to John Gibson after that deal expires, but in 2019-20 the team will either have to carry all three goalies or risk losing Stolarz on waivers. How it all plays out will be interesting to watch.
Notable AHL Signings: 7/1 & 7/2
It’s not uncommon to see many players coming off NHL contracts, including those who have found success in the AHL, opt to sign minor league contracts early in July. As the new league year begins, many unrestricted free agents find that the market for their services at the top level does not develop. Rather than hold out hope for a two-way NHL contract further into the off-season, many are content to accept AHL contracts, which don’t rule out the possibility of signing in the NHL but provide some certainty about the coming season. Through the first two days of free agency, more than a few familiar names have settled for minor league pacts:
- Tyler Sikura has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sikura has been a key contributor for Rockford the past two years, even earning a one-year contract with Chicago this past season, but did not make an NHL appearance. He was likely content to stay with organization anyway, as he can continue to play with younger brother Dylan Sikura.
- After playing a key shutdown role for the Charlotte Checkers en route to a Calder Cup championship, defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Providence has several top prospects on their blue line, but are lacking depth and Didier should again play an important role for his team next season.
- The San Antonio Rampage have signed former Detroit Red Wings prospect and second-round pick Zach Nastisiuk to an AHL contract, as well as fellow forwards Cameron Darcy and J.J. Piccinich. The trio will have to fight for ice time in the minors, as the St. Louis Blues have signed quite a few depth players already over these past two days.
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms went big game hunting among AHL veterans yesterday, signing five-time AHL All-Star Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal and bringing back their own All-Star, Greg Carey. O’Reilly, 32, has been on an NHL contract in each of the past five seasons, but had to settle for a step down this year despite another strong campaign. The center was a point-per-game scorer for the Iowa Wild, notching 67 points in 67 games to finish in the top ten in the AHL in scoring. It was his sixth AHL season with 60+ points. Carey, 29, saw his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers expire, but remains in the organization, where he has recorded three straight 50+ points seasons. The Phantoms also signed another Iowa forward, Gerry Fitzgerald, and defenseman Eric Knodel to one-year contracts.
- A trio of familiar names have joined the Hartford Wolfpack: goalie Thomas McCollum, forward Harry Zolnierczyk, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde. All three players are coming off of NHL contracts but will have to work their way back into relevance at the top level. McCollum and Zolnierczyk both have played in the NHL, albeit not in several years, and LoVerde is a two-time AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champ. It’s quite a haul for Hartford.
- Sam Vigneault left Clarkson University early to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, but his play in the minors tailed off over the past two years and his entry-level contract expired without an NHL experience. However, he’s content to stay in the organization, as Vigneault has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
- Former top goalie prospect Zach Fucale has had a tough go of it in the pros. A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, Fucale has been relegated to the ECHL for much of the past three seasons. He managed to find an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, but considering the depth in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing three goalies yesterday, Fucale is likely headed back to the ECHL.
- Cole Schneider has been a force in the AHL for years, recently wrapping up his sixth straight season of 50+ points. However, the 28-year-old has been unable to translate that offense to the NHL. Although he still had enough value to warrant a trade to the Nashville Predators this season, Schneider never made an appearance for the team. That hasn’t stopped him from sticking with the organization though. The Milwaukee Admirals have brought back the talented forward on a one-year deal.
Ottawa Senators Re-Sign Nick Paul
The Ottawa Senators have signed restricted free agent Nick Paul to a one-year two-way contract, keeping him in the organization for another season. The deal carries a $750K salary at the NHL level, and could take Paul to Group VI unrestricted free agency if he fails to play in at least 24 NHL games next season.
Paul, 24, has been used as an emergency call-up for the Senators many times over the last several years, playing in 56 contests across four seasons. Mostly he has spent that time in a fourth-line role to give the team a big body, but at the minor league level he’s much more than that. Scoring 39 points in 43 games for the Belleville Senators last season he helped the young group including Drake Batherson, Logan Brown and Filip Chlapik compete every night. That’s likely the role he’ll have again in 2019-20, though he will fight for a roster spot in the NHL during a wide open training camp.
The Senators have just eight forwards on one-way contracts for next season, and there will certainly be competition for the final few spots. The team is set on building towards the future, and with players like Mikkel Boedker, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tyler Ennis all on one-year deals that lead to unrestricted free agency, more spots could potentially open up throughout the year.
Vegas Golden Knights Considering Nikita Gusev Trade
It was a huge acquisition when the Vegas Golden Knights convinced Russian superstar Nikita Gusev to come to North America and sign his entry-level contract last season, even if it did mean he would be a restricted free agent again without ever playing an NHL game. Gusev’s one year deal expired after the 2018-19 season regardless of whether the Golden Knights gave him any playing time down the stretch—which they did not—and now he’s in a contract negotiation with them as an RFA. Unfortunately, that negotiation does not seem to be going smoothly as Jesse Granger of The Athletic (subscription required) reports the gap in salary is still $2MM per season. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express explains on Twitter that Gusev is looking for a two-year, $8MM deal while the Golden Knights want to sign him for half of that total.
Vegas president George McPhee admitted that if they can’t work something out they will look at all the options, and noted that there is interest in him around the league. That’s not a surprise given Gusev’s incredible record in the KHL. The 26-year old forward scored 82 points last season in just 62 games for SKA St. Petersburg, his third consecutive season recording more than a point-per-game. Those kind of totals don’t happen often in that league, leading some to believe that he could have a similar impact as some other Russian imports over the years—Artemi Panarin, who just signed a seven-year, $81.5MM in free agency, is the most common comparison.
NHL success though is not guaranteed. For every success story from the KHL over the years there have been equal numbers of failures, including one that Vegas fans should be quite familiar with. Vadim Shipachyov, who has also been a better than point-per-game player in the KHL several times, failed to find any opportunity with the Golden Knights for one reason or another and ended up terminating his contract in order to return to Russia. Shipachyov recorded 68 points in 61 games for Dynamo Moscow last season in the KHL.
Gusev may be a dynamic offensive player in the NHL, but the Golden Knights simply can’t afford to pay him $4MM as their salary structure is currently constructed. The team already has had to dump good players this offseason to make room for what they already have, and adding another player like Gusev without knowing exactly what his impact will be could be risky. That said, there are plenty of other teams who would be able to take that risk and likely will be lining up to hear what it would cost to acquire him.
Free Agent Frenzy 2019: 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:
F Beau Bennett – One year, $700K (link)
F Andy Miele – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Aaron Ness – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
G Ivan Posvetov – Three years, $2.775MM (link)*
Boston Bruins:
F Ryan Fitzgerald – One year, $700K (link)
F Brendan Gaunce – One year, $700K (link)
G Maxime Lagace – One year, $700K (link)
F Brett Ritchie – One year, $1MM (link)
F Par Lindholm – Two years, $1.7MM (link)
D Connor Clifton – Three years, $3MM (link)
Buffalo Sabres:
F Curtis Lazar – One year, $700K (link)
D John Gilmour – One year, $700K (link)
G Andrew Hammond – One year, $700K (link)
F Jean-Sebastien Dea – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
Calgary Flames:
F Byron Froese – One year, $700K (link)
D Brandon Davidson – One year, $700K (link)
G Cam Talbot – One year, $2.75MM (link)
Carolina Hurricanes:
G Petr Mrazek – Two years, $6.25MM (link)
Chicago Blackhawks:
F David Kampf – Two years, $2MM (link)
F Ryan Carpenter – Three years, $3MM (link)
G Robin Lehner – One year, $5MM (link)
Colorado Avalanche:
F Jayson Megna – One year, $700K (link)
F Colin Wilson – One year, $2.6MM (link)
F Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Two years, $3.6MM (link)
F Joonas Donskoi – Four years, $15.6MM (link)
Columbus Blue Jackets:
G Joonas Korpisalo – One year, $1.15MM (link)
D Ryan Muray – Two years, $9.2MM (link)
F Gustav Nyquist – Four years, $22MM (link)
Dallas Stars:
D Reece Scarlett – One year, $700K (link)
G Landon Bow – One year, $700K (link)
F Tanner Kero – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Andrej Sekera – One year, $1.5MM + $500K performance bonuses (link)
F Corey Perry – One year, $1.5MM + $1.75MM performance bonuses (link)
F Joe Pavelski – Three years, $21MM (link)
Detroit Red Wings:
G Calvin Pickard – Two years, $1.5MM (link)
D Patrik Nemeth – Two years, $6MM (link)
F Valtteri Filppula – Two years, $6MM (link)
Edmonton Oilers:
F Gaetan Haas – One year, $925K* (link)
F Tomas Jurco – One year, $750K (link)
F Markus Granlund – One year, $1.3MM (link)
G Mike Smith – One year, $2MM (link)
F Jujhar Khaira – Two years, $2.4MM (link)
F Alex Chiasson – Two years, $4.3MM (link)
Florida Panthers:
D Ethan Prow – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Tommy Cross – Two years, $1.45MM (link)
F Noel Acciari – Three years, $5MM (link)
F Brett Connolly – Four years, $13MM (link)
D Anton Stralman – Three years, $16.5MM (link)
G Sergei Bobrovsky – Seven years, $70MM (link)
Los Angeles Kings:
F Martin Frk – One year, $700K (link)
D Joakim Ryan – One year, $725K (link)
Minnesota Wild:
F Luke Johnson – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Gabriel Dumont – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Ryan Hartman – Two years, $3.9MM (link)
F Mats Zuccarello – Five years, $30MM (link)
Montreal Canadiens:
F Riley Barber – One year, $700K (link)
G Keith Kinkaid – One year, $1.75MM (link)
F Sebastian Aho – Five years, $42.27MM -OFFER SHEET- (link)
Nashville Predators:
F Daniel Carr – One year, $700K (link)
F Matt Duchene – Seven years, $56MM (link)
New Jersey Devils:
D Dakota Mermis – One year, $700K (link)
F Ben Street – One year, $750K (link)
D Matt Tennyson – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Wayne Simmonds – One year, $5MM (link)
New York Islanders:
G Semyon Varlamov – Four years, $20MM (link)
F Anders Lee – Seven years, $49MM (link)
New York Rangers:
F Greg McKegg – Terms not disclosed (link)
F Daniel O’Regan – Terms not disclosed (link)
F Artemi Panarin – Seven years, $81.5MM (link)
Ottawa Senators:
F Jordan Szwarz – One year, $800K (link)
F Tyler Ennis – One year, $800K (link)
D Ron Hainsey – One year, $3.5MM (link)
Philadelphia Flyers:
F Kurtis Gabriel – One year, $700K (link)
F Kyle Criscuolo – One year, $700K (link)
G Jean-Francois Berube – One year, $700K (link)
D Tyler Wotherspoon – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Chris Bigras – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Nate Prosser – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Andy Welinski – One year, $750K (link)
F Andy Andreoff – Two years, $1.5MM (link)
Pittsburgh Penguins:
F Andrew Agozzino – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D David Warsofsky – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Brandon Tanev – Six years, $21MM (link)
San Jose Sharks:
D Tim Heed – One year, $960K (link)
F Timo Meier – Four years, $24MM (link)
St. Louis Blues:
F Evan Polei – Two years, $1.85MM (link)*
F Michael Vecchione – One year, $700K (link)
F Nick Lappin – One year, $700K (link)
D Jake Dotchin – One year, $700K (link)
D Derrick Pouliot – One year, $700K (link)
F Nathan Walker – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Sammy Blais – One year, $850K (link)
Tampa Bay Lightning:
F Chris Mueller – One year, $700K (link)
G Spencer Martin – One year, $700K (link)
G Scott Wedgewood – On year, $700K (link)
D/F Luke Witkowski – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
D Luke Schenn – One year, $700K (link)
G Curtis McElhinney – Two years, $2.6MM (link)
Toronto Maple Leafs:
F Jason Spezza – One year, $700K (link)
D Kevin Gravel – One year, $700K (link)
F Nick Shore – One year, $750K (link)
F Kenny Agostino – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
Vancouver Canucks:
F Tyler Graovac – One year, $700K (link)
G Zane McIntyre – One year, $700K (link)
D Oscar Fantenberg – One year, $850K (link)
D Jordie Benn – Two years, $4MM (link)
D Tyler Myers – Five years, $30MM (link)
Vegas Golden Knights:
D Jaycob Megna – One year, $700K (link)
D Brett Lernout – One year, $700K (link)
F Tyrell Goulbourne – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Patrick Brown – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
F Tomas Nosek – One year, $1MM (link)
F Brandon Pirri – Two years, $1.55MM (link)
Washington Capitals:
F Philippe Maillet – Two years, $1.4MM (link)
G Vitek Vanecek – Three years, $2.15MM (link)
F Brendan Leipsic – One year, $700K (link)
F Garnet Hathaway – Four years, $6MM (link)
F Richard Panik – Four years, $11MM (link)
Winnipeg Jets:
D Cameron Schilling – One year, $700K (link)
D Nathan Beaulieu – One year, $1MM (link)
*Indicates entry-level contract
Indicates two-way contract
New Jersey Adds Tennyson, Mermis, Street
The New Jersey Devils have made some major additions this summer in the likes of No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes, superstar defenseman P.K. Subban, and today’s big free agency addition, forward Wayne Simmonds. It’s now time to fill out the organizational depth chart, and the team has done just that. The Devils have announced the signings of three veteran fringe players, defensemen Matt Tennyson and Dakota Mermis and forward Ben Street. The trio all signed two-way deals, with Tennyson signing on for two years while Mermis and Street will be under contract for just one.
Tennyson, 29, may be best known for his constant dance between the minor leagues and NHL the last several seasons. He was involved in 15 separate transactions last season for the Buffalo Sabres, popping back and forth from the Rochester Americans but only actually suiting up four times in the NHL. He may not get a lot more opportunity than that in New Jersey, but at least he’ll get some stability with a two-year contract.
Mermis meanwhile would likely kill for even that opportunity in the NHL. The 25-year old has played just ten games with the Arizona Coyotes and instead spent the rest of his professional career in the minor leagues. In 62 games for the Tucson Roadrunners last season the defenseman recorded 24 points, but ended up a Group VI unrestricted free agent looking for work this summer. He too will likely report to the Binghamton Devils to start the year.
Street, 32, had the most NHL experience last year out of the group, suiting up for 21 contests with the Anaheim Ducks when they found themselves lacking any semblance of center depth. The veteran minor league forward has been a top scoring threat for years in the AHL but has just eight points in 56 career NHL games. That likely won’t change much next season with the Devils, but he will be there in case they face any injury troubles throughout the year.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Robin Lehner
In perhaps the biggest surprise of free agency thus far, the Chicago Blackhawks have shockingly emerged as the victor for top available free agent goaltender Robin Lehner. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that the two sides were closing in on a deal, before adding that the terms have been agreed to. An even bigger surprise than the match? The contract. It is just a one-year deal for Lehner at $5MM, despite rumors he had been seeking a five-year term.
Lehner, 27, went without a qualifying offer from the Buffalo Sabres a year ago and was a free agent without a clear destination. The Islanders brought him in on a one-year $1.5MM deal, which ended up being one of the biggest moments of his life. Very publicly, Lehner dealt with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder but was able to overcome his mental health issues to find some sort of balance in his life on and off the ice. For the Islanders, he performed like a Vezina-caliber netminder (he finished third in the voting) with a .930 save percentage through 46 appearances, and was awarded the Masterton Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. In a touching speech at the NHL awards, Lehner told the crowd “I’m not ashamed to say I’m mentally ill, but that doesn’t mean I’m mentally weak.”
At the end of the season Lehner made it clear that he was hoping to stay in New York, ready to re-sign with the Islanders if possible. On a conference call after signing with the Blackhawks however, he explained to those listening including team reporter Chris Kuc that “it not working out on Long Island had nothing to do with me” and that “we were still pretty much all-in with Long Island and they walked away, didn’t want to do anything.” New York’s loss is Chicago’s gain, as the Blackhawks will add a Vezina-caliber talent on just a one-year deal.
The question now becomes what happens to incumbent Corey Crawford and young Collin Delia. Crawford played just 39 games last season after returning from concussion issues and posted a .908 save percentage, but has one year remaining on his current contract that carries a $6MM cap hit. Delia too is on a one-way deal that pays him $1MM for the next three seasons, and looked to be pushing for a starting role in Chicago. The Blackhawks are sitting quite close to the salary cap after day one of free agent frenzy and likely have more moves up their sleeves.
L.A. Kings To Sign Joakim Ryan, Martin Frk
The Los Angeles Kings did not take part in the early rush of signings this afternoon, but they won’t leave day one of free agency without making a mark. Team insider Jon Rosen writes that the team has agreed to terms on one-year contracts with two young unrestricted free agents, defenseman Joakim Ryan and forward Martin Frk. He adds that it will be a one-way, $725K deal for Ryan and a two-way, $700K deal for Frk.
Ryan should be familiar to Kings fans as a former member of the rival San Jose Sharks. The Sharks declined to extend a qualifying offer to the 26-year-old, who had played in over 100 games with the team over the past two seasons, not including an impressive run as a starter in this year’s playoffs. While Ryan doesn’t excel at any one aspect, he plays a complete game and should compete for consistent ice time with L.A., even though the team has a number of possibilities on the blue line.
Frk, for all of his shortcomings, could be a nice value add on a two-way deal and minimum contract. The 25-year-old right wing is a talented shooter who has yet to find the right fit in the NHL. If he finds chemistry on the Kings, he could be a consistent goal-scoring threat. If not, he’s simply an experienced name to add to AHL depth chart.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign David Kampf
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed David Kampf to a two-year contract after failing to issue him a qualifying offer last week. Kampf technically became an unrestricted free agent, but was always expected to re-sign with the Blackhawks after a nice season in the NHL.
The 24-year old forward signed out of the Czech Republic in 2017 and quickly showed that he was in no need of seasoning in the minor leagues. He played 46 games with the Blackhawks in 2017-18 and came back as a regular last season. In 63 appearances he registered 19 points, but was relatively effective in a bottom-six center and penalty killing role. That’s likely where he’ll be used again next season, though it’s unclear exactly how the Blackhawks’ bottom-six will shake out now that Ryan Carpenter and Andrew Shaw have been acquired in recent days.
In fact, Chicago has only eight forwards in the entire organization on one-way contracts for next season, meaning there still could be a fair amount of change and competition in the lineup. Kampf will know he has the security of a two-year deal and will still be under team control when it expires in the summer of 2021.
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.