Matt Martin Traded To New York Islanders
The New York Islanders have acquired Matt Martin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltending prospect Eamon McAdam. No salary was retained in the transaction, meaning the Islanders will have to carry the full $2.5MM cap hit for the next two seasons. Interestingly though, Martin was paid a $1.5MM signing bonus on July 1st for what was already a front-loaded contract, meaning New York will actually only pay $2.5MM in actual cash for Martin’s work through 2019-20.
Martin, 29, was pushed out of the Maple Leafs lineup this season due to the emergence of Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, playing in only 50 games and watching through the entire first round of the playoffs. Though he was extremely well-liked in the dressing room, there was simply no spot for Martin on Toronto’s roster going forward, and the team desperately needed cap relief for next season when Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander will all be on their next contracts. $2.5MM in cap space isn’t insignificant, especially when the team didn’t have to give up a single asset to rid themselves of it.
In fact they acquired McAdam, who was originally picked in the third round by the Islanders but hasn’t been able to secure a job even at the AHL level. Coming to Toronto he may have a similar problem, as the team already has Garret Sparks, Calvin Pickard and Kasimir Kaskisuo under contract. One of the first two may be moved up to the NHL should the team believe they can help more than current backup Curtis McElhinney, but there isn’t a lot of room on the Toronto Marlies either way. Beyond this year, the team also owns the rights to NCAA goaltender Joseph Woll, who is headed back to Boston College but could be ready for professional action in 2019-20. It’s not clear where McAdam lands in that group, though he could be loaned to another AHL team like Kaskisuo was last season.
With this deal the Islanders will be able to reunite a line of Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck that was once considered the “best fourth line in the NHL” though that is certainly not guaranteed. Over the last few days the team has also signed bottom-six forwards Leo Komarov and Tom Kuhnhackl, while they still have Ross Johnston and others that could compete for spots. If that trio is put back together, it will be interesting to see if they can be as effective as they once were at pinning defenders in with physicality.
Martin struggled to find ice time in Toronto this season so the move makes sense, and opens up another roster spot for a young player or free agent acquisition. The Maple Leafs currently have some openings on their fourth line, though new faces like Josh Jooris or Par Lindholm could fill those roles. Either way, it does seem like fresh-faced GM Kyle Dubas has a clear plan for the Maple Leafs going forward—one that no longer included Martin.
San Jose Sharks Re-Sign Joe Thornton To One-Year Deal
The San Jose Sharks have re-signed center Joe Thornton to a one-year deal, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reports the deal is for $5MM and carries a no-trade clause. With Thornton now back in the fold, the Sharks still have $13.8MM in projected cap space with just a few restricted free agents left to sign, suggesting the team could still make another move.
The return of the 39-year-old Thornton was never in question, as the team was only waiting to see if they could convince superstar free agent John Tavares to sign with the team. Thornton was already told he would come back regardless of whether the team inked Tavares or not. Kurz adds that he heard from a source that Thornton was willing to take significantly less had the team managed to sign Tavares. He did receive some attention from other teams, but had little interest in leaving the Sharks.
“There were teams calling, but I told my agent-slash-brother, let’s keep it quiet this year,” Thornton said (via Kurz). I want to go back to San Jose.”
However, it so far looks like San Jose had hinged its offseason hopes of Tavares signing with them as the team did not sign any other significant free agents once it learned that Tavares was heading to the Maple Leafs. Although they did extend Evander Kane over a month ago, the team has spent much of its time moving out salary to accommodate a Tavares’ deal. With significant cap room remaining, there could be other moves coming, although the team must still deal with restricted free agents Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney.
After putting up an 82-point season in the 2015-16 season, Thornton’s numbers have been on the decline, which shouldn’t be a surprise at his age. He put up 50 points in 2016-17 and looked to be ready to improve on that last season, but a knee injury limited the veteran center to just 47 games last year (36 points) and he was forced to miss the playoffs.
Calgary Flames Sign James Neal
The Calgary Flames worked through the night to secure another free agent asset, signing James Neal to a five-year deal. The average annual value of the contract will be around $5.75MM.
Neal was the highest ranked player left on our Top 50 UFA List after day one of free agency, and is the picture of offensive consistency in the salary cap era. Scoring at least 21 goals in each of his ten seasons, Neal was once again a positive possession player and an on-ice leader for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18. Though he’s almost never been his team’s leading scorer, he quietly goes about his business at both even-strength and on the powerplay providing excellent secondary scoring and reliable two-way play. That’s huge for the Flames, who have rebuilt their roster over the last few weeks with the additions like Neal, Derek Ryan, Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm.
The Flames enter 2018-19 with a new head coach behind the bench in Bill Peters, and several new faces up front. Where Neal fits into the group isn’t clear, but he’ll be another option for the middle-six, or potentially even spend time on the top line if Lindholm doesn’t fit as well as expected with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. It will be interesting to see what this means for Troy Brouwer, who still has two years at $4.5MM on his contract but is coming off back-to-back seasons of 25 or fewer points.
Even with Neal’s remarkable consistency, this deal does bring some substantial risk. The 30-year old winger has seen his assist totals decline in recent years as he tends to create less room for himself and teammates, and he isn’t the same dynamic powerplay scorer that he was earlier in his career. There’s no guarantee that as he enters the latter part of the contract he’ll still be an effective second-line option, but at a near $6MM price tag will still be paid like one.
The Flames are obviously disappointed with their lack of success in 2017-18, and have done some hard work this summer to put themselves in a better position come the fall. After waiting until the middle rounds to even make a selection at the draft, they’re clearly in a win-now mode and can’t deviate from that plan.
Ryan O’Reilly Traded To St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues added some forward depth today by signing Tyler Bozak and David Perron, but weren’t done making a splash. The team has acquired Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly. The Sabres will receive a 2019 first round pick, a 2021 second round pick, Tage Thompson, Vladimir Sobotka and Patrik Berglund. The deal will be completed today and the Blues will pay O’Reilly’s $7.5MM signing bonus, due just before midnight. The 2019 pick is top-10 protected, meaning should the season get away from the Blues they will not have to give up a high pick next summer.
While the deal certainly brings several assets to the Sabres, getting rid of the Sobotka and Berglund contracts were imperative for the Blues to get something like this done. TO complete the deal without giving up one of their top prospects like Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou, while also protecting their deep defensive corps. The Blues are ready to compete once again in 2018-19, and have brought in some experienced forwards to put them over the top.
For the Sabres, they not only deal O’Reilly before having to pay his signing bonus, but also get five useful assets. While Sobotka and Berglund were slightly overpaid and potentially hurting the Blues salary structure, they’re clear upgrades on some of the bottom-six options that Buffalo has used over the past few seasons. Thompson meanwhile is an excellent prospect in his own right, and should give them another key building block in their quest for redemption. Grouping the 20-year old Thompson with Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt and others will give Buffalo a core that they can really market as a future perennial playoff team.
Pierre LeBrun and Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic were the first to confirm the trade.
PHR’s 2018 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
The last weekend of June is finally here, and with it brings the start of NHL free agency. On Sunday at 11am CDT, over 100 players will become unrestricted free agents allowed to negotiate and sign a contract with any team in the league. No team will be allowed to offer them a contract longer than seven years, while $15.9MM is the highest cap hit a player can carry.
Today it’s time to unveil our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agent List. The rankings were voted on by the PHR writing team, based on talent and projected demand, not necessarily their total dollar amounts. The group is led by a superstar that has been the talk of the entire league for some time—and could make this list out of date in quick fashion—but is relatively thin thereafter. Since John Carlson‘s new extension with the Washington Capitals, we’ve seen the defense market get scraped almost entirely clean in recent days. Still, there are some important names that should draw plenty of interest.
All predictions are independent and have no bearing on each other, while each player is presumed to be signing a one-way contract. Retirement, Europe, and professional tryouts are real possibilities for many of them, but those options have not been used as predictions. The voting was done prior to the qualifying offer deadline, meaning only a few notable names from that group are included—ones that were confirmed early to be heading to UFA status. Anthony Duclair and Tobias Rieder for instance, were not included but likely would have garnered votes. Others who faced buyouts like Xavier Ouellet and Brooks Orpik were also not included in the voting, as their status was not confirmed until afterwards.
1. John Tavares – New York Islanders – 8 years, $92.0MM There’s no telling what Tavares will do after six in-person meetings this week. The 27-year old center drew the attention of nearly the whole league, but allowed just San Jose, Toronto, Dallas, Boston and Tampa Bay to come visit him at the CAA headquarters in Los Angeles. If he is going to re-sign with the Islanders, one would expect to hear news of it on Saturday before their contract advantage expires. If he lasts until Sunday, all bets are off. Signed – 7 years, $77MM with Toronto Maple Leafs
2. James van Riemsdyk – Boston Bruins – 7 years, $42.0MM If you want an instant boost to powerplay production, look no further than the 29-year old van Riemsdyk. One of the very best goal scorers in the game from within five feet of the net, he’s coming off a career-high 36 tallies in 2017-18. Though there are obvious warts in his game, it doesn’t get much better than a perennial 30-goal candidate on the open market and there could easily be a bidding war between the teams who miss out on Tavares. It wouldn’t be shocking to see his market develop on July 2nd, after teams realize how little offense is left in free agency. Signed – 5 years, $35MM with Philadelphia Flyers
3. Paul Stastny – Winnipeg Jets – 5 years, $30.0MM Stastny will ultimately be the consolation prize for whoever doesn’t get Tavares but he will still fill a key role. His days of being a legitimate number one center are gone as he’s better suited for the second line now. He’s still well above average at the faceoff dot and can kill penalties as well so even as his offensive production starts to dip over the next few years, he will still be able to play an important role for whoever signs him although the last year or two of his deal may sting a little bit. Winnipeg has been clear about their interest in bringing him back after an important playoff run for the franchise, but there’s no guarantee they can fit him in. Signed – 3 years, $19.5MM with Vegas Golden Knights
4. James Neal – New Jersey Devils – 6 years, $33.0MM It doesn’t get much more consistent than Neal, who has scored at least 21 goals in each of his ten seasons in the NHL. Though he won’t drive an offense all by himself, he’s proven throughout his career to be a key secondary scorer that can fit into several different roles. With 100 playoff games under his belt including two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances, there will be teams clamoring over themselves to get on the phone with Neal on Sunday afternoon. Signed – 5 years, $28.75MM with Calgary Flames
5. David Perron – Dallas Stars – 6 years, $32.0MM Two years ago, Perron hit the open market as a secondary player but that’s not the case this time around. He led all UFAs in assists and was second in points to only Tavares which gives him the leverage to secure a long-term, big money contract. The big question teams will be asking themselves is will he be able to produce like this outside of Vegas or was his output simply part of everything that went way better than anyone expected in the Golden Knights’ inaugural season. Signed – 4 years, $16MM with St. Louis Blues
6. Rick Nash – Columbus Blue Jackets – 3 years, $14.0MM It’s tough to see Nash this high on the list, given that there is a real chance that he decides to retire due to health concerns revolving around his latest concussion. He’ll be sitting out of the July 1st festivities as he considers his options going forward, and should he decide later in the summer to return to the NHL, there may not be many teams who can afford him. A return to Columbus would be a nice end to an impressive career, but nothing is certain at this point.
7. Tyler Bozak – Vancouver Canucks – 4 years, $20.0MM One of the best undrafted NCAA signings in history, Bozak has carved out a solid career for himself with the Toronto Maple Leafs over the last nine years. With 43 points in 2017-18 he showed once again that he can contribute offensively, while still being one of the better faceoff men in the league. His defensive skills leave something to be desired, but he can help on the powerplay and is a lock for 40-50 points in a healthy season. A return to British Columbia where he played his junior hockey, or Colorado where he went to college both seem like good fits for the 32-year old center. Signed – 3 years, $15MM with St. Louis Blues
8. Mike Green – Detroit Red Wings – 2 years, $10.0MM With Carlson off the market, Green is the lone impact right-shooting defender that’s still available. While he’s coming off cervical spine surgery, all signs indicate that he’s going to be fine for next season. Green isn’t the high-end skater he once was but he can still make a strong first pass out of his own end and has a quality shot from the point as well. He isn’t a top pairing player anymore but he can still slot in nicely on any blue line. With the dearth of right-handed options out there, Green should garner a lot of interest. Signed – 2 years, $10.75MM with Detroit Red Wings
9. Calvin de Haan – Colorado Avalanche – 4 years, $17.0MM It was terrible timing for de Haan to go down with a season-ending upper-body injury in December of a contract year. Yet, it was impeccable timing that he happened to be a free agent in this year’s class, which is extremely light on proven top-four defensemen, especially with Carlson off the market. One of the best shot blockers in the league and a reliable checker and defensive zone presence, de Haan has built a reputation as a solid option on the back end who can play consistent minutes without making many mistakes. However, his offensive totals have also improved each year of his career, including a career-best scoring rate prior to his injury. A legitimate top-four defenseman who, at 27, still has room to improve, de Haan is going to garner major attention on the free agent market. Signed – 4 years, $18.2MM with Carolina Hurricanes
10. Joe Thornton – San Jose Sharks – 1 year, $4.0MM + $2.0MM performance bonus While he has certainly slowed down considerably in recent years, Thornton is still one of the better playmakers in the league. He’s coming off of another major knee surgery which will be a red flag for some teams but those that miss out on the top centers will at least kick the tires on Thornton to see if he’s willing to leave San Jose. Signed – 1 year, $5MM with San Jose Sharks
11. Carter Hutton – Buffalo Sabres – 3 years, $9.0MM Hutton looks like the best goaltender on the market this season after another strong campaign in St. Louis, and is ready to cash in for the first time in his career. Never paid more than $1.25MM in a single season, he’s bound to earn more than double that amount in the first year of his next contract. Philipp Grubauer being traded before the draft likely only helped Hutton, as teams that are desperate for goaltending help will need to reach out on Sunday to try and secure the most reliable veteran option. Signed – 3 years, $8.25MM with Buffalo Sabres
12. Patrick Maroon – St. Louis Blues – 4 years, $14.0MM A lot has changed since Anaheim agreed to pay $500K of Maroon’s contract to help trade him a couple of years ago. He demonstrated with Edmonton that he could hold his own in an offensive role while still providing a physical presence and then fared well in his stint with the Devils after February’s trade deadline. There aren’t many power forwards available this summer and even fewer that have the ability to play a top-six role so Maroon is certain to have a lot of interest. Signed – 1 year, $1.75MM with St. Louis Blues
13. Michael Grabner – Vegas Golden Knights – 3 years $10.0MM There’s one skill that every team in the NHL is trying to acquire more of as each year goes by—speed. Grabner has that in spades, and would provides an elite counter-punch option to use on the penalty kill and fill out the bottom half of any forward group. While he doesn’t create much for his teammates, there’s no arguing with the consecutive 27-goal campaigns Grabner has put up over the last two years. Still just 30 years old, a multi-year contract doesn’t carry a ton of risk. Signed – 3 years, $10.05MM with Arizona Coyotes
14. Thomas Vanek – Detroit Red Wings – 2 years, $5.5MM In what is seemingly become an annual tradition, Vanek is back on the open market this summer. He’s coming off of his best season offensively since 2013-14 which might give him a chance at securing a multi-year deal this time around. He’s a slower player in a league that is trending more and more towards speed but Vanek can still help a team in their top six for a little while yet. Signed – 1 year, $3MM with Detroit Red Wings
15. Riley Nash – Boston Bruins – 3 years, $8.25MM Nash quietly had a very impressive season in 2017-18. Playing on the third line for the Bruins on a salary under $1MM and after a disappointing first year in Boston, Nash entered the campaign with few expectations; he emerged as a top-ten scorer in the free agent class. Nash, 29, shattered his previous career high of 25 points with 41 on the year, including 15 goals. He thrived playing on two-way line with Danton Heinen and David Backes that brought energy and grit, but also a fair amount of offense. He also was a key contributor to the penalty kill and occasionally factored in on the powerplay. Nash proved himself to be a truly well-rounded forward and has substantially increased his value. While Nash could potentially play a second-line role on some teams, the right place for him is on the third line, which could hinder his earning potential slightly. There is no way he’ll be playing for less than $1MM again any time soon though. Signed – 3 years, $8.25MM with Columbus Blue Jackets
16. Ian Cole – Columbus Blue Jackets – 4 years, $16.0MM After reports surfaced that there was a divide between Cole and Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, the veteran defenseman was shipped off to Columbus at the deadline. He fit in well there and ended up logging nearly 20 minutes a night in their first round playoff series. If there’s any hint that Cole could be a locker room problem his market could shrink, but it’s hard to argue with a reliable two-way defenseman in this market. The 29-year-old isn’t an elite offensive player, but does enough well to contribute from time to time and provide a positive impact on the game. Signed – 3 years, $12.75MM with Colorado Avalanche
17. Jack Johnson – Pittsburgh Penguins – 5 years, $16.0MM This is hardly a prediction at this point, as it has been all but confirmed that Johnson will sign with the Penguins for a salary and term in this vicinity. Johnson had a tough year in 2017-18, recording just 11 points and struggling with everything from puck possession to defensive match-ups, all while losing ice time as a result. However, just a year prior he was a positive rating player with 23 points on the year and a reputation for solid defensive play. It wasn’t even that long ago that Johnson was a 40-point player and a U.S. Olympian. Johnson is more than capable of returning to form, especially playing with a top team like Pittsburgh and old friend and former high school teammate Sidney Crosby. Signed – 5 years, $16.25MM with Pittsburgh Penguins
18. Jonathan Bernier – Detroit Red Wings – 3 years, $8.25MM Bernier has proven that he can be a capable backup or tandem goaltender, but there are still some concerns about his ability to carry a team. It’s unlikely that anyone will consider him a full-time starter this summer, and instead lock him up as a sort of 1B option to play 30-40 games. He’s been linked to several teams already, but the Red Wings appear to be the closest as they look for another option to help solidify their depth behind Jimmy Howard and the single year remaining on his contract. Signed – 3 years, $9MM with Detroit Red Wings
19. Valtteri Filppula – Detroit Red Wings – 2 years, $6.0MM Filppula isn’t the top-six pivot he was several years ago, but still put up 33 points for the Flyers this season despite some relatively difficult matchups. He’ll play this season at the age of 34 meaning you can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel of his career, but there should be enough teams that are desperate for center help that he secures a solid contract. Whether he gets a second or third year isn’t clear, but there’s enough there to think you could squeeze a few seasons out of him at a reasonable price. Signed – 1 year, $2.75MM with New York Islanders
20. Thomas Hickey – Montreal Canadiens – 3 years, $9.0MM Hickey actually recorded the second-highest point total among free agent defensemen, but that may say more about the class of free agents than it does about his success in 2017-18. Still, there’s not much to complain about for the 29-year old, who put up 25 points in 69 games and blew the rest of the Islanders defensemen out of the water in +/-. His +20 rating was an incredible 62 points above Nick Leddy at -42, and while that statistic certainly doesn’t tell the whole story it does sound good at a negotiating table. Signed – 4 years, $10MM with New York Islanders
21. John Moore – Buffalo Sabres – 3 years, $8.5MM Moore may actually be one of the most underrated players on the free agent market, after logging more than 20 minutes with the Devils this season and contributing on both the powerplay and penalty kill at times. Moore is about the farthest thing from a household name you can get in the NHL, but has proven to be a steady—if roaming—presence on the blue line. More than a dozen teams reached out to him after the free agent interview period opened, and things could get out of control if some sort of bidding war opens up. Signed – 5 years, $13.75MM with Boston Bruins
22. Derek Ryan – Calgary Flames – 2 years, $4.8MM Ryan was a revelation when he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes at the age of 29 after a career in Europe and was able to earn a crucial top-nine role with the team over the past two seasons. Ryan showed high-end possession ability, skill at the face-off dot, and shot selection and cemented himself as a legitimate NHL center. His 38 points this season were more than the likes of Victor Rask and every one of the Hurricanes’ talented defenseman, as he proved to be an invaluable asset to the team. However, there is no cheating time and while Ryan seems new to the league with potential remaining, the truth is that he will turn 32 in the upcoming season and is unlikely to continue trending upward for much longer. A skilled, two-way center will always have value, but Ryan is likely to only land a moderate deal. He may even look to sign below market value with a team that he thinks has a chance to win over the term of his contract. Signed – 3 years, $9.375MM with Calgary Flames
23. Leo Komarov – New York Rangers – 3 years, $8.5MM The 31-year-old didn’t exactly help his cause as he struggled in 2017-18, putting up just 19 points after surpassing 30 in each of the two previous seasons. He still should garner some interest from teams looking for grit in their bottom six and the way he was deployed with Toronto is an indicator that he can take on a fairly big workload without too much issue. His market will be weakened by his drop in production but there are always teams looking to add physicality in free agency. Signed – 4 years, $12MM with New York Islanders
24. Dan Hamhuis – Nashville Predators – 2 years, $6.0MM Reliable, consistent, dependable. The 35-year-old defenseman is still a very useful player for any NHL team, willing to take the tough matchups with a smile and still contribute offensively when he can. Recording 24 points last season was right about where you should expect his totals if he makes it through the year healthy, which is certainly acceptable for a player known more for his defensive prowess. There will be several teams after him, but Dallas may just be better off trying to lock up the veteran themselves.
25. Robin Lehner – New York Islanders – 1 year, $2.25MM Lehner was one of the first players to have his club announce they would not be extending a qualifying offer, but it didn’t come as much of a surprise. Sabres’ GM Jason Botterill was clear at the end of the season when he named only Linus Ullmark as one of his team’s goaltenders for the next season. Lehner can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him on the ice, but is still just 26 and has shown the—albeit inconsistent—ability to be an above average starting goaltender in the NHL. Signed – 1 year, $1.5MM with New York Islanders
26. Anton Khudobin – Boston Bruins – 2 years, $3.5MM Since Khudobin became a full-time NHL player six years ago, he has had three good seasons and three bad seasons. Two of those good seasons have been as the understudy to Tuukka Rask in Boston, including this past year when he was one of the top backups in the league with 16 wins, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.56 GAA. With each passing day, it seems more and more likely that the two sides come together on an extension, but Khudobin has previously shown that he can play well with more responsibility and after this past season, he could be looking for another shot in a similar situation. Khudobin got a fair amount of starts in Boston this past year, but he must decide if he is happy with ample play time behind a cemented starter in Rask or if he wants to pursue a situation where he one day may be the top dog. Signed – 2 years, $5MM with Dallas Stars
27. Matt Calvert – Carolina Hurricanes – 3 years, $7.0MM Calvert has shown flashes of being a quality secondary scorer but he hasn’t been able to put it together on a consistent basis. That helped play a role in him seeing reduced ice time in 2017-18 while taking some criticism from John Tortorella. That changed in the postseason as the 28-year-old saw his playing time jump by nearly four minutes per night while he led the team in goals in their first round loss to Washington. His strong finish should help bolster his market. Signed – 3 years, $8.4MM with Colorado Avalanche
28. Jaroslav Halak – Carolina Hurricanes – 1 year, $2.25MM Halak has more experience than most of the other goaltenders on the open market, and should be able to secure a deal somewhere to compete for starts. Though his career as an above average starter is likely behind him, he still posted a .908 save percentage behind an atrocious Islanders defensive unit this season. A stable goaltender that you can rely on if things go south with your incumbent, he doesn’t have the early heat on his market like some of the other younger options. Signed – 2 years, $5.5MM with Boston Bruins
29. Kyle Brodziak – Minnesota Wild – 2 years, $4.0MM The 34-year-old has two things working for him – it’s a weak market for centers where demand outweighs supply and he is coming off of his best offensive season since 2011-12. While he spent a lot of time on the fourth line with St. Louis, there’s a good chance that there will be teams that believe he could be a stopgap third-line pivot for a year or two. That will drive up the interest in him and allow him to get more than the $900K in salary he received in 2017-18. Signed – 2 years, $2.3MM with Edmonton Oilers
30. Jay Beagle – Washington Capitals – 2 years, $4.0MM Beagle is coming off an impressive postseason performance with the Washington Capitals and is entering the market with some increased attention, but is still barely capable of producing offense at a third-line center rate. With just seven goals and 22 points this season, teams will have to be comfortable with him playing a purely matchup role and helping out on faceoffs, as he’s not likely to improve his offensive output as he heads into his mid-thirties. If he can’t return “home” to Washington, teams like Toronto or Vancouver could be quick to call his representation on Sunday. Signed – 4 years, $12MM with Vancouver Canucks
31. Blake Comeau – Edmonton Oilers – 2 years, $5.0MM The old knock on Comeau used to be that he was too injury-prone to be relied on in a top-six role. Even in his early days with the New York Islanders, Comeau put up good numbers but didn’t get the respect he deserved because of his limited availability. After a three-year run with the Avalanche in which Comeau missed a total of nine regular season games, those concerns are over. He has also proven that he can still score, with two 30+ point seasons in Colorado, including 13 goals and 21 assists in 2017-18. Comeau comes with his fair share of concerns – he’s 32, he’s an off-the-puck player, and he brings very little experience – but in this free agent market, he is one of the few legitimate right wing options, continues to play an effective physical, disruptive style, and has shown no signs of slowing down. Is he any team’s favorite choice for a top-six role? No. Yet his skill set allows him to play on all four lines with relative ease and that versatility will be rewarded this summer. Signed – 3 years, $7.2MM with Dallas Stars
32. Tomas Plekanec – Montreal Canadiens – 1 year, $2.0MM + $1.0MM performance bonus Two years ago, Plekanec was still a legitimate two-way center but his offensive game has basically fallen off a cliff since then. However, he is still strong defensively and can kill penalties which will make him of interest for teams looking for bottom-six help. After being deployed in heavy minutes with Montreal in recent years though, how willing will he be to accept not only a big reduction in pay (from his previous $6MM cap hit) but also in ice time as well? Signed – year, $2.25MM +$1.25MM performance bonuses with Montreal Canadiens
33. Kari Lehtonen – New York Rangers – 1 year, $2.5MM Lehtonen has been around the league for a long time, and is a perfect backup option for teams that strike out with some of the other goaltenders on the market. If he’s willing to take a one-year deal there are plenty of landing spots for him, but after bouncing back in 2017-18 he may be looking for one last multi-year deal. It’s not clear who is out there to give him that, meaning his market may take a few days to develop.
34. Chris Kunitz – Pittsburgh Penguins – 1 year, $1.0MM + $1.0MM performance bonus Four Stanley Cups and a playoff appearance in thirteen straight seasons for the 38-year old Kunitz, who has been open about a desire to return to Pittsburgh if possible. After playing for the Lightning for one season and recording 29 points, he still could provide a bottom-six option and some nostalgia for the Penguins. Signed – 1 year, $1MM with Chicago Blackhawks
35. Luca Sbisa – Ottawa Senators – 2 years, $4.2MM Still an excellent skater, Sbisa was limited by injury this season and couldn’t really take part in the Vegas domination. With just 30 games played he recorded 14 points, but was then limited in the playoffs for the team after they’d found their groove elsewhere. He’s had some tough seasons in Anaheim and Vancouver, but there is a good puck-moving defenseman in there somewhere. We’ll have to wait to see if someone pays up to try and pull it out.
36. Nick Holden – New York Islanders – 2 years, $4.5MM For all of the criticism that Holden received as a member of the New York Rangers, one would think that he would be a worse player. In reality, Holden is a capable offensive defenseman and is relatively sound in his own zone. Holden scored 34 points with the Rangers in 2016-17, and after a deadline trade to the Boston Bruins this season again showed those same puck-movement abilities. With talent around him, Holden excels and can possess the puck and make smart passes with regularity. He can also eat minutes and makes for a difficult match-up in his own end. Holden is also a physical threat who largely avoids penalty troubles. The occasional giveaway or missed opportunity on offense have blown Holden’s shortcomings out of proportion. He isn’t going to drastically improve a franchise, but he can be a reliable option for nearly any team in the league. Holden has never made more than $2MM in a season. That is likely to change this summer for the underrated rearguard. Signed – 2 years, $4.4MM with Vegas Golden Knights
37. Toby Enstrom – San Jose Sharks – 1 year, $1.75MM Enstrom is healthy and wants to continue playing, but it won’t be with the only team he’s ever known. After being scratched in the playoffs by Winnipeg, the veteran defenseman is looking for greener pastures. At 33 he may not be the puck-moving option he was as a youngster, but still defends well enough to contribute to several teams in the league. With the lack of reliable defensive options on the market, he may even secure a multi-year deal.
38. Antoine Roussel – Montreal Canadiens – 2 years, $4.1MM Roussel is coming off the worst full season of his career, but is still an extremely difficult player to play against and has a history of contributing somewhat offensively. Collecting over 100 penalty minutes for the fifth consecutive season, he can add some physicality and grit into a lineup without being a liability with the puck on his stick. Though he won’t score 30, there are plenty of teams who would value a 10-12 goal man with his skill set. Signed – 4 years, $12MM with Vancouver Canucks
39. Greg Pateryn – Minnesota Wild – 2 years, $3.6MM After being primarily a depth player for the previous two seasons, Dallas gave Pateryn a regular spot in the lineup and he made the most of it, logging nearly 20 minutes per game. He and partner Dan Hamhuis are each hitting the open market, and one has to wonder whether someone will kick around the idea of signing both. Given the lack of established right-shot defenders, there should be a fairly strong market for his services even though he barely has the equivalent of two full NHL seasons under his belt in terms of games played. Signed – 3 years, $6.75MM with Minnesota Wild
40. Mark Letestu – Calgary Flames – 1 year, $1.75MM Letestu is predominantly a role player at this point of his career but he is consistently better than 50% at the faceoff dot and can be a streaky scorer. Those types of players are always coveted by contenders both in free agency and at the trade deadline so there’s a good chance he’ll have at least a handful of suitors this summer.
41. Brandon Manning – Toronto Maple Leafs – 2 years, $3.0MM It was quickly announced at the end of the year that the Flyers wouldn’t be re-signing Manning, likely because of the glut of young defenders they have coming through the system. Though he’d certainly be more attractive to teams if he was right-handed, a big physical defenseman that can keep the puck moving is a valuable commodity. Manning has been open about his preference of being on the west coast closer to home, but money will likely talk as it does with most free agents. Signed – 2 years, $4.5MM with Chicago Blackhawks
42. Alexei Emelin – New York Rangers – 1 year, $2.0MM The game doesn’t reward big-hitting defensemen like Emelin much any more, but after playing 76 games with the best regular season team in the league there are bound to be offers. A patch to hold things together until Ryan Ellis eventually came back, Emelin nevertheless took a regular shift down the stretch and in 10 of the team’s 13 playoff games. He’ll do his best work as part of a group that already has enough puck-movers, if he doesn’t go back to Russia.
43. Cam Ward – Chicago Blackhawks – 1 year, $1.5MM Ward has never played for anyone but Carolina in his NHL career, but those days have finally come to an end. Now, Ward is expected to move on with his career as a veteran backup who can be relied upon as a starter and Chicago is widely expected to be the that perfect landing spot. The Blackhawks have concerns over the health of starter Corey Crawford and their backup tandem of Anton Forsberg and Jean-Francois Berube did not get the job done last year. Berube has been traded away and the expectation is that the open backup role will be given to Ward. The long-time Hurricanes starter is a past Stanley Cup winner and All-Star and has more career wins than most goalies in the league. He has surely lost a step over the past few years, but brings experience and confidence to the position. Even if not in Chicago, the 34-year-old will not go without a job for long, as he could bring some veteran presence and stability to many different teams. Signed – 1 year, $3MM with Chicago Blackhawks
44. Ryan Reaves – Anaheim Ducks – 2 years, $3.0MM There has already been plenty of interest in Reaves, who scored two huge playoff goals for the Golden Knights and seems to be on everyone’s mind following the Stanley Cup Finals. There’s obviously still an appetite for his bang-and-crash style, though it will be hard for him to maintain a regular shift as the league continues to get quicker. Signed – 2 years, $5.55MM with Vegas Golden Knights
45. Luke Schenn – Columbus Blue Jackets – 2 years, $3.0MM Schenn has already played over 700 games in his NHL career, and continues to find work despite poor offensive totals. That’s not what he’s paid to do though, and with the lack of right-handed options around the league his market doesn’t seem like it will close this time around. At just 28-years old he’s basically a younger version of a player like Roman Polak, and should have no trouble finding a job for 2018-19. Signed – 1 year, $800K with Anaheim Ducks
46. Michael Hutchinson – Dallas Stars – 1 year, $800K It was a terrible year for Connor Hellebuyck to break out if you were looking at the situation from Hutchinson’s perspective. While Winnipeg rejoiced and rode their Vezina candidate all the way to the playoffs, Hutchinson was stuck in the AHL dominating the competition for the Manitoba Moose. Posting a .935 save percentage in the minors, he did everything he could to position himself as an NHL backup option for next season. Whether that materializes is another story. Signed – 1 year, $1.3MM with Florida Panthers
47. Kris Versteeg – Arizona Coyotes – 1 year, $1.0MM A hip issue kept him out for most of the season which will likely limit him to a one-year contract but he does have a history of being a good secondary scorer. In the previous four years, he had recorded at least 34 points in each of them. There are a lot of teams that would welcome that type of production from a third liner and because of the injury, he probably can be had at a bit of a bargain. Versteeg spent enough time on injured reserve last season to qualify for performance bonuses, despite being only 32 years old.
48. Christian Folin – Pittsburgh Penguins – 1 year, $900K Similar to Schenn, Folin is reliable enough in his own end to generate some interest given that he’s right-handed. He actually set a career-high with 13 points in 65 games for the Kings, but shouldn’t be expected to eclipse that number going forward. He isn’t an offensive player, but he won’t be asked to be next season and instead provide valuable depth on the right side to a needy team. Signed – 1 year, $800K with Philadelphia Flyers
49. Brian Gibbons – Chicago Blackhawks – 2 years, $2.5MM Not many people could have seen last season coming from Gibbons. At 30, the 5’8” forward was more or less a career AHLer with just 66 NHL games under his belt, the last of which came in 2014, who had no apparent upside remaining. Yet, Gibbons pushed for a spot with the New Jersey Devils and ended up suiting up for 59 games in 2017-18. During that time, he managed to contribute 26 points, including 12 goals, despite seeing only limited minutes. He also held his own defensively and showed that he could skate with the elite in the NHL. Gibbons still remains limited in what he can do, but for any teams looking for an affordable trigger man, this small but sturdy forward fits the bill. Signed – 1 year, $1MM with Anaheim Ducks
50. Matthew Peca – Ottawa Senators – 2 years, $1.3MM Peca’s market is tough to gauge as one of the players eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency. With just 20 NHL games under his belt he doesn’t bring the same kind of excitement Jordan Weal did last offseason, instead only offering the promise of potential. He does have seven points in those 20 games and plays bigger than his size, but it will likely take a rebuilding team to take a chance on him this summer. Signed – 2 years, $2.6MM with Montreal Canadiens
*Zach Leach, Brian La Rose, and Holger Stolzenberg made contributions to this article.
Sharks Agree To Eight-Year Extension With Logan Couture
July 1: The Sharks have now made the deal official and confirmed the aforementioned terms.
June 30: The extension is worth $64MM over the eight years, report David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period (Twitter link) and Josh Dubow of the Associated Press.
June 27: The Sharks are closing in on an eight-year contract extension with forward Logan Couture, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (video link). No financial terms are available at this time but he notes that the contract could be made official on Sunday, the first day that he’s eligible to sign the extension.
Signing players to early extensions is something GM Doug Wilson has done in the past. Last summer, he inked defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (eight years) and goaltender Martin Jones (six years) as soon as they were eligible to.
Couture has spent his entire career with the Sharks who drafted him in the first round (ninth overall) back in 2007. He became a regular with the team three years later and has never looked back as he has emerged into a reliable two-way forward that has been fairly consistent offensively, averaging between 0.69 and 0.83 points per game over the last eight years.
The 29-year-old is coming off of one of his best seasons as he set a new career high in goals (34) which will certainly help his negotiating leverage. He’s set to earn $6MM for 2018-19 and it’s quite likely that this new deal will exceed that amount.
As the contract won’t kick in until 2019-20, it won’t have any immediate bearing on their pursuit of soon-to-be UFA center John Tavares or any other players they’d look to add this summer.
Assuming this gets finalized as expected, it will be interesting to see how quickly Wilson and the Sharks turn their focus to center Joe Pavelski. He’s also set to enter the final year of his contract next season and is eligible to sign a new contract as early as Sunday. The 33-year-old has also spent his entire career in San Jose and is coming off another strong campaign where he posted 66 points in 82 games. However, if they are able to land Tavares or another prominent addition up front, they may not have the long-term cap room to keep him around. Accordingly, while the Sharks have acted quickly on extensions as of late, one for Pavelski may have to wait a little while yet.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Kings To Sign Drew Doughty To Eight-Year Extension
July 1: The Kings have officially announced the contract, signing Doughty to an eight-year, $88MM contract extension. The deal will kick in for the 2018-19 season, and make Doughty the highest-paid defenseman in the league, barring an even bigger extension being signed before then.
June 29: A major impending free agent is about to be off the market, but it’s not a member of the 2018 class, but the 2019 class. When July 1st arrives and players with expiring contracts after next season are first eligible to sign extensions, Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty is expected to re-sign with the Kings. TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun reports that the two sides put the finishing touches on a max eight-year extension today that will be officially signed on Sunday. No financial terms have been disclosed.
The Kings are undoubtedly one of the teams that benefited the most from the massive salary cap spike this off-season. That added flexibility allowed L.A. to add much-needed scoring in the form of Ilya Kovalchuk without losing the breathing room needed to retain Doughty. For a time, many speculated that Doughty would test free agency next summer, but over the past few months the Norris Trophy-winner has made it clear that he would prefer to stay with the Kings. The team’s acquisition of Kovalchuk and continued search for talent this off-season was likely the very last boost of confidence that Doughty needed to re-up in L.A.
Doughty now joins fellow defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Arizona Coyotes and center Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks as potential superstar free agents who will instead sign on with their current teams as soon as possible. Doughty is the biggest name so far and, if previous reports prove true, will soon be the highest paid defenseman in hockey. Doughty has gone on the record as saying that he would like to be paid more than Nashville Predators blue liner P.K. Subban, who is currently the highest-paid defenseman in the league at $9MM AAV. LeBrun’s TSN colleague Darren Dreger is among many speculating that deal will land in the realm of $11MM per year over the eight years, which would make him the new top dog among defenders and the second-highest paid player in the league – at least until Erik Karlsson signs his next contract.
Ilya Kovalchuk Agrees To Terms With Los Angeles Kings
July 1: The Kings have officially announced the three-year, $18.75MM contract for Kovalchuk.
June 23: The Ilya Kovalchuk saga is finally over, and the Russian sniper has decided to move to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms with Kovalchuk on a three-year contract, and will officially sign him on July 1. The contract will carry a $6.25MM cap hit.
Kovalchuk is returning from the KHL after five years away, but had several teams pursuing him right down to the wire. The deciding factor seems to have been the third season, which was the exact same thing that convinced fellow J.P. Barry client Patrick Marleau to go to Toronto at an advanced age. Kovalchuk’s deal is a 35+ contract, meaning that cap hit will be applied to Los Angeles regardless of whether the player retires or returns to Russia.
Marleau’s contract is a direct comparison as it came in at the same money value as well, and could be a blueprint for the bonus structure. Kovalchuk won’t be eligible for performance bonuses, as they can only be applied to one-year deals.
The Kings have struggled for several seasons in the offensive zone, and were after nearly every scoring winger on the market. Kovalchuk may be the best of the bunch of them, and it cost them only money to sign him out of free agency. He does come with obvious risk, but after leading the KHL in scoring and winning an Olympic MVP en route to a gold medal, there apparently was just too much reward available. Kovalchuk can immediately bring goal scoring ability and help the Kings powerplay, something that desperately needed another option for 2018-19.
Los Angeles is obviously trying to compete for the Stanley Cup right now, but there is plenty to be wary of as they move forward. The core of their team is made up of players in their thirties or close to it, and many of them are signed long-term. The only one that’s not is Drew Doughty, who could sign an extension as soon as July 1st. While that group could certainly find some success this season, it’s a precarious position the organization finds themselves in while their prospects continue to develop.
Kovalchuk left the NHL with 816 points in 816 games and could easily join the 500 goal club on this contract. With 417 through the first part of his career he was one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league every year. If any of that skill is still around, the Kings will be more than happy to pay him a contract of this amount.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Jack Johnson
July 1: The Penguins have confirmed the signing, announcing a five-year contract worth $16.25MM.
June 27: Multiple reports including Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have surfaced indicating that the Pittsburgh Penguins intend to sign Jack Johnson to a five-year contract on July 1st. The deal will be in the area of $16MM total, and would make sense given the recent reports of discussions between the two sides. Though they’re technically not allowed to exchange contract figures until Sunday, team often have deals worked out ahead of time—as seen by the flurry of announcements just after the free agent period opens.
This doesn’t guarantee that Johnson becomes a Penguin on July 1st, but it certainly gives him an offer that would be hard to top. The 31-year old defenseman has been open about his need for some financial stability given his public bankruptcy case, and a five-year deal would give him that. It would also provide the Penguins with another experienced skater that has been known to log huge minutes and contribute on the penalty kill.
Johnson has clearly started to decline on the ice, no longer the two-way powerplay quarterback he was in his youth. That offensive upside was squashed as he transitioned into a more shutdown role in Columbus, one that he relished for a time alongside David Savard. If he end up in Pittsburgh he could be given a very similar role, and allow some of the more offensively-minded defensemen to flourish a bit in some easier matchups. The question now is if he can handle that role, or if he would be at his best as a more rarely-used third pairing option and penalty killer. Johnson hasn’t put up good possession statistics in several years, and was eventually scratched by the Blue Jackets down the stretch and through their playoff series.
For $3MM, or something around it, the Penguins would need a strong contribution. Just today they disposed of Matt Hunwick‘s $2.25MM cap hit because he didn’t fit into the system, and a five-year commitment to Johnson brings even more risk. Granted, Hunwick was not a third-overall pick that has logged 788 relatively successful games in the NHL, but it’s easy to see how the situation could devolve into something similar a few years down the road.
Luckily for Pittsburgh, GM Jim Rutherford has proven time and again how he can wiggle his way out of contract and cap problems. With today’s trade of Hunwick and Conor Sheary being the latest example, Rutherford has positioned his team as real Cup contenders every year since taking the job in 2014. A commitment to Johnson may be risky, but it also could pay off if he can find a higher gear like so many other defensemen have in Pittsburgh over the last few years.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
John Tavares Signs With Toronto Maple Leafs
After a long, and incredibly difficult negotiation with the New York Islanders, John Tavares has decided to leave the only NHL franchise he’s ever known. The 27-year old superstar has signed a seven-year, $77MM contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, his childhood and offseason home. Tavares confirmed his decision on Twitter:
I’ve been so fortunate to be an Islander not only because of the love and support of the fan base, but because of how lucky I was to be around so many great people. From ownership through management, staff and of course all my teammates, they helped me mature and grow into who I am today. I will always be thankful for how they molded and guided me to be a better person and hockey player. Memories and friendships that I will forever hold close to my heart.
Thank you everyone for your impact on me, I will always be grateful. My words will never be able to fully show the impact my time on the Island had on me.
These past six days have been nothing I could have ever expected. Making the toughest decision of my life: to stay where I have been my entire career or take a calculated leap of faith into an opportunity that I believe will be special to me and my family. The Island has been home, It’s what I know, it’s part of me–it always will be. I can’t thank you all enough for the dedication you have all shown. I’m sorry if this decision pains you, as you can tell it wasn’t easy, but have trust in the future because it is bright. The Islanders are in great hands. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to be an Islander for as long as I did. The Island, the fans, the organization, my teammates will always be special to me and my family but it’s time to live my childhood dream here in Toronto.
The Maple Leafs were one of six teams, including the Islanders, that were granted an in-person meeting with Tavares last week. The team was rumored to be presenting some “creative” contract options, and now Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports on what that may have referred to. The contract is nearly entirely made up of signing bonuses, meaning the deal is lockout-proof, and will give him the maximum amount available the first two seasons. It also includes full a no-movement/no-trade clause. The breakdown is as follows:
- 2018-19: $650K salary + $15.25MM signing bonus
- 2019-20: $650K salary + $15.25MM signing bonus
- 2020-21: $910K salary + $11.09MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $910K salary + $8.44MM signing bonus
- 2022-23: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
- 2023-24: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
- 2024-25: $910K salary + $7.04MM signing bonus
Tavares was the belle of the ball in this year’s free agency, and is arguably the best player to ever reach the open market in the salary cap era. At 27 he is still well within what is considered a player’s prime, and has been a Hart Trophy finalist twice already. In his most recent season, Tavares recorded 37 goals and 84 points while still being a reliable defensive center and good faceoff option. His biggest flaw coming into the league, skating, has been addressed throughout the years to the point where it no longer is an issue, and will now be put on the ice with some of the best linemates of his career. The early suspicion is that Tavares will play with fellow Greater Toronto Area-born forward and former London Knight Mitch Marner, while Auston Matthews will remain alongside William Nylander. That gives Toronto two of the best pairs in the Atlantic Division, and a real threat to compete for the division title.
It’s that division that is the focus today, as the Boston Bruins miss out on Tavares and the Buffalo Sabres continue to be rumored in trade talks for Ryan O’Reilly. Toronto now has a good claim to the best 1-2-3 punch down the middle in the Atlantic, with Nazem Kadri—coming off consecutive 32-goal seasons—penciled into the third line. It’s going to make the Maple Leafs increasingly difficult to match up against, as they spread their skill across all four lines.
How they’ll be able to retain all that skill is a different question altogether. With Tavares now taking up a huge chunk of the salary cap as one of the highest-paid players in the league, the Maple Leafs will have some tough decisions on their hands going forward. William Nylander is a restricted free agent this summer and needs a new contract that could push above $6MM per season depending on the term, while Matthews and Marner are both a year away from being in a similar situation. The team also has Jake Gardiner entering the last season of his current deal, while the rest of the defense still needs an upgrade.
It’s on defense that many were expecting the Maple Leafs to make their next move, but instead they’ll try to load up at the center ice position. Tavares, Matthews and Kadri could easily be taking up more than $25MM in cap space a year from now, almost a third of the available salary for the whole team. They’re not complaining today, but it certainly isn’t an easy situation going forward.
Still, for young GM Kyle Dubas this is a win. Less than two months into his career as the Maple Leafs boss he went head-to-head with his former mentor in Lou Lamoriello and ended up securing one of the best players in the league. The team will have to decide how to pay everyone going forward and could end up losing a young player due to cap contraints, but that’s a chance that Dubas had to take to bring in a player who very well could be the next Toronto captain. Tavares tweeted out pictures of himself covered in Maple Leafs attire as a youth, while the team sent out a picture of a 14-year old Tavares in Marlies garb at the introductory press conference for the AHL team. The team is currently without a captain, and though there was much speculation that Matthews would eventually wear the “C” nothing is certain now.
What is clear, is that the Maple Leafs have taken a big step forward towards Stanley Cup contention today. Just two years after finishing dead last in the NHL, the team is working on back-to-back playoff appearances and now features some of the very best forwards in the entire league. Though no success is guaranteed in the NHL, Dubas and the team continue to work towards ending a championship drought that has now lasted more than a half-century.