Week In Review: 8/15/16 – 8/21/16
Less than a month away from the start of rookie camps, the NHL free agency period has slowed down nearly to a halt. However, there were a few notable things happening this past week as some noteworthy college players became unrestricted free agents. Here’s your recap of the week that was:
Notable Signings
Antoine Vermette (Ducks) – After being bought out by the Coyotes in early August, Vermette signed a two-year, $3.5MM contract with their division rivals, the Anaheim Ducks.
Radim Vrbata (Coyotes) – The former Coyote returned to the desert after a two year stint in Vancouver, where he had one very good year (31 goals and 63 points) and one very poor year (13 goals and 27 points). Vrbata signed for one season at $1MM, with a possible total of $3.25MM including performance bonuses.
Matt Cullen (Penguins) – The defending Stanley Cup Champions re-signed Cullen to a one-year, $1MM contract. Despite the cheap signing, the Penguins are still $3.9MM over the $73MM salary cap.
Sean Monahan (Flames) – The restricted free agent center signed a seven-year, $44.625MM contract. The Flames now have $8.6MM of cap space to sign their leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau.
Notable Entry-Level Contracts
John Gilmour (Rangers) – The Rangers made an early splash in the college free agent market, which would soon be overshadowed. Gilmour, the Flames seventh round pick in 2013, posted 65 points in 141 games at Providence College. Pro Hockey Rumor’s third ranked college free agent signed for two seasons worth $1.85MM.
Thomas DiPauli (Penguins) – The Penguins signed PHR’s second ranked college free agent to a two-year, $1.85MM entry-level contract. DiPauli was Capitals fourth round pick in 2012, and posted 78 points in 145 games with the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Jimmy Vesey (Rangers) – By far the highest sought-after college free agent, Vesey surprised many and signed with the Rangers. The subject of much speculation this summer, Vesey was the Predators third round pick back in 2012 but was traded to Buffalo this spring when it was clear he wasn’t going to sign. Vesey is expected to step straight into the NHL and produce at a second or third line rate.
Logan Brown (Senators) – In non-college free agent news, the Senators signed their 11th overall pick to a three-year, $4.9MM entry-level contract. The 6’6, 220 lb center has 117 points in 115 career OHL games.
Week In Review: 8/8/16 – 8/14/16
The second week of August yielded a shocker in the hockey world as Patrick Roy stepped down as head coach of Colorado. As a result, the team will now have to react quickly to hire a new head coach with training camps set to begin a little more than a month from now. We took a closer look at some of the potential coaching options that GM Joe Sakic will be considering for his next hire.
Elsewhere, it was largely quiet but there were still a few newsworthy items around the league:
Reported Agreement
Radim Vrbata – Reportedly close to a one year deal with Arizona
Training Camp Tryout
James Wisniewski – Will attend Tampa Bay’s training camp
Re-Signings
Reid Boucher (Devils) – One year, $715K
Brian Ferlin (Bruins) – One year, $725K
There are 21 remaining restricted free agents this offseason.
Overseas Signings
Nick Spaling (Sharks UFA) – Geneve-Servette of the Swiss NLA, one year plus an option
Drew Shore (Flames UFA) – HC Kloten of the NLA, one year contract
Pending Retirement
Shawn Thornton (Panthers) – After 2016-17
Week In Review: 8/1/16 – 8/7/16
August is generally the quietest month of the entire calendar year for hockey news stories. The first week certainly reinforced that notion with little in the way of compelling story lines. Nonetheless, here’s your roundup of the week’s news.
Notable UFA Signings
Sam Gagner (Blue Jackets) – One year, $650K
Key Prospect Signings
Olli Juolevi (Canucks) – ELC – Three Years, $925K AAV with $850K in Schedule A bonuses available and $600K in Schedule B bonuses for the 2017-18 season.
Coaching/Management Hires
Former NHL players Jay Leach and Trent Whitfield were added to the coaching staff of the AHL Providence Bruins.
Las Vegas made a number of hires as they fill out their front office. Kelly McCrimmon becomes the team’s assistant GM, while Wil Nichol, formerly a scout in the Washington organization, was hired as the club’s director of player development.
Overseas Transactions
Marc-Andre Bergeron, who appeared in 490 NHL regular season games and tallied 253 points primarily filling the role of power play specialist for seven NHL clubs, was released from his contract with Zurich in the Swiss League.
Week In Review: 7/25/16 – 7/31/16
While the final week of July didn’t have much in the way of trade activity or UFA signings, it was still a busy one as many restricted free agents came to terms on new deals. Here’s a look back at the week that was.
Notable Re-Signings
Brayden Schenn (Flyers) – Four years, $20.5MM
Peter Holland (Maple Leafs) – Two years, $2.5MM
Danny DeKeyser (Red Wings) – Six years, $30MM
Vladislav Namestnikov (Lightning) – Two years, $3.875MM
Mike Hoffman (Senators) – Four years, $20.75MM
Petr Mrazek (Red Wings) – Two years, $8MM
Calle Jarnkrok (Predators) – Six years, $12MM
Connor Murphy (Coyotes) – Six years, $23.1MM
Michael Stone (Coyotes) – One year, $4MM
Mathew Dumba (Wild) – Two years, $5.1MM
Martin Marincin (Maple Leafs) – Two years, $2.5MM
Tyson Barrie (Avalanche) – Four years, $22MM
UFA Signing
Matt Carle (Predators) – One year, $700K
Coaching Contract
Bill Peters (Hurricanes) – Two year extension through 2018-19
Players Signing Overseas
Kris Versteeg – SC Bern in Switzerland
Mike Santorelli – Geneve-Servette in Switzerland
Contract Termination
David Rundblad (Blackhawks) – Link
Training Camp Tryout
Maxim Lapierre (Rangers) – Link
Key Prospect Signing
Jakob Chychrun (Coyotes) – Three year, entry-level deal
Week In Review: 7/18/16 – 7/24/16
With the excitement of free agency mostly over, NHL teams are now taking care of housekeeping items like avoiding arbitration hearings with their remaining RFAs. Here’s a look back at the week that was.
Trades
July 18 – New York Rangers acquire C Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 2nd round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for C Derick Brassard and a 2018 7th round pick.
Notable Signings
Marcus Johansson (Capitals) – avoided arbitration with a three-year, $13.75MM contract.
Mikhail Grigorenko (Avalanche) – the RFA forward signed a one-year contract worth $1.3MM before his arbitration hearing.
Chris Kreider (Rangers) – agreed to a four-year, $18.5MM contract, avoiding arbitration.
Kevin Hayes (Rangers) – avoided arbitration by signing a two-year contract worth $5.2MM.
Connor Carrick (Maple Leafs) – unlike many of the weeks signings, Carrick was not eligible for arbitration. He signed a two-year, $1.5MM contract.
Luke Schenn (Coyotes) – signed a two-year, $2.5MM contract in Arizona after splitting last season between the Flyers and Kings. Schenn was ranked 30th on our Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents List.
Waivers
Jordan Schroeder (Wild) – cleared waivers, then settled on a new one-year, $650K contract prior to his arbitration hearing.
Peter Holland (Maple Leafs) – Holland is not expected to be back with the Maple Leafs next season after clearing waivers ahead of his upcoming arbitration hearing.
Notable Prospect Signings
Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) – three-year entry-level deal
Jack Roslovic (Jets) – three-year entry-level deal
Retirements
Brad Richards (Red Wings) – The veteran center announced his retirement on July 20. Richards scored 932 points in 1126 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Richards won two Stanley Cups: 2004 with the Lightning and 2015 with the Blackhawks. Richards was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2004.
Week In Review: 7/11/16 – 7/17-16
While the UFA and trade markets have dried up, there was plenty of activity as teams looked to re-sign their players. Here is a look back at the week that was.
Contract Extension
Jamie Benn (Stars) – Eight years, $76MM, commencing in 2017-18
Notable Re-Signings
Korbinian Holzer (Ducks) – One year, $700K
Shane Doan (Coyotes) – One year, $4MM guaranteed, up to $5.5MM with incentives
Victor Rask (Hurricanes) – Six years, $24MM
Justin Schultz (Penguins) – One year, $1.4MM
Teemu Pulkkinen (Red Wings) – One year, $812K
J.T. Miller (Rangers) – Two years, $5.5MM
Colin Miller (Bruins) – Two years, $2MM
Luke Glendening (Red Wings) – Four years, $7.2MM
Adam Lowry (Jets) – Two years, $2.25MM
Marcus Foligno (Sabres) – One year, $2.25MM
Jaden Schwartz (Blues) – Five years, $26.75MM
Alex Killorn (Lightning) – Seven years, $31.15MM
Notable Hirings
George McPhee (Las Vegas) – General Manager
Nolan Pratt (Avalanche) – Assistant Coach
Key Injury
Jamie Benn (Stars) – Core muscle, out for six weeks
Notable Prospect Signings
Jesse Puljujarvi (Oilers) – Three year entry-level deal
Alexander Nylander (Sabres) – Three year entry-level deal
AHL Affiliation Change
Canadiens (St. John’s to Laval, effective in 2017-18)
Week In Review: 7/3/16 – 7/9-16
While the first full week of July didn’t feature quite the frenzy of its predecessor in terms of major UFA signings or blockbuster trades, it was still a busy one. Here’s a look back at the week that was around the hockey world.
Trades
Jonathan Bernier (Maple Leafs) – To Anaheim for a conditional draft pick
Notable Re-Signings
Magnus Paajarvi (Blues) – One year, $700K
Calvin Pickard (Avalanche) – Two years, $2MM
Darcy Kuemper (Wild) – One year, $1.55MM
Phillip Danault (Canadiens) – Two years, $1.825MM
Kyle Palmieri (Devils) – Five years, $23.25MM
Mark Scheifele (Jets) – Eight years, $49MM
Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) – Seven years, $44.1MM
Notable UFA Signings
Mason Raymond (Ducks) – One year, $675K
Jordin Tootoo (Blackhawks) – One year, $750K
Jared Boll (Ducks) – Two years, $1.8MM
Chris Kelly (Senators) – One year, $900K
Evgeny Medvedev (formerly of the Flyers) – Two year deal in the KHL
Contract Extensions
Reilly Smith (Panthers) – Five years, $25MM
Derek MacKenzie (Panthers) – Two years, $2.75MM
Mathieu Perreault (Jets) – Four years, $16.5MM
Jacob Markstrom (Canucks) – Three years, $11.5MM
Prospect Signings
Patrik Laine (Jets) – Three year entry-level deal
Matthew Tkachuk (Flames) Three year entry-level deal
Jake Bean and Julien Gauthier (Hurricanes) – Three year entry-level deals
Arbitration Filings
24 players filed for salary arbitration in advance of Tuesday’s deadline (Link)
Injuries
Teemu Pulkkinen (Red Wings) – Four to six months (shoulder surgery)
Retirements
Week In Review: 6/19/16 – 6/25/16
Here’s a look back at what was a very busy week in the hockey world.
Draft
- The 2016 NHL Entry Draft was held on Friday and Saturday with a total of 211 players being picked. Here is who each team selected. (Link)
Salary Cap
- Officially set at $73MM US for the 2016-17 season. The cap floor is $54MM. (Link)
Expansion
- Las Vegas was officially granted an expansion franchise that will begin play in the 2017-18 season. An expansion draft will be held next June. (Link)
Awards
- The NHL Awards were held on Wednesday. Here’s the full list of the results. (Link)
Trades
- Sharks – Acquired C Maxim Letunov and a 2016 7th round pick from Arizona in exchange for a 2016 4th round pick and a 2017 3rd round pick. (Link)
- Sabres – Acquired LW Jimmy Vesey’s negotiating rights from Nashville in exchange for a 2016 3rd round pick. (Link) Also acquired D Dmitry Kulikov and a 2016 2nd round pick from Florida in exchange for D Mark Pysyk, a 2016 2nd round pick, and a 2016 3rd round pick. (Link)
- Maple Leafs – Acquired G Frederik Andersen from Anaheim in exchange for a 2016 1st round pick and a 2017 2nd round pick; signed Andersen to a 5 year, $25MM contract. (Link)
- Panthers – Acquired the negotiating rights to D Keith Yandle from NY Rangers in exchange for a 2016 6th round pick and a 2017 conditional fourth round pick. (Link)
- Avalanche – Acquired C Rocco Grimaldi from Florida in exchange for G Reto Berra. (Link)
- Canadiens – Acquired RW Andrew Shaw from Chicago in exchange for two 2016 2nd round picks; traded LW/C Lars Eller to Washington for 2017 and 2018 2nd round picks. (Link)
- Flames – Acquired G Brian Elliott from St. Louis in exchange for a 2016 2nd round pick and a conditional 3rd round pick in 2018. (Link)
- Coyotes – Acquired C Pavel Datsyuk’s contract and a 2016 1st round pick from Detroit in exchange for C Joe Vitale, a 2016 1st round pick, and a 2016 2nd round pick. (Link) Also acquired D Anthony DeAngelo from Tampa Bay in exchange for a 2016 2nd round pick. (Link)
- Devils – Acquired RW Beau Bennett from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2016 3rd round pick. (Link)
- Kings – Acquired G Jack Campbell from Dallas in exchange for D Nick Ebert. (Link)
- Blue Jackets – Acquired D Scott Harrington and a conditional 2017 5th round pick from Toronto in exchange for LW Kerby Rychel. (Link)
- Rangers – Acquired D Nick Holden from Colorado in exchange for a 2016 4th round pick. (Link)
Signings
- Sabres – LW Nicolas Deslauriers (Link)
- Jets – G Michael Hutchinson (Link)
- Blues – RW Scottie Upshall (Link)
- Coyotes – D Alex Goligoski (Link)
- Panthers – D Keith Yandle (Link)
- Blue Jackets – C William Karlsson (Link)
- Flyers – D Radko Gudas (Link)
- Stars – D Jordie Benn (Link)
- Lightning – RW J.T. Brown, C Cedric Paquette (Link)
- Kings – C Trevor Lewis (Link)
Comeback Attempt
- G Ilya Bryzgalov (last played in 2014-15) (Link)
Prospect Signing
- Oilers – D Jordan Oesterle (Link)
Retirement
- Kings – C Vincent Lecavalier (Link)
Key Injury
- Lighning – RW Ryan Callahan (5 months) (Link)
Buyout
- Wild – RW Thomas Vanek (Link)
Week In Review: 6/12/16 – 6/18/16
Here’s a look back at the past week at PHR.
Expansion
- Las Vegas – expected to join the league in 2017-18 (Link)
Trades
- Coyotes – Acquired the negotiating rights to D Alex Goligoski from Dallas in exchange for a 2016 5th round pick. (Link)
- Hurricanes – Acquired F Bryan Bickell and F Teuvo Teravainen from Chicago in exchange for a 2016 2nd round pick and a 2017 3rd round pick. (Link)
Head Coach Hirings
- Blues – Mike Yeo – effective starting in 2017-18 (Link)
- Ducks – Randy Carlyle (Link)
- Flames – Glen Gulutzan (Link)
Buyouts
- Flyers – R.J. Umberger (Link)
- Maple Leafs – Jared Cowen (Link)
Re-Signings
- Blackhawks – Richard Panik (Link)
- Blues – Dmitrij Jaskin (Link)
- Canucks – Sven Baertschi (Link)
- Ducks – Sami Vatanen (Link)
- Hurricanes – Cam Ward (Link)
- Red Wings – Riley Sheahan (Link)
Prospect Signings
- Panthers – Ian McCoshen (Link)
Retirements
- Red Wings – Pavel Datsyuk (Link)