three years of the veterans contract

Scott Cullen breaks down all free agent deals and notable trades for the 2014 NHL Offseason. Custom
Baltimore Orioles Jersey . Here is a look at all the moves through the
first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full
Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade. New homes
for Purcell and Gagner. Canucks send Kesler to Ducks. Neal traded to Nashville.
Garrison goes to Tampa Bay. Oilers get deal done for Nikitin. Umberger and
Hartnell swapped. Spezza, Hemsky head to Dallas. Penguins add Ehrhoff. Oilers
land Pouliot, Fayne. Blues bring in Stastny. Devils add firepower with
Cammalleri. Panthers spend big money. D. Boyle joins Rangers. Miller Time in
Vancouver. Capitals spend big for defensive upgrades. Grabovski, Kulemin
re-united with Islanders. Flames get Hiller. As expected, Wild sign Vanek.
Sabres bring back Moulson. International Men of Mystery. Avalanche add Iginla.
Canucks get Vrbata. Blackhawks bring in Richards. MALHOTRA to CANADIENS A
34-year-old centre whose career looked to be done in 2013, after suffering a
serious eye injury, Manny Malhotra worked his way back, handling a fourth-line
centre role with the Hurricanes. He gets destroyed in possession terms, but is
also consistently put in an impossible position, where he starts a greater
percentage of his shifts in the defensive zone than any other forward. Since
2010-2011, Malhotra has won 60.2% of his faceoffs, so he fits a role with the
Canadiens, an opening that was effectively created when the Canadiens didnt
tender a contract offer to Ryan White. JOHNSON to ISLANDERS Chad Johnson, 28,
finally secured full-time NHL employment for the first time last season and had
a terrific year in Boston, posting a 2.10 goals against average and .925 save
percentage in 27 games. His 5-on-5 save percentage of .934 ranked seventh among
goaltenders to play at least 1000 5-on-5 minutes. Thats a small sample size and
Johnsons .909 save percentage in 170 career AHL games does suggest hes not
likely to keep stopping puck at that rate, but he could be a serviceable backup,
which would be a clear upgrade for an Islanders team that has playoff
expectations going into next season. Signed for two years and $2.6-million,
Johnson will have opportunity to prove that hes a legitimate NHL goaltender as
Jaroslav Halaks backup with the Islanders. GILBERT to CANADIENS Tom Gilbert, 31,
saw his value diminished last summer when he was bought out by the Minnesota
Wild, but then he signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with Florida and rehabbed his
image with a strong season. Gilbert finished with 28 points (23 at
even-strength), his most since 2009-2010, and had strong possession stats while
playing alongside Brian Campbell. The question raised by that is how much
Campbell was responsible for Gilberts success and there was a decided lean in
Campbells direction in the with-or-without-you-stats. Over time, Gilbert has
typically been the better puck possession defender among his other partners
(Ladislav Smid, Theo Peckham, Clayton Stoner), so its reasonable to think that
his puck-moving ability will help the Canadiens top four. Gilbert has played
more than 20 minutes per game in six of his seven NHL seasons, so he handling
that top-four role is standard fare and is quite reasonably-priced in the role,
signing for two years and $5.6-million. While Gilbert can be a shot blocker - he
was with Edmonton -- he offers a different game than the departed Josh Gorges,
with better puck skills and not as much physicality. STONER to DUCKS
Clayton Stoner, 29, is a big defenceman with limited puck skills who has
consistently been on the wrong end of the possession game. Signing him for four
years and $13-million is quite a reward for a defenceman that played 13:20 per
game for Minnesota last season. He did fight a career-high eight times last
season, but theres no way that its justifiable to pay that kind of money simply
for a fighter. Furthermore, giving Stoner such a significant contract pretty
much requires that he have a spot in the Ducks lineup and it starts to get
crowded there in a hurry. Cam Fowler, Francois Beauchemin, Hampus Lindholm,
Ben Lovejoy, Bryan Allen and Sami Vatanen were the top six returnees on that
blueline for average time on ice last season, with Mark Fistric and
Sheldon Souray under contract as well. Add Stoner to the mix and it looks like
1) someone is getting moved 2) its going to be harder for Vatanen, a restricted
free agent, to earn regular playing time. Yes, this guy, cant get regular
playing time because hes small. MALONE to HURRICANES Brad Malone is a
25-year-old fringe NHLer who has nine points in 54 career games. Hes struggled
in possession terms, depite playing extremely sheltered minutes in Colorado last
season, facing fourth lines and starting predominantly in the offensive zone. He
can play wing or centre, but wherever it is, Malone is a fourth-liner if not an
extra body or AHLer, signed for the modest price of $1.3-million over the next
two seasons. RAYMOND to FLAMES Left to sign a one-year, $1-million contract with
the Maple Leafs last year, after not attracting interest as a free agent,
28-year-old Mason Raymond responded with a productive campaign, his 19 goals and
45 points ranking as the second-best totals of his career. A burner, who can
create scoring chances with his speed, Raymond scored 32 points at
even-strength, tying Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul. Raymonds possession numbers
were better than average on the Maple Leafs, which isnt saying much, but hes
typically had pretty solid possession stats, so it would be easy to see him
fitting in a top nine role with the Flames. Hes not likely to make up for all
the offence lost when Mike Cammalleri signed with New Jersey, but Raymond has a
chance to provide reasonable value on a three-year, $9.5-million contract.
PETERS to CAPITALS Justin Peters, 27, took advantage of the opportunity
presented by injuries to Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin to record a .919 save
percentage in 21 games for the Hurricanes last season. Thats well above his .904
career mark in 68 games (and .909 save percentage in 213 career AHL games), but
it got Peters a two-year, $1.9-million deal with the Capitals. Peters will back
up Braden Holtby, though if Holtbys game really goes south or he gets hurt
long-term, Philipp Grubauer could overtake Peters for playing time. Nonetheless,
the Capitals saved some money on goaltending, which they turned around and spent
on the blueline, apparently. WINCHESTER to AVALANCHE After spending the
2012-2013 season in Finland, Jesse Winchester returned to the NHL and put
together a solid season for the Panthers, scoring a career-high nine goals and
18 points (which ties a career-high), despite missing 28 games due to a variety
of injuries and a suspension. Winchester played a career-high 12:44 per game,
and had positive possession numbers while starting more of his shifts in the
defensive zone. This doesnt mean that Winchester is a big difference-maker but,
signed for $1.8-million over the next two seasons, hes likely to provide more
reliable minutes on the Avalanche fourth line than what they were getting last
season. Winchester spent most of his time on the wing last season, but was
primarily a centre (and above average in the face-off circle) when he played for
Ottawa, so that would likely be his best fit with Colorado. KOSTKA to RANGERS A
late bloomer, Mike Kostka didnt make it as an NHL regular until he was
27-years-old, then was a part-time player for Chicago and Tampa Bay last season.
As a result, hes played 63 career games, scoring 19 points, with decent
possession stats. He can handle the puck and has more skill than many extra
defencemen. VITALE to COYOTES A sturdy fourth-line forward who has been getting
hammered in possession terms over the past couple seasons, Joe Vitale is a
28-year-old who has 35 points in 163 career games. Hes a faceoff ace, winning
58.4% of his faceoffs in his career, but that alone doesnt really warrant
significant financial commitment. The Coyotes gave Vitale a three-year deal, for
$3.3-million, which is probably more than is required for a fourth-liner with
little upside. In the Coyotes case, though, its not as if the salary cap
presents a concern. LINDBACK to STARS 26-year-old Anders Lindback got off to a
good start to his NHL career with Nashville, before he got an opportunity to
start in Tampa Bay and fell flat, posting an .897 save percentage in 47 games
over the past two seasons. If he cant play any better than that with a fresh
start in Dallas, then Lindback will be a bust and the Stars will have to find
another answer. However, hes a 6-foot-6 goaltender with a .904 career save
percentage and signed for $925,000, a contract that is conveniently at the
threshold for being buried in the AHL. GORGES to SABRES Josh Gorges, 29, was
suddenly put on the trade block by the Montreal Canadiens over the weekend and,
after some negotiation to find an acceptable destination, he ended up going to
Buffalo in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016. Gorges is a shot-blocking
defenceman (543 blocks in 196 games over the past three seasons) who has played
more than 20 minutes per game for each of the past six seasons but, for the most
part, struggles when it comes to puck possession, and was particularly
overwhelmed in that respect last season. While Gorges doesnt drive play at
even-strength, hes a fantastic penalty killer, limiting shots like few other
defencemen. Furthermore, Gorges is widely praised for being a committed team
guy. If he continues to play that way, and theres little reason to suspect he
wouldnt, then Gorges should be a good example for all the young defencemen in
the Sabres system as they grow into full-time NHL roles. Gorges is under
contract for four more seasons, at a cap hit of $3.9-million per season. The
Canadiens, who effectively replaced Gorges by signing Tom Gilbert, get a
second-round pick in 2016 in return for Gorges. Second-round picks bring
slightly better than a one-in-three chance of yielding an NHL player. GREISS to
PENGUINS Thomas Greiss, 28, has been patiently putting in time as a backup, and
has a .915 save percentage in 69 career NHL games, including a .920 save
percentage in a career-high 25 games for the Coyotes last season. Going to
Pittsburgh is an interesting spot for Greiss, as the Penguins already have
Jeff Zatkoff signed for the next two years, at $600,000 per. Greiss would figure
to have the inside track to take the No. 2 job behind Marc-Andre Fleury.
Presuming that Fleury isnt getting jettisoned, that would leave Zatkoff as
either trade bait or as an expensive minor-leaguer. Arizona signed Devan Dubnyk
to fill their backup goaltending job after Greiss moved on. COMEAU to PENGUINS
Blake Comeau is a 28-year-old winger who has fallen off offensively since
scoring a career-high 46 points in 2010-2011, when he played a career-high 18:41
per game for the New York Islanders. While Comeau doesnt score much -- 16 points
in 61 games last season -- hes generally put up solid relative possession stats,
especially so last season in Columbus. Thats why it was a little surprising that
Comeau signed so early for so little. A one-year deal, for $700,000, is a total
bargain for the reliability that Comeau provides and ought to really improve the
third or fourth line for the Penguins, areas that were significant problems last
season. GIONTA to SABRES 35-year-old Brian Gionta wasnt drawing much interest
from the Montreal Canadiens, the team for which he had been captain, so the
Rochester, New York native took a three-year, $12.75-million deal to join the
Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres are lacking established pros throughout the lineup,
so Gionta provides an air of legitimacy. He has 485 points in 776 career games,
along with 68 points in 112 playoff games, so Gionta has credentials that
warrant respect from the younger Sabres forwards. As he has approached his
mid-thirties, Giontas production has started to decline, and he has 81 points in
160 games over the past three seasons; solid secondary production, but Gionta
also deserves some credit for the workload that hes handled. In the past three
years, hes gone from starting most of his shifts in the offensive zone, to
starting more in the defensive zone (including 38.3% offensive zone starts last
season), while facing a higher-calibre of competition. In fact, last season
Gionta faced the highest relative quality of competition since these metrics
started being tracked in 2007-2008. In Buffalo, Gionta likely still needs to
handle a two-way role, as Drew Stafford and Chris Stewart -- the others in
competition for ice time at right wing -- havent shown that they would be able
to handle that. While paying for intangibles is not the sharpest of
team-building strategies, given the Sabres particular situation, Gionta should
be a good fit -- a leader, a pro and a guy who, while undersized, can still play
effectively. PERREAULT to JETS 26-year-old Mathieu Perreault was coming off a
career-high 18 goals and 43 points in 69 games for the Anaheim Ducks last
season, but wasnt given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent, so
suddenly he was free to test the open market. Its not an unreasonable position
for the Ducks to take, as they added Ryan Kesler and have lots of young forwards
on the way, including Rickard Rakell, who may take Perreaults minutes, but even
if the decision was reasonable for the Ducks, it presented a nice opportunity
for the Jets. Perreault is small, and has typically been sheltered in his usage,
both with Washington and Anaheim, but he puts up numbers, solid possession stats
and per-minute scoring stats like a first-liner. In Winnipeg, Perreault
effectively replaces Olli Jokinen as the third centre, behind Bryan Little and
Mark Scheifele, and while there may be some second-unit power play time
available, Perreault did most of his damage at even-strength last season,
scoring 34 points at evens (tying Nicklas Backstrom and Mikko Koivu among
others). Signed for three years and $9-million, Perreault is a reasonably-priced
source of secondary offence. ROBIDAS to MAPLE LEAFS Robidas is 37-years-old and
coming off a season in which he broke his leg twice, playing just 38 games
during the regular season. Prior to last season, however, Robidas had been quite
durable, missing 18 games total in the previous six seasons. If last seasons
injuries are a sign that Robidas is breaking down after playing nearly 900 NHL
games, then this could be a tough stretch to end his career. If it was a case of
bad luck, then he could still be a useful contributor to the Leafs blueline.
Last season was the seventh straight season in which Robidas played at least 20
minutes per game, and while hes never been a puck possession ace, hes not bad in
that respect either and has typically managed to tread water while facing tough
assignments. In Toronto, Robidas brings a needed veteran presence and he can be
a defensive conscience for one of Torontos young, puck-rushing defencemen,
Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly. Signed for $9-million over the next three
seasons, Robidas is a fine investment if his body isnt breaking down. Hes played
hard minutes and will be 40-years-old by the time this contract is done, but if
hes a rare type that can handle 20 minutes a night in his late thirties, then
Robidas will improve a Leafs defence that desperately needed improvement. GLASS
to RANGERS Tanner Glass, 30, inexplicably received a three-year, $4.35-million
deal from the reigning Eastern Conference Champions. Glass is a fourth-liner who
has scrapped 45 times over the past five seasons, but he has 54 points in 377
career games and is among the absolute worst puck possession players in the
game. With the Rangers dealing Derek Dorsett to Vancouver, presumably Glass
gives them some of that edge they want on the fourth line, but a multi-year
contract for a player who is stuck in his own end constantly? A major, and
unnecessary, reach. HAVLAT to DEVILS 33-year-old Martin Havlat has faded fast
over the past three seasons in San Jose. He scored 62 points in 2010-2011 with
the Minnesota Wild and mustered 67 points in 127 games over three seasons with
the Sharks. Havlats 14:43 average time on ice per game last season was his
lowest since 2000-2001 when he was a rookie in Ottawa and his 1.50 shots on goal
per game were a career-low. Even as his year was winding down with the Sharks,
Havlat was productive down the stretch, scoring eight goals and 12 points in his
last 17 regular-season games, but he was dressed for only one game in the Sharks
first-round playoff loss, so it came as no surprise that San Jose would buy
Havlat out of the last year on his contract. Looking for a fresh start, Havlat
lands with the Devils, a team chock-full of Czech talent, including
Patrik Elias, Jaromir Jagr and Marek Zidlicky, so that ought to provide some
measure of familiarity. Adding Havlat and Mike Cammalleri to their group gives
the Devils lots of depth up front, and its going to take time to figure out who
fits where, but if Havlat squeezes into a top-six role, hes skilled enough that
he could be an offensive contributor. Tough to predict 20 goals for him, but
Havlat has hit that level six times in his career and, even in a down year last
year, his 12 goals in 48 games was on that pace. STREET to AVALANCHE Ben Street,
27, has contributed a couple of points in 19 games with the Flames over the past
couple seasons, but ripped up the AHL, scoring 60 points in 58 games last
season, so hes a viable candidate for a call-up once injuries hit the Colorado
forward group. Hes signed to a two-year deal that pays him $650,000 in the NHL
and $250,000 in the AHL. STRALMAN to LIGHTNING Over the past two seasons, there
are 52 defencemen that have played at least 2000 minutes at 5-on-5. Two of them,
Drew Doughty and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, were on the ice for a greater percentage
of shot attempts than Anton Stralman. This is admittedly a step forward from
earlier in his career, but 27-year-old Stralman acknowledges that his game has
matured, so these results may be for real. Hes on the small side, not physical
and doesnt block a lot of shots, yet hes very effective. Coming to Tampa Bay,
shortly after the Lightning acquired Jason Garrison, puts Stralman in a
much-improved top four for Tampa Bay. Stralman could easily slide in beside
fellow Swede Victor Hedman, as Hedmans most common partner, Sami Salo, is a free
agent in his own right. There may be some questions about whether Stralmans play
the past couple seasons is legit, but if he can handle top-pair minutes, the
five-year, $22.5-million contract that he signed will be well worth it. FEDUN to
SHARKS 26-year-old Taylor Fedun played the first four NHL games of his career
last season, scoring twice. Since finishing his college career at Princeton,
Fedun has 65 points in 135 AHL games. Hes a bit of an offensive defenceman who
may never quite make it as an NHL regular but, given the Sharks current blueline
situation, theres a reasonable opportunity for Fedun to see some NHL action. Hes
signed for one year at $600,000. MUELLER to RANGERS A 28-year-old forward who
has been on the fringe of an NHL roster for the past four seasons with Dallas
and, before that, Nashville, Chris Mueller has eight points in 46 career games,
but has been effective in the AHL, scoring 203 points in 255 games over the past
four seasons. Odds are that hes still a fringe player who will get occasional
NHL games when injuries hit, but Mueller may have a chance to earn a depth role
with the Rangers. Signed for one year, at $600,000, Mueller is an inexpensive
option to make the Rangers as a 12th or 13th forward. REDMOND to AVALANCHE
Zach Redmond, 28, is a puck-moving defenceman who has seven points, and strong
possession stats, in 18 career NHL games. Hes recovered from a huge laceration
in his leg, and has 43 points in 78 AHL games over the past two seasons. Signed
to a two-year, $1.5-million, contract, Redmond is an inexpensive depth
defenceman who may have a chance to earn regular playing time with the
Avalanche. ENGELLAND to FLAMES 32-year-old Deryk Engelland is a tough customer,
who has fought 33 times in the past four seasons, but is nothing more than a
marginal player who has been a sixth or seventh defenceman for most of his time
with Pittsburgh, but also spent some time as a fourth-line winger. None of those
credentials suggests a multi-year contract for a 32-year-old is a good idea, let
alone one that pays real money, yet Engelland signed for three years and
$8.75-million; great for him, but that contract effectively means Engelland has
to play and theres a good chance that there will be regret tied to this
investment by the Flames. MCCORMICK to SABRES A 31-year-old who has 61 points
and 510 penalty minutes in 372 NHL games, Cody McCormick is a fourth liner who
was obliterated in the possession game last season, both in Buffalo and
Minnesota. Returning to Buffalo, hes a fourth-line banger who has fought 34
times in the past four seasons, but that doesnt justify the three-year,
$4.5-million contract he received. Its the kind of contract that can be given
out by a team far from the salary cap, but it still ties up a roster spot in a
player, in his thirties, who is eminently replaceable. BRENNAN to ISLANDERS
Brennan, 25, was the AHL Defenceman of the Year last season, scoring 72 points
in 76 games for the Toronto Marlies. Hes put up 11 points, with solid relative
possession stats in 40 career NHL games and going to the Islanders ought to give
him a decent opportunity to earn a regular NHL job. A one-year, $600,000
contract is an inexpensive deal, but the one-way deal ought to give him a legit
chance to stick as an NHLer next season. LABRIE to BLACKHAWKS 27-year-old
Pierre-Cedric Labrie has five points and 65 penalty minutes in 46 career NHL
games. Hes a tough guy who has put up poor possession numbers, so hes much more
likely to spend his time in the AHL. If the Blackhawks need a tough guy from
time to time, hell be available but, even at the most optimistic, he doesnt have
much of a role with Chicago. PORTER to RED WINGS Kevin Porter, 28, has been a
fringe NHLer, playing 206 career games, but has played more than 40 games in a
season only once. Porter will be a strong presence in the AHL, where he has 80
points in 98 games over the past couple seasons, but hes only likely to get time
in Detroit if injuries become a problem. BLUNDEN to LIGHTNING 27-year-old
Mike Blunden is a 6-foot-4 winger who has eight points and 105 penalty minutes
in 102 career games. Hes been overwhelmed in puck possession terms while playing
with Montreal the past three seasons. Hell be hard-pressed to get playing time
in Tampa Bay, but does offer organizational depth, with a deal that pays
$600,000 in the NHL. CLEMMENSEN to DEVILS 36-year-old Scott Clemmensen has some
history with the New Jersey Devils organization, playing 65 games for them,
including a career-high 40 games in 2008-2009. Hes had some seasons in which hes
been a very capable backup in the NHL, but has struggled in the past couple of
seasons. Among the 58 goaltenders to play at least 30 games over the past two
years, Clemmensen ranks worst of the bunch with an .886 save percentage. The
benefit to having Clemmensen on board is that he poses no threat to
Cory Schneider for playing time as the starter, so thats a step in the right
direction, but the Devils had better hope Clemmensen can give them a passable
performance in the 20 or so games that he is required to play. On a one-year,
$600,000 deal, Clemmensen at least comes cheaply for the role. MESZAROS to
SABRES Andrej Meszaros is only 28-years-old, but seems older because he appears
to be breaking down, with a bad run of injuries in recent seasons. Early in his
career, Meszaros was very durable, but hes missed 87 games over the past three
years, with shoulder and back injuries causing him the most trouble. His play
has suffered as a result, with declining possession stats, but its been
overshadowed somewhat be decent point totals, including 22 points in 52 games
last season. Nevertheless, Meszaros is an excellent addition for the Sabres
because his one-year, $4.125-million deal is for one season, thereby limiting
any risk. If he proves that he can still play, Meszaros will have a chance to
cash in next summer. If playing for the Sabres shows that his recent decline is
for real, then he will be well-compensated for that one year. HUNWICK to RANGERS
Matt Hunwick, 29, played only one game for Colorado last season, but has played
292 career games and had 31 points in 52 AHL games last season. Hunwick is
undersized and that can pose matchup problems, but as the game places more
emphasis on mobility, hes worth a look in an extra-defenceman role. Signed for
$600,000, Hunwick is an extra body on the blueline for the Rangers and maybe hes
too far down the depth chart to matter, but an injury or two could get him some
time on the third pair. DUBNYK to COYOTES 28-year-old Devan Dubnyk was an
above-average goaltender for three seasons before collapsing last year, posting
an .891 save percentage in 34 games with Edmonton and Nashville. In a buy-low
move, the Coyotes are taking an inexpensive (one year, $800,000) risk that
Dubnyk can regain his form. If he drops another .891 save percentage, that would
be a problem, but Dubnyk has a .909 career save percentage and something like
that would be good enough. CRACKNELL to KINGS Adam Cracknell, 28, is a
good-sized winger who has 16 points in 65 career games, but has provided solid
organization depth for St. Louis. Signed to a one-year, $600,000 deal, Cracknell
will now offer that depth to the Los Angeles Kings. Hes signed for one year and
$600,000 making him an inexpensive option as a 13th or 14th forward. VAN DER
GULIK to KINGS David Van Der Gulik is a 31-year-old who has skated in 48 career
NHL games, scoring 13 points. While hes barely been more than a fringe NHLer and
that figures to be his role going forward, Van Der Gulik has put up great
possession stats in his limited NHL action. Like Cracknell, though, Van Der
Gulik is useful organization depth, signed for $550,000. EAVES to STARS A
30-year-old winger who has scored a dozen or more goals four times in his
career, Patrick Eaves had been relegated to a role as a spare part in Detroit
before he was traded to Nashville at the deadline. He has put up decent
possession stats in a sheltered role, which makes him a decent bet as a
fourth-line or extra forward and his one-year, $650,000 contract is reasonable
cost. MACDONALD to CANADIENS 34-year-old Joey MacDonald has often been a number
three goaltender seeing pretty regular action as a backup over the past few
seasons, playing more than 10 games in each of the past four seasons. His .902
career save percentage kind of fits for a number three and thats where he fits
with Montreal, on a one-year deal for $600,000 in the NHL and $300,000 in the
AHL. BOYLE to LIGHTNING Brian Boyle, 29, has been a quality checking forward for
the New York Rangers, playing more than 15 minutes per game in a couple of
seasons, taking on a heavy dose of defensive zone starts. Hes a good faceoff guy
and, with a 6-foot-7 frame, can play a physical game. His role had declined
somewhat, to 12:46 time on ice per game last season after three years over 14
minutes. Given the centre depth in Tampa Bay, its going to be hard to imagine
Boyle getting a big role with the Lightning, but he provides legitimate depth,
able to play fourth line or move up to the third line, if necessary. Signed for
three years and $6-million, Boyle should be a solid veteran addition to a
Lightning team that expects to contend for top spot in the Eastern conference.
NABOKOV to LIGHTNING 38-year-old Evgeni Nabokov is past his prime, but not so
much so that he couldnt be a valuable backup option for the Lightning. Last
seasons .905 save percentage was his lowest since 2005-2006 and his 40 games
played was his fewest in an NHL season since 11 games as a rookie in 1999-2000.
While some teams commit their backup goaltending spots to minor leaguers, the
Lightning have chosen a career starter who, theoretically, should be more than
capable of handling an extended workload if any trouble should befall starter
Ben Bishop. Signed for one year, at $1.55-million, Nabokov also allows the
Lightning to patient with their goaltending prospects, giving them at least
another year of development. LABARBERA to DUCKS Jason LaBarbera is a 34-year-old
goaltender that had been pretty effective in the role until he posted an .870
save percentage in seven games for Edmonton last year. The Ducks have two young
goaltenders, Frederik Anderson and John Gibson, that should have the NHL jobs
locked up, but LaBarbera -- signed for one year, $750,000 -- is a decent number
three to have in the organization. MacINTYRE to HURRICANES 31-year-old
Drew MacIntyre got to make his first NHL start late last season for Toronto and
has appeared in six career NHL games. Hes been good in the AHL for the Toronto
Marlies the past two years, posting a .920 save percentage, so that makes him a
solid AHL veteran for Charlotte. MacInytre is signed to a one-year deal that
pays him $600,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the AHL. SKILLE to ISLANDERS
27-year-old Jack Skille will never live up to his draft slot (seventh overall in
2005), but hes been a capable NHLer at times through 192 career games. Joining
an Islanders team that has an excess of NHL forwards doesnt present a great
opportunity for Skille to see NHL duty. That likely makes Skille a valuable
AHLer, but he gets $750,000 in the NHL on a one-year deal. CONNER to CAPITALS
Chris Conner, 30, has been teetering on the edge of an NHL roster for much of
his career, playing 178 games over eight seasons, scoring 50 points. He had five
points, with terrible possession numbers, in 19 games for the Penguins in
2013-2014. Conner is on a one-year contract that pays him $550,000 in the NHL,
and hes likely to see some playing time in Washington, but hes played more than
20 NHL games once in the past five seasons and isnt likely to do so in
2014-2015. JONES to FLYERS A checking center with good size, 27-year-old
Blair Jones has 17 points in 128 career games, and has played more than 40 NHL
games once in eight seasons. Hes managed some serviceable relative possession
stats, enough that he could handle filling in on the fourth line, if need be.
Signed to a one-year deal that pays $600,000 in the NHL, Jones is likely to
spend some time in the AHL, where he had some scoring success last season,
scoring a point per game in 38 games with Abbotsford. DESJARDINS to RANGERS
28-year-old Cedrick Desjardins has appeared in six NHL games over the course of
his career, posting a .919 save percentage and hes been an above average AHL
goaltender, with a .914 save percentage in 219 career games. Desjardins fits as
the AHL starter for the Rangers in Hartford, and will be well-paid in that role,
but he has a two-year deal for $1.2-million in the NHL, should anything happen
to Henrik Lundqvist or Cam Talbot. McKENNA to COYOTES A 31-year-old who has
appeared in 21 NHL games, Mike McKenna has been a good AHL goaltender, with a
.918 save percentage over the past three seasons, and falls behind Mike Smith
and Devan Dubnyk on the Coyotes depth chart. Hell make $550,000 at the NHL level
on a one-year deal, but if McKenna plays much in the NHL, something will have
gone wrong for Arizona. DOWNIE to PENGUINS A 27-year-old winger who will be
joining his fifth team (or fourth if you count Philadelphia twice), Steve Downie
has some skill, but that is sometimes overshadowed by his penchant to wreak
havoc. Even as his role has decreased in recent seasons, Downie is one of four
players to have at least 100 points and 500 penalty minutes in the past five
years. Hes generally put up positive possession numbers and Downie has some
versatility. Hes skilled enough to complement scoring forwards, but can wreak
havoc like a fourth-liner. In Pittsburgh, there could be an opportunity for
Downie to land a spot in the top six, but he could also fit alongside
Brandon Sutter and Nick Spaling on an upgraded third line. Signed to a one-year,
$1-million deal, its a great opportunity for Downie to prove he can produce to
earn a bigger contract next summer. CAMPBELL to COYOTES Andrew Campbell is a
26-year-old defenceman who got into the first three games of his NHL career last
season with the Los Angeles Kings. A 6-foot-4 defensive defenceman, Campbell is
a depth option for Arizona. He signed a one-year contract that will pay him
$550,000 in the NHL. JOKINEN to PREDATORS Olli Jokinen, 35, has been a
productive player throughout a career that has spanned nearly 1200 NHL games,
and he bounced from a brutal 2012-2013 season to contribute 43 points in 82
games for Winnipeg. Jokinen has been a very durable erformer, missing a total of
19 games since 1999-2000. In Nashville, Jokinen will be asked to provide
offence, but expectations should be modest. Last seasons bounceback effort still
resulted in just 0.52 points per game, his lowest rate since 2001-2002. Even if
Jokinen is put into a more offensive role in Nashville, hes not likely to play
so many more minutes and, in his mid-thirties, continued decline is more likely
than a bigger bounce back in his production. The good news for the Predators is
that they committed just one year, at $2.5-million, to Jokinen. If Nashville is
in contention, they can keep him but, if not, he might be flippable before next
seasons trade deadline.. SCOTT to SHARKS There arent many fighters more fearsome
than 31-year-old John Scott, the 6-foot-8 enforcer, but even the previously
unbeatable Scott (Voted 19-0 by hockeyfights.com users in 19 fights from
2009-2010 through 2012-2013) has been rendered mortal in recent years, compiling
a 7-4-1 record in a dozen scraps over the past two seasons. If Scott isnt an
unbeatable physical menace, then hes of little value with six points in 236
career games. To be fair to Scott, before joining a Buffalo team that was
dominated from pillar to post, Scott was deployed successfully in previous stops
(with the Rangers, Blackhawks and Wild) that allowed him to post adequate
possession stats. He was sheltered against fourth-line opposition and with more
offensive zone starts, but thats usage that can happen in San Jose. Its hard to
imagine that Scott is a viable candidate to play on a team that was a legitimate
Stanley Cup contender last season, but the Sharks are doing some odd things this
offseason and some of that includes muscling up, by re-signing Mike Brown and
signing John Scott to a one-year, $750,000 deal. SCHULTZ to FLYERS Nick Schultz,
31, has played lots of hard minutes in a defensive role, and all those blocked
shots seem to have taken a toll on him as hes struggled in possession terms even
as his workload has gotten easier. His 16:19 average time on ice last season was
his lowest since his rookie year in 2001-2002. Signed to a one-year,
$1.25-million deal with the Flyers, Schultz appears to be seventh on the
Philadelphia defence depth chart, but its an opportunity to prove that he can
still be a viable NHLer. The way the trend has been going lately, thats in
serious doubt. MCCLEMENT to HURRICANES 31-year-old Jay McClement has been an
honest and durable checking forward, missing a total of seven games over the
past eight seasons, and he played nearly 15 minutes per game in the past two
seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. McClement gets crushed in possession
terms, though that comes with the qualifier that he starts a disproportionate
percentage of his shifts in the defensive zone. McClement, who had been a very
efficient penalty killer in previous seasons, lost some of that effectiveness
last year. A fresh start in Carolina may help get McClement back to being an
effective fourth-liner and penalty-killer, but its likley for the best if hes
not used as much as he was in Toronto. Signed to a one-year, $1-million deal,
McClement is an inexpensive veteran addition for a Hurricanes team that needs
some stability on the lower portion of their forward depth chart. GLEASON to
HURRICANES Tim Gleason, 31, is in a familiar career stage for a veteran,
stay-at-home defenceman (see Schultz above). Gleasons possession numbers have
been falling and, even managed to get worse after he arrived in Toronto last
season. To the Maple Leafs credit, they bought Gleason out of the final year of
a contract that would have paid him $4-million for next season. That brought
Carolina back into the picture. Gleason played for the Hurricanes from 2006-2007
until last season, so they know what theyre getting, but they should also know
that there have been clear signs of decline in Gleasons game. In any case,
signed for one year, at $1.2-million, Gleason should be the seventh defenceman
in Carolina, but he could sneak into the third pairing if prospect Ryan Murphy
isnt given that opportunity. SANTORELLI to MAPLE LEAFS 28-year-old
Mike Santorelli was having a nice season for the Vancouver Cancucks, scoring 28
points in 49 games, playing a career-high 18:34 per game, when he suffered a
season-ending shoulder injury. Hes bounced around, from Nashville to Florida to
Winnipeg to Vancouver, but Santorelli is a good face-off guy with enough skill
to play with other skilled players, though he doesnt always get that
opportunity. Toronto does provide an interesting opportunity for Santorelli, who
should surely be able to find a spot in the bottom six, whether at centre or
right wing, but he could conceivably win the second-line right spot, alongside
Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri. That may be a lofty expectation for a player with
87 points in 257 career games, but Santorelli has scored 20 goals in a season in
this league (2010-2011 with Florida) and has tended to be around a break-even
possession player so he could be a relatively inexpensive pickup, with some
upside. Signed for one year, and $1.5-million, Santorelli could have a chance to
this years version of Mason Raymond, potentially earning a bigger long-term deal
with a productive season. STRACHAN to SABRES A 29-year-old physical defenceman,
Tyson Strachan has 15 points and 155 penalty minutes in 138 career NHL games,
playing a career-high 38 with Florida in 2012-2013 following the lockout. He was
even modestly effective that season, playing 18:58 per game, but was obliterated
when he played for the Capitals last season. Strachan has logged 276 career
games in the AHL, twice as many as in the NHL, since wrapping up his collegiate
career at Ohio State, so hes more likely to play in Rochester but, given the
state of the Sabres, it will come as no surprise if Strachan sees some NHL
action again next year. Hes on a one-year deal that pays $650,000 when hes in
the NHL ($250,000 in the AHL). KENNEDY to CAPITALS Tim Kennedy, 28, had a nice
rookie year in 2009-2010, scorign 26 points in 78 games for the Buffalo Sabres,
but the Sabres didnt agree with his arbitration award and bought him out of his
contract, sending Kennedy bouncing around the hockey world, playing for three
franchises (Florida, San Jose, Phoenix) in four seasons since. Last season,
Kennedy played 37 games for the Coyotes, his most in a year since 2009-2010,
chipping in eight points, but his relative possession stats fit with a fringe
NHLer and thats where hell fit with Washington, probably spending more time in
the AHL. Hes on a one-year deal that pays league-minimum $550,000 when hes in
the NHL. NEWBURY to CAPITALS A feisty veteran pro, who has 10 points and 139
penalty minutes in 76 career NHL games, 32-year-old Kris Newbury is an effective
minor league forward who can score and scrap at that level, but is no more than
organizational depth for the NHL club. He has played at least one NHL game in
eight straight seasons, so theres a chance that will continue with the Capitals,
but Newbury is going to spend most of the year in the AHL. GIBBONS to BLUE
JACKETS Brian Gibbons is a 26-year-old undersized forward who hadnt done much
through his first two AHL seasons, then broke out last season, scoring 30 points
in 28 games to earn promotion to Pittsburgh, where he contributed 17 points (5
G, 12 A) in 41 games, adding three points in eight playoff games. He also had
good possession numbers, so its not a surprise that some teams were interested
in his services. There is some competition for forward spots in Columbus, so
Gibbons will likely battle with newly-acquired Jerry DAmigo, Corey Tropp and
enforcer Jared Boll for playing time. Hes signed to a two-way deal, paying
$750,000 in the NHL, so Gibbons isnt assured of a spot with the Blue Jackets,
but the opportunity is there for him. MCCARTHY to BLUES John McCarthy, 27, has
been a spare part winger for the Sharks, recording six points in 87 career
games. Hes a depth forward who would seem to have little chance to make a team
as deep and talented as the Blues, but hell be around if a body is needed to
fill in during the season. To his credit, McCarthy averaged a career-high 11:03
per game in the 36 games that he played for the Sharks last season (while on a
one-way contract), but hes fared poorly in relative possession terms. Hes set to
make $600,000 on the NHL portion of his one-year, two-way deal with St. Louis.
LEGWAND to SENATORS David Legwand is a 33-year-old centre who has been unfairly
maligned for his draft position, as he didnt score a lot for the second overall
pick in the 1998 Draft, but hes closing in on 1000 NHL games and has accumulated
577 points as a strong two-way player. Legwand has played hard minutes in
Nashville (not so much with Detroit late last year), starting more shifts in the
defensive zone and often facing quality opposition, so he can play either a
second or third-line for Ottawa, but that may depend on the development of
Mika Zibanejad. If the Senators are ready to give Zibanejad a bigger role, and
they probably should be, then Legwand can be good insurance down the middle as
the number three pivot. At the same time, Legwand played 16:59 per game last
season, the first time since 2005-2006 that he averaged less than 17 minutes of
ice time per game, so he can handle a significant role if need be. Of course,
Legwand is an economically-wise signing for the Senators. Signed for two years
and $6-million, its hard to imagine that there arent other teams, with better
opportunities to win, that could have used Legwands skills, but however the
decision was arrived at, it is in Ottawas favour. Scott Cullen can be reached at
[email protected] and followed on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook.
Chris Davis
Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban shortstop Erisbel
Arruebarrena to a $25 million, five-year contract Saturday.
J.J. Hardy
Jersey .com) - The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with running back
Jackie Battle on a one-year contract Friday.
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Sharks the spark they needed.Mike Ribeiros stay in Glendale is over after just
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buyout of the remaining three years of the veterans contract. Ribeiro signed a
four-year, $22 million contract with the Coyotes last summer and carrries an
annual cap hit of $5. Baltimore Orioles
Jersey. 5 million. In 80 games with the Coyotes, the 34-year-old scored 16
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