2017 Free agency thread.

Thornton agrees to one-year contract with Sharks
NHL's active leader in points will play 22nd season

Joe Thornton agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Financial terms were not released.

The forward, who turned 40 on July 2, had 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists) in 73 regular-season games with the Sharks last season and 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"Words cannot equate the impact that Joe has had on this franchise since his arrival in San Jose in 2005," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. "Joe is a generational player who seemingly blazes past an existing Hall-of-Famer with each game he plays. His leadership and dedication to the organization and his teammates is inspiring. He has the rare ability to make the players around him better and we're excited to see him healthy and back wearing the Sharks crest."

NHL.com

 

NBC says; Thornton's deal is worth $2M...

 

This is one of the bigger dominos in UFA hockey to fall. ProHockeyRumors.com is reporting:
"The Carolina Hurricanes have added another talented defenseman to their ever-expanding depth chart, signing Jake Gardiner to a four-year contract. The deal carries an average annual value of just $4.05MM, quite a bit less than what many expected Gardiner to command this summer. Carolina GM Don Waddell released a short statement on the signing:

Jake is a solid veteran blueliner with a proven history of contributing offensively, including on the power play. He’s had options this summer, but ultimately decided that Carolina is his best fit, and we’re thrilled to have him here."

First, this is an real interesting signing by CAR because they have depth at D, and this portends a possible trade. Also, because Gardiner was probably the biggest unsigned name out there for unrestricted D. With this chip off the table look for other names to fall in trade. For instance, could this free up Ristolainen to be traded out of Buffalo?

 

Good stuff, Dan... I think your on to something. Just make sure he (Risto) ends up in Detroit, please.

Interesting that the Canes even went D, Maybe its the veteran leadership Brind'amour wants on the team? Anyway, good for them, they were a lot of fun last year, even with the theatrics.

 

Canes really value their D, wow, a lot lower than I thought. He'll probably be on the PP.often.

 

Yeah, $4.05MM AAV for four is nearly a million less per year than what I expected. I also thought he'd get 5 years; possibly 6. Phenomenal deal for Carolina. And, it's left D-starved teams licking their wounds.

Thank God the Sabres have some depth there. Finally.

 

There might be some concerns with his back as he sat a few games out last year. In the springtime $7M was floating around certain circles.

Sabres winning 3-0 over the devils in the prospects, play by play on 550.

 

Reported that Werenski signed a 3 year deal worth $5 per.
Now Torts won’t have to kill him.

 

Seems very low for someone like Werenski. He’s cream of the crop good. I’ll bet he cashes in big time when this deal runs out. Not sure if he’ll still be restricted at that point.

You’re up McAvoy get it done.

 

Werenski must've given the BJs a hometown discount. Expected around hi-6/lo-7 for him.

 

Ya I was thinking $7. I guess the bridge deal is always lower. He’s setting himself up for $10+ next time around especially if he’s a Ufa and the cap goes up as much as expected....... which it rarely does.

 

Morrissey agrees to eight-year, $50 million contract extension with Jets
New deal for 24-year-old defenseman starts in 2020-21

Josh Morrissey agreed to terms on an eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $6.25 million.

The contract will begin in the 2020-21 season for the 24-year-old defenseman, who has one season remaining on a two-year, $6.3 million contract ($3.15 million average annual value) he signed with Winnipeg on Sept. 16, 2018.

"When we spoke after I had signed, I have always maintained I want to be a Jet and play here in Winnipeg, and I'd love to get something done," Morrissey said Sept. 4. "As a player, it's kind of like that you want to go through the process and handle it the right way. I would love to get something done. I would love to play here throughout my career."

Morrissey had an NHL career-high 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 59 regular-season games last season and one assist in six Stanley Cup Playoff games. Selected by the Jets with the No. 13 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, he has 77 points (19 goals, 58 assists) in 223 regular-season games and three points (one goal, two assists) in 22 playoff games.

The Jets have yet to come to terms with two restricted free agents, forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, with training camp opening Thursday.
(NHL.com)

 

A little overpaid.

 

Provorov signs six-year, $40.5 million contract with Flyers
Defenseman was restricted free agent, led Philadelphia in ice time each of first three seasons

 

Spurgeon agrees to seven-year contract extension with Wild
Defenseman to get $7.575 million annually beginning next

 

seems very high but he logs huge minutes,

 

RFA no more.

Boston signed D Charlie McAvoy to a 3 year $4.9MM AAV bridge. This is a textbook example for the debate raging between GM's, agents, and RFA. Look at the third year salary; it's over $7MM. The qualifying offer at that point will push his long term contract into elite status*. (* Obviously that's predicated on Charlie continuing to produce. Short of major injury, that's almost a certainty.)

Charlie gets to make BIG bucks three years from now (while managing to get by somehow until then). Boston gets one of this year's top RFA's in camp and on time for a team-friendly cost. They have three years to plan & prepare for his Brinks truck delivery.

 

Well said Dan.

Bridge deals are so much lower but the Bruins will have to pay up big time, as mentioned.
Love Charlie betting on himself, essentially betting on his own health.
Now sign Carlo (longer term than CM’s current deal and probably cheaper) extend Krug and you’re good moving forward.

Anyone in the market for a Backes? Real cheap you can have him.

 

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2...y-philadelphia-flyers-lose-contract-dispute/?

FA Travis Konecny wants a long and massive deal. Flyers are ok with the years but the money terms are at an impasse according to Fletcher.

He's not a 40 goal scorer or an All-Star. Hell, he's not even a 30 goal scorer. how he command all this money ? Flyers have Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee waiting to take his spot and im sure they will play for free to do it. I would bridge his ass and if he does well then pay him. if not, then you have your answer on contract terms and money.