2017 Free agency thread.

Thanks for the good news... 2 years also, I like it.

 

I'm going to miss Troy Stecher Dan........Vancouver Boy.....and I'm concerned with the Canucks "D" now......jezz we need a quality Defenseman.

Benning went after Elkom -Larson.......but Yotes wanted Demko......and I did not like Benning response when questioned about Thatcher.....Jezz.

 

I always try pick out a player that I was not familiar with when I watch a game. Stecher impressed me when we were at that game. It also impressed me that he seemed to genuinely want to be a Canuck. I'm sure he really had second thoughts about leaving. But the Nuck's cap is that tight.

I thought Barrie was destined to be a Nuck when he was still in Denver; that's where he wanted to sign. (I have no inside information here; it's inferred by the fact that VAN was one of the final teams he talked to even though he knew they had no cap space.)

I was just thinking about the Nucks and their D needs and have moved up on my list of teams to target for trade talks. I doubt Buffalo will move Montour until the deadline, and I hope they keep Risto. Could it be Miller time?

 

Deck the Hall! Taylor is a Sabre.

 

1 year, $8 million, from what I saw.

I think that's fair. There are some valid questions about what Hall would be worth on a long term deal, so paying a premium for a one year deal is a good compromise for both parties.

Hall gets a good chunk of cash and a chance to prove he's worth money long-term. The Sabres don't take a Skinner-like risk. Win-win, from that angle. Makes the Sabres a dangerous goal-scoring team.

 

Alex Pietrangelo signed a seven-year, $61.6 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. It has an average annual value of $8.8 million.

The 30-year-old defenseman has played all 12 seasons of his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues. He scored 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) in 70 games last season and six points (one goal, five assists) in nine postseason games.

"With Alex, we get a guy that's in the discussion for the Norris Trophy each year," Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. "He's one of the top four or five defensemen in the game. He's the first over the boards in every situation for his team. ... He's a four-year captain (with St. Louis). He's extremely high-character, very committed to winning, Stanley Cup champion. Right shot. He's 6-foot-3, brings great size (210 pounds) to our blue line. And again, we wouldn't have gone to these lengths for anyone but a player that we think can do as much for our team as Alex can."

NHL.com

 

Toffoli agrees to four-year, $17 million contract with Canadiens
Forward scored 24 goals for Kings, Canucks last season, won Stanley Cup in 2014

Tyler Toffoli agreed to a four-year, $17 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. It has an average annual value of $4.25 million.

The 28-year-old forward scored 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 68 games with the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings last season, including 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 10 games after he was traded to the Canucks on Feb. 17, and four points (two goals, two assists) in seven postseason games.

Selected by Los Angeles in the second round (No. 47) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Toffoli has scored 300 points (145 goals, 155 assists) in 525 regular-season NHL games and 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 54 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 26 playoff games to help the Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2014.

NHL.com

 

MAF is staying with the Knights... He and Lehner make a powerful tandem.

 

Marleau returns to Sharks for 23rd NHL season

41 years old... good for him.

 

Evgenii Dadonov signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $5 million.

The 31-year-old forward was an unrestricted free agent. He scored 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) in 69 games with the Florida Panthers last season and had one assist in four games in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

"He's someone that you know scores legit goals," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He can really shoot it and he's smart offensively. For us, he's someone that competes offensively to score goals.

"Also, when we did our background check, he's not a guy that is a really vocal guy, but he practices hard. He leads by example. Not every one of your leaders will be someone who's vocal, but we like the leadership qualities in him. He might not be the loudest person, but he will be someone that will definitely lead by example for our players."

NHL.com

 

Grzelcyk at a great number. Well played by Sweeney. Now on to Debrusk.

 

Gurianov signs two-year, $5.1 million contract with Stars
Restricted free agent forward scored 29 points in 64 games last season

Denis Gurianov signed a two-year, $5.1 million contract with the Dallas Stars on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $2.55 million.

The 23-year-old restricted free agent forward scored 29 points (20 goals, nine assists) in 64 games with the Stars last season and 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 27 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Dallas lost the Stanley Cup Final in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Selected by Dallas in the first round (No. 12) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Gurianov has scored 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists) in 86 regular-season games and 17 points in 27 playoff games.

NHL.com

 

Brown signs three-year, $10.8 million contract with Senators
Restricted free agent forward avoids arbitration hearing

 

Virtanen signs two-year, $5.1 million contract with Canucks
Forward scored 36 points last season, avoids arbitration hearing

 

Eakin signs two-year, $4.5 million contract with Sabres
Forward scored 15 points with Golden Knights, Jets last season

 

Devon Toews signed a four-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 26-year-old defenseman was a restricted free agent who had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Saturday. He was traded to the Avalanche by the New York Islanders on Oct. 12 for a second-round pick in the 2021 and 2022 NHL Draft.

"We're excited to have Devon under contract for the next four years," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "As I said when we acquired him, Devon is a smart, two-way, puck-moving defenseman who is a durable defender and is excellent in transition."

Selected by New York in the fourth round (No. 108) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Toews scored 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) in 68 games with the Islanders last season and 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 22 postseason games. He has scored 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists) in 116 regular-season games and 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

NHL.com