2017 Free agency thread.

After the year he just had, I would say they overpaid.

 

I think last year was the exception for Laine. A kid that can already put up 40 is a rare commodity. Short term makes sense so that neither side gets hosed too badly. Connor may still want more than that.

 

Miko R
6 yrs/$9.25 AAV.

 

Connor
7yrs/$7.14M AAV

 

Coyotes hand Kuemper two-year, $9 million extension

 

Josi signs eight-year, $72.4 million contract with Predators
Defenseman to get more than $9 million annually, could have become UFA after season...

 

Seems like a fair deal, 37 yrs old in his final year.

 

He's 37? , wow. That is a great contract for an old geezer.

 

He'll be 37 when the extension expires.

 

Backstrom deal may be teh end of Holtby in Washington. That, and the play of Holtby lately compared to Samsonov.

 

Kassian signs for 4 more years...

Zack Kassian signed a four-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 29-year-old forward could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He has 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games this season, one shy of his NHL career high, set with the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14, and has played primarily on Edmonton's top line with Connor McDavid.

"I'm happy to be here," Kassian said. "I love being an Oiler, I love the city, I love the fans, I love my teammates. I feel when [general manager Kenny Holland] came in with [coach Dave Tippett], they were building something special here, and I'm happy to be a small piece to that puzzle. More than happy, excited for myself, my daughter, life's good."

Last season, Kassian scored an NHL career-high 15 goals for the Oilers.

"He means a ton to our group," McDavid said. "He's a vocal guy in our room, brings emotion, brings intensity every night, and I'm glad that he's going to be here for a long time.

"You need those big, tough guys on your team, and it's nice to play with one alongside me every night, and there is not many bigger and tougher than Zack Kassian. He's fun to play with."

Edmonton (26-18-6) is in third place in the Pacific Division, four points behind the Vancouver Canucks for first.

source; NHL.com

 

This Kassian deal is going to bite them in the ass. I’m looking at Abdelkader and Lucic as comparables.

 

Agreed, the Oilers are famous for getting all caught up in the present.

 

I haven’t seen the terms. But at his age, 4 years does not look too bad. They do need to start establishing some org. stability. They also need someone rugged to protect the Franchise.

 

Im leaning with, Matty's assessment. Kassian had a good run and right at the right time, but I don't see his production at this pace sustainable... just a hunch.

 

Big guy that’s barely hanging on speed-wise as is.... it’s a steep drop. Add Backes and Benn to those comparables.
Benn maybe unfair but he fell off off big time

 

They'll be stuck with a 30 something slow guy that nobody will want in a trade.

$3.2M caphit.

 

The Winnipeg Jets and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien are headed toward a solution.

According to a report from TSN’s Frank Seravalli, the Jets and Byfuglien are closing in on a mutual contract termination that will officially end his time with the franchise.

Byfuglien has not played for the Jets this season after stepping away from the team just before training camp to contemplate his future. The Jets officially suspended him, while Byfuglien filed a grievance in November arguing that he should have still been paid as he was recovering from a hockey injury. He underwent ankle surgery in October.

He has played for the organization since the start of the 2010-11 season when it was still based in Atlanta.

During his time with the team has been one of the league’s most productive offensive defensemen and the foundation of the Jets’ blue line. He was limited to just 42 games a year ago due to injury, but the Jets were still planning on him playing a significant role on this year’s team. But as training camp approached he stepped away from the team, leaving an already undermanned Jets’ defense without its best and most impactful player.

That came after the Jets had traded Jacob Trouba to the New York Rangers and saw Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot exit in free agency.

If the two sides eventually come to an agreement on a contract termination, Byfuglien would become an unrestricted free agent, while the Jets would clear a significant amount of salary cap space before the trade deadline and for next season. Byfuglien’s current contract carries a salary cap hit of $7.6 million per season.

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