2017 Free agency thread.

Elliot is a rental anyways till Hart is ready to take over full time. low money and the team was not banging on the door of the playoffs anyways.

 

The New York Rangers have signed defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk to a four-year, $26.6 million contract

 

^^every year the Rangers land a top FA. I would love to know how they keep doing it when the Flyers have less than $3 mil left already for FA. Ugh,.

 

That's because more players want to sign with the blueshirts. Bear in mind that their success record with high profile FA's is pretty lousy.

 

Vrbata in Florida: one year, $2.5 M base salary plus $1.25 M in performances bonuses

 

The Florida Panthers have signed forward Evgeny Dadonov to a three-year, $12 million contract

 

all true Dan. Just pissed i was hoping for the FLyers to make a FA splash and by noon yesterday, it was over. Elliot and Weal - whoopee. They had $11.5 mil, now it's down to under $8 or 9 mil and they still gotta pay bonuses etc. Yes they may have 7-8 prospects playing this year, but name me the last rookie laden based team to win a Cup? Need some vets too. I read they were high on Justin Williams? High? Are they high on dope for wanting him now? Just same old song and dance from Philly.

 

It's looking like this could be a very successful offseason for the Sabres.

Their D was roundly jeered for being one of the most anemic D units in the NHL. Some of that was system, but a lot of it was a load of suck that was not suited for today's NHL. Scandella, Beaulieu, and Antipin are a quick (pun intended) tonic to cure this. Tennyson was signed, but he's probably going to shore up the Amerks and be an emergency call-up guy. Brendan Guhle will likely get at least a half season of seasoning as an Amerk too. Good, bring 'em on slow.

Add speed, puck possession, and 21st century coaching and the D should be remarkably improved.

The only blemish this offseason is Cal Petersen signing with the LAK. But that's the system, and over the years Buffalo has benefitted as much by this system as it has felt the occasional sting. Losing a prospect that is optimistically a year away is not that bad.

The team has lost three LW's off of last season's roster, and it's astonishing how little production was lost. This truth exposes just how thin the LW unit was, and I do not mind exposing the naked truth since this team completed a monumental suck campaign. It looks like the new GM is already on this with some low-cost short-term FA's. He has shown MIN - if not the world - that he can make a nifty deal too.

The team has indigenous high-end LW help a year or two away. That's just in time for this team to move from a playoff bubble team, to a SC contender.

Yes, this has been a satisfying off season for a Sabres fan. So far.

 

Jets agree to terms with Dmitry Kulikov on a three-year contract.

 

Dmitry, we hardly knew ya. Don't let the [del]door[/del] bench gate hit you on the ass (again) on your way out!

 

Adam Wilcox, a 24-year-old Minnesota native & alum of Gopher Hockey signed by the Sabres.

 

The Leafs sign Dominic Moore to a one-year, $1M deal.

 

Bolts land Kunitz ? one year, $2?million

 

Lot of action today... goalies were moved all over the place.

 

Capitals have signed forward Anthony Peluso to a one-year, $650,000 contract.

 

D Alexei Emelin is headed to Nashville for a third-round pick in 2018. Emelin was scheduled to make $4.1 million in 2017-18.

 

The days of the big fish being available are over. A team always has the option of using a young player in the system to fill a position for next to nothing. These middle of the road players are losing their leverage, especially in this cap era.

 

The Leafs have signed defenceman Vincent LoVerde to a two-year deal.

 

LoVerde, an AHL vet, captained two teams, could be a diamond in the ruff.

 

We've seen some teams pay attention to their farm teams in the offseason to help build a winning culture throughout the org. It's a smart strategy.

I think the Leafs have done a nice job with the Marlies.