Signings:
Connor Carrick-Toronto Maple Leafs: 1 year, $800K
Carrick has been a reliable depth defenceman for the Maple Leafs the past two years but at age 24 it may be his last chance to secure a full-time role on an NHL team.
Markus Granlund-Vancouver Canucks: 1 year, $1.475M
Granlund had a terrible injury-riddled season last year but the previous year he netted 19 goals in 69 games which shows he has the potential to be a solid third- or fourth-line center. The deal is good for Vancouver as they lack depth scoring and a healthy Granlund could provide from the bottom six.
Stephen Johns-Dallas Stars: 3 years, $7.05M
On a weak defensive core in Dallas, Stephen Johns got an opportunity to play in the top six regularly and he made the most of it playing shut-down defence while throwing around his big body. Dallas has rewarded him with a contract which is likely to keep him on the NHL squad.
Philipp Grubauer-Colorado Avalanche: 3 years, $10M
After three years of being a great backup to Braden Holtby, Grubauer will finally get a chance to earn a starting role in Denver. It is most likely he will share the starting role with Semyon Varlamov but after a year or two, the role will probably be his. Either way, it was a very good trade and signing for the Avalanche.
Chris Wideman-Ottawa Senators: 1 year, $1M
Wideman has been a decent depth defenceman over the past three years in the nation's Capital so he was awarded with a one-year extension. His role may be bigger this year too if the Sens choose to move on from their captain Erik Karlsson.
Martin Frk-Detroit Red Wings: 1 year, $1.05M
Frk had a decent rookie season in Detroit last year so it makes sense for the rebuilding Red Wings to bring him back possibly for a bigger role. Frk could move into a regular top-six role if he improves his game or he could be a solid third-line winger like last season.
Bryan Rust-Pittsburgh Penguins: 4 years, $14M
Rust has been an average forward for Pittsburgh the past three regular seasons but come playoff time he has upped his game, scoring goals that sent Pittsburgh the the finals. Without him, Pittsburgh probably would not have beat Tampa Bay and with Sheary gone, he may get a bigger role to make a difference year round.
JT Miller-Tampa Bay Lightning: 5 years, $26.25M
Miller is one of the league's most underrated point producers putting up 56 and 58 points the last two years. During his short tenure in Tampa, he looked like a great fit notching 18 points in 19 games so he should only get better the more time he spends with one of the league's most talented rosters. Miller will have the opportunity to put up points like he never has before; the investment is worth it for Tampa Bay.
Derrick Pouliot-Vancouver Canucks: 1 year, $1.1M
Pouliot has never lived up to the potential which made him the eighth overall pick but he was decent last year in his role as a defenceman in Vancouver.
Joe Morrow-Winnipeg Jets: 1 year, $1M
Morrow is another defenceman who has never lived up to his first-round potential but after a late-season trade, he found a good fit in Winnipeg performing well to close out the regular season and playoffs. He ill fit nicely into their bottom six or their seventh-defenceman role.
Kevin Connauton-Arizona Coyotes: 2 years, $2.75M
Connauton was surprisingly effective for the Coyotes during his third season with the club posting 11 goals to go along with 10 assists. With a bigger role on the power play, he could possibly put up even more goals and be an offensive threat for an up-and-coming team.
Riley Sheahan-Pittsburgh Penguins: 1 year, $2.1M
After an early season trade sent Sheahan to the Penguins, he performed well as the third-line center before being pushed to the fourth line due to the acquisition of Derick Brassard. If he plays like last year, he is one of the best fourth-line centers in the NHL as he produces points and plays good defence.
Devante Smith-Pelly-Washington Capitals: 1 year, $1M
Smith-Pelly under performed during the regular season posting seven goals but he matched that during the Capitals' magical run which left them as champs. A reunion made sense for both sides despite the fact Smith-Pelly had larger offers from other teams.
Michal Kempny-Washington Capitals: 4 years, $10M
Once Kempny was dealt at the deadline to the Capitals, he made a major impact during their playoff run as he contributed by playing lock-down defence while playing on the bottom pair. Bringing him back gives Washington the option to play in the top four with the departure of Brooks Orpik.
Drew Doughty-Los Angeles Kings: 8 years, $88M
The Kings just locked up one of the best defencemen in the game for a long time. Doughty is a top-three defencemen now and may one day be a hall-of-fame player with his two Stanley Cups, two Olympic Gold medals and a Norris trophy at age 28. The annual cost of the deal is a lot but as an elite player he has earned the contract he got.
Logan Couture-San Jose Sharks: 8 years, $64M
Couture has been a very underrated center during his NHL career because he has faced injury problems. If he was healthy all the time, he would be considered one of the league's top centers. Even with that being said, $8 million annually is a lot to pay someone who may be your second-line center especially when you have already given out monster deals with term to others players on your team.
Mike Green-Detroit Red Wings: 2 years, $10.75M
What is Detroit doing? They keep throwing out all this money to players on the decline (Frans Nielsen, Justin Abdelkader, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Trevor Daley, Jonathan Ericsson, Danny Dekeyser and Jimmy Howard are all overpaid veterans). It's time for the Wings to go into a full-on rebuild. Green can still play but he would be more effective on a contender as a power-play specialist.
Niklas Hjalmarsson-Arizona Coyotes: 2 years, $10M
Hjalmarsson may not be the shut-down defenceman he once was but he can still contribute to a team trying to enter playoff contention after years of rebuilding. He brings his three Stanley Cups and leadership to a team stacked with young talent. The contract is not bad either as the term is short and Arizona has plenty of cap space.
Ryan Reaves-Vegas Golden Knights: 2 years, $5.55M
One of the best enforcers in the league, Reaves brings his grit and toughness to a team which may be ready for another deep playoff run. Despite interest from many teams. he has chosen to keep his fighting style in Sin City.
Trades:
Blackhawks Receive: Jordan Schroeder
Blue Jackets Receive: Jean-Francois Berube
Jean-Francois Berube will likely be the AHL starter next year in Cleveland but he could possibly push Joonas Korpisalo for the backup job in Columbus. Jordan Schroeder will push for a depth-forward role in Chicago but he will likely play a leadership role in the AHL.
Grades: Blackhawks B; Blue Jackets B
Penguins Receive: Conditional 4th Round Pick
Sabres Receive: Conor Sheary, Matt Hunwick
Conor Sheary has been a very good second or third liner during his time in Pittsburgh and it's a shame they are getting rid of him to sign Jack Johnson. Sheary is a better player than Johnson is now but they do need defence rather than offence at this point. Sheary should add some offence to a team in Buffalo that desperately needs it. He could play on any line in the top nine depending on how much they depend on him. Matt Hunwick will add some leadership and depth defence to the Sabres as well.
Grades: Sabres A; Penguins C+
Canadiens Receive: Joel Armia, Steve Mason, 2019 7th Round Pick, 2020 4th Round Pick
Jets Receive: Simon Bourque
This deal is a huge cap dump for the Jets as they get rid of Steve Mason's terrible contract which leaves space to bring back Paul Stastny. For the Canadiens, they get a promising young player in Joel Armia who should get a bigger role this upcoming season plus future picks. The Canadiens plan to buy out Mason but they are not contenders so their cap space should not be a problem.
Grades: Canadiens B+; Jets C+
Photo credit for Philipp Grubauer, Conor Sheary and Drew Doughty goes to http://www.nhl.com/. JT Miller goes to https://www.newsday.com/.
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