Posts Tagged NHL free agent
Theo Fleury Making a Statement
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on September 21st, 2009
Theo Fleury has walked on as a free agent to try-out with the Calgary Flames and it’s becoming one of the best feel-good stories of the NHL pre-season.
Anyone with a heart is pulling for the diminutive Fleury, who had battled substance abuse issues in the past. With the loyal Flames fans cheering his every move, he’s delivering with style. He scored a goal and added an assist on Sunday against the Florida Panthers, this after scoring the game winner in a shoot-out win over the Islanders last Thursday.
I admit that Calgary won’t have much trouble selling tickets this year with or without Fleury, but fans love to cheer for the underdog, a title and challenge Fleury has always embraced. You have to respect what he accomplished with 455 goals and 633 assists for 1088 points in 1084 career regular season games. He also had a point per game average in the playoffs with 34 goals and 45 assists for 79 points in 77 career playoff games.
This is a man with some real reasons to be motivated. He has stated that he is ashamed about how his career ended last time and is looking for redemption. As much as money is a strong motivator, pride has an element to it that can’t be measured or quantified. Likewise, respect also has an indelible quality that could infect the Flames dressing room and bring this team together. Hockey teams love to rally around a worthwhile cause, “us against the world”, if you will.
Furthermore, I believe that for players like Jarome Iginla, who seems like he’s been around forever but is only 32 years old, it would be inspirational to see that a man Fleury’s age can still play at a high level and he’s 41 years young.
From all of us here at MyNHLTradeRumors.com, Good Luck Theo.
Nikolai Zherdev Rejected by Rangers
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on September 14th, 2009
We have sources indicating that Nikolai Zherdev has offered to return to the New York Rangers, for the same money he originally refused, but the Rangers have passed on the offer.
“The Post has learned that the agent for Nikolai Zherdev, who rejected the Rangers’ $3.25 million qualifier and then became a free agent when the team walked away from his $3.9 million arbitration award, called the club this week offering to return for $3.25 million. The offer was refused”
Compensation for Signing a NHL Restricted Free Agent
Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Entry Draft, NHL Free Agents, NHL News on September 11th, 2009
Each year there may be a rumor or two involving a team signing a restricted free agent to an offer sheet. The draft compensation that teams would have to pay for signing a 2010 NHL restricted free agent without the contract being matched. We also included below the 2008 and 2009 compensation for your viewing pleasure.
Each year the salaries will go up at the same rate with the league player salary average. Teams have to use their own drafts picks for the compensation.
2010 Compensation
- $1,020,348 or below: No compensation.
- $1,020,348 to $1,545,981: A third-round draft choice.
- $1,545,981 to $3,091,963: A second round draft choice.
- $3,091,963 to $4,637,944: A first-round choice and a third-rounder.
- $4,637,944 to $6,183,925: A first- a second- and a third-rounder.
- $6,183,925 to $7,729,907: Two First-round choices, a second-rounder and a third-rounder.
- Over $7,729,907: Four first-rounders.
2009 Compensation
- $994,433 or below - None
- $994,433 to $1,506,716 - 3rd round pick
- $1,506,716 to $3,013,434 - 2nd round pick
- $3,013,434 to $4,520,150 - 1st and 3rd round pick
- $4,520,150 to $6,026,867 - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick
- $6,026,867 to $7,533,584 - 2 1st round picks, a 2nd and 3rd round pick
- $7,533,584 - 4 1st round picks
2008 Compensation
- $863,156 or less - None
- $863,156 - $1,307,812 - 3rd round pick
- $1,307,812 - $2,615,625 - 2nd round pick
- $2,615,623 - $3,923,437 - 1st and 3rd round pick
- $3,923,437 - $5,231,249 - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick
- $5,231,249 - $6,539,062 - Two 1st’s, one 2nd, one 3rd round pick
- $6,539,062 or more - Four 1st round picks
Tanguay Signs With Tampa Bay Lightning
“Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Brian Lawton confirmed Saturday that the team has agreed to terms on a deal with free agent forward Alex Tanguay, pending a physical.
Assuming Tanguay shows no health related issues – he missed 30 games last season with a shoulder injury – the one-year deal could be official on Tuesday. Financial terms of the contract were not available, although it is believed to be in the $2.5 million range.”(Source-The Tampa Tribune)
Speculation is that Tanguay will bolster the top 2 lines, seeing time playing with Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos. Tanguay is a natural play maker and could have a huge season in Tampa Bay.
Tanguay and Wild Talking
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 21st, 2009
“Left winger Alex Tanguay, tied for third on the all-time scoring list against Minnesota with 38 points in 41 games, is considering a contract offer from the Wild, his agent said on Thursday…”(source-StarTribune.com)
It would be a good move on Tanguay’s part to sign a 1 year deal to re-establish himself as a star calibre player before looking to sign a long-term deal. As we’ve seen throughout the off-season, teams are reluctant to give significant contracts to second tier talent with the salary cap expected to go down in the coming seasons.
According to Tanguay’s agent Ritch Winter, ”This will be a decision that is based largely on opportunity,” Winter continued. “Minnesota or somewhere else will be a place he’s going to go to have a career year. We’re continuing those discussions, and the Wild is very, very much on his radar.”
The Minnesota Wild have about $4 million in cap space and could really use some more offense, but I’m not sure another left winger is really what they need. They already have Martin Havlat for the first line but at the right price Tanguay would be a solid second line player.
Vaclav Prospal signs with Rangers
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on August 16th, 2009
“It appears as though Vaclav Prospal’s time on the unemployment line was a brief one as the New York Post is reporting the veteran forward has signed with the New York Rangers.
According to the Post, the deal is for one-season and is worth $1.1 million.”(source-New York Post)
The Tampa Bay Lightning bought out the final 3 years of Prospal’s4 year, $14 million dollar contract earlier this summer. He had 19 goals and 26 assists in 82 games for the Bolts last season.
Nikolai Zherdev going to KHL
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on August 11th, 2009
A week after the New York Rangers walked away from Nikolai Zherdev’s salary arbitration ruling, the free agent appears headed to the Russian based KHL.
According to RDS.ca, Zherdev is expected to sign a deal with Salavatovo Yuleav Ufa, a team that also employees former NHL’ers Alexander Perezhogin and Alexander Radulov.(source-TSN)
The financial terms haven’t been disclosed but it’s apparent that the KHL is becoming a real contender with the NHL for signing talent. With the trend of waiting to sign 2nd tier free agents this summer it might become more frequent to see player going over-seas, especially European players.
Zherdev a Free Agent
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on August 4th, 2009
The New York Rangers have decided to walk away from a salary arbitration ruling to Nikolai Zherdev, making the forward an unrestricted free agent.
Zherdev was awarded a one-year, $3.9 million contract following his hearing on Friday. He was reportedly looking for $4.75 million, while the Rangers were offering less than $3.2 million.(source-TSN)
This is an interesting situation. Maybe the Rangers read our “Top 10 Worst NHL Contracts” article a decided they had enough of being the front runners in that regard. Nikolai Zherdev is a talented player with all kinds of upside but he hasn’t been able to live up to expectations thus far in his career. After letting Nic Antropov walk earlier in the off-season when he was asking for ridiculous money, it appears Glen Sather has done the same with Nikolai Zherdev.
From here there are 2 possible outcomes. Nikolai Zherdev continues to play uninspired hockey elsewhere and Sather looks brilliant, or he gets it going the way we all expected he would and the Rangers finally get some new leadership at the management level.
Canucks re-sign Wellwood
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on July 30th, 2009
The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed centre Kyle Wellwood to a US$1.2-million, one-year contract following an arbitrator’s decision Thursday.
“It’s very good to have Kyle playing for the franchise,” said Laurence Gilman, the Canucks’ assistant general manager.”He came in, worked very hard, and contributed to our team, both in the regular season and the playoffs.”(source-Slam! sports)
I’m no genius but you have to think that after spending time on waivers last season and going to arbitration for a raise, Wellwood might not be all that welcome in Vancouver next season. After constant criticization about his conditioning, why not accept the qualifying offer of 1 million, get in top shape over the summer, and live up to potential? Guess that sounds like too much work. My prediction is a strained groin in the future…
NHL Free Agents Still Waiting
Posted by Derek in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on July 29th, 2009
A high-profile agent told Sun Media yesterday that the current environment for free agents is “all being orchestrated” by the NHL and the plan all along was to make these players sit to see if they’re willing to sign for less money.
Four weeks into free agency, players like Alex Tanguay, Petr Sykora, Manny Fernandez, Marcus Nilson, Dennis Seidenberg, Dominic Moore, Rhett Warrener, Miroslav Satan, Mathieu Schneider, Robert Lang and Brendan Shanahan have yet to sign.(Source-SunMedia)
The article indicates that role players will have to accept new standards of income far less than they previously enjoyed. The salary cap has made teams hesitate to over-pay like they used to.
Look at a guy like Tanguay, for example. The 28-year-old winger made $5.375 million last season with the Canadiens.
Tanguay, who has had interest from the Oilers, Panthers, Islanders and Lightning, knew he wasn’t going to make that kind of coin on the open market, but the indications are the best offer he’s received has been for $1.2 million a season.
That’s almost an 80% paycut on a deal that would probably only be for a year.
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