Tyson Barrie, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
The 28-year-old was acquired in a July 1 trade that sent center Nazem Kadri to the Colorado Avalanche. Barrie led Avalanche defensemen last season with 59 points (14 goals, 45 assists), the third time in the past five seasons he had at least 50. But with the emergence of defensemen Cale Makar and Samuel Girard, plus top prospects Conor Timmins and Bowen Byram pushing for roster spots, Barrie became a trade chip to fill other needs.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, Florida Panthers
The Panthers landed the top free agent goalie available when they agreed to terms with Bobrovsky on a seven-year contract July 1. The 31-year-old won the Vezina Trophy twice (2013, 2017) during seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His 115 wins and 21 shutouts were most among NHL goalies during the past three seasons.
Matt Duchene, F, Nashville Predators
Looking to improve what was the worst power play in the NHL last season (12.9 percent), the Predators signed Duchene to a seven-year contract July 1. In 73 games with the Ottawa Senators and Blue Jackets last season, the 28-year-old had 14 power-play points, which would have been second on the Predators behind center Ryan Johansen (16 points). Duchene is just as productive at 5-on-5; his 25 even-strength goals last season were an NHL career high.
Ryan Dzingel, F, Carolina Hurricanes
The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract with the Hurricanes on July 12. He scored 22 goals in 57 games with the Senators last season but never found his groove after being acquired in a trade by the Blue Jackets on Feb. 23, with four goals in 21 regular-season games and one in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games. But adding a back-to-back 20-goal scorer to play on a middle-six line, especially with the absence of forward Justin Williams, should add to a diverse offense that is aiming to help the Hurricanes reach the playoffs for a second straight season.
Alex Galchenyuk, F, Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins acquired the 25-year-old in a June 29 trade that sent forward Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes. Galchenyuk could play left wing on the second line with center Evgeni Malkin. He was tied with Brad Richardson for the Coyotes lead in goals last season with 19 and scored 30 for the Montreal Canadiens in 2015-16.
Jake Gardiner, D, Carolina Hurricanes
The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Hurricanes on Sept. 6 after playing his first eight NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs. Gardiner missed five weeks last season with a back injury but said after signing that he's fully healed. He should add skill and speed to a group of defensemen that also includes Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Kevin Hayes, F, Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers acquired the 27-year-old in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets on June 3 and then signed him to a seven-year contract June 19. His arrival followed Alain Vigneault, who was hired as coach April 15. Vigneault coached Hayes with the New York Rangers in Hayes' first four NHL seasons. Hayes will play center on the second line, allowing Claude Giroux to move to left wing on the top line full time. The Flyers also added defensemen Matt Niskanen (Washington Capitals) and Justin Braun (San Jose Sharks) in trades in June.
Nazem Kadri, F, Colorado Avalanche
Acquired in the July 1 trade that sent Barrie to the Maple Leafs, Kadri had back-to-back 32-goal seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18, but after John Tavares' arrival in Toronto last season, Kadri was shuffled down the lineup and scored 16 goals. In Colorado, the 28-year-old is going to be the second-line center and will be expected to rediscover his scoring touch so the Avalanche don't have to rely too heavily on the top line of center Nathan MacKinnon, left wing Gabriel Landeskog and right wing Mikko Rantanen, who remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.
Phil Kessel, F, Arizona Coyotes
Acquired in the June 29 trade that sent Galchenyuk to the Penguins, Kessel might be the best goal-scorer to play for the Coyotes since the franchise moved from Winnipeg to Arizona in 1996. He averaged 27 goals in his four seasons with the Penguins, a number no Coyotes player has reached since Shane Doan scored 28 in 2015-16. Kessel, who turns 32 on Oct. 2, has scored at least 30 goals six times in 13 NHL seasons; the last Coyotes player to reach 30 was Radim Vrbata, who scored 35 in 2011-12.
Robin Lehner, G, Chicago Blackhawks
The 28-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Blackhawks on July 1 after a resurgent season with the New York Islanders when he finished with a 2.13 GAA and .930 save percentage in 46 games, won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey, and finished third in voting for the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL. Lehner will share playing time with Corey Crawford.
Artemi Panarin, F, New York Rangers
New York pushed its rebuild ahead in a big way by signing the 27-year-old to a seven-year contract July 1. The Rangers were tied for 23rd in the NHL in scoring last season (221 goals, 2.70 per game). Panarin led the Blue Jackets with 87 points (28 goals, 59 assists), and his 320 points (116 goals, 204 assists) since 2015-16 are eighth among NHL players.
Joe Pavelski, F, Dallas Stars
Pavelski signed a three-year contract with the Stars on July 1 after spending his first 13 NHL seasons with the Sharks, including the past four as captain. The 35-year-old can play center or wing and will provide secondary offensive support to Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
Corey Perry, F, Dallas Stars
Perry signed a one-year contract with Dallas on July 1 after he played his first 14 NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. The Stars hope that the 34-year-old can stay healthy and contribute offensively as a middle-six forward. Perry missed the first four months of last season recovering from knee surgery, scored six goals in 31 games, and had the final two seasons of his contract bought out June 19. He broke his left foot Sept. 11, leaving his availability for the season opener against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 3 in question.
Anton Stralman, D, Florida Panthers
The 33-year-old agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Panthers on July 1 after playing the past five seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Injuries limited Stralman to 47 games last season, including a lower-body injury that sidelined him for the Lightning's four-game loss to the Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference First Round. When healthy, Stralman can play significant minutes in all situations.
P.K. Subban, D, New Jersey Devils
The 30-year-old was acquired in a trade from the Predators for two draft picks and defensemen Steven Santini and Jeremy Davies on June 22. Voted the winner of the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL in 2012-13, Subban brings a high-energy style to a team in need of an offensive boost from its defensemen. Subban scored at least 50 points four times in the past six seasons; in 63 games last season, he had 31 points (nine goals, 22 assists), which would have been more than every other Devils defenseman except Damon Severson (39 points). New Jersey also signed 31-year-old forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year contract.
Cam Talbot, G, Calgary Flames
The 32-year-old signed a one-year contract to replace Mike Smith (Edmonton Oilers) as David Rittich's goalie partner with the Flames. Talbot had 11 wins in 35 games with the Oilers and Flyers last season, but in 2016-17, he tied for the NHL lead with 42 wins to help Edmonton reach the playoffs.
Jacob Trouba, D, New York Rangers
The Rangers acquired the 25-year-old in a trade from the Jets on June 17 for defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Trouba, who led Jets defensemen with an NHL career-high 50 points (eight goals, 42 assists) last season, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract July 19.
Semyon Varlamov, G, New York Islanders
The 31-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Islanders on July 1 after eight seasons with the Avalanche and likely will share time with Thomas Greiss, as Lehner did. Varlamov had a strong start last season, going 10-5-3 with a 2.23 GAA and .930 save percentage in his first 18 games. But he went 10-14-6 with a 3.16 GAA and .899 save percentage in his final 31 games and was the backup to Philipp Grubauer during the playoffs.
Mats Zuccarello, F, Minnesota Wild
The 32-year-old agreed to a five-year contract with the Wild on July 1. Zuccarello had 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 47 games when he broke his arm Feb. 24 in his second game with the Stars after being traded by the Rangers. He recovered to tie for Dallas' playoff lead with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 13 games. Zuccarello will be counted on to add offense to the Wild, who scored 31 goals during a season-ending 5-9-3 skid that cost them a spot in the playoffs.
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment