The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Tom Wilson to a two-year contract worth $4 million, the team announced Thursday.
He will earn $1.75 million during the 2016-17 season, and $2.25 million in 2017-18.
Beyond excited to be back in DC for two years. See you guys soon!!
— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) June 30, 2016
Wilson, a 2012 first-round draft pick, was headed for restricted free agency. The 22-year-old recorded at least 150 penalty minutes in each of his three NHL seasons, while his offensive totals have increased each year.
Last season, he set career highs with seven goals and 16 assists.
After the team's disappointing playoff exit, general manager Brian MacLellan stated his hope that Wilson could grow into a player like former Capital Joel Ward, who he said the team lacked during their postseason run.
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The only thing more interesting than the three transactions that rocked the NHL within a 15-minute span Wednesday were some of the comments made by the players involved.
It's not every day you see a first overall draft pick get traded. But given how loaded the Edmonton Oilers were up front, something had to give. With all the talk focused on players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall probably felt safe in Edmonton.
Turns out, he wasn't. He found that out Wednesday, and he wasn't happy about it.
"I certainly do feel slighted about the whole thing," Hall said. "I feel like I've been a good soldier for six years and I felt like I prepared the best I could. I did as much as I felt I could on the ice and at the end of the day, I guess they felt they wanted to go in a different direction, which is fine."
Sometimes the measure of a player's worth is what he fetches in return for his services. The Oilers swapped Hall for New Jersey Devils defenseman Adam Larsson. That's it. One for one. No salary retained. No draft picks. No prospects or minor leaguers.
"It's tough, I felt like I had a pretty deep connection with the city of Edmonton" Hall added. "I'm going to do everything I can do to make the Devils proud that they made this deal."
The Oilers lack depth on defense and while acquiring someone like Larsson makes sense, the return for Hall - one of hockey's premier five-on-five players and left wingers - was shocking. Edmonton, which hosted Milan Lucic earlier in the week during the free-agent negotiating period, must have some assurance that it will be able to fill the hole Hall leaves up front on July 1.
But feelings were definitely hurt, and not only in Edmonton.
Minutes after the Hall-Larsson deal, P.K. Subban, the defenseman with the highest salary cap hit ($9 million) in the league, was traded to the Nashville Predators for the guy who carries the second-largest cap hit, Shea Weber.
Subban was measured in his comments about the trade, acknowledging he wasn't blind to how the situation developed.
"Not really surprised. I think with a lot of the chatter that kind of happened over the little while, I'm a firm believer that when there's smoke there's fire," he said. "At no point did I ever want to leave Montreal or (was) given a notion from anybody that I would be traded. But the way the business works, as hockey players, we don't often believe the stuff that we want to see or read things in the media. But when stuff is buzzing around that long, you have to think that there's some stuff going on."
More hurt feelings. For Hall, his frustration seems to begin and end with his trade. For Subban, the deal ends an eventful, polarizing tenure in Montreal. He endured an acrimonious contract negotiation that went through the early stages of arbitration before a deal was struck, and his salary made him a lightning rod for any and all criticism aimed the Habs' way.
Financially, the Canadiens save approximately $1.15 million annually on Weber's contract. There are 10 years remaining on his deal, though, and if Weber retires before the end of the contract, it will be Nashville, not Montreal, in charge of cap recapture penalties.
So why are these trades happening?
Since June 25, teams have been able to negotiate with prospective free agents. Since it's been a few days, each team has a clear idea ahead of who it can or can't acquire on July 1.
In Edmonton's case, it's quite clear Peter Chiarelli feels he has an edge on potential free agents who can fill Hall's spot in the top six. In Montreal's case, the window to move Subban before his no-movement clause kicked in on July 1 was integral to the trade being made. Montreal gets an All-Star defenseman it hopes will perform even better in the Eastern Conference.
Another factor is a trend we saw in February. Teams don't want to be pressured into making a trade at the final hour, as the clock runs out. The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Dion Phaneuf weeks before the deadline. Andrew Ladd was dealt four days before Feb. 29, while James Reimer was moved on the 27th. Eric Staal left Carolina on the 28th.
Topping off a crazy Wednesday in late June was Steven Stamkos, who ultimately decided he wouldn't test the market. He's staying in Tampa Bay, re-upping with the Lightning on an eight-year, $68-million deal.
There's little doubt Stamkos could have left for more money, but given how far Tampa went in the playoffs while he was injured, it's easy to wonder what might have happened had No. 91 been healthy. You can bet that was on his mind during the negotiating window, when he surely talked with the many teams in hot pursuit.
There will be more fireworks on July 1 at noon ET, when the free-agent market officially opens. It's usually a day when most general managers are judged for overspending. But the tide's turning. The trends appear to tell us the fireworks won't be as extravagant as they were before.
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The luster and bright lights of Los Angeles have quickly dimmed for Kings forward Dustin Brown.
It's no secret, Brown's production has dropped immensely, and his annual cap hit of $5.875 million through 2022 has become a burden on the Kings' books.
After five consecutive seasons of more than 50 points, Brown has fallen short of the 30-point mark every year since 2013.
A steady decline, tied with the emergence of superstar Anze Kopitar, led Los Angeles to strip Brown of his captaincy, but, despite being aware of how harsh his reality has become, it hurt the 31-year-old to learn the team he captained to two Stanley Cups is taking the "C" from his chest.
Brown said the decision was made by management, and it was a "tough pill to swallow," according to Yahoo's Josh Cooper.
Either way, Brown is intent on improving.
Brown: "Whether i have a C on my chest or not, I'm going to put pressure on myself to be better."
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) June 30, 2016
Brown was irritated the captaincy news was leaked, and was honest in saying his relationship with Kings' management has taken a hit.
Brown on relationship with Kings management, "I'm not going to say it's rosy"
— Josh Cooper (@JoshuaCooper) June 30, 2016
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If Wednesday proved anything, it's that NHL teams are always looking for defensemen.
With the likes of P.K. Subban, Shea Weber, and Adam Larsson all dealt in under an hour, it's clear teams are seeking upgrades to their back ends.
If teams are unable to swing a trade, free agency is the next best bet. This year's crop of defensemen may not be particularly strong, but clubs looking to fill out roster spots could find a diamond in the rough.
Here are the top 10 defensemen who will become unrestricted free agents July 1:
Despite approaching his 40s, Campbell continues to be a solid and reliable two-way pivot.
Campbell made $7,142,875 last season, so his next contract should be significantly lower. If he isn't brought back by the Florida Panthers, he could be a hot commodity for a club with a young defense corps looking for a reliable leader.
Despite dressing in just 62 contests last season, Demers still managed a career-high seven goals.
The D-man led the Dallas Stars' defense with three power play goals and averaged just under 21 minutes of ice time.
He's not afraid to block shots and throw his body around, making him one of the best all-around defenseman available July 1. Don't be surprised if the Oilers take a shot at inking the 28-year-old.
At 33 years of age, it's evident Hamhuis isn't the D-man he once was.
His production has dipped, hitting a career-low last season with just three goals and 13 points in 58 games. However, he can still eat up minutes - averaging 21:25 last season - and is strong on the opposite side of the puck as his 72 blocks and 64 hits suggest.
With the likelihood of his next contract being his last, he could prove to be a solid veteran presence on a young team at a decent price.
After capturing the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Schultz is now a free man.
Coming off a one-year, $3.9-million deal, Schultz contributed eight points in 18 games down the stretch and another four in the playoffs, which may have changed people's perspective of him.
Schultz saw time on the power play and, above all, proved that, in the right environment, he's less of a defensive liability as he was in Edmonton. Schultz certainly has value.
Being picked up at the trade deadline by the Dallas Stars did little to make the club a contender, but Russell remains a solid option for clubs looking for a two-way D-man.
He contributed four goals and 19 points in 62 games, but his presence is most felt on the opposite side of the puck. Russell remains among the league's best shot blockers, finishing second in the category with 210, despite missing 20 games.
While Boyle admitted to contemplating retirement last season, the thoughts didn't appear to hamper his productivity.
The 39-year-old led Rangers defensemen with 10 goals, his second highest total in the last six seasons.
Boyle's next contract is likely to be his last, but he could be a solid addition to a bottom pairing.
Polak may have had his skeptics in the playoffs, but he remains a reliable depth option for clubs looking to fill out their roster.
He contributed one goal and 16 points in the regular season, while finishing third in the NHL with 303 hits and blocking 146 shots.
He can be a bully to play against and, whether the stat holds merit or not, Polak managed to be a plus-8 on the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs before his trade to the San Jose Sharks.
Weber is your prototypical third-pairing defenseman, and though he might not bring value to the score sheet, he brings size, grit, and truculence - all things Brian Burke loves.
He managed just one goal and four assists in 45 games split between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, but had more than two hits per game and 61 blocks.
Lovejoy might be among the best bargains to be had July 1.
While the Stanley Cup-winner might not be flashy or put up huge numbers, he's a steady blue-line force. He chipped in four goals and 10 points in 66 regular-season games and another six in 24 postseason contests.
He finished third on the Penguins in both hits and blocks while eating up 18:52 of ice time a night. And it should be noted he was paid just $1.2 million to do so.
It's crazy to think that, despite having eight NHL seasons under his belt and stints with three NHL clubs, Schenn is still just 26 years old.
While he might not be the same defenseman that was drafted fifth overall in 2008, he remains a punishing presence, amassing 234 hits and 106 blocks in 72 games last season split between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers.
If Schenn can rediscover his game he could be the steal of free agency.
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The Boston Bruins have locked down pending restricted free-agent defenseman Torey Krug to a four-year contract worth $21 million ($5.25M AAV), the team announced Thursday.
Retaining Krug was a priority for Bruins general manager Don Sweeney this offseason, as he's one of if not the most important piece on Boston's blue line.
Krug, 25, scored only four goals, but still produced a career-high 44 points in 81 games last season, while logging over 21 minutes of ice time.
With over $24 million in cap space and Krug now retained, the Bruins are widely expected to be buyers this offseason.
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In the end, the grass was greener right where he was all along.
While Steven Stamkos could have become the highest-profile unrestricted free agent in years, he instead decided to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning, reportedly agreeing to an eight-year, $68-million deal.
"You want to make the best decision at the end of the day," he said in a conference call Thursday. "This was the best decision for myself and my family. For me, it was following your heart and being loyal to the organization that has made me the player and person I am today.
"I understood there could have been some money left out there," he added, "but that’s not what it’s all about."
Remaining loyal to the team that selected him first overall in 2008 played a part, and so did the very real possibility of winning a Stanley Cup as part of a formidable group of talent assembled by general manager Steve Yzerman.
#tblightning Stamkos: "This team is on the verge of hopefully competing for Stanley Cups for years to come."
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 30, 2016
The Lightning made it to the Cup Final in 2015 and pushed this year's champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals. As team captain, Stamkos seems intent on seeing things through to the ultimate goal.
"I’m the leader of this team and I believe in the direction that we’re going," he said. "We’ve seen what this team is capable of."
Stamkos: "If we want to stay to together, there's going to be sacrifices for both sides. I believe the core we have understands that."
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 30, 2016
Finally, Stamkos admitted to some sleepless nights when considering the possibility of moving on, particularly in relation to returning to his hometown of Toronto. In the end, as he said, the decision to stay in Tampa was for the best.
Stamkos being inundated with questions about Toronto on this conference call. Getting a view into the solar system he chose not to orbit.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 30, 2016
Stamkos' new contract will carry a salary cap hit of $8.5 million through to the end of the 2023-24 season.
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Don't order your Milan Lucic jerseys just yet, Edmonton Oilers fans.
Lucic reportedly met face-to-face with the Dallas Stars, led by owner Tom Gaglardi, his agent, Gerry Johannson told NEWS 1130 Sports.
The discussion took place in Lucic's hometown of Vancouver, and Johannson also said it will be his final face-to-face meeting with July 1 approaching.
The bruising winger disputed a report that indicated he agreed to a deal with the Oilers, but Lucic is garnering plenty of attention from around the league as one of the most sought-after free agents.
Lucic, 28, carried a cap hit of $6 million in the final season of his contract, played out with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Stars have plenty of cap flexibility, but are also in the market for a new starting goaltender.
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