Monthly Archives: October 2020
Hurricanes, Fleury avoid arbitration with 2-year, $2.6M pact
The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Haydn Fleury to a two-year deal with an average annual value of $1.3 million, the team announced Tuesday.
Fleury was a restricted free agent and had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Nov. 8.
The 24-year-old rearguard appeared in 45 regular-season games for the Hurricanes in 2019-20, contributing four goals and 10 assists while logging 13:40 of average ice time. Fleury saw an uptick in usage in the playoffs, averaging 16:17 of ice time while contributing two goals over eight contests.
Carolina drafted Fleury seventh overall in 2014.
The Hurricanes have just over $3 million in projected cap space with only one outstanding restricted free agent in forward Warren Foegele. The 24-year-old has a salary arbitration date set for Nov. 4.
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Kovalchuk patient in finding ‘right fit’ in free agency
Ilya Kovalchuk is in no hurry to find his next home.
The 37-year-old unrestricted free agent is entering his 14th NHL season and wants to be sure he finds the right situation before signing his next deal.
"I’m training to keep myself in shape," Kovalchuk said Monday, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I talk to Pat (Brisson, agent) all the time, he keeps me posted. But I’m not in a rush. We will try to find the right place, the right fit, that’s good for everybody."
Kovalchuk had a rollercoaster 2019-20 campaign. The Los Angeles Kings terminated his contract in December, but then he turned his season around after being picked up by the Montreal Canadiens in January. Kovalchuk tallied 13 points in 22 games with the Habs before getting dealt to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline.
The veteran winger appeared in one Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils in 2012 but has yet to hoist the ultimate prize. With his career winding down, Kovalchuk is aiming to join a team in contention.
"Yes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for. But it should be both parties interested. Not just one side. That’s very important, too," he said.
Kovalchuk has racked up 26 goals and 34 assists over 110 games since returning to the NHL ahead of the 2018-19 season after spending time in the KHL.
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Geoff Molson: Canadiens have foundation to be ‘good for many years’
The Montreal Canadiens finished the 2019-20 season on a high note, and owner Geoff Molson believes the pieces are there to be competitive for the foreseeable future.
"We've got the foundation now for a team that can be good for many years," Molson told Sportsnet's Eric Engels.
The Canadiens have bounced between being a possible contender and a lottery team for the better part of the last decade. Since 2010, Montreal has advanced to the conference finals twice and earned a top-10 draft pick three times.
Montreal showed a glimpse of its potential during the postseason, bouncing the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round and taking the Philadelphia Flyers to six games in Round 1.
While the Canadiens already boasted a healthy mix of veterans and youngsters, Molson is pleased with general manager Marc Bergevin's moves this offseason to address the team's needs.
"Marc filled every hole that he said he was going to fill, so I think that's really exciting," Molson said. "I'm really excited about this year coming up."
He added, "We have a team that should make the playoffs, I can tell you that. And I think the team and the organization and the fans would be extremely disappointed if we didn't. I think we've gotten to the point where we can. So, with that in mind, it would be disappointing if we didn't."
Bergevin has been the league's busiest executive this offseason. He traded for and subsequently signed forward Josh Anderson to a long-term deal, inked one of the top free agents in Tyler Toffoli, and handed out extensions to key players like Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry.
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Report: Red Wings’ Bertuzzi gets 1-year, $3.5M deal in arbitration
An arbitrator ruled that the Detroit Red Wings will give forward Tyler Bertuzzi a one-year, $3.5-million contract, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
On Sunday, Bertuzzi - who was a restricted free agent - reportedly became the first player this offseason to have a salary arbitration hearing. He filed for $4.25 million in the proceedings, while the team did so for $3.15 million.
The 25-year-old tied a career high with 21 goals and set a new personal best with 48 points over 71 games this past season.
Bertuzzi is coming off a two-year pact that carried a cap hit of $1.4 million.
He's played two full campaigns and parts of four seasons with the Red Wings, who drafted him 58th overall in 2013.
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Ex-Canucks defenseman Fantenberg signs in KHL
Oscar Fantenberg will play in Europe next season.
The defenseman, who most recently suited up for the Vancouver Canucks, signed a one-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg, the KHL announced Tuesday.
Fantenberg became an unrestricted free agent after posting six points over 36 games for the Canucks in 2019-20. He signed with Vancouver for $850,000 in July 2019.
The 29-year-old also played for the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings during his two previous NHL campaigns. Fantenberg spent six full seasons overseas - mostly in his homeland of Sweden - before joining Los Angeles in May 2017.
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Avalanche sign Devon Toews to 4-year deal with reported $4.1M AAV
The Colorado Avalanche inked defenseman Devon Toews to a four-year contract, the club announced Tuesday.
Here's a year-by-year breakdown of the pact, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun:
| Year | Salary |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2.35M |
| 2 | $3.55M |
| 3 | $4.6M |
| 4 | $5.9M |
Based on those figures, the average annual value would be $4.1 million.
Toews was a restricted free agent who had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Oct. 31.
The Avalanche acquired Toews in a trade with the New York Islanders on Oct. 12, with two second-round picks heading the other way.
He collected six goals and 28 points over 68 games with the Islanders in 2019-20. It was his second NHL season, and he spent both with New York.
The 26-year-old ranked fifth on his former club in average ice time (20:30) this past campaign.
Toews essentially replaces Nikita Zadorov on Colorado's blue line. The Avalanche traded Zadorov to the Chicago Blackhawks for forward Brandon Saad in a four-player swap on Oct. 10.
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Islanders, Ho-Sang settle on 1-year deal
The New York Islanders signed forward Josh Ho-Sang to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.
It's a two-way deal, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Ho-Sang will reportedly earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $225,000 in the AHL. He was scheduled to have an arbitration hearing on Oct. 30.
The 2014 first-round pick registered 13 points in 19 AHL games last season. He didn't appear in the NHL during the 2019-20 campaign.
Ho-Sang has tallied 24 points in 53 career games across three NHL seasons.
The 24-year-old winger requested a trade last season but one didn't materialize.
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