Tag: Rasmus Rissanen

  • 2015 NHL Free Agency- July 1st Signings Recap

    2015 NHL Free Agency- July 1st Signings Recap

    – Nick Lanciani

    This post will be updated throughout the day as signings are officially announced. Be sure to check out Twitter account (@DtFrozenRiver) for all of the latest signings, news, and analysis throughout the day.

    Free agency begins at noon (12:00 PM EST) on July 1st. All that is known is shown and will be updated throughout the day. More analysis will come later as the day wraps up.

    F Artem Anisimov signed a 5-year, $22.75 million extension with the Chicago Blackhawks worth an AAV of $4.5 million.

    D Kevin Bieksa signed a 2-year, $8 million extension with the Anaheim Ducks.

    F Mike Ribeiro signed a 2-year, $7 million extension with the Nashville Predators.

    G Kari Ramo signed a 1-year $3.8 million extension with the Calgary Flames.

    F Patrick Eaves and the Dallas Stars agreed to a 1-year, $1.15 million contract extension.

    The Detroit Red Wings resigned F Andy Miele to a 1-year, $575,000 contract.

    The Minnesota Wild announced that they have resigned F Mikael Granlund to a 2-year, $6 million ($3 million AAV) contract.

    F Stanislav Galiev signed a 2-year, $1.15 million, contract extension with the Washington Capitals.

    D Yannick Weber signed a 1-year, $1.5 million extension with the Vancouver Canucks.

    G Tom McCollum resigned with the Detroit Red Wings.

    The Toronto Maple Leafs signed D Matt Hunwick to a 2-year deal, $2.4 million contract worth an AAV of $1.2 million.

    The New York Islanders signed G Thomas Greiss to a 2-year, $3 million deal.

    D Francois Beauchemin signed a 3-year, $4.5 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

    D Taylor Chorney signed a 1-year deal, worth $700,000 with the Washington Capitals.

    D Adam Pardy and the Winnipeg Jets agreed to a 1-year, $1 million contract extension.

    F Matt Halischuk signed a 1-year, two-way, $750,000 deal with the Winnipeg Jets.

    The New York Islanders and D Thomas Hickey agreed to a 3-year contract (resign).

    D Nate Prosser signed a 2-year extension with the Minnesota Wild.

    D Paul Martin and the San Jose Sharks agreed to a 4-year contract worth $4.85 million AAV.

    The Edmonton Oilers signed D Andrej Sekera to a 6-year deal worth $5.5 million in AAV.

    F Blake Comeau signed a 3-year, $2.4 million AAV deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

    NYI signed 2008 draft pick, Kirill Petrov, to an entry-level contract.

    Edmonton also signed F Mark Letestu to a 3-year, $5.4 million contract.

    The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to a 2-year deal with G Michal Neuvirth.

    D Chris Butler resigned with the St. Louis Blues, 1-year, $675,000.

    F Brad Richardson signed a 3-year, $6.25 million deal with the Arizona Coyotes.

    The Chicago Blackhawks and F Viktor Tikhonov agreed to a 1-year, $1.04 million deal.

    The Arizona Coyotes agreed to a 1-year, $1.75 million deal with F Steve Downie.

    D Matt Bartkowski signed a 1-year, $1.75 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks.

    Carolina Hurricanes resigned F Riley Nash to a 1-year, $1.15 million deal.

    D Zybnek Michalek signed a 2-year, $6.4 million deal with the Arizona Coyotes.

    The Calgary Flames signed F Michael Frolik to a 5-year, $4.3 million AAV contract.

    G Anders Lindback signed a $875,000 contract with the Arizona Coyotes.

    Jori Lehtera signed a 3-year, $14.1 million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues.

    D Rasmus Rissanen resigned with the Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year, two-way contract.

    The Carolina Hurricanes signed D Jaccob Slavin to a 3-year entry-level contract.

    G Jhonas Enroth agreed to a 1-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings worth $1.25 million.

    D Barrett Jackson agreed to a 2-year, $4 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

    The Montreal Canadiens signed D Greg Pateryn to a 2-year, $1.6 million contract extension.

    F Alexander Burmistrov and the Winnipeg Jets agree on a 2-year contract extension worth $1.55 million AAV.

    G Mike McKenna signed a deal with the Florida Panthers.

    The Florida Panthers signed D Sena Acolatse to a contract.

    F Shane Harper signed a deal with the Florida Panthers.

    F Ryan Carter signed a 1-year, $625,000 contract with the Minnesota Wild.

    D David Warsofsky signed a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    D Raphael Diaz signed an extension with the New York Rangers.

    The Vancouver Canucks signed G Richard Bachman to a contract.

    F Erik Condra signed a 3-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth an AAV of $1.25 million.

    F P.A. Parenteau signed a 1-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $1.5 million.

    The New York Rangers signed F Jayson Megna to a contract.

    F Matt Lindblad signed a deal with the New York Rangers.

    F Cody Hodgson signed a 1-year, $1.05 million, deal with the Nashville Predators.

    F Cal O’Reilly signed a 2-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres, worth $700,000 per year.

    The Ottawa Senators agreed to a 1-year, two-way, contract with F Eric O’Dell worth $700,000 at the NHL level, $300,000 in the AHL.

    The Buffalo Sabres signed D Matt Donovan to a 1-year contract.

    The Dallas Stars signed F Curtis McKenzie to a 2-year contract extension.

    D John Moore signed a 3-year deal with the New Jersey Devils.

    F Zach Stortini signed a 2-year, two-way, contract with the Ottawa Senators.

    F Blake Coleman signed an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils.

    The Vancouver Canucks signed D Taylor Fedun.

    F Derek Grant and the Calgary Flames agreed to a two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level.

    The New York Rangers agreed to a contract with F Viktor Stahlberg worth $1.1 million.

    F Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres agreed to a 3-year entry-level contract.

    F Ruslan Fedotenko agreed to a two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.

    The Montreal Canadiens signed D Joel Hanley to a 1-year, two-way, contract.

    The Carolina Hurricanes signed D T.J. Hensick to a 1-year, two-way contract.

    F Sergei Plotnikov agreed to a 1-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    D Mike Kostka agreed to a two-way deal with the Ottawa Senators.

    The Toronto Maple Leafs signed F Richard Panik to a 1-year extension worth $975,000.

    The New York Rangers signed F Brian Gibbons.

    F Conor Sheary agreed to a 2-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    F Kael Mouillierat and the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to a 1-year contract.

    The Minnesota Wild resigned F Jared Knight to a 1-year, two-way, $761,000 contract.

    D Mike Green signed a 3-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings worth $6 million AAV ($18 million total).

    F Kevin Porter signed a 1-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    The Boston Bruins resigned F Ryan Spooner with a 2-year, $1.9 million contract.

    D Cameron Gaunce agreed to terms with the Florida Panthers.

    The Florida Panthers also signed D Brett Regner.

    The Arizona Coyotes signed D Dylan Reese to a 1-year, two-way contract.

    F Mark Arcobello agreed to a 1-year deal, worth $1.1 million, with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    The Minnesota Wild signed F Zac Dalpe to a two-way contract.

    D Steven Oleksy signed a 1-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

    F Paul Thompson signed a 2-year, two-way, extension with the New Jersey Devils worth $575,000 a year.

    The Minnesota Wild signed F Marc Hagel to a contract extension.

    F Brad Richards signed a 1-year, $3 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

    The St. Louis Blues agreed to terms with F Pat Cannone.

    The Buffalo Sabres signed F Jason Akeson to a two-way deal.

    The Minnesota Wild signed G Steve Michalek to a two-year, entry-level contract.

    In a bundle of signings, the Washington Capitals signed F Carter Camper, F Sean Collins, D Mike Moore, and D Aaron Ness to 1-year, two-way, contracts.

    The Anaheim Ducks signed G Matt Hackett to a 2-year contract and F Chris Mueller and D Joe Piskula to 1-year contracts in a bundle of their own.

    The Philadelphia Flyers signed Tim Brent and D Davis Drewiske to 1-year, two-way, contracts and Chris Conner to a 2-year, two-way contract.

    F Gregory Campbell signed a 2-year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets worth $1.5 million AAV.

    The Montreal Canadiens signed D Mark Barberio to a 1-year, two-way, $600,000 contract.

    The Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to terms with D Matt Taormina on a 1-year, two-way, contract.

    F Matt Beleskey and the Boston Bruins agreed to a 5-year, $19 million ($3.8 AAV) contract. NMC on the first 2 years.

    D Kevin Gravel signed an extension with the Los Angeles Kings with a 2-year deal.

    The Montreal Canadiens and F George Halloway agreed to a 1-year, two way contract.

    F Daniel Winnik returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs on a 2-year deal, with an AAV of $2.25 million, after splitting time with Toronto and Pittsburgh in 2014-2015.

    The Arizona Coyotes signed D Dakota Mermis to an entry-level contract. Arizona also signed F Dustin Jeffrey to a 2-year contract.

    F Antoine Vermette and the Arizona Coyotes reached an agreement on a 2-year contract, worth $3.75 million AAV.

    The New Jersey Devils signed F Jim O’Brien to a 1-year, two-way contract.

    F Shawn Horcoff signed a 1-year, $1.75 million, deal with the Anaheim Ducks.

    G Nathan Lieuwen signed his qualifying offer from the Buffalo Sabres, agreeing to a 1 year, $605,000, two-way contract.

    The San Jose Sharks signed John McCarthy to a 1-year, two-way, $600,000 contract.

    G Jeremy Smith and the Boston Bruins agreed to a 1-year, two-way, $600,000 extension.

    The New York Islanders signed Joe Whitney to a 1-year, two-way, $750,000 contract.

    F Justin Williams signed a 2-year deal with the Washington Capitals worth $6.5 million ($3.25 million AAV).

    Trades made on July 1st:

    The Toronto Maple Leafs traded F Phil Kessel, F Tyler Biggs, D Tim Erixson, and a conditional 2016 2nd round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for F Nick Spaling, D Scott Harrington, F Kasperi Kapanen, a 2016 3rd round pick and a conditional 2016 1st round pick. Toronto retained 15% of Kessel’s salary ($1.25 million a year).

    The Vancouver Canucks sent F Zack Kassian to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for F Brandon Prust and a 2016 5th round pick.

    F Max Reinhart was traded to the Nashville Predators by the Calgary Flames in exchange for a conditional 4th round pick.

    The New York Rangers acquired G Magnus Hellberg from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2017 6th round pick.

    The Boston Bruins sent F Reilly Smith and the contract of F Marc Savard to the Florida Panthers in exchange for F Jimmy Hayes.

  • Carolina Hurricanes 2014- 2015 Season Preview

    Connor Keith continues to display his hockey sense and analytic insight with his preview of the Carolina Hurricanes. This was written before final roster cuts were made, but the season kind of came along quickly and I kind of failed as an editor, posting things. But that shouldn’t make any of Connor’s analysis any less valuable! Enjoy.

    Carolina Hurricanes (36-35-11, seventh in division, 13th in conference)

    After missing the playoffs for the seventh time since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2005-‘06, Peter Karmanos and new GM Ron Francis, promoted by virtue of Jim Rutherford leaving the Hurricanes organization & being hired by Pittsburgh, pulled the plug on almost the entire coaching staff. Since then, the Canes have hired Bill Peters to replace Kirk Muller. Steve Smith has been signed as an assistant coach & David Marcoux as a goaltending coach, replacing assistant coaches John MacLean & Dave Lewis.

    Bill Peters has yet to record a game in the NHL as a head coach, but he does have experience in head coaching. His first head coaching position was in the college ranks when he coached Lethbridge for three seasons (2002-’05). Spokane provided him his first professional head coaching job the following season, which he held for three seasons (2005-’08). In his first season with the Chiefs, he posted a 25-39-8 record, followed next season by a 36-28-8 record, worthy of a playoff spot in the WHL. The Chiefs fell in the first round to Everett, two games to four. His best season in Spokane was his last, as the Chiefs recorded a 50-15-7 record, a franchise record for wins in a season. This season witnessed the Chiefs hoisting both the Ed Chynoweth & Memorial Cups.

    Following the 2007-’08 season, Peters joined Rockford, where he found immediate success. In his first two seasons, the IceHogs qualified for the playoffs twice, but were swept in the first round each time (Milwaukee & Texas, respectively). His final season in Rockford was a disappointment as his team amassed a record of 38-33-9 for last place in the division, t-12 in conference.

    In 2011, Peters was hired by Detroit as an assistant coach, where he served for three seasons before being hired by Carolina.

    Luckily for the maturing Canes, the goalie with the most starts last season is returning in Anton Khudobin (36). Cam Ward, who had the second-most games played last season (30), may also return pending his preseason success. The Canes have also acquired Daniel Altshuller and Drew MacIntyre, bringing their goalie count to four. Based on moves made so far, Khudobin & Ward are still Carolina’s lead pair. Khudobin had a save percentage of 92.6% for the regular season (led Carolina goalies last season), averaging 2.3 goals against per game (also led team). Last season, Ward saved 89.8% of all shots (worst on team), averaging 3.06 goals against (worst on team). He may have strong competition for the backup spot from the two new acquisitions, especially from Macintyre.

    The Canes signed Drew Macintyre from the Toronto organization. He played in only two regular season games last year in the NHL for a 0-1-0 record. His save percentage in those games was 92.2% & he allowed 2.53 goals per game. He spent most of last season with the Marlies, who made it to the AHL playoffs. In the Marlies’ 14-game quest for the Calder Cup, he posted a 10-4 record, allowing only 2.08 goals a game with a save percentage of 94.1%. One-fifth (20%) of his playoff wins were shutouts.

    In addition, the Canes also signed 2012 draft pick Daniel Altshuller. He spent the entire season with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, where he posted a 31-13-3 record in 52 games played. He recorded two shutouts (over 6% of wins were a result of a shutout) with a save percentage of 91.7%, allowing 2.56 goals per game. Oshawa made it to the playoffs, where Altshuller played 11 games for an 8-3 record. He only allowed 1.89 goals per playoff game for a save percentage of 93.1%, both greatly higher than his regular season numbers. This is the second time in three playoff seasons that he has been able to accomplish this feat, suggesting that he may perform well in the future under pressure.

    The Canes come into the season having lost some big names, most notably Drayson Bowman (signed with Montreal), Manny Malhotra (signed with Montreal), Tuomo Ruutu (traded to New Jersey in March).

    They lost two of the top 11 players with most regular season games with the Hurricanes last season in Drayson Bowman (70) & Manny Malhotra (69). The Canes are adding other players that can play most of a regular season, though, in Jay McClement (81, signed from Toronto), Victor Rask (76, 2011 draft pick), Justin Shugg (75, 2010 draft pick), Ben Holmstrom (75, signed from Philadelphia), Trevor Carrick (70, 2012 draft pick), Haydn Fleury (70, rookie), Michal Jordan (70, 2008 draft pick), & Brody Sutter (69, 2011 draft pick). These durable bodies should be able to create efficiency through consistent playing time together to continue to grow.

    The Canes are not bringing back two of their top 14 shot takers this year as Drayson Bowman (80) & Tuomo Ruutu (79) are not returning. These two players accounted for over 6% of the Hurricanes’ shots last regular season. They have added many players who more than make up for these lost numbers in Ben Holmstrom (168), Victor Rask (160), Justin Shugg (160), Danny Biega (114, 2010 draft pick), Michal Jordan (94), & Brody Sutter (89).

    Only 7% of last season’s goals will not show up to training camp this season as Manny Malhotra (seven) & Tuomo Ruutu (five) are with other teams. The Hurricanes have made a strong push for offense as they have hired multiple 10+ goal scorers from last season, including Brock McGinn (43, 2012 draft pick), Carter Sandlak (24, signed from Plymouth), Trevor Carrick (22), Victor Rask (16), Justin Shugg (16), Patrick Brown (15, undrafted free agent from Boston College), & Ben Holmstrom (13).

    The 12th leading assister from last season, Tuomo Ruutu (11) will not be with the Hurricanes this season. To more than make up for this, the Canes have signed Brock McGinn (42), Haydn Fleury (38), Trevor Carrick (29), Carter Sandlak (24), Victor Rask (23), Justin Shugg (22), Michal Jordan (21), Brody Sutter (20), Ben Holmstrom (19), Patrick Brown (15), Danny Biega (15), and Greg Nemisz (12, signed from Calgary).

    The only positive +/- player from last season not returning is Radek Dvorak (three, led defensemen, unsigned free agent). To improve upon both the loss and the fact that the Canes only had one player with a number greater than five, Carolina has acquired Brock McGinn (46), Haydn Fleury (15), & Greg Nemisz (nine).

    The Hurricanes lost one of the top six penalty minute earners in Radek Dvorak (41). Sadly, the Canes picked up Ben Holmstrom (146), Trevor Carrick (117), Carter Sandlak (95), Rasmus Rissanen (91, 2009 draft pick), Keegan Lowe (86, 2011 draft pick), Haydn Fleury (46), & Brock McGinn (45). These players will need to continue to grow in their discipline to have a truly positive effect in Raleigh. New hire Greg Nemisz only served 13 minutes in the sin bin last season, which averaged out to almost 17 seconds per game. This will be a huge asset to keep the Canes from defending the power play.

    Present roster consists of 24 forwards, 15 defensemen, & four goalies (42 men).