Faceoff Factor

NHL Transactions Since the Entry Draft

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Jun 27, 06:47 PM | Hype this story!

With July 1st fast approaching, many NHL teams are scrambling to sign their soon-to-be free agents before they hit the market. With the extension of the league’s Upper Limit to $56.7 million, many teams have afforded themselves some extra buyouts as well. Here are the most recent NHL transactions.

For trades that occurred during the Entry Draft, click here.

The following players have been waived and bought out and are now unrestricted free agents: Jeff Hamilton, David Tanabe, Dan Cloutier, Marc Denis, Darcy Tucker. The following players are on waivers and are expected (but not certain) to be bought out: Todd Bertuzzi, Andrew Raycroft, Rhett Warrener, Marcus Nilson, Anders Eriksson, Ben Clymer (I believe this one is confirmed as well) and Shawn Bates.

The Calgary Flames re-signed most of their team today: Daymond Langkow, Craig Conroy, Eric Nystrom and Curtis McElhinney were all extended, however, terms of the deals have not yet been released.

After being re-acquired for a 7th round pick in 2008 and a conditional draft pick in 2009, Vaclav Prospal has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Prospal netted 57 points in 62 games before being shipped to Philadelphia. As a Flyer, he gathered 14 points in 18 games. Prospal’s third stint with the Lightning will see him earn $14 million over four years ($3.5 million cap hit). Of course, as previously reported, Vincent Lecavalier is set to sign a nine-year, $77 million extension.

The Vancouver Canucks have claimed oft-injured, unmotivated center Kyle Wellwood off waivers. Wellwood, 25, tallied just 21 points in 59 games as a less-than-stellar encore to his prior season (42 points in 48 games).

The Nashville Predators have locked up outstanding young defenseman Shea Weber to a three year contract worth $13.5 million ($4.5 million cap hit). The 6’3” defenseman has tallied 70 points in 161 career NHL games.

With the announcement of the new Upper Limit, the Philadelphia Flyers have officially signed Jeff Carter to a three-year, $15 million contract extension ($5 million cap hit). Carter scored 53 points in 82 games for the Flyers. Something has to give here, someone has got to be traded, the Flyers were up against the cap last season, and it just went up roughly $6 million and they just used it on Carter and likely Eminger (~$1 million qualifying offer).

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed center Joe Pavelski to a two-year contract and one-year contracts to backup goaltender Brian Boucher and forward Jeremy Roenick, respectively. [New numbers added:] Roenick’s contract is rumored to be at or around $1.1 million. Boucher’s is expected to be $650,000 for this season. Meanwhile, Pavelski’s is said to be about $3,725,000 spread over two years ($1,637,500 cap hit). These numbers have not yet been confirmed.

Finnish forward Loui Eriksson and the Dallas Stars have come to terms on a new contract. Eriksson recorded 31 points in 69 games last year for Dallas and earned a two-year, $3.2 million contract.

The Ottawa Senators re-signed forward Chris Kelly to a four-year, $8.5 million deal ($2.125 million cap hit). The hard-working two-way center has registered 30 points or more in each of his first three NHL seasons.

The Carolina Hurricanes traded a 5th round pick in 2009 for the negotiating rights to Darcy Hordichuk, if Hordichuk does not sign with Carolina (which it looks like he won’t be) the Hurricanes receive Nashville’s 5th round pick in 2010. They also signed skilled defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year, $11 million deal ($2.75 million cap hit).

The Phoenix Coyotes have acquired tough guy Brian McGratton from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 5th round pick in 2009.

Defensive forward Greg Campbell has re-upped with the Florida Panthers on a two-year deal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired yet another (what they hope to be) diamond-in-the-rough defenseman. They sent a 7th round pick in 2009 and minor league grinder Triston Grant to the Nashville Predators for defenseman Janne Niskala. Niskala spent 06-07 in Sweden playing for Farjestads BK (SEL) where he totaled 19 goals and 49 points in 53 games. He matched his 19-goal total (while gathering 44 points in all) in his first season in North America last year for Milwaukee (AHL).

The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed Carolina’s former 4th overall selection, Andrew Ladd, to a two-year, $3.1 million contract ($1.55 million cap hit). Ladd notched just 18 points in 43 games for Carolina in 07-08 before he was moved to Chicago, where he added 12 points in 20 games. Ladd was acquired in a deal that sent Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina.

In related news, the Carolina Hurricanes re-signed the aforementioned Ruutu to a one-year, $2.25 million deal. Ruutu tallied 21 points in 60 games for Chicago before being moved to Carolina where he garnered 11 points in just 17 games.

The Boston Bruins have inked young defenseman Mark Stuart to a two-year contract worth $2.6 million ($1.3 million cap hit). Boston’s first pick in 2003 played in all 82 games for the Bruins last year.

In coaching news, the Atlanta Thrashers have named former Chicago Wolves (AHL) head coach John Anderson as their own. Anderson led the Wolves to a Calder Cup championship in June.

The Colorado Avalanche re-signed enforcer Scott Parker to a one-year contract. Parker is one of the few remaining of a dying breed in the NHL, in 308 career NHL games he has recorded 10 penalty minutes for every goal he has registered. In other Avalanche news, they have traded defenseman Johnny Boychuk to the Boston Bruins for forward Matt Hendricks. Hendricks, 27, has not played an NHL game but recorded 52 points in 67 games for Providence (AHL) last season. Boychuk, 24, got his first taste of NHL action last season (4 games). The big defensive defenseman also recorded 26 points in 60 games for Lake Erie (AHL) in 07-08.

In still more Colorado news: after acquiring him for a conditional draft pick in 2009 on June 10th, the Colorado Avalanche signed center Marty Sertich to a multi-year contract. The terms of the contract were not disclosed for the former Hobey Baker Award winner.

The New York Rangers have re-signed 25-year-old Pierre Parenteau to a one-year contract. Parenteau has recorded better-than-point-per-game seasons in his past two AHL campaigns (79 points in 68 games and 81 points in 75 games, respectively).

Coming soon: A list of non-qualified restricted free agents and the official buyout list with cap hits.