Faceoff Factor

Transactions Around the League Coming in Fast and Furious

Michael Farkas | Transactions & Rumors

Jan 10, 06:08 PM | Hype this story!

It’s that time of the year. After January 1st every year, it seems that teams kick their contract negotiations into high gear and start making more and more trades. This is the time of the year (along with the offseason) that makes my job a lot of fun around here. There’s been plenty of re-signings and a trade to announce as we look back at the past few days around the league.

Extensions Dulled Out:

Alexander the Greatest Contract in NHL History

The Washington Capitals have come to terms with superstar Alexander Ovechkin. The deal is the biggest contract in NHL history, 13 years, $124 million (cap hit: $9,538,462).

It has been rumored throughout the course of the day that this deal was completed several times over. By about 6 pm eastern time, it was becoming less of a rumor and more of an auction. RDS reported earlier that a six-year, $54 million deal was a done deal. TSN later reported that the deal was ten years, $95 million. Finally, it was announced that the figure was 13 years and $124 million.

Ovechkin, who needs no introduction with stats and figures, fired his agent last season and decided he would negotiate his own contracts from here on out. He will be 35 years old when this contract runs out in 2021.

Analysis: I mentioned after Ovechkin rejected a smaller deal, that if he wants $9 or $10 million he’ll get it from somewhere. Perhaps one day, when Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin are ready for big extensions, the Washington Capitals will become the new Tampa Bay Lightning. In all seriousness, this is great for the Capitals organization and their fans, hopefully that building will be full for the next 13 seasons, AO is worth the price of admission.

Ribeiro Dives Into a New Deal With Dallas

The Dallas Stars have re-signed center Mike Ribeiro to a five-year deal worth $25 million. Ribiero, who will turn 28 a month from today, has potted a career high 21 goals to go along with 46 points in 42 games so far with the Stars. Ribeiro was acquired from Montreal in a deal that sent Janne Niinimaa to Montreal.

“He makes things happen on the ice and will only continue to grow as a player,” said co-general manager Brett Hull.

Analysis: Ribeiro’s stats and his age are a big part of this. I speculated about $4 to $5.5 million was reasonable and this fairly early signing will help dictate what the market value is for players of this sort.

All Well and Osgood

The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed goaltender Chris Osgood to a three-year deal worth $4.25 million. The 35-year-old netminder has gone 19-2-1 in 23 games this year with a league leading 1.68 GAA and .932 save pct.

Since Osgood signed a multi-year deal after the age of 35, his cap hit is irreversible even if he is waived or bought out, 100% of the cap number ($1,416,667) will still count against the league’s Upper Limit.

“I just wanted to work hard,” the newly named Western Conference All-Star said. “I had worked hard in the offseason to prepare myself for the season and better my game.”

Analysis: It’s always risky giving a 35 year old a three-year contract. However, the way the Wings work defensively, pretty much anyone, at any age, could sit back there and look competent (with no disrespect to Osgood who is having a great year on the statsheet). In a previous article here on Faceoff Factor, it was said that Osgood might sign a three-year deal that will be easy on Ken Holland’s wallet, this shouldn’t come as a big surprise given Osgood’s loyalty to Detroit.

Crackers Be Darned, Sopel Lives On

The Blackhawks defenseman has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $7 million. Brent Sopel has 10 assists in 33 games with Chicago after being a walk-on during training camp with their Central Division rivals, the Detroit Red Wings.

The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Chicago just before the start of the season.

This should mark the first time since 2003-04 that Sopel has remained with a team for an entire season.

Analysis: Seems a tad pricey for Sopel, but the Blackhawks are always looking for bodies to play on the power play, Sopel fits that description. The Chicago Daily Herald reports that the Blackhawks are close to coming to terms with center Patrick Sharp.

Samsonov Gets Another Chance

With winger Justin Williams expected to miss significant time because of a knee injury, the Carolina Hurricanes have claimed Sergei Samsonov off re-entry waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Hurricanes and Blackhawks will split the remaining portion of Sergei Samsonov’s contract. Since we are halfway through the season, the Blackhawks have already been saddled with roughly half of Samsonov’s cap hit this season and will take on half of the remainder as well. In other words, roughly $800,000 will be charged against Carolina’s cap should he remain with the team for the rest of the season, the Blackhawks are charged with the rest of the, originally, $3.525 million cap hit.

Samsonov’s only goal this season came with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), his first career AHL game. He had 4 assists in 23 games with Chicago this season after being acquired from Montreal for the soon-to-be-bought out Jassen Cullimore and Tony Salmelainen.

Analysis: There was a time when Sergei Samsonov was considered a top-six forward in the NHL, admittedly, I was fully on that bandwagon. It seems like something has gone terribly, terribly wrong. Perhaps if Carolina gives him some decent linemates they can salvage something from him, failing that, I think this is the last we see of Samsonov in North America.

Minor Trade

The Florida Panthers have acquired Magnus Johansson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 7th round pick in 2009.

The 34-year-old defenseman is playing in his first NHL season. He has appeared in 18 Blackhawks games this year, grabbing four assists along the way.

“Magnus is a mobile defenseman that knows how to move the puck quickly and join in on the offensive attack,” said Panthers GM Jacques Martin.

The Panthers are without blueliners Branislav Mezei, Mike Van Ryn, Cory Murphy and Noah Welch, thus a desperation move needed to be made.

Johansson was waived three weeks ago by the Blackhawks.

Analysis: Johansson isn’t good, at all. The Panthers will waive him as soon as they’re done with him.

Even More Minor Trade

The New York Islanders have acquired right winger Matt Keith from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right winger Darryl Bootland.

Keith was a 2nd round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2001. He has appeared in 24 games, netting 2 goals and 5 points. This season, he has five goals and five assists in 34 games with Portland (AHL).

Bootland was an 8th round selection of the Colorado Avalanche in 2000. The tough guy has appeared in 32 NHL games including four this season with the Islanders. In his prior three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), Bootland has piled up nearly 1,000 penalty minutes along with 121 points.

Analysis: This means nothing really to anyone except for those that follow the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Portland Pirates. It is a big money saver for the Islanders, Matt Keith makes all of $2,500 less (at the NHL level) than Bootland. Both are restricted free agents at the end of the season.

MVP Emergency

Columbus Blue Jacket, Kitchener Ranger (OHL) and World Junior Championships MVP, Steve Mason, was recalled on an emergency basis to the NHL on Monday.

Mason, the Blue Jackets second pick in 2006, is allowed to be with the team until two healthy goaltenders are ready to play. Currently, Pascal Leclaire is feeling effects of a virus that has left him with dizziness, Tomas Popperle has a serious knee injury and is expected to miss the rest of the season and Daniel Lacosta was injured when the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) team bus was involved in an accident. Leaving Fredrik Norrena (now complaining of headaches) and Steve Mason as the only contracted goalies in the system.

Mason will be returned to his new team, the Kitchener Rangers (traded from the London Knights), as soon as the injury bug departs from Columbus.

Analysis: Don’t expect Mason to see too much, if any, action. He’ll be there mainly to observe Norrena play and then head back to juniors.

Goalie Shuffling

The Montreal Canadiens have sent down outstanding young netminder Carey Price and recalled Jaroslav Halak from the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL). Price went 9-7-0 with a 2.90 GAA and .907 save pct. in 19 games of NHL action.

Price will get more playing time down in Hamilton, thus helping his development. Halak, may be being showcased for a trade or tested at the NHL level to see if he can help carry the team if current starter Cristobal Huet is traded.

Halak has a franchise record (with Hamilton) 11 shutouts in just 60 career games for the Bulldogs.

Also, the Habs sent down forward Kyle Chipchura and recalled forward Corey Locke.
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The San Jose Sharks have waived goaltender Dimitri Patzold and assigned him to Worcester (AHL). They have recalled Thomas Greiss to backup Evgeni Nabokov.

Patzold has played just 44 minutes this season, which pales in comparison to the 41 straight starts that Nabokov has seen this year. Patzold and Nabokov were not only the lone Kazakh goaltending duo in the league, but they hail from the same town, Ust Kamenogorsk. The only difference is, one of them has given up one goal for every 11 minutes of hockey he’s played this season.

Sharks GM Doug Wilson has said recently that Nabokov won’t play every game and one of Patzold or Greiss will step in and give him a rest at some point.

Analysis: It appears that the Sharks were just using Patzold as a placeholder while Greiss further developed. Greiss is the guy the Sharks like the most and seem to be concerned about his development first and foremost. Patzold, to his delight, will get some much needed playing time in the AHL.

Loose Pucks

Kris Beech’s NHL career isn’t over after all. The Vancouver Canucks have snatched up the well-traveled center off waivers. Beech has scored 9 points in 16 games since being recalled by the Blue Jackets this season.

Analysis: An offensively lacking team might as well take a chance on Beech who hasn’t been bad this season. This Beech’s fifth team in the last ten or fifteen minutes.