Shattenkirk with the Rangers, Bonino in Nashville, Sharp return to Chicago

Photo: Gene J. Puskar Associated Press
John Carlson (right) of the Washington Capitals celebrates a goal with Kevin Shattenkirk (left).

The New York Rangers have managed the biggest catch on the free agent market in the NHL on Saturday, while the San Jose Sharks have secured their long term future.

The Rangers have reached an agreement of four years with a total value of 26.6 million US$, a few hours after having found the new assistant of Henrik Lundqvist, Ondrej Pavelec. A source aware of the decision, revealed to the Associated Press that Pavelec has agreed to a one-year contract and 1.3 million of the Rangers. This person requested anonymity because the agreement has still not been confirmed.

For his part, Shattenkirk led all the unrestricted free agents last season, with a harvest of 56 points, after it had successively the uniform of the Blues of St. Louis and Washington Capitals.

A little earlier in the afternoon, the Sharks have opted for the status quo by ensuring the services of defender Marc-Edouard Vlasic and goalie Martin Jones in the long term.

The Sharks have entered into agreements with them on Saturday in order to avoid that they are not to be found on the free agent market in the NHL next summer. Vlasic has accepted a contract for eight years, and Jones six.

“They were very important, admitted the director general of the Sharks Doug Wilson. These guys are the pillars of this team today, and tomorrow. They are part of the core of our team in key positions. “

Vlasic is one of the best defenders on the defensive in the league and usually must ensure they contain the best elements of the opposing. Vlasic plays in San Jose for 11 years and is now under contract for the next nine campaigns.

Jones has been flawless in front of the net after being acquired from the Boston Bruins, two years ago. It enabled the Sharks to participate in the Stanley Cup final in 2016, and has signed 35 wins last season.

Rumors have also circulated in the end of the day to the effect that the centre player Joe Thornton has reportedly accepted a contract offer of one year of the Sharks. However, these were not confirmed at the end of the evening.

A little further south of California, the Ducks of Anaheim have been awarded a contract of eight years and $ 52 million for the defender Cam Fowler, who is due to expire after the season 2025-26.

Fowler is a pillar to the blue line of the Ducks since he was drafted by them in 2010. The American was dominant last season, with a peak staff of 11 goals and 28 mentions of assistance. He also added nine points to his record in the playoffs.

The Ducks have also signed a pact two years and $ 4 million with the veteran goalie Ryan Miller.

Miller has spent the past three seasons in Vancouver, after a decade in Buffalo. The veteran, who will be 37 in two weeks, will replace Jonathan Bernier as the backup to John Gibson.

If you can’t beat them, join them.

A few weeks after to be tipped in the Stanley Cup final, the Predators from Nashville have presented a covenant of four years at a value of $16.4 million US to the player of center Nick Bonino on Saturday.

The arrival of the hockey player who has played a key role in the conquest of the Stanley cup, the Penguins will monopolize 4.1 million on the payroll of the Predators over the course of the next four campaigns.

On the other hand, the Predators have traded the attacker Colin Wilson in Avalanche the Colorado Avalanche in return for a choice of the fourth round in the draft 2019. The Predators will save nearly $ 4 million on their payroll, following the departure of Wilson.

For their part, the Penguins have also lost the services of defenders Trevor Daley (Detroit Red Wings) and Ron Hainsey (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Chris Kunitz (Tampa Bay Lightning).

But they have redone the full of players at the blue line by offering a three-year contract with a value of 6.75 million $ Matt Hunwick. The former Maple Leafs defenceman, who is 32-years-old, will occupy 2.25 million $ on their payroll.

Back to the future

The Hurricanes of the Caroline opted for a player familiar, Justin Williams.

The general manager Ron Francis stated that Williams had ratified a two-year contract worth $ 9 million.

“We said we needed a scorer and a veteran who has the leadership, and Justin meets these criteria,” said Francis by way of a press release.

The outstanding player of the playoffs in 2014 has totaled 100 points in the last two campaigns with the Washington Capitals. He won the Stanley cup with the Hurricanes in 2006, and with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.

The hockey player nicknamed “Mr. Game 7” has a record career to 7-1 in these circumstances, but first he must help the Hurricanes reach the playoffs.

The Hurricanes know currently the longest sequence without participation in the classic spring, which is eight years. Since they triumphed in 2006, they have participated in the playoffs in 2009.

Francis said that Williams ” believes in our plan and decided to return to Raleigh to help the Hurricanes to take the next step “.

The Blackhawks of Chicago have adopted the same approach as the Hurricanes.

Patrick Sharp, a winger known for his talents as a marker, which have contributed to the conquest of the three Stanley cups the Blackhawks before being traded, is returning to Chicago for a second stay.

“This city occupies a special place in the hearts of my family, and in mine, has agreed Sharp. We had planned to go back — maybe after my retirement from the sport. But we are certain that we want to live in Chicago. “

The veteran 35-year-old has agreed a contract for one season on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Kings have also gone this route by fetching forward Michael Cammalleri, after having offered a one-year agreement and $ 1 million.

Cammalleri is back in Los Angeles after having started his career in 2002-03.

Bulk

Many updates under the contract have been formalized in the first half-hour after the opening of the free agent market. Goalkeeper Brian Elliott, in particular, carry his career with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Elliott has accepted an offer of two years and $ 5.5 million in order to share the net Flyers with Michal Neuvirth. Elliott will monopolize 2.75 million on the payroll of the club of the Pennsylvania.

The Washington Capitals have also signed a contract extension of two years and $ 3 million to the attacker Brett Connolly, while Steve Mason ratified a two-year agreement and $ 8.2 million with the Winnipeg Jets. For his part, Jonathan Bernier has accepted the offer of a season and 2.75 million with the Colorado Avalanche, which is done to extract the goalie Calvin Pickard for the Golden Knights of Vegas in the expansion draft.
 

The Kings have agreed to a one-year contract and a value of $ 650 000 for the goalie Darcy Kuemper. The latter has spent his entire career with the Wild in Minnesota, which was drafted in 2009. He has never been able to take the role of number one, and he was the second of Devan Dubnyk, acquired in January 2015.

On their side, the Sabres have offered another chance to the attacker Benoit Pouliot, who had accepted their one-year agreement with a value of 1.15 million.

Pouliot, who is 30-year-old has scored eight goals and amassed six assists in 67 parts of last season with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Dallas Stars have reached an agreement of three years and 14.25 million with the player of center Martin Hanzal.

Hanzal has split the last season between the Coyotes of Arizona and the Wild of Minnesota. The player was 30 years of age totaled 326 points in 628 career games in the circuit Bettman.

The Vancouver Canucks have agreed to a three-year-old and 9,45 million along with striker Sam Win, and for two years and 6 million with the defender Michael Del Zotto.