Free Agent Frenzy!

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Oilers re-sign RFA Ethan Bear to 2-year, $4M deal

The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed restricted free agent defenseman Ethan Bear to a 2-year contract worth $4 million, the team announced.

Bear emerged as a reliable option on the blue line for the Oilers in 2019-20, averaging over 21 minutes per game while suiting up for 71 contests. He tallied 21 points and played to a -4 plus/minus over that stretch, earning a few Calder Trophy votes alongside other rookie standouts.

Athanasiou joins Kings on 1-year deal

The Los Angeles Kings signed forward Andreas Athanasiou to a one-year, $1.2-million contract, according to TSN 1040's Rick Dhaliwal.

The 26-year-old was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline last season. Athanasiou appeared in nine regular-season games with his new club, recording one goal and one assist. He went pointless in four postseason contests.

Athanasiou spent his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings prior to joining the Oilers. The team selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He amassed 83 goals and 71 assists in 294 regular-season games with Detroit.

 

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Blue Jackets re-sign Dubois to 2-year, $10M contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets have secured forward Pierre-Luc Dubois' services for the next two seasons at an average annual value of $5 million, the club announced Thursday.

Dubois, who was a restricted free agent, will earn $3.35 million in 2020-21 and $6.65 million in the following campaign.

The 22-year-old led Columbus with 49 points and ranked third on the team with 18 goals in 2019-20. It was his third season with the Blue Jackets, who drafted him third overall in 2016. He produced a career-high 27 goals and 61 points in 2018-19.

 

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Islanders agree to terms with UFAs Martin, Greene

The New York Islanders have agreed to deals with forward Matt Martin and defenseman Andy Greene, general manager Lou Lamoriello said Thursday, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

Terms of the agreements weren't disclosed. Both players were with the club last season, but they were on the final year of their contracts.

Martin suited up for 55 games in 2019-20, registering eight points while averaging just over 10 minutes per contest. The rugged winger chipped in five playoff goals during the Isles' run to the Eastern Conference Final.

Greene landed in Long Island at the trade deadline after 14 seasons with the New Jersey Devils. The 38-year-old notched seven points with New York over the regular season and playoffs.

The Islanders held a projected $3.9 million in cap space before factoring in the new deals for Martin and Greene. The club still needs to sign star restricted free agent Mathew Barzal.

 

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Kunin signs two-year, $4.6 million contract with Predators

Forward was restricted free agent, acquired from Wild on Oct. 7

Luke Kunin signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $2.3 million.

"It's very exciting to finally have it done, put it in the past and just get back to work and get out there with the guys," Kunin said after his first practice with Nashville. "It's been a little longer than I wanted. I wanted to be in the first day of camp, but leave that up to the agents and the GMs to figure all that stuff out. I just go out there and play."

The 23-year-old forward, who was a restricted free agent, was traded to Nashville with a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (Adam Wilsby) by the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 7 for forward Nick Bonino and a second-round and a third-round pick in the 2020 draft.

Vatanen signs one-year, $2 million contract to return to Devils

Defenseman, who was unrestricted free agent, was traded to Hurricanes last season.

Sami Vatanen signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

The 29-year-old defenseman, who was an unrestricted free agent, scored 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 47 games for the Devils last season before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Feb. 24. Vatanen did not play a game with the Hurricanes in the regular season because of a lower-body injury, but he returned for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and had three assists in seven games.

Bjorkstrand signs five-year, $27 million extension with Blue Jackets

Oliver Bjorkstrand signed a five-year, $27 million contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $5.4 million beginning next season.

The 25-year-old forward is in the final season of a three-year contract he signed July 15, 2018 and could have become a restricted free agent after the season.

"My first four or five seasons here in the NHL we've been a [Stanley Cup] Playoff team, so I definitely can't complain about that," Bjorkstrand said. "And looking into the future, I believe in the group, and we always talk about how we want to take that next step. I think I think we're close. I think we have a bright future here and I'm very happy about being a part of that future."

Bjorkstrand led the Blue Jackets with 21 goals last season, his second straight scoring at least 20, and five game-winning goals. He scored 36 points in 49 regular-season games and three goals in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

 

[dismonkey1]

Umm...they couldn't get Luke Kunin signed for under 2 million? Even Oliver Bjorkstrand's deal is high (and long term) imo in a flat cap world.

 

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Barzal agrees to 3-year contract, back on ice with Islanders

Mathew Barzal couldn't wait to practice again. Yes, practice.

He left home to get to New York despite not having a contract so he'd be ready for the start of the season, then watched as Islanders teammates enjoyed the first few days of training camp without him.

“I love the game, and I was anxious,” he said. “I wanted to get out with the boys.”

Barzal finally got that opportunity Saturday after agreeing to a $21 million, three-year contract. It ended some anxious times for Islanders fans five days before the season opener against the rival Rangers, even though Barzal and team brass weren't worried about the NHL's most prominent unsigned restricted free agent.

 

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Wild sign Marcus Foligno to 3-year, $9.3M extension

The Minnesota Wild signed winger Marcus Foligno to a three-year, $9.3-million contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The deal will kick in for the 2021-22 season.

 

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Canucks ink Hamonic to 1-year, $1.25M contract

The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Travis Hamonic to a one-year, $1.25-million contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Hamonic joined the Canucks earlier in training camp on a professional tryout.

The 30-year-old was an unrestricted free agent this offseason after spending the last three years with the Calgary Flames. He was with the New York Islanders for seven seasons prior to his stint in Alberta.

Hamonic registered 12 points in 50 games last season while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time. He'll feature prominently on a revamped Canucks blue line that also added Nate Schmidt over the offseason.