Coyotes Sign Raffi Torres, Boyd Gordon, Mike Smith

The Phoenix Coyotes announced a trio of signings on July 1 by inking left wing Raffi Torres to a two-year contract worth $3.5 million, center Boyd Gordon to a two-year contract worth $2.65 million, and goaltender Mike Smith to a two-year contract worth $4 million. Torres will be paid $1.75 million per season, Gordon will get $1.325 million each season, and Smith will make $2 million per season. In 80 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Torres had 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points and 78 penalty minutes. Gordon played in 60 games last season with the Washington Capitals, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. In 22 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Smith posted a 13-6-1 record, one shutout, a 2.90 GAA, and a .899 save percentage. He missed 18 games with a knee injury. These aren't bad depth signings for the Coyotes, as all three players will bring plenty of depth to their respective positions. Torres brings some offensive skill to the team, as well as plenty of grit and toughness and some skill to the power play. He should be a good addition to the team. Gordon is a decent defensive forward who is excellent on the faceoff and is versatile enough to play on the wing. He doesn't have a lot of offensive ability and isn't a consistent scorer, so he will likely play on the third or fourth line next season. Smith brings plenty of veteran depth in goal, as well as lots of size, but is terribly inconsistent and prone to playing bad stretches of hockey. With Smith and Jason Labarbera set to be the goaltending tandem in Phoenix next season, the team is likely to struggle in goal given the consistency issues of both goalies.

Capitals Sign Forward Boyd Gordon to One-Year Deal

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have re-signed center Boyd Gordon to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 36 games last season with the Capitals, he had four goals and six assists for 10 points. He missed much of the 2009-10 season with a back injury. Not a bad signing for the Capitals, as Gordon is a good defensive forward. He's also good on faceoffs and is versatile, as he can play both center and on the wing. He doesn't have a lot of offensive ability and isn't a very consistent scorer, so he will likely continue to play on the Capitals' third or fourth lines next season.

Capitals Re-Sign Forward Gordon to One-Year Contract

The Washington Capitals have announced that they have re-signed center Boyd Gordon to a one-year contract worth $761,000. Gordon appeared in 63 games last season for the Capitals, scoring five goals and nine assists for 14 points. In 267 career games, all with the Capitals, he has 20 goals and 46 assists for 66 points. Not a bad signing for the Capitals, as Gordon brings plenty of offensive skill and depth to the forward lines. Given the team’s depth at center for next season, Gordon will likely be the fourth line center. Brooks Laich and Brendan Morrison will compete for the second line center at training camp, likely Laich, while the other will center the third line, likely Morrison. Michael Nylander could also end up as the second or third line center depending on what the Capitals decide to do with him this summer. If they decide he does not fit into their future plans, they will probably attempt to trade him first. If they can find no takers, and they have not thus far, they could demote him to the minors or assign him to a European team to trim down some salary. However, the Capitals could also wait until training camp in September and see how Nylander performs there before making a decision on what to do with the veteran center.