Canucks Sign Hamhuis, Malhotra, Tambellini, Perrault

The Vancouver Canucks continued to re-vamp their roster on Wednesday by signing defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a six-year contract worth $27 million, center Manny Malhotra to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million, and left wing Jeff Tambellini and center Joel Perrault to one-year contracts. The financial terms of Tambellini's and Perrault's contracts were not disclosed, while Hamhuis' contract averages out to $4.5 million per season, while Malhotra's contract averages out to $2.5 million per season. These aren't bad signings for the Canucks, as Hamhuis is a great puck-moving defenseman with some offensive skill. He should be a great fit on their blueline and help make the team more competitive on the backend. Malhotra brings plenty of two-way play to the team, as well as some grit. He should be a good fit on the checking lines. Tambellini has some skill on the power play and has the potential to be a goal scorer, but has failed to live up to those standards. Perhaps a change of scenery will help his NHL career. Perrault will likely spend most of next season in the minors, but if he makes the Canucks, it will be as fourth line depth.

Penguins Acquire Defenseman Hamhuis from Flyers

Nearly a week after being traded from the Nashville Predators to the Philadelphia Flyers, defenseman Dan Hamhuis is on the move again. After the conclusion of the first round of the 2010 Entry Draft, the Flyers announced that they had dealt Hamhuis' negotiating rights to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a third round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The Flyers had been negotiating with the 27-year-old on a new contract, but could not come to terms with him. In 78 games last season with the Predators, he had five goals and 19 assists for 24 points. Not a bad move for the Penguins to make, especially if they cannot come to terms with defenseman Sergei Gonchar, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Hamhuis is a decent puck-moving defenseman with plenty of defensive skill, so he should be a good fit to the Penguins defense if they can get him signed.

Flyers Acquire Hamhuis from Predators for Parent

The Philadelphia Flyers added some defensive depth today by acquiring the rights to defenseman Dan Hamhuis from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Ryan Parent. The Flyers also received a conditional seventh round draft pick in 2011 from the Predators. Hamhuis is eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1 with the Flyers now owning his negotiating rights. In 78 games last season with the Predators, Hamhuis had five goals and 19 assists for 24 points. In 483 career NHL games, all with Nashville, he has 32 goals and 129 assists for 161 points. Parent will begin his second stint with the Predators, while previously a part of the organization in 2007. He was traded to the Flyers with Scottie Upshall in the Peter Forsberg trade. In 48 games last season with the Flyers, Parent had one goal and two assists for three points. This is a good trade for the Flyers if they can get Hamhuis sign to a contract. He's a decent puck moving defenseman who can play a great defensive game. If the Flyers get him signed to a contract, they will have one of the best defensive units in the Eastern Conference, which already boasts Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, and Matt Carle. For the Predators, they get a defensive defenseman in Parent who can also play a physical game. However, this trade highlights the Predators' financial woes, who are gaining a reputation for letting talent depart via trade or free agency in order to save money. With the team operating in this manner, it will do nothing to help draw fans to games and will only cause their attendance figures to dwindle even further.