Winnipeg Jets Sign Randy Jones and Rick Rypien

The Winnipeg Jets have announced that they have signed defenseman Randy Jones to a one-year contract worth $1.15 million and right wing Rick Rypien to a one-year contract worth $700,000. In 61 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jones had one goal and 12 assists for 13 points. He missed the last 16 games of the regular season and eight playoff games with an ankle injury. Rypien appeared in nine games with the Vancouver Canucks last season, scoring one assist. He was suspended six games last November for an altercation with a fan during a game against the Minnesota Wild. He would go on to miss the majority of the 2010-11 season because of personal reasons. He also appeared in 11 games with Manitoba of the AHL, scoring two assists. These aren't bad depth signings for the Jets. Jones will add some offensive skill and puck-handling skills to the blueline as a sixth or seventh defenseman, while Rypien will bring lots of grit and toughness to the checking lines.

Canucks Sign Center Rypien to a Two-Year Extension

The Vancouver Canucks have locked up another potential free agent by signing center Rick Rypien to a two-year contract extension worth $1.1 million. The deal averages out to $550,000 per season. Last season with the Canucks, Rypien appeared in only 12 games this season after suffering a sports hernia early in the 2008-09 campaign. He scored three goals and 19 penalty minutes in those 12 games. In four NHL seasons, all with the Canucks, he has appeared in 41 games, scoring five goals and two assists for seven points and 69 penalty minutes. This is a decent signing for the Canucks, as Rypien has emerged as one of their toughest players over the past few seasons. The very physical forward was on pace to have a very productive season offensively until getting sidelined with a sports hernia. At $550,000 per season, Rypien is a very affordable signing for the Canucks, who will be pressed with cap space this summer if they hope to re-sign Henrik & Daniel Sedin and Mattias Ohlund, who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1. The only downside to re-signing Rypien, who would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1, is his injury history. He has missed considerable time over the past few seasons due to various injuries. If the trend continues, Rypien could miss considerable time again next season. However, if he can stay healthy and start the 2009-10 season as well as the 2008-09 season, Rypien could emerge as a potential 20-goal scorer for the team.