Flyers Sign James van Riemsdyk to Six-Year Extension

The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed right wing James van Riemsdyk to a six-year contract extension worth $25.5 million. The deal will have an annual salary cap hit of $4.25 million. Van Riemsdyk has one more year left on his current contract and would have been a restricted free agent next summer. In 75 games last season, he had 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points. He also had seven goals in 11 playoff games. Getting van Riemsdyk signed to an extension was good for the Flyers, as he is definitely one of their top young forwards. He has excellent size and speed, as well as lots of scoring and offensive potential. However, the length and value of van Riemsdyk's contract are a bit high for him at this stage of his career. Obviously the team has high hopes for him, but a short-term contract worth less money would have been more suitable for van Riemsdyk at this time in case he hits a snag in his development. In the long run, this could be a very good deal, but the team is taking a big gamble at this time.

Coyotes Acquire Daymond Langkow from Flames

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have traded center Daymond Langkow to the Phoenix Coyotes pending a physical. It is not known at this time what the Flames will receive in return. It will be his second stint with the Coyotes, where he played from 2001 to 2004. Langkow has one more year left on his current contract at $4.5 million. In four games last season with the Flames, he had one assist. He missed 78 games due to a fractured vertebra and was a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance and dedication to hockey this past season. In 1017 career NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, and Calgary Flames, he has 259 goals and 383 assists for 642 points. For the Flames, this is really just a salary dumping move and will give them some salary cap space to help make trades throughout the upcoming season if needed. For the Coyotes, Langkow will bring some two-way skill and veteran depth to the club up the middle.

EDIT

The Calgary Flames will receive right wing Lee Stempniak in return if Langkow passes his physical. In all 82 games last season with the Coyotes, Stempniak had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points. He has one more year left on his current contract that will pay him $2.3 million. Stempniak will bring some offensive skill to the forward lines, especially on the power play, as well as some speed. Despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, he should be a solid second or third line option for the Flames.

Sharks Sign Logan Couture to Two-Year Extension

The San Jose Sharks announced today that they have signed center Logan Couture to a two-year contract extension worth $5.75 million. The deal will pay him $2.75 million in 2012-13 and $3 million in 2013-14. He still has one more year left on his current contract that will pay him $1.25 million. Couture would have been a restricted free agent next summer. In 79 games last season, his first full season in the NHL, he had 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points. He was a finalist this past season for the Calder Trophy as rookie-of-the-year, losing out to Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes. This is an excellent signing for the Sharks, as Couture certainly has the skills to become one of the team's top forwards over the next few seasons. He has excellent goal-scoring and playmaking ability, as well as some two-way upside and good skill on the power play. Look for him to improve his all-around game over the next two seasons.

Devils Add Harrold, Re-Sign Mills and Wiseman

The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Peter Harrold to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. The team also announced that they have re-signed center Brad Mills to a one-year contract worth $525,000 and left wing Chad Wiseman to a two-year contract worth $1.05 million. The deal will average out to $525,000 per season. In 19 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings, Harrold had one goal and three assists for four points. He was a healthy scratch for much of the season. Mills played in four games last season with the Devils, scoring one goal. He also appeared in 53 games with Albany of the AHL, scoring 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points and 102 penalty minutes. In 48 games with Albany, Wiseman had 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points. He last appeared in the NHL during the 2005-06 season with the New York Rangers. These are nothing more than depth signings for the Devils, as all three players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors. The Devils also announced on Monday that they had signed left wing Myles Stoesz and right wing Nathan Perkovich to AHL contracts. Both players will likely remain on AHL deals throughout the 2011-12 season and will probably only earn NHL contracts if they play impressively in the minors.

Kings Sign Ethan Moreau to One-Year Contract

The Los Angeles Kings have announced that they have signed left wing Ethan Moreau to a one-year contract worth $600,000. The deal was also contingent on him passing a physical, which he did on Monday. In 37 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he had one goal and five assists for six points. He missed a combined total of 43 games with a broken hand, a rib injury, and a bruised foot. Not a bad depth signing for the Kings, as Moreau will bring plenty of leadership and grit to the team, as well as some skill to the penalty kill. Look for him to play on either the third or fourth line next season.

Canadiens Sign Jeff Woywitka to One-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have signed defenseman Jeff Woywitka to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level. In 63 games last season with the Dallas Stars, he had two goals and nine assists for 11 points. This is an okay depth signing for the Canadiens, as Woywitka will bring plenty of size and strength to the blueline. More than likely, he will serve as a sixth or seventh defenseman for the team next season.

NY Rangers Sign Andre Deveaux and Brendan Bell

The New York Rangers have announced that they have signed right wing Andre Deveaux to a one-year contract worth $525,000 and defenseman Brendan Bell to a contract. The exact length and financial terms of Bell's deal were not announced. In 73 games last season with Chicago of the AHL, Deveaux had 23 goals and 23 assists for 46 points and 146 penalty minutes. He last played in the NHL during the 2009-10 season. Bell appeared in 29 games last season with EHC Biel of the Swiss A-League, scoring two goals and nine assists for 11 points. He also played in one game with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, scoring two assists. He last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season with the Ottawa Senators. These are really just depth signings for the Rangers, as both players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Sabres Re-Sign Marc-Andre Gragnani to One-Year Deal

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In nine games last season with the Sabres, he had one goal and two assists for three points. He also added one goal and six assists in seven playoff games. He also appeared in 63 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 48 assists for 60 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Sabres, as Gragnani has plenty of offensive upside and is effective on the power play. However, with the off-season additions of Robyn Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff, it may be tough for Gragnani to secure a roster spot for the 2011-12 season. Look for him to start the season in the minors and be one of the first defensive call-ups if injuries start to mount on the Buffalo blueline.

Coyotes Re-Sign Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have re-signed right wing Mikkel Boedker to a two-year contract worth $2.2 million and left wing Viktor Tikhonov to a one-year, two-way contract. Boedker's deal will have an annual salary cap hit of $1.1 million, while the financial terms of Tikhonov's contract were not announced. In 34 games last season with the Coyotes, Boedker had four goals and 10 assists for 14 points. He also appeared in 36 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points. Tikhonov played in 60 games with San Antonio, scoring 10 goals and 23 assists for 33 points. He last played in the NHL during the 2008-09 season. These aren't bad signings for the Coyotes, as both players still have enough upside to secure at least top-nine roles with the team. Boedker has lots of speed, plenty of offense and two-way upside, and is versatile enough to play as a left wing, while Tikhonov has some two-way upside and scoring potential. However, both players were rushed to the NHL after they were drafted and have struggled as a result. After playing much of the past two seasons in the AHL, Boedker should be ready for a full-time spot on either the third or fourth line. Tikhonov will likely start the 2011-12 season in the minors, but could be among the first players called-up if injuries start to occur.

Flames Sign Scott Hannan to One-Year Contract

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have signed defenseman Scott Hannan to a one-year contract worth $1 million. In 78 games last season with the Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals, he had one goal and 10 assists for 11 points. Not a bad signing for the Flames, as Hannan will bring plenty of defensive depth to the blueline as well as some shutdown skills as well. He should be a good addition to Calgary's defense.

Predators Re-Sign Halischuk, Spaling, O'Reilly, Mueller

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have re-signed right wing Matt Halischuk to a two-year contract worth $1.425 million, left wing Nick Spaling to a two-year contract worth $2.1 million, center Cal O'Reilly to a one-year contract worth $1.05 million, and center Chris Mueller to a one-year, two-way contract. Halischuk's deal will pay him $600,000 next season and $825,000 in 2012-13, while Spaling will earn $1 million in 2011-12 and $1.1 million in 2012-13. Mueller's contract will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level and $65,000 at the AHL level. The signings came one day before the NHLPA's grievance toward the Predators was to be heard by an arbitrator. The grievance stated that Nashville did not give proper qualifying offers to their restricted free agents. The Predators were wise to re-sign all of their restricted free agents prior to the grievance hearing, as all of those players would have been deemed unrestricted free agents if the arbitrator ruled against the team. In 27 games last season with the Predators, Halischuk had four goals and eight assists for 12 points. He also appeared in 37 games with Milwaukee of the AHL, scoring 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. Spaling played in 74 games with Nashville, scoring eight goals and six assists for 14 points. He also appeared in four games with Milwaukee, scoring one goal and one assist. In 38 games last season with the Predators, O'Reilly had six goals and 12 assists for 18 points. He missed the last 44 games of the regular season and all 12 of Nashville's playoff games with a right leg injury. Mueller appeared in 15 games with the Predators, recording three assists. He also played in 67 games with Milwaukee, scoring 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points.

These are decent depth signings for the Predators, as all four players bring plenty of skill to the forward lines. Halischuk and Spaling both bring some two-way skill and offensive upside to the team, as well as plenty of versatility. Look for both players to make the team full-time next season. O'Reilly provides plenty of playmaking skill and offensive ability at center and will look to rebound from his season ending leg injury. Mueller brings some offensive ability to the team, but will likely have to fight for a roster spot at training camp.

Flyers Sign Wayne Simmonds to Two-Year Contract

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have signed right wing Wayne Simmonds to a two-year contract worth $3.5 million. The deal will average out to $1.75 million per season. He was acquired by the Flyers on June 23 from the Los Angeles Kings along with Brayden Schenn and a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft in exchange for Mike Richards and Rob Bordson. In 80 games last season with the Kings, Simmonds had 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points and 75 penalty minutes. This is a good signing for the Flyers, as Simmonds brings plenty of offensive upside, two-way ability, and energy to the forward lines, as well as some toughness. With the physical brand of hockey played in Philadelphia, he should be an excellent fit for the team. Also, look for him to get an opportunity to play a bigger role with the Flyers than he did with the Kings. It wouldn't surprise me if Simmonds sees some time on the second line if his offensive numbers improve in Philadelphia.

Lightning Add Ryan Shannon and Alexandre Picard

The Tampa bay Lightning have announced that they have signed right wing Ryan Shannon to a one-year contract worth $625,000 and left wing Alexandre Picard to a one-year, two-way contract. The financial terms of his deal were not disclosed. In 79 games last season with the Ottawa Senators, Shannon had 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. Picard appeared in 59 games last season with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points and 84 penalty minutes. Shannon is a decent signing for the Lightning, as he will bring some two-way skill and versatility to the forward lines. Look for him to start the season on the third line. Picard adds some energy and grit to the forward lines, but will likely spend much of next season in the minors.

Red Wings Sign Chris Conner to One-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed right wing Chris Conner to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 60 games last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. He also appeared in 11 games with Wilkes/Barre-Scranton of the AHL, scoring three goals and six assists for nine points. Given the depth already on Detroit's forward lines, Conner will spend the majority of next season in the minors. If he sees any time with the Red Wings, it will likely be as an injury replacement.

Canadiens Sign Brian Willsie to One-Year Contract

The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they have signed right wing Brian Willsie to a one-year, two-way contract worth $600,000 at the NHL level. In one game last season with the Washington Capitals, he had one assist. He also appeared in 76 games with Hershey of the AHL, scoring 30 goals and 38 assists for 68 points. This is really just a depth signing for the Canadiens, as Willsie will likely spend most of next season in the minors, providing lots of two-way skill and scoring depth for the team's AHL affiliate in Hamilton.

Ducks Re-Sign Brian McGrattan to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have re-signed left wing Brian McGrattan to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He was acquired by the Ducks this past February from the Boston Bruins along with Sean Zimmerman in exchange for David Laliberte and Stefan Chaput. In 59 games with Providence and Syracuse of the AHL, McGrattan had 10 goals and five assists for 15 points and 153 penalty minutes. This is an okay signing for the Ducks, as McGrattan plays with tons of grit and toughness and is a tough fighter who will always stick up for his teammates. However, he tends to take bad penalties as a result of his physical style of play and doesn't have a lot of offensive upside. He will probably spend a lot of time in the minors next season, and if he sees any time with the Ducks, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Maple Leafs Re-Sign Matt Lashoff

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have re-signed defenseman Matt Lashoff to a one-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 11 games last season with the Maple Leafs, he had one assist. He also appeared in 69 games with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points and 137 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Maple Leafs, as Lashoff brings plenty of mobility to the blueline, as well as some offensive upside and grit. More than likely, he will spend much of next season in the minors and will probably only see NHL action as an injury replacement.

Sabres Re-Sign Stuart, Whitmore, Add MacIntyre

The Buffalo Sabres have announced that they have re-signed left wings Colin Stuart and Derek Whitmore to one-year contracts. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. The team has also announced that they have signed goaltender Drew MacIntyre to a one-year contract worth $525,000. In three games last season with the Sabres, Stuart had no points. He also appeared in 72 games with Portland of the AHL, scoring 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points. Whitmore played in 80 games last season with Portland, scoring 27 goals and 20 assists for 47 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. MacIntyre appeared in 41 games with Chicago and Hamilton of the AHL, posting a 24-11-3 record, one shutout, a 2.37 GAA, and a .922 save percentage. These are all just depth signings for the Sabres, as all three players will likely spend the majority of next season in the AHL.

Canucks Add Matt Climie and Alexander Sulzer

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have signed goaltender Matt Climie and defenseman Alexander Sulzer to one-year contracts worth $525,000 and $700,000, respectively. Climie appeared in one game last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, allowing one goal on 16 shots and posting a 1.88 GAA. He also played in 55 games with San Antonio of the AHL, posting a 26-22-3 record, three shutouts, a 2.64 GAA, and a .913 save percentage. In 40 games last season with the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, Sulzer had one goal and four assists for five points. Climie is really just a depth signing for the Canucks, as he will likely spend next season in the minors. As for Sulzer, he brings some mobility and offensive ability to Vancouver's blueline, but given the depth currently on their defense, he will likely spend a good chunk of next season in the minors. If he sees any time with the Canucks, it will probably be as an injury replacement.

Sabres Sign Michael Ryan and Paul Szczechura

The Buffalo Sabres announced today that they have signed left wing Michael Ryan and center Paul Szczechura to one-year contracts. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. In 58 games last season with Springfield and Adirondack of the AHL, Ryan had 26 goals and 18 assists for 44 points. This will be his second stint with the Sabres, where he previously played from 2006 to 2008. In 79 games last season with Norfolk of the AHL, Szczechura had 21 goals and 30 assists for 51 points. These are really just depth signings for the Sabres, as both players will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Predators Sign Shea Weber to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators have announced that they have accepted an arbitrator's one-year, $7.5 million contract for defenseman Shea Weber. Prior to going to arbitration, the team had been seeking $4.75 million, while Weber's agent was looking to get $8 million. Due to the arbitration ruling, he will be eligible for restricted free agency next summer instead of unrestricted free agency. The team announced that they are continuing to negotiate a long-term contract extension with the 26-year-old defenseman. In all 82 games last season, Weber had 16 goals and 32 assists for 48 points. He was a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman this past season. In 402 career NHL games, all with the Predators, he has 80 goals and 134 assists for 214 points. This is an excellent signing for the Predators, as Weber has quickly developed into one of the top blueliners in the NHL. He has outstanding offensive skills, a great shot, is excellent on the power play and penalty kill, has good size, and plays with some grit. His salary seems a bit pricey for him at this stage of his career, but he is certainly worthy of a raise over the $4.5 million he made last season. Look for the Predators to sign Weber to a long-term contract before free agency begins next summer.

Ny Islanders Re-Sign Blake Comeau and Jon Sim

The New York Islanders have announced that they have avoided arbitration with left wing Blake Comeau and re-signed him to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million. The Islanders also announced that they have signed left wing Jon Sim to a one-year contract. The financial terms of his deal were not disclosed. In 77 games last season, Comeau had 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points, while Sim had one goal and three assists for four points in 34 games. He also appeared in eight games with Bridgeport of the AHL, scoring seven goals and two assists for nine points. Sim left the team this past January to play with HC Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss League, where he had one goal in seven games. Comeau is a good signing for the Islanders, as he brings plenty of offensive and goal-scoring depth to the team despite being inconsistent in his scoring from time to time. As for Sim, he's always been held in high regard by the Islanders, so his return isn't a complete surprise despite him leaving the team in mid-season. He will bring plenty of veteran depth to the checking lines.

EDIT

Jon Sim has apparently signed with HC Pardubice of the Czech League on 8/12/11 instead of signing with the NY Islanders.

Blue Jackets Sign Ryan Russell to One-Year Contract

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have signed left wing Ryan Russell to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the Montreal Canadiens on July 7 in exchange for Michael Blunden. In 65 games last season with Hamilton of the AHL, Russell had 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. This is really just a depth move for the Blue Jackets, as Russell will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors.

Predators Sign Jack Hillen to One-Year Contract

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed defenseman Jack Hillen to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $650,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 64 games last season with the New York Islanders, he had four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Predators, as Hillen has some offensive upside and puck-moving skill, as well as good mobility. Look for him to play a sixth or seventh defensive role next season.

Blackhawks Sign Patrick Sharp to Five-Year Extension

The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they have signed center Patrick Sharp to a five-year contract extension worth $29.5 million. The deal will average out to $5.9 million per season when it kicks in for the 2012-13 season. He has one more year left on his current contract and would have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. In 74 games last season, he had 34 goals and 37 assists for 71 points. This is a great signing for the Blackhawks, as Sharp brings a lot of offensive skill and depth to the team. He has excellent goal-scoring skill, is good on the penalty kill, and is versatile enough to play on the wing. He will continue to be an important part of the team's second line throughout the duration of the new contract.