Red Wings Sign Garnet Exelby to One-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed defenseman Garnet Exelby to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 77 games last season with Rockford of the AHL, he had three goals and 10 assists for 13 points and 128 penalty minutes. In 408 career NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs, he has seven goals and 43 assists for 50 points and 584 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Red Wings, as Exelby will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors, providing lots of grit and toughness to the team's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. If he sees any NHL action next season, it will likely be in the event of an injury on the Detroit blueline.

Blackhawks Sign Defenseman Garnet Exelby to One-Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have signed defeseman Garnet Exelby to a one-year contract and assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Rockford. He had been on a professional tryout with Rockford and served as the team's captain. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 51 games last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he had one goal and three assists for four points and 73 penalty minutes. In 408 career NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs, he has seven goals and 43 assists for 50 points and 584 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Blackhawks, as Exelby will likely spend much of the season in the minors. If he does get recalled from the minors, he will provide plenty of grit and toughness to the team's blueline.

Maple Leafs Ship Kubina to Thrashers in Multi-Player Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Thrashers swung a multi-player trade during the first day of free agency with the Thrashers acquiring defenseman Pavel Kubina and center Tim Stapleton from the Maple Leafs in exchange for defenseman Garnet Exelby and left wing Colin Stuart. Stapleton is a restricted free agent this summer, but the other three won’t be free agents until next summer. The Maple Leafs had been looking to trade Kubina and his $5 million salary last season in order to save money for free agency this summer, but the defenseman was unwilling to waive his no-trade clause. However, he has a limited no-trade clause in his contract in which he can be traded during July and August without his permission. In all 82 games last season with the Maple Leafs, Kubina scored 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points, tying a career best in that category, and 94 penalty minutes. Stapleton appeared in only four games last season with the Maple Leafs, scoring one goal. Exelby appeared in 59 games last season with the Thrashers, scoring seven assists and 120 penalty minutes. Stuart played in 33 games last season with Atlanta, scoring five goals and three assists for eight points.

This is mainly a salary dumping trade for the Maple Leafs, as they probably could have gotten a better return for Kubina. However, they used the salary they freed up to sign Mike Komisarek, which I cover in my next post. Kubina brings lots of offensive skill, depth, and toughness to the Thrashers’ blueline and could play on their top pairing next season. Stapleton has the potential to be at least a third line forward in the NHL, and could likely do that in the coming years with the Thrashers. Toronto GM Brian Burke loves having physical and gritty players on his team, so Exelby will be a good fit for him. Stuart will give the Maple Leafs offensive depth on their fourth line if he makes the team next season.