Canucks Sign Marco Sturm and Andrew Ebbett

The Vancouver Canucks announced on the first day of free agency that they have signed left wing Marco Strum and center Andrew Ebbett to one-year contracts worth $2.25 million and $525,000, respectively. In 35 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals, Sturm had five goals and 11 assists for 16 points. He missed the first 32 games of the 2010-11 season with a torn ACL and MCL and another 13 games later in the season with a left knee injury. Ebbett appeared in 33 games last season with Phoenix, scoring two goals and three assists for five points. He also played in 37 games with San Antonio of the AHL, scoring 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points. These aren't bad depth signings for the Canucks. Vancouver gets a speedy forward in Sturm who is also an excellent stickhandler and is good on the power play and penalty kill. He will likely fill a top-nine role for the team next season. Ebbett secured a one-way deal with the Canucks, so he has all but secured a roster spot for next season. He will bring plenty of offensive depth to the fourth line, but could find himself a healthy scratch if he fails to impress the coaching staff.

Capitals Claim Marco Sturm Off Waivers from Kings

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have claimed left wing Marco Sturm off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. Sturm, who was acquired by the Kings on December 11 from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 17 games this season with the Kings, he has four goals and five assists for nine points. He never appeared in any games this season with the Bruins. He has missed 45 games altogether this season with two separate knee injuries. Not a bad depth move for the Capitals, as they are getting a speedy forward in Sturm. He is also an excellent stickhandler and good on the power play and penalty kill. For the Kings, the addition of Sturm was a big disappointment, and now that his salary is off their books, they will have some salary cap space to possibly make a significant deal by the trade deadline for a power forward.

Kings and Bruins Finalize Deal for Marco Sturm

The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they have acquired left wing Marco Sturm from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations. The two teams nearly had a deal done for Sturm about a week and a half ago, but the deal was cancelled. The trade will be contingent on him passing a physical. Sturm, who has been sidelined all season with a knee injury, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade and will free up $3.5 million in salary for the Bruins. In 76 games last season with Boston, he had 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. This is a necessary trade for the Bruins in order to become salary cap compliant when Sturm finally returns to the lineup, but a decent move for the Kings. The Kings get a speedy forward in Sturm, who is an excellent stick-handler and good on the power play and penalty kill. Despite being a bit prone to injury, he will add plenty of offensive depth and experience on the wing for Los Angeles.

Kings Acquire Marco Sturm from Bruins

In a salary dumping move, the Boston Bruins have dealt left wing Marco Sturm to the Los Angeles Kings for what is believed to be a conditional fifth round draft pick. The complete details of the trade have yet to be announced. Sturm, who has been sidelined all season with a knee injury and is still two to three weeks from returning to action, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade. The trade will free up $3.5 million in salary for the Bruins and comes in the wake of Marc Savard's imminent return to their lineup after being sidelined with a concussion since May. In 76 games last season with the Bruins, Sturm had 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. A necessary trade for the Bruins in order to become salary cap compliant when Savard returns to the lineup, but a decent move for the Kings. They get a speedy forward in Sturm, who is also an excellent stick-handler and good on the power play and penalty kill. Despite being a bit prone to injury, Sturm will add plenty of offensive depth and experience on the wing for Los Angeles.

***UPDATE***
The Boston Bruins issued a statement Thursday night that Marco Sturm had not been traded to the Kings and that no deal for him was imminent. If a deal had been in place with the Los Angeles Kings, it appears that it fell through. With Sturm still on injured reserve for the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see how the Bruins become salary cap compliant upon his return to the lineup.