Coyotes Sign Patrick O'Sullivan to One-Year Deal

The Phoenix Coyotes have announced that they have signed left wing Patrick O'Sullivan to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $625,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. In 31 games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, he had two goals and six assists for eight points. He also appeared in 36 games with Houston of the AHL, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points. This is an okay depth signing for the Coyotes, as O'Sullivan will add some offensive depth to the forward lines. However, he has struggled with consistency in recent seasons and doesn't play with a lot of heart on the ice. More than likely, he will have to compete for a roster spot at training camp, and if he does secure a spot with the Coyotes, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Wild Claim O'Sullivan Off Waivers from Hurricanes

The Minnesota Wild announced today that they have claimed left wing Patrick O'Sullivan off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes. Signed as a free agent in the off-season by the Hurricanes, he has one goal in 10 games so far this season. O'Sullivan was originally a second round draft pick of the Wild in 2003. In 290 career NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Carolina Hurricanes, he has 55 goals and 95 assists for 150 points. Not a bad depth move for the Wild, as O'Sullivan will add some offensive depth up front. He has the skill to be a decent goal scorer and playmaker, but hasn't been able to repeat the 22 goal and 53 point success of his 2007-08 season. In Carolina, he was barely getting any ice time and saw his role with the team diminished due to the excellent play of Sergei Samsonov, Jussi Jokinen, and rookie Jeff Skinner. Perhaps more ice time in Minnesota can help O'Sullivan increase his offensive production.

Hurricanes Sign Patrick O'Sullivan to One-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed left wing Patrick O'Sullivan to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In 73 games last season with the Edmonton Oilers, he had 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points. He was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on June 30 in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer, but then had his contract bought out, making him an unrestricted free agent. Not a bad depth signing for the Hurricanes, as O'Sullivan still does have some offensive upside despite being an inconsistent scorer. He also has a good shot and can play all three forward positions, so he should be an effective player for the rebuilding Hurricanes in 2010-11.

Oilers Acquire Vandermeer from Coyotes for O'Sullivan

The Edmonton Oilers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for left wing Patrick O'Sullivan. Both players were placed on waivers yesterday and cleared today before the trade was made. The Coyotes are expected to buy out O'Sullivan's contract, while the Oilers will retain Vandermeer. In 62 games last season with the Coyotes, Vandermeer had four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 60 penalty minutes. O'Sullivan appeared in 73 games with the Oilers last season, scoring 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points. This is essentially a salary dumping trade for both teams. The Oilers will save about $1 million by trading away O'Sullivan and acquiring Vandermeer, while the Coyotes will buy out O'Sullivan for close to $1 million and end up cutting out $2 million in salary. Vandermeer will bring plenty of veteran, defensive depth to the Oilers blueline next season, as well as plenty of toughness. Despite having a lackluster year in 2009-10, O'Sullivan still has some offensive upside and could be a decent fit for the right price on a team seeking depth down the wing.

Moreau, Nilsson, O' Sullivan Among More NHL Players on Waivers

On Tuesday, the following NHL players were placed on waivers with the likely purpose of buying out their contracts. The players will have until noon tomorrow to be claimed by other teams. If they go unclaimed, they will likely have their contracts bought out and become unrestricted free agents.

Donald Brashear, LW - New York Rangers
Todd Fedoruk, LW - Tampa Bay Lightning
Ethan Moreau, LW - Edmonton Oilers
Robert Nilsson, LW - Edmonton Oilers
Patrick O'Sullivan, LW - Edmonton Oilers
Nathan Oystrick, D - Anaheim Ducks
Patrick Rissmiller, LW - New York Rangers
Aaron Voros, LW - New York Rangers

Jonathan Cheechoo, Ales Kotalik, Ville Koistinen, Petteri Nokelainen, and Jim Vandermeer all cleared waivers from yesterday and are now eligible to be bought out by their clubs. It really comes as no surprise that the Oilers have placed Moreau, Nilsson, and O'Sullivan on waivers with the purpose of buying out their contracts, as the Oilers stated their intentions to do so earlier this month. I would be surprised if any of these players were claimed off waivers, as any team interested in them is better off waiting until their contracts are bought out and then signing them to new, more affordable deals.

Kings, Hurricanes, and Oilers Make Three-Way Swap

In one of the last and most complex moves on deadline day, the Los Angeles Kings traded center Patrick O'Sullivan and Calgary's second round pick in the 2009 draft (previously acquired) to the Carolina Hurricanes for eight wing Justin Williams. The Hurricanes then traded O'Sullivan to the Edmonton Oilers along with a second round pick in the 2009 draft for left wing Erik Cole and a fifth round pick in the 2009 draft. It was rumored for the past few weeks that Erik Cole could be moved by deadline day, with the Boston Bruins rumored interested in his services. In 62 games this season, O'Sullivan has 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points. Williams, who is currently sidelined with a broken hand, has three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 32 games this season. In 63 games this season, Cole has 16 goals and 11 assists for 27 points. Williams is a good pickup for the Kings, as he will bring lots of offensive skill to their wing. O' Sullivan gives a Oilers a scoring center to play on Ales Hemsky's line, while Cole brings toughness and offensive skill to the Hurricanes. With this being Cole's second stint in Carolina, he should have no trouble fitting in with the team.

O'Sullivan Resigns With Kings for 3 Years

The Los Angeles Kings announced on Tuesday that they have resigned center Patrick O'Sullivan to a three-year contract, believed to be worth an average of $2.925 million per season. Last season, O'Sullivan played in 82 games, scoring 22 goals and adding 31 assists for 53 points with the Los Angeles Kings. O'Sullivan had become the subject of trade rumors over the past few weeks as he was holding out for a short-term contract with the Kings, who wanted to resign him long-term. O'Sullivan missed the Kings' training camp while holding out. The resigning brings the Kings up to the salary cap minimum, which likely means the Kings may not make any more roster moves as the team wants to operate as close to the cap floor as possible. O'Sullivan is quickly emerging as one of the Kings' top offensive forwards. He should provide solid offense for the Kings when the 2008-09 season begins this week.