Versteeg Next 'Hawk Off The Books, Dealt To Toronto

 

The Chicago Blackhawks are still looking to clear salary cap space, and took another $3,083,333 off the books for next season and the year after by dealing Kris Versteeg to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with Versteeg, the Maple Leafs will obtain the rights to forward Bill Sweatt in exchange for forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis.

In comparison, the Maple Leafs gave up virtually nothing for a solid 24-year old scorer - something GM Brian Burke has been yearning for this offseason and didn't even have to give up defenseman Tomas Kaberle to get in this deal. Last season, Versteeg netted 20 goals and posted 44 points in 79 regular season games. In the playoffs, he added six goals and eight assists as part of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup winning team.

Brind'Amour Done After 21 Seasons In NHL

 

The idea of looking for work with another team wasn't an appealing one for Rod Brind'Amour. Taking a front office position within the organization he has played for over the past 11 years sounded a lot more intriguing. So after almost 1,500 games over a 21-year NHL career, the 39-year old decided to call it a career and officially retire on Wednesday afternoon.

"The only question would be how much do I want to play" for another team, Brind'Amour said. "When I knew for sure the direction the team was going and I wasn't going to be a part of it as a player, and (General Manager Jim Rutherford) said, 'We want you to come on and do whatever -- we'll figure that out. Just be a part of our organization' ... I said, 'I'm done. It's over.' I don't want to go play anymore, and certainly don't want to play anywhere else."

That role within the organization has to be defined by Rutherford, but he believes Brind'Amour has a lot to offer the team in some capacity. It's hard to deny when considering he is the team's leading scorer since its relocation from Hartford in 1997. Over his career with the Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues, Brind'Amour developed a knack for being a complete player. He had solid two-way skills, was a pro in the face off circle, got physical when necessary, possessed a scoring touch and had undeniable leadership qualities. He was also considered a workhorse, even as he got up there in age. He finished his career with a Stanley Cup to his name, two Frank J. Selke Trophies and totals of 452 goals, 732 assists and 1,184 points in 1,484 games. Brind'Amour added 51 goals and 60 assists to his career marks in 159 postseason contests.

The future Hall of Famer's resume is quite impressive, but poor play last season and a team looking to get younger added up to the end of Brind'Amour's career in Carolina. He had just nine goals and 19 points in 2009-10, was reduced to a fourth line role and ceded his captaincy to Eric Staal.

Brind'Amour was to earn $3 million in the final year of his current contract next season. Instead of taking that hit via his retirement, the Hurricanes will instead buy him out at $2 million, with a $1 million cap hit in each of the next two years.

Flyers Bringing Back Leighton For Two More Years

They explored the possibility of bringing in Evgeni Nabokov and they made a failed play for Marty Turco. But at the end of the day, the Philadelphia Flyers chose to stick with the man they already had. General Manager Paul Holgren got Michael Leighton's signature on the dotted line of a new two-year, $3.1 million contract that will see the 29-year old netminder remain the club's No. 1 option between the pipes. He will earn $1.5 million next year and $1.6 million in 2011-12, with an annual cap hit of $1.55 million.

Generally a journeyman goalie before hitting Philly, Leighton emerged as a playoff hero for the Flyers as he backstopped them to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1998. Being pulled twice in against the Chicago Blackhawks during that series placed some doubt on the organization about whether it was wise to bring him back as its starter. But after looking into Nabokov, who is determined to test the free agent market, and having a three-year, $6 million offer turned away by Turco, the Flyers stuck with the immediate option.

Leighton is undoubtedly a cheaper option, which was key for the Flyers since they didn't want to shed too much payroll on a netminder. But there is still some speculation that the Flyers might not be done looking for options between the pipes, even with two other goalies already signed - Brian Boucher and Johan Backlund. TSN's Bob McKeznie believes Martin Biron could find his way back into Philadelphia, or that the Flyers could take a shot at dealing for Tim Thomas from Boston if they're willing to part with a high-priced talent on their own roster. That would mean Leighton would either become a backup option for the Flyers, or be part of a package going elsewhere in a trade.

Devils Re-Sign Clarkson, Waive Veteran Pandolfo

 

Sometimes New Jersey does keep its own players, as opposed to trading back for them several years later. On Wednesday, General Manager Lou Lamoriello inked winger David Clarkson to an extension worth $8 million over three years. That will count as a $2.667 million annual cap hit and pays Clarkson actual salaries of $2 million next season and $3 million in both 2011-12 and 2012-13, according to Rich Chere of The Newark Star-Ledger. Clarkson was set to become a restricted free agent tomorrow. He earned $875,000 last season.

The 26-year old Toronto-native is one of the Devils' key hometown assets going forward. He is not a big-time point producer, but can net the puck. He posted 11 goals last season following a career-high 17-goal campaign two years ago. His true contribution to the team, however, is his size and agitating style. Sometimes it leads him to taking bad penalties, but Clarkson definitely keeps opposing players on their toes and off their games.

Oilers Acquire Vandermeer For O'Sullivan, Lose Moreau To Columbus Via Waivers

 

The Edmonton Oilers went through some minor roster shakeups one day prior to free agency. In one move, swapped players who just recently cleared waivers with the Phoenix Coyotes. The Oilers sent forward Patrick O'Sullivan to the dessert in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer. According to TSN, the Oilers are expected to keep Vandermeer, while the 'Yotes will buy out the remaining year of O'Sullivan's contract.

This is a solid move for Edmonton and a cheaper one for the Coyotes. In Vandermeer, the Oil get a steady blue line presence with physical attributes. And they no longer need to foot the bill in paying O'Sullivan's buyout. The Coyotes will pay that instead, which comes at a slightly lower price tag than what Vandermeer's buyout would have been. By way of gapgeek.com, O'Sullivan's total buyout will be approximately $1.333 million split at rates of $935,417 next season and $397,917. The 25-year would have otherwise been a cap hit of $2.925 million if retained. Meanwhile, had the Coyotes just simply bought out Vandermeer, it would have cost them $766,667 against the cap in each of the next two seasons, for a total of $1,533,333. The 30-year old will be paid $2.3 million in Edmonton next year.

In addition to this move, the Oilers also saw Ethan Moreau claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It would have cost Edmonton $1,166,667 million spread over two seasons to buy out his contract had he gone on unclaimed. But the 34-year old will now earn his full $1.75 million (and $2 million cap hit) with the Blue Jackets next season. Moreau will provide Columbus with plenty of size and another option on the penalty kill. He posted nine goals last season, three of which came with a man down.