Notable NHL Trades and Free Agent Signings – July 8, 2022
Check out my take on the notable trades and free-agent signings from the second day of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The Carolina Hurricanes traded defenseman Tony DeAngelo to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for second, third and fourth-round picks (Detail to follow). The Flyers then signed the 27-year-old DeAngelo to a two-year contract with an annual average value of $5 million.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tony DeAngelo (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is going to go one of two ways. DeAngelo will either get along well with new Flyers head coach John Tortorella and play his system or they’ll get on like chalk and cheese and this will be a train wreck. For a fragile club on their third coach in less than a year that was walloped by injuries and also shipped out their captain at the trade deadline, drama is the last thing they need right now.
DeAngelo enjoyed a bounce-back performance last season (51 points) with the Hurricanes on a one-year, $1-million contract after being bought out by the New York Rangers. He had no issues with his teammates or head coach Rod Brind’Amour but the Canes couldn’t afford to sign him. He’s a skilled puck-mover but his defensive play doesn’t match his offensive abilities. DeAngelo will be forced to improve that aspect of his game under Tortorella or face a sharp reduction in ice time.
The Hurricanes, meanwhile, appear to be clearing salary to re-sign pending UFA forwards Nino Niederreiter and Vincent Trocheck. Then again, maybe they’re planning a big addition via trade or free agency. Stay tuned…
Washington Capitals trade goaltender Vitek Vanecek and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft to the New Jersey Devils for a second-round pick and a third-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils were in the market for a goalie to share the duties with Mackenzie Blackwood. Vanecek, 27, is a restricted free agent coming off a three-year deal worth over $716K per season and will be seeking a raise with his new club but shouldn’t break the bank. He put up decent regular-season numbers but his playoff stats aren’t anything to write home about. He’ll be best used in a backup role.
It was rumored the Devils might get into the market for an established starter like Colorado’s Darcy Kuemper. Perhaps they still will but that would mean moving out Blackwood, who’s struggled with injuries and inconsistency over the past two years. My guess is they’re going with a Blackwood-Vanecek tandem.
Detroit Red Wings acquire goaltender Ville Husso from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. The Wings then signed the 27-year-old Husso to a three-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $4.75 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman opts not to bring in another aging backup but instead lands a younger netminder with starter experience. Husso will share the goalie duties with starter Alex Nedeljkovic and could perhaps push the Red Wings starter, who had some consistency issues last season.
The Blues would’ve preferred to re-sign Husso but lacked sufficient cap space to do so, especially when they’re trying to re-sign winger David Perron. They’ll be in the market for a suitable backup for Jordan Binnington via trade or free agency.
It’s starting to look like Edmonton and Toronto are about to get into a bidding war over Darcy Keumper and Jack Campbell, two injury prone career backups.
Get your popcorn ready, its going to be hilarious listening to Holland and Dubas spin the certain overpay as a “win” for their club.
Great post and so true
Yup!
I wouldn’t rule out Buffalo and maybe Washington getting in on Kuemper or Campbell either. Buffalo has a lot of cap space and tried to trade for Murray from the Sens who nixed the deal. Caps shipped out Vanecek and might look to sign a more proven starter.
4 teams that could battle for 2 goalies and some of them might have to trade for someone instead.
There is NO WAY the Leafs will be anywhere close to ever be close to winning the Stanley Cup as presently constituted. They have been running out the same dog and pony show for the last 4 years.Right from Shanahan down, they are way too comfortable. Dubas does not have the stones to make the moves that can turn them into a contender. Signing John Tavares was a huge mistake. Giving huge contracts to Nylander, Marner and Matthews was another huge mistake.Someone of the core 4 has got to go. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity.That’s my rant for today!!!
From a frustrated Rangers fan to frustrated Maple Leafs fan…
Don’t despair. The Leafs are a lot closer than you think. I agree that Tavares was a mistake; one mega contract too many. Matthews and Marner are great cornerstone players. Nylander is also very good and valuable to trade if necessary. I think they will win a cup in the next few years.
The Rangers?!?!
Huh? What’s frustrating about being a Rangers fan? They just made the ECF’s? You had higher expectations of this young team than that?
Agree on JT, that also set the mark for the other contracts, and that deal gets worse every year. As for Nylander at 7m, its a good contract and he earns it. AM and MM are paid as they are because of the JT contract. AM might earn that contract but MM does not, its 1,5-2m to high at least
copy and paste same story
Keumper. Much better then Campbell. Someone will have buyers remorse for sure
I’m pretty sure Ken Holland was just given a $5.5 million gift.
Yes and gave the bill to the hawks. Lucky for them they won’t need the space this year
Sounds like Leafs are in on Matt Murray not sure what to think about him was pretty good years ago.
Dubas loves his Greyhounds. I’ll give him credit for being loyal to the boys who played in the Soo.
Oilers may have up to $22M in cap space. Count on Holland overspending now – Keumper $8M and Kane $8M per
Detroit is no longer looking for a goalie! Ville will push Ned and they will be a better tandem!
Now starts the musical chairs between the Caps, Leafs, Oilers and maybe NJ (are they done) for the services of Kuemper and Campbell. Gonna be fun!
Sweeney working the phones
**News Flash**
Detroit Trades Rights to Tomas Greiss to the Leafs for 2023 1st round pick.
Greiss Signs 5 yrs @ 7.5 million deal.
Sounds about right for Scooby.
lol
LJ got anything to add?
your the best Ron!
Canes going after Klingberg? seems logical choice to run the PP but what does that leave them to secure a 2nd line center?