After some really crazy free agent signing activity where the likes of: Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Loui Eriksson, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ladd, Boyd Gordon, Alexander Radulov, Vern Fiddler, David Schlemko, David Perron, Eric Staal, Troy Brouwer, David Backes, Brian Campbell, James Reimer, Thomas Vanek... were signed, and by noon ET according to Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) for over a whopping $500 million!
Free agent special on aisle six
To say that teams were filling their shopping baskets with players to fill holes -- is putting it mildly.
So, with all the above listed players going somewhere else, what did the Arizona Coyotes do on this super busy free agent signing day?
Not much ... yet.
Jamie McGinn the newest Coyote
They did manage to sign left winger Jamie McGinn to a three-year $10 million contract. He is a productive, physical forward who registered 22 goals, 17 assists between his two stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks last season.
GM John Chayka had this to say about the newest Coyote:
“We are very pleased to sign Jamie to a three-year contract,” said Coyotes General Manager John Chayka. “Jamie is a big, physical, power forward who scores goals and plays a gritty style. He will be a great addition to our roster.”
Heavy hitter Dahlbeck will be back
In other news for the Desert Dogs, unrestricted free agent Klas Dahlbeck was inked to a one-year, one-way $750,000 deal.
Dahlbeck played in 71 games for the Coyotes last season, and had two goals and six assists, while being the leader in hits on the team with 178. His physical play has impressed the team, but he needs to refine his game some more. Now he'll have that opportunity.
THIS JUST IN...
The Coyotes have also signed defenseman Kevin Connauton to a two-year deal worth $2 million. He registered four goals, nine assists while playing in 38 games last season. His play was noticed, and this will really make it a logjam on the blue-line.
Talk about competition for a roster spot -- it may get intense.
Right now, (and things are changing quickly) the blue-line looks like this:
First Pairing:
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Connor Murphy (still not officially signed)
Second Pairing:
Alex Oligosky - Michael Stone (still not officially signed) or Zbynek Michalek
Third Pairing:
Kevin Connauton/Klas Dahlbeck - Anthony DeAngelo (if he makes final roster)
Outside Possibility:
Jakob Chychurn
It's only speculation if the Coyotes are done dealing or signing free agents. Players like Connor Murphy, Tobias Rieder, and Michael Stone were all given qualifying offers, but have not signed a contract yet.
**UPDATE:
The Coyotes have just signed former Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan White, 26 to a one-year $800,000 contract. He netted 11 goals, five assists last season, and is another heavy hitter, with 208 hits in 73 games. It appears he will replace the fourth line center Joe Vitale who was sent to the Detroit Red Wings in the deal which gave the Coyotes the 16th draft selection of defenseman Jakob Chychurn.
Give Doaner a pen
And, then there's Shane Doan, who is still unsigned. Coyotes' management doesn't seem too worried about Doan jumping ship for another team since both sides know very well he is the heart and soul of the Arizona Coyotes. It will get done, but right now there is a whirlwind of activity to get by before the dust settles and they get down to numbers to present to Doan.
To this writer, it seems like with all the available free agents, and trade possibilities for the team to sign more free agents (or more desirable) today is baffling. It was assumed they would be more aggressive when they went after Alex Goligosky and inked him to a five-year deal; but for whatever reason, the planets are not aligning to the point where they could have had a shot at signing Okposo, Nielsen, or even Vanek.
The day is not over yet, so there could be some more deals in progress for the Coyotes, but as of now it has to be fairly disappointing that the team who has so much salary cap space, and no restrictions from management as far as a spending goes, has just signed some not so spectacular free agents, and we still have Martin Hanzal... go figure.