The spending bonanza knows no bounds on Tobacco Road.
Jim Rutherford’s first order f business was to pull off the trade to re-unite Jordan Staal with his big bro, Eric. Last week, came the startling signing of enigmatic UFA, Alex Semin, to a one year, $7 million contract.
On Tuesday night, TSN reported that Hurricanes centre, Jeff Skinner, would be soon signing a contract extension. The total haul for Skinner is expected to be 6 years with an average annual cap hit of $5.725 million. That’s a lotta cake for a young kid, just finding his way in the NHL.
On Wednesday morning, the Raleigh News Observer reported:
Skinner has one year remaining on his entry contract, so the extension commits him to the Hurricanes for seven more seasons. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, Skinner would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency in five years.
“He’s a player that everybody knows was rookie of the year and he has a great future in front of him. We thank him for making that commitment to be with the Hurricanes.”
Canes GM Jim Rutherford is pleased with his signing of his young star.
The skilled centre dazzled the NHL with his sick moves and highlight reel goals in 2010-11, when he scored 31 goals and added 32 assists in 63 games. Skinner earned the Calder Trophy that season.
Like many of the best NHL players do, Skinner suffered a sophomore slump last season, when he scored 20 goals and added 24 helpers in 64 games.
One can’t help but wonder if this Skinner contract extension is the reason for the delay between the Sabres and the agent for Tyler Ennis, who became RFA on July 1.
Like Skinner, Ennis is a young, flashy offensive dynamo. Its not the size of the dog in the fight. It’s the size of the fight in the dog. Skinner and Ennis have both proven themselves to be effective players in the land of the giants in the NHL. Each player skate, create, and score with awesome dexterity. Injuries have plagued each player in the early stages of their NHL development. Skinner suffered a concussion last season, while Ennis was hobble by high ankle sprains.
Skinner and Ennis have had similar, yet different, career trajectories, where each succeeded in juniors. Skinner jumped right out of OHL Kitchener and into the Carolina lineup. Ennis played four years at Medicine Hat of the WHL. He then honed his skills under the tutelage of Kevin Dineen in AHL Portland. Each have had parts of seasons cut short due to injuries.
In 146 NHL games played, Skinner has scored 51 goals and added 56 assists for 107 points.
In 140 career NHL games, Ennis has scored 38 goals and added 54 assists for 92 points.
Skinner has yet to play in the NHL playoffs, while Ennis has scored three goals and added 5 assists in 13 career NHL playoff games.
Has Ennis earned the right to be paid commensurate with what Skinner is about to be paid?
Sam Gagner recently signed a one-off to remain in Edmonton at $3.2 million.
Last week, Edmonton signed Sam gagner to a 1 year, $3.2 milion extension. Thats a lot of dough for a guy who cannot put together a whole season of production.
Last season, we saw flashes of pure brilliance from Ennis when he was rightfully moved to centre, and for Stafford and Foligno. That line was one of the top three scoring lines in the NHL in the last month of last season. Can they sustain that type of production this season? I contend that were it not for two high ankle sprains, and if he'd have been slotted at his true/natural position of centre, Ennis may have performed at that same level all season long.
Dateline: Gotham, where NY Daily News writer Pat Leonard spoke with Doan's agent on Tuesday. No new tale to tell.
“We’re trying to see this thing through with the Coyotes, and a decision could come at any time,” Bross said Tuesday.
Bross confirmed that a team outside of New York has offered Doan a four-year deal worth at least $7 million per season, both a high price and long term for a player who turns 36 on Oct. 10 and racked up his lowest point total last season (50) since 2001-02. There is no telling whether that offer comes from a team in which Doan has interest, though, so there is no knowing what leverage it would create against the Blueshirts and GM Glen Sather.
The Rangers also likely would face stiff competition from Vancouver if Doan jets from Phoenix. His wife Andrea grew up in the area; the couple own a house on Shuswap Lake in British Columbia and vacation there in the summers with their four children; and Doan is also part owner of the Kamloops Blazers, a WHL franchise in British Columbia where he played prior to his NHL career.
The Rangers’ strengths include their formidable roster but also Doan’s connections with their coaching staff: Assistant GM/assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld coached Doan for two seasons in Phoenix (1997-98 and 1998-99), with John Tortorella as the assistant. Goaltending coach Benoit Allaire was an assistant for seven years in Phoenix, and assistant coach Mike Sullivan played as Doan’s teammate from 1998 through 2002.
I didn't get the press release announcing Buffalo's departure from the state of New York.
Join the Discussion:
»