One RFA D-man down and one to go.
The Ducks have re-signed defenseman Sami Vatanen to a four-year contract extension through the 2019-20 NHL season. Vatanen's salary cap AAV will be $4.875 million according to General Fanager.
I'm surprised at the 4 year term. I'm surprised that Bob Murray would allow Vatanen to hit unrestricted free agency at 29 years of age. I'd have locked him in for a fifth season. If I'm being honest, I think that Vatanen left money on the table. The kid is a bona fide top pair D who munches 25-27 minutes per game and excels in all situations. I saw Vatanen as a 5-6 year contract extension with a $6M AAV.
Vatanen's comparable will be applied to fellow RFA D-men Rasmus Ristolainen (Sabres), Tyson Barrie (Avs), and Jacob Trouba of the Jets.
Vatanen, who just turned 25 three weeks ago, has produced 29 goals and 69 assists with a +25 rating and 78 penalty minutes (PIM) in 194 career NHL games with the Ducks.
Vatanen, who ranks tied for fifth among NHL defensemen in power play goals (11) since the 2014-15 season, set career highs in points (9-29=38), assists (29) and appearances (71) last season. As Anaheim’s highest scoring defenseman since Lubomir Visnovsky (18-50=68) and Cam Fowler (10-30=40) in 2010-11, Vatanen led team defensemen in scoring, game-winning goals (2), assists, points per game (0.54) and power play points (4-15=19).
Selected by Anaheim in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 5-10, 183-pound blueliner has added 4-12=16 points with 14 PIM in 28 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Ducks GM Bob Murray now must focus on re-signing 22 year old RFA D Hampus Lindholm who will be commanding similar dollars as Vatanen.
The challenge will be getting Lindholm done at a team-friendly AAV.
Here's why:
With Vatanen's deal done, the ducks now have $20,600,000 of their 2016-17 salary cap committed to seven defensemen. That represents 29% in terms of their contracts.
Lindholm's new contract will push the D investment to over $25 million and north of 33% of their cap.
Murray is in a serious pinch right now as he now has three D making north of $4 million. Simon Despres is at $3.7M. Clayton Stoner is at $3.25M.
Lindholm will be a 5 year, $25+ million player when he signs his next contract.
Vatanen $4,875,000
Bieksa $4,000,000
Fowler $4,000,000
Despres $3,700,000
Stoner $3,250,000
Lindholm RFA
Manson $825,000
Holzer (UFA)
How many $4+ million D can one GM have on his roster?
Murray has to sign his UFAs David Perron, Jamie McGinn, Chris Stewart, Shawn Horcoff, Corbinian Holzer, and Mike Santorelli.
The Vatanen contract now levels Anaheim at $57 million of the 2015-16 cap already spent. That leaves $14 million to sign all UFA and Lindholm.
Say goodbye to Cam Fowler.
Bob Murray has been speaking with Tim Murray of the Buffalo Sabres for quite some time regarding a Fowler trade.
More to come...
**
**
Join the Discussion:
»