Updated
Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray has signed forward Clarke MacArthur to a five-year contract $23.25 million contract extension which will run through the end of the 2019-20 National Hockey League season.
The AAV of the contract is $4.65 million ($4.5M, $4.5M, $4.75M, $4.75M, $4.75M).
This signing puts the Sens at $59 million invested for the 2014-15 salary cap, leaving them $10 million in cap space.
MacArthur, 29, appeared in all but three of the Senators’ 82 regular-season games in 2013-14, establishing a new career high with 24 goals in his first season in Ottawa. He concluded the campaign ranking fourth in team scoring with 55 points (24 G 31 A) while earning a career best plus-12 rating and a career high 78 penalty minutes.
A native of Lloydminster, Altberta, MacArthur began his National Hockey League career with the Buffalo Sabres, where he played parts of four seasons before being acquired by the Atlanta Thrashers in March, 2010. After concluding the 2009-10 season with Atlanta, he was signed by Toronto as a free agent and spent three seasons with the Maple Leafs before signing with the Senators last summer.
In 482 career regular-season NHL games with Buffalo, Atlanta, Toronto and Ottawa MacArthur has scored 117 goals and added 151 assists for 268 points in addition to recording 307 penalty minutes.
MacArthur was Buffalo’s third-round pick (74th overall) in the 2003 NHL Draft.
Murray now has to focus on re-signing power forward Bobby Ryan to an extension. Ryan has one year remaining on his present deal that will pay him $5.1 million this season. Ryan will be looking for a contract north of $6.5 million per season. Will the Sens invest that kind of money in Ryan over the long term, or, will they look to move him this summer before they risk losing him as a UFA next July?
***
Jhonas Enroth will be paying tribute to several old school Sabres goaltenders on his 2014-15 mask.
His long time artists and collaborator, Dave Gunnarsson ( Daveart.com) posted pics of Jhonas' sick new bucket on his Facebook page on Tuesday. Gunnarsson creates amazing hologram images on goalie helmets and Enroth's will feature this technique, too.
I see visual tributes to former Sabres goalie greats Darren Puppa and Clint Malarchuk.
@SabresBuzz I just google some old sabre masks to get some inspiration and told @artofdave to mixed them all together. Turned out great!
— Jhonas Enroth (@JEnroth125) August 19, 2014
DAVEART.com…Rockin Sabres 6 - Old School Passion…
Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres, NHL, 2014
Enroth´s new Buffalo mask with Hologram effects...
I am very happy to present the latest Buffalo Sabres artwork for Jhonas Enroth.
Me and Jhonas always brainstorm a lot when it is time to create a new mask together. Details, details and details… the story of the mask art is told in the details. I just love to pay attention to every single detail in the designs and tie it together into a story.
This design contains all the classic Enroth details to be discovered all over the mask as a treasure map.
The whole design is created as an old school design. It breath Buffalo Sabres to 100%, and the closer you come to the mask the more details you will discover, and the design transforms in front of your eyes and enters a new dimension…
In the Sabres on each side is the incredible popular DAVEART Hologram FX 2.0 created.
I am so proud to be your painter Jhonas! We have been working for many years and I am looking forward to continue create and evolve your mask art for many years.
Just as usual the mask is loaded with all the other DAVEART trademark effects and extreme details. Just what I love to create and paint
Thank you all for your interest
#enroth #buffalo #sabres #nhl #daveart
@JEnroth125 @artofdave You and Dave did a great job! Its a beautiful tribute to Puppa, Malarchuk and the team's rich history! Stick tap!
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 19, 2014
***
Speaking of Jhonas, here calls out fellow Swede and back-up tendy Eddie Lack.
There's a Ryan Miller connection here. Jhonas and Millsie were a tandem for the past few years and Lack is Miller's new battery mate.
**
BREAKING NEWS: Charles Wang has agreed to sell the #Isles to John Ledecky, former co-owner of the Capitals, and investor Scott Malkin.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) August 19, 2014Ledecky and Malkin will hold a minority interest in #Isles for next two years and then assume majority control, per agreement.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) August 19, 2014
According to reports, Ledecky sold his 25% share of the Washington Capitals to Ted Leonsis in 2001.
On August 11, A Pennsylvania investment group led by hedge fund manager Andrew Barroway filed a lawsuit against Wang, claiming the NY Islanders owner had backed out of an agreement to sell the team.
Newsday reported:
NY ICE, of Radnor, Pennsylvania, said Wang scuttled the March deal to sell the franchise to the group for $420 million after he learned of the $2 billion offer for the Los Angeles Clippers by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, according to the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.Wang then boosted the price in June to $548 million, according to the lawsuit.
The Islanders have issued this statement about the sale:
The New York Islanders announced today that a group led by former Washington Capitals co-owner Jon Ledecky and London based investor Scott Malkin has reached a definitive agreement, subject to NHL approval, to purchase a substantial minority interest in the team. Under the terms of the agreement, Charles Wang will continue as majority shareholder and Governor of the Islanders, with the Ledecky/Malkin group transitioning to majority owner in two years."We are pleased to have the opportunity to become partners in the New York Islanders with Charles, and to pursue our shared dream of winning a fifth Stanley Cup for the greatest fans in the NHL," Mr. Ledecky said.
"I'm thrilled that Jon and Scott have agreed to join me as we start the Islanders’ final year at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum," Mr. Wang said. "I look forward to a long and successful partnership."
There will be no further comment until the NHL completes its franchise ownership transfer process.
***
Buffalo Sabres fans are hoping that the new owner doesn't plan on building a Stanley Cup contender and winning a ton of games this season. The Sabres own the Islanders' first round draft choice in the Connor McDavid draft in June 2015. Buffalo took possession of the pick in the Thomas Vanek for Matt Moulson trade in October 2013.
More to come......
***
F'in Dave Grohl!
Check out the Foo Fighters' ALSIce Bucket Challenege. Its an homage to Stephen King's horror genre cult classic "Carrie, starring Sissy Spacek.
Most excellent!
Challenge Accepted. #IceBucketChallenge http://t.co/UsxFBlwZ2y @StephenKing #JohnTravolta @JackBlack42 http://t.co/sp7JbWTsgg
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) August 19, 2014