Puck Daddy’s 2014 NHL Free Agent Frenzy Live Blog, Hour 4
3:55 p.m ET -- According to Darren Pang, Scott Clemmensen is heading back to New Jersey and will backup Cory Schneider after inking a one-year deal with the Devils. If you're thinking this completely shuts the door on Martin Brodeur returning if the UFA market isn't as welcoming as he thinks, Clemmensen's deal is a two-way one.
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3:40 p.m. ET -- If Deryk Engelland will make $8.7 million over the next three seasons, what's the going rate now for Matt Niskanen?
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Here's your first look at Ryan Miller in a Vancouver Canucks jersey:
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3:20 p.m. ET -- Thomas Vanek tells Newsday's Arthur Staple that the New York Islanders were one of the two finalists for his services.
Vanek: "I was hoping the #Isles would get back in and they did... If it didn't work w/ Minny, I would have been happy going back to LI."
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) July 1, 2014
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The Calgary Flames may not win a lot of games next season, but they will beat you up, that's for sure. After acquiring Brandon Bollig during the draft and already having Brian McGrattan on board, Brian Burke is bringing in more truculence by signing Deryk Engelland to a three-year deal worth $2.9 million per season. You read that right.
3:10 p.m. ET -- According to Sportsnet, $424 million has been so far in free agency. That number has probably risen by the time you read this. As of now, not a lot of crazy long deals have been handed out and the term on the Paul Stastny deal was a big surprise given the hype around him heading into July 1. St. Louis, by the way, had a reasoning for that. "We don't want to be anyone's retirement package," said Blues GM Doug Armstrong.
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3 p.m. ET -- One forward still on the market is Radim Vrbata, who was unable to come an agreement on an extension with the Arizona Coyotes. GM Don Maloney once called him a value to the franchise, given his solid contract. But what Vrbata and his camp are demanding don't mesh with what Maloney had in mind, as he told the Arizona Republic. "He's welcome back, but his idea of what he wants to get paid and mine are probably a little different."
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Josh Gorges said he waived his no-trade clause to go to the Buffalo Sabres because he heard his good friend Brian Gionta would be signing there. The former Montreal Canadiens captain inked a three-year, $12.75 deal with Buffalo and probably becomes the front-runner to be their new leader.
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In an under-the-radar move, which is no surprise given the team, the New Jersey Devils have brought Martin Havlat on on a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. It's a decent gamble by the GM Lou Lamoriello, but the worry, of course, is whether Havlat can stay healthy. He's missed 85 games over the last three season. The offensive potential is there, but only if he can stay out of the trainers' room.
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Here's how Don Cherry is celebrating Canada Day:
