Free agency gets slow start
The most unsettled free-agency period in NHL history began Thursday with some signing activity and more big names joining the list of available players.
John Madden and Jay Pandolfo each signed long-term deals to stay with the New Jersey Devils, Kris Draper re-upped with the Detroit Red Wings, and Glen Wesley signed a new contract to stay in Carolina.
But the day started with St. Louis forward Pavol Demitra and Carolina goalie Kevin Weekes being added to the group of 158 players not given qualifying offers by their teams, making them unrestricted free agents.
Defenseman Jaroslav Modry was the only free agent to switch teams on Day 1, leaving the Los Angeles Kings for a three-year deal worth $7 million with Atlanta.
Madden signed a five-year, $20-million deal with the Devils, Draper got a four-year contract worth $11.2 million from Detroit, and Wesley came to terms on a one-year contract with Carolina.
The pursestrings are expected to be tight with the NHL’s financial landscape in flux. The collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players association expires on Sept. 15.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is seeking “cost certainty” in the new agreement, believed by the union to mean a salary cap that it won’t accept. With the sides not close to middle ground, a prolonged lockout that threatens next season is feared.
The Blues decided not to make a $6.5 million qualifying offer to Demitra, fifth on the team’s career points and assists lists.
St. Louis had to cut salary somewhere after giving a $9.5 million qualifying offer to defenseman Chris Pronger before the Wednesday night deadline. The Blues are also on the hook for $9 million to forward Keith Tkachuk next season and $7 million to Doug Weight.
Over the past three seasons, Demitra anchored the team’s top line, usually playing alongside Tkachuk and Scott Mellanby. But Demitra and the Blues have struggled in the playoffs.
The Hurricanesdeclined to make the $2.35 million qualifying offer to Weekes that would have kept him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said the team might try to re-sign Weekes at a lower price.
“At some point in time you have to make economic decisions, and based on where his contract is now and what he could potentially do in arbitration with his numbers, it makes it difficult for us,” Rutherford said.
Also, the Colorado Avalanche, who are set to say goodbye to Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne after one season, re-signed forwards Chris Gratton and Peter Worrell and defensemen Karlis Skrastins and Bob Boughner.
Capitals defenseman Jason Doig signed a one-year deal to stay in Washington; Phoenix agreed to terms with goalie Brent Johnson, and Dallas signed a one-year contract with forward Aaron Downey.