It’s been a loooooong time since free agency started for this NHL season and I’m sure fans have forgotten a few moves here and there. I thought I’d take a look back at what the teams in the Pacific Division did (besides the Stars) during the offseason just to remind Stars fans on the situation and what the division is going to be like this year.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks were very busy during the offseason and took on some significant contracts.
Major signings included defensemen Sheldon Souray and Bryan Allen and forward Daniel Winnik. They also got a boost when Teemu Selanne decided he would return for at least one more season.
While they did make a few big moves, the Ducks lost a couple of key pieces in free agency as well. Highly coveted defenseman Justin Schultz decided to jump ship and landed in Edmonton while Sheldon Brookbank left for Chicago.
The Ducks also traded Stars killer Lubomir Visnovsky to the New York Islanders for a 2nd-round pick.
Additions: F Daniel Winnik (2yrs/$3.6M), F Brad Staubitz (2yrs/$1.275M), D Sheldon Souray (3yrs/$11M), D Bryan Allen (3yrs/$10.5M)
Subtractions: F Jean-Francois Jacques (Florida, 1yr/$750K), F George Parros (Florida, 2yrs/$1.85M), D Sheldon Brookbank (Chicago, 2yrs/$5M), D Justin Schultz (Edmonton, 2yrs/$1.85M), D Lubomir Visnovsky (trade to NYI)
Re-signed: Teemu Selanne (1yr/$4.5M)
LA Kings
Very little happened in the land of the Cup champions as they mostly just kept their team the way it was. They lost scarcely used forward Ethan Moreau to retirement, depth goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to the Pittsburgh Penguins and minor leaguer Patrick Millen to the Vancouver Canucks.
On the additions front, the Kings added basically no one expect for some meaningless minor leaguers. They mostly just kept their own guys.
They re-signed Dustin Penner, Colin Fraser and Jarret Stoll and gave contract extensions to Dwight King and Jonathan Quick. They could make one more move before the season starts (and after the CBA is ratified) in trading away backup Jonathan Bernier but they can’t find any takers for him.
Additions: No one of note
Subtractions: F Ethan Moreau (retired), D Patrick Mullen (Vancouver, 1yr/$600K), G Jeff Zatkoff (Pittsburgh, 2yrs/$1.05M)
Re-signed: C Colin Fraser (2yrs/$1.75M), C Jarret Stoll (3yrs/$9.75M), LW Dustin Penner (1yr/$3.25M).
Phoenix Coyotes
The ownership situation in Phoenix hurt them in the offseason as they made only a few moves and lost a bunch of players.
The most significant thing was that happened was the re-signing of Shane Doan for four more years. Doan had gotten interest from a slew of teams (especially in the East) and the Coyotes were lucky to get him back. They also made a trade during the draft and re-acquired Zbynek Michalek to shore up their defense.
The biggest loss for Phoenix was Ray Whitney leaving the desert for Dallas. They also lost forward Brett MacLean to an early retirement due to a heart ailment.
Additions: C Rob Klinkhammer (1yr/$650K), F Steve Sullivan (1yr/$1.85M), F Nick Johnson (1yr/$725K), F David Moss (2yrs/$4.2M), F Chris Connor (1yr/$650K), D Zbynek Michalek (trade from Pittsburgh), G Chad Johnson (1yr/$600K)
Subtractions: F Brett MacLean (retired), F Ray Whitney (Dallas, 2yrs/$9M), F Taylor Pyatt (2yrs/$3.1M), D Michal Rozsival (Chicago, 1yr/$2M), D Adrian Aucoin (Columbus, 1yr/$2M)
Re-signed: Shane Doan (4yrs/$21.2M)
San Jose Sharks
Not a whole lot happened in the Sharks camp. They lost forwards Torrey Mitchell to Minnesota and Daniel Winnik to Anaheim and made only one big signing. That signing was Adam Burish away from Dallas for a rather hefty 4-year $7.2 million contract.
They also made a trade with the Red Wings for defenseman Brad Stuart that should really help out their blue line.
Additions C Jon Matsumoto (1yr/$600K), F Adam Burish (4yrs/$7.2M), D Brad Stuart (3yrs/$10.8M)
Subtractions: F Daniel Winnik (Anaheim, 2yrs/$3.6M), F Benn Ferriero (Pittsburgh 1yr/$700K), D Torrey Mitchell (Minnesota, 3yrs/$5.7M)
