Erik Johnson Gets 4-Year Extension
Sources say the Colorado Avalanche have signed D-man Erik Johnson to a 4 yr $15 million extension. The deal averages out at $3.75 per year. Johnson, a former first overall pick by the St. Louis Blues, was traded to Colorado along with Jay McClement and a first round pick in February of 2011. Last season, his first full year with the club, Johnson led all Avalanche D-men in points, minutes played, and shots while seeing consistent action on both the power play and the penalty kill.
This contract steals two years of unrestricted free agency away from Johnson who under the current CBA would be eligible after the 2013-2014 season. He’ll be 28 years old when the deal expires with the prime years of his career still ahead of him.
Salvador close…
I’m told free agent D-man Bryce Salvador is set to sign a contract sometime this morning. He’s spent the last three years with the New Jersey Devils which included a run to the Stanley Cup Finals in the spring. He was arguably the best D-man over the course of the playoffs and would have received Conn Smythe consideration had the Devils pulled it off against Los Angeles.
Woywitka happy to return to St. Louis…
D-man Jeff Woywitka is excited to return to St. Louis where he spent several seasons after coming over in the infamous Chris Pronger trade. Prior to signing he spoke with head Coach Ken Hitchcock and GM Doug Armstrong which confirmed a fit with the Blues. He also received a call from John Davidson, Barret Jackman, and David Backes after inking a one year, two-way deal. He’ll make $700,000 if he sticks with the NHL club.
Since leaving St. Louis, Woywitka spent two seasons with Dallas before joining the Rangers last season. A foot injury limited him to just 27 games played. He’ll give the Blues some experience and depth on the left side and will compete for a roster spot out of camp.
Wellwood Still Looking...
Kyle Wellwood remains a free agent and would be a good fit for teams looking to add some offensive depth. Quietly he put together a solid season scoring 18 goals and 47 points last year with Winnipeg. Sources say Colorado had some interest before signing PA Parenteau to a four-year deal. Word is Wellwood prefers wing over center. I'm told the Jets remain an option should he choose to circle back.
More to come,
Andy Strickland
Strickland.andy@gmail.com
Rewind
Torres Catches Stoll
Watch
External Link
USA Draws Russia in World Championships QF
Russia beat USA in peliminary matchup6:00 AM Eastern Thursday
Rewind
Quick Flawless in Game 1 Win Over San Jose
Watch
Rewind
Malkin, Vokoun Carry Pens Over Sens
Watch
30 Comments | Share: Share Tweet
I think the Blues could have gotten Roy for what Dallas gave up.
time to focus on what our beloved blues will do.
i just think thats wrong. they bitch and moan all day but i say 1 thing and nhl.com kicks me off
I'm just happy Detroit lost out on Suter. No Lidstrom, no big name free agents falling into their lap, now they're really up shit's creek.
hahahahahahaha!
So much for the Wings and the Preds, now the Wild and the Kings are the teams to beat. flag this comment
Schwartz and Tarasenko are going to provide an amazing dynamic that we haven't seen in a while. Book it! They are primed to be able to succeed as third liners and move up and down the lineup as they have success throughout the year.
Need another stabilizing d-man, like Polak... flag this comment
I didn't know Tampa Bay had enough cap room to take a fart.
That's three contracts that take that front loaded shot right now even after the GMs complained about this crap. Also remember when everyone was impressed when the Rangers signed Drury and Gomez?
Te Blues should sign Semin for Tarasenko's sake(and their own), then move Perron and someone or something for that elusive dman. Or maybe thy should cool their jets and go with what they have and wait for the market to develop in the season. They have some young depth that can be faulty and up and down. It shouldn't be anything that denies them the play offs.
As for Detroit so sorry hahahahahaha. As for Nashville, though I don't like hardly any of their toothless fans, it kind of sucks that they offered real money at the guy and he strung them along. They knew better at the deadline. Ooops.
Now they will have to trade Weber most likely. They also lost Radulov who went back to Russia with his tail between his legs. Obviously he was just raising the value of his contract in Russia.
My might have to try to get Cola back but then again he'll no where he stands and might say no thank you.
Take down Eller and Subban.
Maybe a package deal to be had in Winnipeg. I would GLADLY take Evander Kane off of their hands. I would even say here you can Shatty if we could some how swoop up both Enstrom and Bogosian. I still think Bogosian and Petro were the best defensemen in that draft.
That might be a bit fanciful. But it seems easier to find good right handed d-talent than on the lefty side as of late. But I think such a dream deal requires Perron, SHatty and Cole and some kicker and is highly unlikely. Yet...if we had a shot for some reason at Enstrom it may develop either out of Kane or Kane develops in the deal. Why anyone wouldn't want a checking, two way thirty goal scorer with blazing speed that is young would be beyond me(of course there's always off ice shit we don't know about).
But lopey great call. Enstrom would be a great answer. But maybe so would freaking Jonas Junland!!!!!! We need a lefty d-man to take pressure off of our other top Dmen. This guy has excellent offensive skills and surely his d-side has improved with age as most offensively-minded Dman seem to do. If worst comes to worst you can always play the guy as a fourth liner and put him on the point on a power play which would be much better than placing any forward on the point.
In house we have both Cole and Fairchild. I believe Fairchild showed a lot in his first pro season. He seems already a bit more steady than Cole but Cole is no slouch by any means at all. Cole is for real. He is much better than Jackman, able to keep up and deliver big hits and his ability to creating openings in the transition game with heavy forechecking pressure is what tends to make me feel there is a lot of promise. Some things come with experience and time and he really just needs both in a Blues uniform. He honestly could be the answer.
Fairchild is solid. He's a much better version of Russell. Russell is good at moving the puck mostly through his skating and while skating forward. He obviously could not take the Kings forecheck and looked afraid and was UNWILLING to take the hit to make a play.
We also have Brett Ponich still developing as a project that has continued to solidify his play. He's huge at 6'7". His biggest knock was his skating but as Hal Gill proves with that kind of reach often you don't have to be the fastest skater.
My point is when you make good draft picks and say how you are going to use your system than utilize it!!! The step was taken last season. We can afford youth on the defensive side. There is no reason with a couple of additions this team cannot be more proficient at scoring both five on five and on the power play. This team should also begin to produce more short handed goals. When you put the fastest players on the ice and play the points aggressively you are going to create a lot of mistakes or the puck stuck in a corner.
Sorry lopey. I am just dreaming out loud and pretending that the Blues have good young players. I mean they do or they don't. This being afraid of youth all the time is pretty bogus. The "kids" are not kids anymore. WHich is great. Our two best defensemen have a meager but very solid two years under their belts. Petro is a leader. So he has learned a lot. SHatty is no turd either and looked to have gained confidence as the play offs wore on.
So while picking up someone like Carle I think was a good idea I was thinking so mostly in place of a Jackman who thinks that he is a top four defender in the NHL--no he is not. Shattenkirk might make him look good but when Shats struggled in the play offs guess who else looked murderously terrible? flag this comment