2 months agoForward Colton Sissons re-upped with the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, signing a seven-year, $20 million contract ($2.86 AAV) and avoiding a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Friday. The 25-year-old, who was a restricted free-agent, has evolved into an integral piece to the Predators' core as displayed by his 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists), plus-20 rating and key role on the team's checking line and top penalty kill unit in 75 games last season. In embracing his role as one of the team's top defensive forwards, Sisson's fantasy appeal is mostly limited to deep leagues but the former second-round draft pick could serve as a cost-friendly daily fantasy option on most nights.
--Chase Davis - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
2 months agoWashington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract extension earlier this week. "Jakub is a highly skilled player with a tremendous upside and is a big part of our future," senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan said. "We are pleased with his development the past two season and are looking forward for him to continue to develop and reach his full potential with our organization." Vrana registered career bests with 24 goals, 23 assists and 47 points across 82 games in 2018-19 while posting a plus-20 rating and four game-winning goals. He is worth targeting in the middle rounds in most fantasy pools heading into the 2019-20 season.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Capitals
2 months agoVancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers will get to work with his new team after signing a five-year contract with an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $6 million. The veteran rearguard led all Winnipeg Jets defensemen with nine goals while tying for second on the team with 31 points during the 2018-19 campaign. He also registered 156 shots on goal, as he isn't afraid to jump into the offense early and often. "Tyler is a proven competitor and an important addition to our roster," general manager Jim Benning said. "His experience, character, and size are qualities that will help our team. We are expected to have Tyler and his family join our team."
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Canucks
2 months agoThe deal unrestricted free-agent forward Micheal Ferland signed with the Vancouver Canucks is good for four seasons with an Average Annual Value of $3.5 million. Ferland posted 17 goals in his only season with the Carolina Hurricanes, and he posted career highs with 23 assists, a plus-13 rating and 13 power-play points while also registering three game-winning goals. Ferland gives the Canucks a little grit and veteran leadership, something they can use in the Pacific Northwest. He has the potential to be a top-six forward in Vancouver, and he can be a good source of hits and penalty minutes, too.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: TSN.ca - Darren Dreger
2 months agoThe Chicago Blackhawks traded for center Zack Smith earlier this week in exchange for forward Artem Anisimov, who was shipped to the Ottawa Senators. He managed nine goals with 28 points across 70 games for the Sens in 2018-19 while posting a minus-6 rating. After a career-best 25 goals and 36 points in 2015-16 with the Sens, he has tailed, averaging just 26.3 points per season over the past three campaigns. Perhaps a change of scenery will do the 31-year-old pivot some good, but he is only worth a look in the deepest of fantasy formats at this point.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Mark Lazerus
2 months agoThe Ottawa Senators acquired left wing Artem Anisimov from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week in exchange for center Zack Smith. Anisimov was good for 15 goals and 37 points across 78 games during the 2018-19 season. He provides an upgrade for the Senators, although his fantasy value is likely to take a huge hit for the rebuilding Sens due to a big drop in the plus/minus category. Anisimov is signed through the 2020-21 season with a $3.25 million Average Annual Value (AAV).
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Mark Lazerus
2 months agoThe New York Rangers and restricted free-agent defenseman Jacob Trouba agreed to a seven-year contract with an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $8 million on Friday. He was expected to have an arbitration hearing next Thursday. Trouba is expected to be the team's new No. 1 rearguard, and they paid dearly for him. He registered eight goals while posting a career high 50 points with a plus-8 rating and 18 power-play points during the 2018-19 season with the Winnipeg Jets across 82 games. He is still just 25 years old, and worth a look early on draft day in most fantasy leagues since his upward trajectory is expected to continue.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com - Dan Rosen
2 months agoThe New York Rangers signed right wing Kaapo Kakko to an entry-level contract. The Finnish forward was picked with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He posted 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games with TPS of Liiga, the Finnish Elite League, in the 2018-19 season. He is the highest European-born player ever selected by the Rangers. Kakko should make an immediate impact in New York, and he is a must-have in long-term keeper fantasy pools while he should be a decent middle-round pick in redraft formats.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Rangers
2 months agoThe New Jersey Devils re-signed defenseman Connor Carrick to a two-year contract worth $1.5 million earlier this week. Carrick was acquired from the Dallas Stars on Feb. 23, 2019 in a deal for defenseman Ben Lovejoy. He managed two goals with 11 points and a minus-13 rating across 34 games splitting time between the Stars and Devils during the 2018-19 season. The rearguard's fantasy appeal is mostly limited to the deepest of pools.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Devils
2 months agoThe New Jersey Devils signed center Jack Hughes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract. He registered 34 goals and 112 points across 50 games with the United States National Development Team, and he recently attended the team's development camp last week. The top overall selection is expected to challenge for a top-six forward spot during training camp, and he should make a huge impact right off the bat for the Devils in 2019-20. That being said, he is more of a middle-round pick in standard fantasy pools, and a must-have in long-term keeper leagues.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Devils
2 months agoThe Colorado Avalanche signed left wing Andre Burakovsky to a new one-year contract worth $3.250 million earlier this week, while right wing J.T. Compher agreed to a four-year, $14 million deal with the Avs on Friday. He registered 16 goals with 32 points across 66 games in Colorado during the 2018-19 season. Both players are likely ticketed for lower-six jobs in Denver during the 2019-20 season, so their fantasy appeal is likely to be rather minimal.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Sportsnet.ca - Elliotte Friedman
2 months agoThe Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. The rearguard was plucked with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft on June 21. He registered 26 goals with 71 points in 67 regular-season games with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League in 2018-19. The Avalanche will likely take it slow with Byram, who will likely return to the WHL or the AHL level in 2019-20 barring an extremely impressive training camp. For now, his fantasy value is mostly limited to long-term keeper pools.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com/Avalanche
2 months agoThe Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Clark Bishop, defenseman Haydn Fleury and defenseman Gustav Forsling on one-year deals this week. Bishop will receive $700,000 at the NHL level, and $65,000 at the AHL level with an $80,000 guarantee. Fleury's deal is a one-year, one-way deal worth $850,000, while Forsling's contract is a one-year, two-way contract which pays $874,125 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level. Each of the three players have rather minimal fantasy value heading into the 2019-20 season.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Hurricanes PR
2 months agoThe Carolina Hurricanes landed free-agent forward Ryan Dzingel (Blue Jackets) on a two-year contract worth $3.25 million in 2019-20 and $3.5 million in 2020-21. "Ryan has proven that he can be an impact player offensively, putting up bigger numbers of each of his first three full-time seasons," president and general manager Don Waddell said. The 27-year-old Illinois native is entering the sweet spot of his career. He registered a career-high 26 goals and 56 points splitting time between the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018-19 while also posting five power-play goals and 11 points on the man advantage. He'll be a nice middle- to late-round pick in most fantasy pools heading into the 2019-20 draft season.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Carolina Hurricanes PR
2 months agoThe Edmonton Oilers signed right wing Josh Archibald (Coyotes) to a one-year contract earlier this week. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. Archibald posted 12 goals and 22 points across 68 games for the surprising Arizona Coyotes, who did not offer him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 26-year-old Regina, Saskatchewan native is worth keeping an eye on, as he could be a deep fantasy sleeper if he is able to land a top-six forward job in Edmonton. He and James Neal will be competing for a spot skating with either Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl or, perhaps, both.
--Daniel E. Dobish - RotoBallerSource: Edmonton Journal - David Staples
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