After the first week of 2015 NHL Free Agency, big names found themselves in new cities, hoping for a “fresh” start for their new teams.
By Patrick Comia
Hockey fans have been witness to some blockbuster trades and getting cities excited and ready to go for puck drop. However, we still have to wait three months till that time. We will just have to wait impatiently, till that glorious day in October.
Right now, fans will need to endure the dog days of summer and try to distract ourselves with America’s pastime for the sports enthusiasts. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, go on vacation if you can get away from work.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most notable players that were involved this offseason, in transactions that saw them land in new places. It will take some getting used to, for sure. But, it should make for an exciting 2015-2016 NHL season.
LW, Matt Beleskey signed with the Boston Bruins, five years/$19 million (3.8 million per year)
We shall see if Beleskey can adjust to a new surrounding in the Eastern Conference. Also, we shall see if his numbers were a fluke or if he can continue his success.
LW, Brandon Saad signed with Columbus Blue Jackets, six-year, $36 million ($6 million per year)
Acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Saad is coming off a Stanley Cup championship and probably was somewhere with the Cup when he got word. He has two things going for him: he’s young and he’s young.
Saad is only 22-years old. He hasn’t even touched his prime years yet and has been top of the mountain, twice. He’s joining a young but seasoned group of players in Columbus that were showing signs of promise near the end of last season, if it were not for injuries. Expect to see Saad, again.
RW, Justin Williams signed with the Washington Capitals, two-years/$6.5 million (3.25 million per year)
Williams comes over from the land of Hollywood, signing to a Capitals team that looked different from year’s past. Under Barry Trotz’s first year at the helm, the team did not make as many mistakes with the puck and were threats up and down the lineup. He will be adding his playoff experiences and leadership to a hungry team that is a good mix of seasoned players (suck as Alex Ovechkin) and promising young talent (such as Evgeny Kuznetsov).
Oh, did we mention Williams is 7-0 in Game 7’s? Yeah, well, he is.
RW, T.J. Oshie acquired by trade to the Washington Capitals with one-year left on present contract worth $8.35 million (4.175 per year)
It’s hard to believe but Oshie is already 28-years old. Team USA hero in the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and girl heart-throb, Oshie has a new surrounding entering the 2015-2016 season. Playing with the likes of Ovechkin and Williams shouldn’t phase his playing. Plus, he no longer has to be one of the main contributors and feel the pressure of living up to that expectation.
C, Ryan O’Reilly signed with the Buffalo Sabres, seven-years worth $52.5 million (7.5 million per year)
O’Reilly came way of trade from the Colorado Avalanche. Unable to reach an extension past the 2015-2016 season, general manager Joe Sakic decided to pass him off to the Sabres general manager Tim Murray. With open arms, he took the deal and even extended the center for another seven years. O’Reilly’s contract is uniquely structured. Here is how hockeybuzz.com explains it:
…”O’Reilly is getting a salary of just $1 million per season. That means roughly 87 percent of the contract will be paid in the form of signing bonuses. He will get a $10 million bonus in 2016-17, $8 million in 2017-18, $7.5 million in 2018-19 and $5 million for each of his final four seasons.”
The good thing-his base salary is cheap and doesn’t not a heavy hit to the Sabres salary cap for his contract. The bad thing is- the additional money is made up of bonus. That’s money guaranteed to O’Reilly.
Fans will see if O’Reilly is worth it or just another flooded contract.