Notable Pool Updates from the Frenzy, Part 4

Day 2 of the free agent frenzy didn't quite have the bang that opening day had, but there were still lots of pieces in play. The Nashville Predators didn't make their first move until Wednesday, when they dropped a new deal on Olli Jokinen's lap. The 35-year old centre signed a 1-year, $2.5 million deal, as he currently rounds out the Predators forwards for the coming year, according to my projected roster.  Jokinen joins James Neal as the two biggest pick-ups for the franchise this Summer and now they can focus on their blueline, as their forwards should have enough depth going forward.

The New York Islanders were also rounding out their forward group early in free agency, as they landed a couple of ex-Maple Leafs on Day 2 of the frenzy. Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin were both signed to new 4-year deals, worth $20 million and $16.5 million, respectively.  Grabovski played in 58 games for Washington, scoring 13 goals and 35 points, while Kulemin played in 70 games for Toronto, scoring 9 goals and 20 points.  Both players have been better hockey pool candidates in previous years, but maybe a reunion will spark their offense.

The Vancouver Canucks made another splash in the free agent pool on Wednesday, signing forward Radim Vrbata to a 2-year, $10 million deal. The offense for the Canucks in 2014 was abysmal and this was a solid step to help revive the goal-scoring prowess of the team. Vrbata had 20 goals and 51 points in 80 games with the Coyotes in 2014 and immediately gets pointed to as the new trigger man for the Sedin twins.  The Canucks are beginning to show signs of re-tooling, more than rebuilding.