Fringe Signings (Jul 2)

Continuing on the theme of outstanding signings from Friday, the New Jersey Devils added some more help on their blueline, signing Ben Lovejoy to a 3-year deal, worth $8 million.

The 32-year old had a tough year in Pittsburgh, only playing in 66 games, scoring 4 goals and picking up 10 points, which was well outside the pool worthy numbers.

If the Devils don't round out their blueline with more NHL-calibre talent, Lovejoy could find himself playing a few more minutes in New Jersey and that could translate into a few more points.

The Carolina Hurricanes aren't quite finished with their rebuilding process, it would seem. The push to make it up to the salary cap floor continued on Friday afternoon, signing forward Viktor Stalberg to a 1-year, $1.5 million deal.

Stalberg was a bit player on the Rangers, playing in 75 games and scoring 9 goals and 20 points in the year.  He was 253rd in forwards scoring, but with the questionable depth of the Hurricanes in the coming season, his minutes could improve, which could make him into a sleeper pick or a dark horse in the Waiver Draft.

The goaltending situation in Pittsburgh didn't work out in Jeff Zatkoff's favour, so it was time to find somewhere new to hang his hat and it was just his luck that the Los Angeles Kings were in need of a new back-up for the coming season.

Zatkoff signed a 2-year deal, which will carry a $900,000 cap hit for each season and he will get the pleasure of playing behind Jonathan Quick, assuming he gets the best of Peter Budaj for the job.

Last season, the 29-year old appeared in 14 games for the Penguins, winning 4 times and picking up 8 points.

An expensive experiment in Montreal, as the Canadiens have agreed to give Alexander Radulov yet another crack at the NHL and at some very attractive terms. The Russian enigma got a 1-year deal, reportedly worth $5.75 million, but failed to include any no-trade clauses, which were thought to be some stipulations of coming back.

Radulov last appeared in the NHL in the 2012 season with Nashville and had more than his fair share of issues, before going back home to play in the KHL again.  His scoring record over in Russia has been exceptional, but his personality and attitude are keeping him down as only a fringe player, at best.

Another game of wait and see here.

It was a pretty poor year for Dan Hamhuis in Vancouver, falling out of the pool worthy conversation, but the Dallas Stars are paying him like he should be able to return to some kind of form. On Friday, the two sides came together for a 2-year pact, reportedly worth $7.5 million in total.

The 33-year old defender had 3 goals and 13 points in 58 games and was a target for the Stars at last season's trade deadline, but they couldn't pull off the deal.  The agreement is made and Hamhuis will now skate for Dallas.

The speedy Michael Grabner will get a chance to fly again in the New York area, as the Rangers have signed him to a 2-year deal, worth $3.2 million.  It wasn't too long ago that the Dane was playing for the crosstown rivals on the island, but this time, he takes a bit of a pay cut and will be looked upon to provide some flashy depth.

In Toronto last season, the 28-year old played in 80 games, scoring 9 goals and 18 points.

Let's add defenseman Kevin Connauton to this list, as he re-signed with the Arizona Coyotes, receiving a 2-year, $2 million deal from the club.

The 26-year old has seen some good streaks of scoring in his limited NHL career, but hasn't quite put a lot of consistency together quite yet.  The Coyotes got 5 goals and 17 points out of him last season, but they have also added a big minute guy in Alex Goligoski, so we're yet to see how the minutes will be spread around there.