NHL Signings Update
Not all the offseason movement that happens in the National Hockey League can merit lengthy discussion, but these small events shape the overall picture much more than many can truly realize. The following are a summary of some recent small-time dealings that could nevertheless impact the 2010-11 playoff race..
Kings Sign 5 Players to One-Year Deals:
The Los Angeles Kings have avoided arbitration with centre Brad Richardson by signing him to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old centre finished his first 80-game NHL season this year. In 2009-10, Richardson has 11 goals and 16 assists for a total of 27 points.
The Kings have also re-signed four of their prospective forwards to one-year contracts. Richard Clune, Trevor Lewis, Corey Elkins, and Marc-Andre Cliche spent most of their last season in the American Hockey League playing for the Kings’ affiliate Manchester Monarchs, but each player has made some appearance for the Kings.
At 25, Elkins is the eldest of the forwards. In 73 games for the Monarchs, Elkins had 43 points with 21goals and 22 assists. In three showings with the Kings, Elkins managed to score one goal.
Clune, Lewis, and Cliche are all 23-year-olds. Clune is a distribution-oriented left winger and had 14 points on 10 assists and four goals in 44 games for the Monarchs. He played 14 games for the Kings, during which he had two assists.
Lewis is perhaps the most touted of all the signings, and was the Kings’ seventeenth overall selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He had strong showings for the Monarchs, including a 50-point season. He has 11 total NHL appearances for the Kings and a total of one goal and two assists.
Cliche has played only a single game for the Kings, but the Canadian right winger has shown a bit of potential in the juniors. He played in 66 games for the Monarchs last season, with a total of 25 points on 11 goals and 14 assists.
While none of these five players will ever truly be a star, unless Lewis really blossoms, they add inexpensive depth to the Kings offence.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Mueller:
After a strong showing at the Winter Olympics, German forward Marcel Mueller will be making his way to the NHL. The 22-year-old wing showed impressive puck handling and vision and had two assists in four games for Germany. This is no small feat given how overmatched the German team was in the competition.
Mueller is coming off a 24-goal, 32 -ssist season for the Cologne Sharks of the German Elite League. In a total of 198 career games in Germany the six-foot-three, 200-pound winger has 43 goals and 61 assists.
Pavol Demitra Heading to KHL:
Veteran Slovakian centre Pavol Demitra has signed a one-year contract to play for the Kontinental Hockey League’s Yaroslavl franchise.
The 35-year-old has had a strong career in the NHL, but has been struggling to produce as of late. In Vancouver, Demitra was named to the Olympic All-Star team for his performance.
However, upon his return to the Vancouver Canucks, he could not find net. In 28 games for the Canucks, Demitra scored only three goals while dishing 13 assists. Demitra was an elite-level talent in his prime, and had a 93 point season in 2002-03 with the St. Louis Blues.
He has been plagued by injury as of late, and his low total of appearances for the Canucks stemmed from torn front and back rotator cuff surgery.
The KHL is the smartest choice for Demitra, where his marquee name can still merit moderate pay. His competitiveness is another matter, but the Slovakian’s Olympic performance has shown that he may still have a little gas left in his tank.
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