"We're pleased to sign Jake to an extension," general manager Jim Benning said in a release. "He adds physical presence and speed to our lineup and can help create offensive chances when going hard to the net. We look forward to seeing Jake take the next step in his game and consistently contribute to the team's success."
The 21-year-old receives a slight cut following his previous three-year, $5.325-million contract that carried an annual average of $1.775 million per season.
Virtanen - who was drafted by the Canucks sixth overall in 2014 - played his first full season with the club this past season, posting 10 goals and 10 assists in 75 games.
The Nashville Predators have added another piece to their already loaded defense corps, signing unrestricted free agent Dan Hamhuis to a two-year, $2.5-million contract on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old joins the Predators after spending the last two seasons with the Dallas Stars. Last season, he put up three goals and 24 points while playing an average of 20:11 a night, the fourth-most minutes on the team.
The Calgary Flames will host a press conference on July 30 when former captain Jarome Iginla will retire from the NHL, the team announced on Wednesday.
"In a sense, I grew up there,'' Iginla told George Johnson of calgaryflames.com. "I started playing for the Flames at 19 but even in minor hockey I remember traveling to Calgary for tournaments, from St. Albert, and I imagined playing in the Saddledome.
"It's been a fun adventure, for my family and I. Some great cities, great people. To be back in Alberta, though, will feel like home."
The 41-year-old was drafted 11th overall in 1995 by the Dallas Stars. But then he was traded to the Flames in a deal that sent Joe Nieuwendyk to Texas before Iginla ever stepped on the ice for the Stars.
Iginla went on to play 16 seasons with the Flames, finishing his time in Calgary as the franchise's leader in games (1,219), goals (525), points (1,095), power-play goals (161), game-winning goals (83), and more.
Lets face it - if you're not quick on the trigger in your fantasy league, it will be difficult to draft a Vezina-caliber goalie.
But even though the Bobrovskys and Vasilevskiys are sure to go early, you can still find value in later rounds. Here are five goalies who could outperform expectations and be fantasy studs in 2018-19:
Keith Kinkaid, Devils
Kinkaid is coming off a season in which he posted an absurd 26-10-3 record for New Jersey while playing in nearly half the team's games due in large part to Cory Schneider's injury woes.
The 29-year-old certainly proved that he's capable of being a No. 1, as he posted a .913 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average - both of which were better than Schneider's marks.
Kinkaid actually started the first two games of the playoffs before Schneider took over, and you can expect the latter to be on a shorter leash next season while Kinkaid could eventually retake the starting job.
Antti Raanta, Coyotes
Raanta was limited to 47 appearances last season due to various injuries, but excelled in that time, finishing second among all netminders who played at least 30 games in both save percentage (.930) and goals-against average (2.24).
Additionally, Raanta posted those stellar numbers on a struggling team, as the Coyotes finished last in the Western Conference with just 70 points despite some improvements down the stretch.
That means Raanta could be in line for a big season if he can stay healthy and sustain his strong play.
Philipp Grubauer, Avalanche
Grubauer was arguably the most coveted goaltender who was expected to be on the market this offseason before being traded to Colorado, where he subsequently signed a three-year deal.
The 26-year-old served as Braden Holtby's second-in-command in Washington over the past three years, and briefly stole the starting role last season with a series of dominant performances before watching Holtby backstop the team to the Stanley Cup.
Through his career to date, Grubauer has dressed in 101 games while going 43-31-11 with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.
Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic has stated that he hopes both Grubauer and Semyon Varlamov will challenge for the No. 1 spot. If he earns the job, Grubauer could see much more playing time than he's ever had, which could make him a great late pickup for your fantasy team.
Scott Darling, Hurricanes
Darling was simply terrible last season, as he posted the worst save percentage of any goalie to play at least 25 games (.888), while giving up 3.18 goals per contest.
However, some of Darling's struggles can be attributed to the quality of shots he faced. The Hurricanes actually allowed the fewest shots in the league, but 42.5 percent of the ones they allowed at five-on-five were of the high-danger variety, the fifth-highest percent in the NHL.
In 2018-19, Carolina should have a stronger blue line following the acquisitions of Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan.
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes said goodbye to Cam Ward in free agency and brought in career backup Petr Mrazek, suggesting they're likely hoping to give Darling another chance to be the No. 1. And considering Darling had rocked a 2.37 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage over his career prior to his disastrous 2017-18, he could be a value pick late in drafts if he recaptures his form.
Carter Hutton, Sabres
This season will be Hutton's first big test in the NHL.
After serving as a backup to Pekka Rinne in Nashville and then to Jake Allen in St. Louis - where he stole the show when he played in 2017-18 - Hutton signed with the Buffalo Sabres, where he's expected to be the starting netminder as the team searches for stability between the pipes.
Last season, Hutton quietly paced the entire league with a .931 save percentage and a 2.09 goals-against average in 32 appearances. His numbers aren't expected to be as rosy in Buffalo - which finished last in the NHL in 2017-18 - but the Sabres added depth this offseason by acquiring Conor Sheary, Patrik Berglund, and Vladimir Sobotka, while bringing in a generational talent in No. 1 overall draft pick Rasmus Dahlin.
Hutton could be a steal late in your draft, as he's talented and will be given every chance to succeed in his first starting role.
The contract includes another potential $500,000 in performance bonuses.
"Brooks has been a valuable player and a great mentor for our young players and we are thrilled to bring him back to our organization," general manager Brian MacLellan said in a release. "We feel his leadership and competitiveness on and off the ice will be welcomed back to our group."
Orpik was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the draft in June along with goaltender Philipp Grubauer. Then the Avalanche bought out the final year of his five-year, $27.5-million contract.
The 37-year-old has played the last four years with the Capitals and helped the club win its first Stanley Cup in franchise history this past spring. He tallied just 10 assists in 81 games during the regular season and added a goal and five points in the playoffs.
The Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Brandon Montour will avoid an arbitrator's decision after agreeing to a two-year contract on Tuesday, the team announced.
The two sides came to the agreement during their arbitration meeting in Toronto, according to The Athletic's Eric Stephens. Both sides worked to hammer out a deal all day Monday and into the night.
Montour's deal is worth $3.25M in 2018-19 and $3.525M in 2019-20. AAV of $3,387,500.
On Sunday, it was reported the gap was $3 million, with Montour seeking a one-year pact at $4.75 million and the Ducks countering with a two-year contract worth roughly $1.5 million per season.
The 24-year-old is coming off his first full season with the Ducks that saw him post a respectable nine goals and 32 points in 80 games.
St. Louis announced that the two sides agreed to a one-year, $3-million contract ahead of Wednesday's scheduled hearing.
The 25-year-old is coming off his third season with the Blues that saw him post career highs in both goals (seven) and points (17).
Edmundson ranked third on the team in ice time this past season, behind only Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko, averaging 20:44 a night, while also leading all Blues skaters in blocked shots per game.
Lowry was a restricted free agent and was scheduled to have an arbitration meeting with the Jets on Sunday.
The 25-year-old is coming off his fourth season with the club since being drafted in the third round in 2011, in which he tallied eight goals and 21 points in just 45 games.
Lowry has put up 41 goals and 90 points in 281 career games.
The talented forward told general manager Jarmo Kekalainen on Thursday that as of Sept. 13 when training camp begins he won't discuss matters such as a potential contract extension or a trade, Panarin's agent, Daniel Milstein, confirmed to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.
"Artemi loves hockey," Milstein said. "He hates the business side of hockey.
"When the season starts, the focus can only be on playing. He's going to play his best and give his best to the hockey club."
The deadline relates largely to the trade front, as it was reported last month that Panarin is not willing to discuss an extension with Columbus, and that stance has apparently not changed.
Panarin will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, and after watching the New York Islanders lose star John Tavares in free agency, wisdom suggests the Blue Jackets would like to avoid losing Panarin for nothing as well.
Portzline added that according to sources, Columbus has received several "legitimate" trade offers for Panarin, but that the return is not expected to be more than prospects and draft picks unless Panarin agrees to an extension with the team that acquires him.
The 26-year-old is coming off his first season with the Blue Jackets, in which he set the franchise's single-season scoring record with 82 points in 81 games.
