The Buffalo Sabres have avoided arbitration with Jake McCabe, agreeing to a two-year contract with the defenseman that carries an average annual value of $2.85 million, the team announced on Saturday.
McCabe was a restricted free agent and scheduled for a hearing on August 4 before the two sides reached a deal.
Buffalo drafted the 25-year-old in the second round (44th overall) in 2012. This past season, he appeared in 59 games, registering four goals and 10 assists while averaging just under 19 minutes per contest.
While thanking Vegas for accommodating the move, the dynamic forward revealed that the team wanted to give him a contract resembling the two-year, $9-million pact they agreed to with Vadim Shipachyov in May 2017, but couldn't do so due to its cap constraints.
"I'm very grateful to (the Golden Knights) for letting me go," he told Sport-Express' Igor Eronko. "Big thanks to them for all they (did) for me. They promised me a deal similar to Shipachyov's. Just couldn't find a room for me under the salary cap."
The Golden Knights currently have just over $1 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.
Coincidentally, after acquiring Gusev, the Devils signed him to the exact length and financial terms that the Golden Knights gave Shipachyov, who retired from the NHL in November 2017 and signed in the KHL after Vegas suspended him for failing to report to its AHL affiliate.
Gusev, the KHL's 2018-19 points leader, told Eronko he's looking forward to joining New Jersey and is familiar with the Devils because he knows Russian-born defenseman Egor Yakovlev, who played for them this past season.
"The (Devils) showed me they very much need me," the 27-year-old said. "It's very important for me and it tells a lot. I followed them because my friend Yakovlev played there so I have an idea what kind of a team it is. With all the new players, I'm sure we can play well and win."
Gusev racked up 82 points in 62 regular-season games with SKA St. Petersburg this past campaign before adding nine goals and 19 points in 18 playoff contests.
Read appeared in 12 games with the Minnesota Wild this past season, notching a single goal.
The 33-year-old spent the majority of the campaign with Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, producing 16 goals and 37 points in 61 contests before adding eight points in 10 playoff games.
Read spent parts of seven seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2011-18, scoring a career-best 24 goals in his rookie year.
Two years after choosing his hometown New York Rangers as his free-agency destination, Kevin Shattenkirk's tenure on Broadway ended with a whimper.
On Thursday, the Rangers bought out the final two years of Shattenkirk's contract that carried a $6.65-million cap hit. What initially seemed to be a perfect match never materialized as such and a New York squad that spent lavishly this summer had to cut costs somewhere.
The 30-year-old appeared in only 119 games across two seasons with the Rangers, during which he registered 51 points. But Shattenkirk now has a chance to start fresh and should have a fair number of suitors, as right-handed defensemen are a highly valued commodity across the league.
It's unlikely he'll return to the 50-point production of years past, but he can still have a positive impact with reduced minutes and some sheltering from the toughest matchups. Shattenkirk ranked near the top in Corsi, expected goals, and scoring chances at five-on-five among Rangers defensemen during his two seasons in New York, according to Natural Stat Trick, and could provide additional value quarterbacking a team's power-play unit.
However, there are red flags when it comes to Shattenkirk's health. He tore his meniscus and separated his shoulder with the Rangers, which could have played a significant role in his decline. Those injuries have led many to question what the 30-year-old has left to give.
With Shattenkirk's value at its lowest and the likeliest outcome being a one-year deal to prove he still belongs in the league, we took a look at which teams should give him another shot.
Winnipeg Jets
Cap space: $17.5 million
Right-handed defensemen depth chart
Player (Age)
Cap hit
2018-19 Pts
Dustin Byfuglien (34)
$7.6M
31
Neal Pionk (24)
$3M
26
Sami Niku (22)
$775K
4
The Jets aren't exactly in a position to spend until they sign restricted free agents Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, but if there's some wiggle room once the two youngsters are secured, Shattenkirk could be a nice fit. Winnipeg lost both Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers this summer from its right side, and Shattenkirk could provide some insurance for the oft-injured Byfuglien or any growing pains for Niku, who has just 31 games under his belt. If Shattenkirk wants to join a playoff team rather than maximize his earnings, Winnipeg could be the spot.
Edmonton Oilers
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Cap space: $2.43 million
RHD depth chart
Player (Age)
Cap hit
2018-19 Pts
Adam Larsson (26)
$4.16M
20
Kris Russell (32)
$4M
16
Matthew Benning (25)
$1.9M
17
Joel Persson (25)
$1M
N/A
Evan Bouchard (19)
$894K
1
The Oilers are desperate for defenders who are capable of moving the puck, and Shattenkirk fits that profile. Persson signed earlier in the offseason after a two-year stint in Sweden, and it remains to be seen what he'll bring to the table. Also, it's unclear whether Bouchard is ready to make the jump to the pros full time, so Shattenkirk's experience would give Edmonton a reliable option. If the Oilers would rather give minutes to the 19-year-old to allow him to grow, that's fine. But if they want to bolster their blue line with experience, there's a good option available.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Cap space: $15.765 million
RHD depth chart
Player (Age)
Cap hit
2018-19 Pts
Seth Jones (24)
$5.4M
46
David Savard (28)
$4.25M
24
Markus Nutivaara (25)
$2.75M
21
Adam Clendening (26)
$700K
0
Beyond Jones, the Blue Jackets' right side isn't exactly eye-popping, and Columbus has the cap space to pay Shattenkirk more than other suitors can. After losing three stars this summer, the Blue Jackets need more than just Shattenkirk if they hope to compete, but the veteran would help infuse some offense into a team that's likely going to struggle to score goals consistently.
Buffalo Sabres
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Cap space: $3.115 million
RHD depth chart
Player (Age)
Cap hit
2018-19 Pts
Rasmus Ristolainen (24)
$5.4M
43
Zach Bogosian (29)
$5.142M
19
Colin MIller (26)
$3.875M
29
Brandon Montour (25)
$3.387M
35
Casey Nelson (27)
$812K
6
The Sabres' blue line is crowded, and adding Shattenkirk would likely be contingent on if they move Ristolainen, who has been discussed in trade rumors this summer. If Buffalo does deal the 24-year-old, Shattenkirk could slide in behind MIller and Montour to give the club an incredibly mobile and adept puck-moving group that also features phenom Rasmus Dahlin patrolling the left side of the ice. Additionally, Shattenkirk would still be close to home.
Colorado Avalanche
Cap space: $16.4 million
RHD depth chart
Player (Age)
Cap hit
2018-19 Pts
Erik Johnson (31)
$6M
25
Cake Makar (20)
$880K
N/A
Mark Alt (27)
$725K
0
Conor Timmins (20)
$925K
N/A
Perhaps a reunion is in order for Shattenkirk and the team that drafted him 14th overall in 2007. After dealing Tyson Barrie to the Maple Leafs in July, the Avalanche lack right-handed options. All signs point to Makar blossoming into a full-time top-four player this year, but after him and Johnson, Colorado doesn't have an experienced NHLer to take the right flank. The Avs have a few lefties who could fill in, but Shattenkirk would be a good fit for the club's high-tempo offense and could serve as a solid stop-gap while Colorado waits for the next wave (Timmins, Bowen Byram) to arrive and fill out what projects to be a dominant defensive corps for years to come.
The Carolina Hurricanes were one of the best stories in the NHL this past season, and their "Storm Surge" celebrations were one of the biggest reasons why.
From pretending to play other sports to channeling a superhero, the on-ice routines that so angered certain pundits ultimately cemented the Hurricanes as the undisputed kings of fun in 2018-19.
Here's a truly scientific evaluation of 10 of the team's best victory celebrations:
10. Whale of a time
It was only fitting that on Whalers Night in late December, the Hurricanes paid further tribute to their previous incarnation by flopping to the ice in whale-like fashion. Even Hartford mascot Pucky the Whale took part.
9. Bunch of Jerks
This one was more about the statement it made than the complexity of the routine.
On Feb. 26, a mere 10 days after Hockey Night in Canada's Don Cherry called the team a "bunch of jerks" over their celebrations, and shortly after the club had already revealed T-shirts bearing that phrase, the Hurricanes took their new rallying cry to the next level.
Tossing the shirts to the fans further underscored the point that the team wasn't trying to show anyone up, but rather that the surges were all for the club's supporters.
8. Thor's hammer
With Brock McGinn playing the role of Thor, the Hurricanes executed a solid homage to the Asgardian character of the comics and the silver screen.
McGinn nailed the follow-through as well as the pose, and his teammates falling down in unison made this one truly memorable.
7. Gone fishin'
This one worked really well, from tossing out the "line" to catching the "fish".
We couldn't help but crack up watching Jordan Martinook's teammates try to pull him out of the "water," and it wouldn't be the only time in these routines that the Hurricanes would team up to move the nearly 200-pound winger around (more on that later).
6. Limbo
This surge exemplified what the exercise was all about. It was an original idea that involved the entire team, and it showcased the squad's collective fun-loving spirit like few other victory celebrations.
5. Bowling
The Hurricanes performed a different bowling-inspired surge 11 days before this one, with Andrei Svechnikov sliding down the ice and his teammates forming the imaginary lane.
This version was much better, though, for a couple of reasons.
For one, having the players line up as pins made for a much funnier finish. Also, credit captain Justin Williams for actually managing to hit the No. 1 "pin" when he rolled his helmet along the ice.
4. The walk-off
Much like another surge below, this one gets major points for timeliness.
On Feb. 15, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training facilities across Major League Baseball, the Hurricanes pulled off one of their best efforts.
From "pitcher" Dougie Hamilton's disappointed reaction to "hitter" Warren Foegele's bat flip and the team's celebration at "home plate," they all hit this one out of the park.
3. Duck Hunt
Setting aside the fact that only two members of the 2018-19 Hurricanes were born when this classic NES game was released in 1984, this particular surge was one of the team's most creative.
From the video board projection, to the sticks as guns, to the players tossing their gloves in the air to serve as the "ducks" being hunted, this live video-game re-enactment was chock full of nostalgia for '80s kids.
2. Holyfield 'KOs' Martinook
This one had something none of the other surges could boast: heavyweight star power. Getting Evander Holyfield to take part in the first place was a coup, but the routine itself was brilliant.
The champ's early "knockout" of Martinook was great, but the visual of the forward getting pulled off the ice by his teammates afterward was just as good.
All the Hurricanes were missing here was Michael Buffer.
1. March Madness
This basketball-themed surge was terrific for several reasons. Firstly, it was timely, as it came in the midst of the NCAA basketball tournament and in the hoops-obsessed state of North Carolina, no less.
Secondly, there was the degree of difficulty. We've never tried playing pick-up ball on skates - let alone throwing down a dunk - but that doesn't look easy.
Thirdly, they used real equipment instead of just miming the sport. Props for authenticity.
Lastly, playing "One Shining Moment" over the PA system was the icing on the cake. Well done, 'Canes.
