Category Archives: Hockey News

Arbitrator awards Preds’ Grimaldi 1-year, $1M deal

Nashville Predators forward Rocco Grimaldi was awarded a one-year, $1-million contract in arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

Grimaldi was apparently seeking $1.275 million, according to TSN.

In his first season with the Predators, the 26-year-old recorded a career-high five goals and eight assists in 53 games played.

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Report: Ducks offered Shattenkirk 2-year deal worth over $4M

Former New York Rangers blue-liner Kevin Shattenkirk had a more lucrative offer on the table before he settled on a one-year, $1.75-million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

The Anaheim Ducks offered the 30-year-old defenseman a two-year pact with an average annual value north of $2 million, sources confirmed to The Athletic's Eric Stephens.

Shattenkirk hit the open market last week after the Rangers bought out the final two seasons of the four-year, $26.6-million contract he signed in 2017.

After his productivity dipped and he struggled to stay healthy with the Blueshirts, Shattenkirk admitted he "was pretty pissed off" about the way his time in New York ended shortly after inking his new deal with the Bolts.

Shattenkirk appeared in 73 games in 2018-19, registering two goals and 26 assists.

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Arbitrator awards Blues’ Edmundson 1-year, $3.1M deal

St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson has been awarded a one-year, $3.1-million contract in arbitration, the team announced Tuesday.

"We are glad to have Joel under contract next season," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. "He is an important part of our defensive unit and we are looking forward to another successful year."

Edmundson asked for $4.2 million in arbitration while the Blues countered with $2.3 million, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The walkaway minimum in 2019 is set at $4,397,832, according to CapFriendly, meaning St. Louis was obligated to honor the contract awarded by the arbitrator.

Edmundson, 26, appeared in 64 regular-season games for the Blues in 2018-19, notching 11 points while averaging 19:23 per night. He added seven points in 22 postseason contests as St. Louis marched to its first Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

With Edmundson's situation resolved, the Blues now have $1.97 million in remaining cap space to sign restricted free agent Ivan Barbashev.

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Report: Wild interview Hurricanes’ Waddell for vacant GM position

The Minnesota Wild interviewed Don Waddell for their vacant general manager position on Monday, sources told The Athletic's Michael Russo.

Waddell is currently the Carolina Hurricanes' GM, president, and alternate governor. His contract with Carolina expired June 30, technically making him a free agent, but Waddell said in May he'd be back with the Hurricanes next season as he and owner Tom Dundon work toward a mutual agreement on a new deal.

Last season marked Waddell's first season as Hurricanes GM, but he ran the business side of the organization for the previous five years. The 60-year-old also has career experience as a scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and as GM with the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998-2010.

His first year at the helm in Carolina was an enormous success, as the club snapped a 10-year playoff drought and advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final - a big factor in Waddell being named a finalist for NHL General Manager of the Year.

Coincidentally, one of Waddell's biggest moves last season came at the expense of the Wild, who shipped a misused Nino Niederreiter to the Hurricanes in exchange for Victor Rask. Niederreiter hit his stride in Raleigh, bagging 30 points in 36 games, while Rask mustered a measly three points in 23 contests with Minnesota.

The Wild have also interviewed Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin, and have reportedly reached out to a number of other candidates in their search for a new leader, including Tom Fitzgerald, Chris Drury, Mark Hunter, Bill Zito, Basil McRae, Mike Futa and Sean Burke, according to Russo.

Minnesota fired former GM Paul Fenton last week after one season in charge.

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