E.L. wrote:
Eberle returns on a 5-year deal. AAV to come.
$5.5 million/year, plus a $2 million signing bonus. Eberle said he knew he could get more on the open market, but was looking at free agency as a last resort, since he wanted to come back to the Isles. Look at that, another vet who could make a ton on a thin open market, who chose to return to the Islanders.
Lee and Lehner still up in the air. Kind of funny; Eberle was the one almost everyone was sure would walk. Lee & Lehner have both expressed interest in staying. With Lee it's apparently a gap of 2 years, and supposedly the money they're talking is agreeable to both. Lee is looking at it like this is his one shot at a big contract. It would be pretty weird to make the guy Captain and then tell him to walk over 2 years difference. Hopefully they can find common ground.
No real news on Lehner, other than talks are on-going. I guess Lou was busy with the 2 guys people thought would walk before focusing more on the guys people thought would stay. It would probably benefit Lehner to hold on until after the awards. He's bound to come away with at least 1 of the few he's up for. He's almost a shoe-in for the Masterton. Vezina? Less likely, but certainly not impossible. I may actually watch the awards show for the first time. Ever.
Remaining FAs
UFA F-Lee, Kuhnackl, Filppula. D- Sbisa and Seidenberg (Bye Felisha!). G- Lehner
RFA F- Beauvillier and Dal Colle.
$22 million in cap space as of now. Ladd may get put on LTIR. 12 forwards currently signed. 7 D, and 1 G. So there's plenty of room for signing the rest, or bringing someone else in from outside. Although next year a few big guys are RFAs- Barzal, Pulock and Toews, with only Greiss and Martin being UFAs.
Minors
Ho-Sang is an RFA. A few vets are UFA, but nobody of impact.