This has been a great week for the Atkinvert twins.
After being the hero against Dallas, the timing is perfect to announce a two-year contract extension for Cam Atkinson today. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen was able to get Cam locked up until the end of the 2014-2015 season, with a deal that has an annual cap hit of $1.15 million.
Earlier in the week Matt Calvert was signed to a similar two-year extension. Matty Hustle is sidelined due to injury at the moment, but he has truly had a breakout season and earned every part of his new deal.
From a cap perspective, Cam’s deal is excellent. It’s a raise from his entry-level deal, but gives the Jackets flexibility to make other deals. You’ve got to love the term as well- two years puts Cam at 25- when he should be entering his prime years.
CamJam and Matty Hustle were RFAs at season’s end, and next up for Kekalainen will be locking up fellow RFAs Artem Anisimov and Sergei Bobrovsky. Arty’s deal should be straight forward, but if I’m Bob’s agent, I’m waiting to see how the NHL Awards shake out. There’s a lot of Vezina and Hart talk involving Bob lately and that will have an impact on what Sergei could earn.
Vinny Prospal, Blake Comeau, Adrian Aucoin and Michael Leighton are unrestricted free agents at the end of the year.