Most NHL teams are set for this upcoming season in terms of their organizational rosters, with some exceptions. That said, it is time to catch up with what has been going on with some guys who used to don the union blue. Let’s see what they have been up to the last few months:
- Cody Bass got a limited chance in Columbus, but on July 4th he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators. Bass appeared in 15 games as a Blue Jacket, registering one assist, and spent part of several seasons with the Springfield Falcons.
- Part of the fanbase was upset last offseason when Blake Comeau was not re-signed. He ended up in Pittsburgh on a one-year deal and rediscovered his offensive game alongside Evgeni Malkin for much of the season. Comeau signed a three-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche, with a cap hit of $2.4 million annually.
- In case you missed this one, back in April Derek Dorsett sign a four-year, $10.6 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
- Brian Gibbons never found his footing with Columbus, and after one mostly forgetful season with the Jackets he took off for the Big Apple. He’s on a one-year, two-way deal with the Rangers.
- We all remember Jordan Leopold’s trade to Minnesota at the deadline as a “return home” thanks to a highly publicized letter from his daughter to the Blue Jackets. Now, just a few months later, it appears he will not be with the Wild anymore and he may be out of the NHL entirely. He sounds at peace with it, if that’s the case.
- John Moore was sent to the Rangers in the Marian Gaborik trade a couple years ago. Last season, New York sent him to the Coyotes as part of the Keith Yandle trade. Then, the Coyotes did not make him a qualifying offer and he became an unrestricted free agent. Fortunately for Moore, the New Jersey Devils seemed to like him and signed him to a three-year deal with an AAV of $1.67 million.
- Antoine Vermette pulled off the “Rent-A-Player” perfectly. He was dealt from Arizona to Chicago ahead of the trade deadline, won a Cup with the Blackhawks, and is now back in Arizona with a new two-year deal.
- Jakub Voracek just signed an eight-year contract with the Flyers for how much?? Jake’s new contract is for $66 million, meaning his cap hit will be $8.25 million beginning in 2016-2017. He is coming off an 81 point season, but his career high in goals is 23. Still, hard to argue with that contract if you’re Philly.
- This might have been lost in the news during the draft, but James Wisniewski is back in the Metro Division. He was traded to Carolina for Anton Khudobin during the NHL Draft.