At 9 a.m. Arizona time this morning, the doors to the NHL free agency market swung open and the Phoenix Coyotes, needing to spend money to reach the league’s salary floor, added players to help improve the roster.
In the first move of the day, forward Raffi Torres was lured away from Vancouver by General Manager Don Maloney. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not released, but according to capgeek.com, it’s a two-year deal worth $3.5 million.
He has appeared in 512 NHL regular season games and has scored 112 goals and 99 assists for 211 points and 390 penalty minutes for Vancouver, Buffalo, Columbus and Edmonton.
Torres was apart of Vancouver’s Stanley Cup run this spring, making 23 postseason appearances and registering three goals and four assists for seven points and 28 penalty minutes. The native of Toronto, Ont., was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Once Maloney added Torres, he then answered the question that has been on the mind of many Coyotes fans by signing goaltender Mike Smith to start in between the pipes. According to capgeek.com, it’s a two-year deal worth $4 million.
“We are very pleased to sign Mike to a multi-year contract,” said Maloney in a statement. “Mike is a big, talented goaltender who we feel will excel in our system. We are excited to have him join us in the desert.”
Smith has played six seasons with both Dallas and Tampa Bay, posting a record of 67-66-19, with a 2.71 goals against average, a .906 save percentage and 11 shutouts.
This past season the native of Kingston, Ont., appeared in three playoff games for the Lightning, going 1-1 with a 1.00 GAA and a .958 save percentage. Smith was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round (161st overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Maloney then beefed up the center position by signing Boyd Gordon out of Washington. According to capgeek.com, it’s a two-year deal worth $2.65 million.
In seven seasons with the Capitals, Gordon logged 363 games, scoring 27 goals and 58 assists for 85 points and 82 penalty minutes. According to Washington Capitals Examiner Michael Hoffman, Gordon is a quality face-off guy, winning 58 percent of his draws this past regular season, and 69 percent of his draws in nine playoff appearances.
The native of Unity, Saskatchewan, was originally drafted by Washington in the first round (17th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
And in the final addition of the day, Nick Kypreos of Rogers Sportsnet reported that the Coyotes added forward Alexandre Bolduc out of the Vancouver organization. The native of Montreal appeared in 24 games for the Canucks last season, scoring two goals and two assists for four points and 21 penalty minutes.
Vrbata Resigned
A familiar face will be staying with the Coyotes in 2011-12. Forward Radim Vrbata signed a multi-year deal to stay with Phoenix. According to capgeek.com, it’s a three-year deal worth $9 million.
Vrbata finished fourth in scoring with the Coyotes last season with 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points and 20 penalty minutes in 78 games.
Coyotes cap situation at a glance
Salary cap: $64.3 million
Salary floor: $48.3
Coyotes cap payroll (as of 6 p.m. on July 1): $39.6 million
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