Colin Campbell, Author at Boutique Hockey Agency - KO Sports

Cal Foote Signs One-Year Deal with Devils

Posted on August 14, 2023August 14, 2023

NEWARK, NJ – The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team signed free-agent defenseman Cal Foote to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000 at the NHL level and $350,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level ($450,000 guaranteed) for 2023-24. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Foote, 24, finished the 2022-23 season with the Predators, after he was traded to Nashville from Tampa Bay on Feb. 26, 2023. A righthanded shot, Foote played in 24 games with Nashville and another 26 with Tampa Bay, totaling seven points (2g-5a) and 63 PIM last season.

In total, Foote has played 141 career regular-season contests (5g-14a) since his NHL debut with Tampa Bay on Jan. 13, 2021, vs. the Chicago Blackhawks. The 6’5″, 225lbs. blueliner has also recorded 121 career PIM and five fighting majors at the NHL level. Foote was a member of the 2021 Stanley Cup winning Tampa Bay Lightning. During Tampa’s Cup run, Foote appeared in 13 playoff games, totaling two assists and averaging 11:29 time on ice per game.

Born Dec. 13, 1998, the Denver, CO native, was selected 14^th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2017 NHL Draft. As a member of the Lightning franchise, he played parts of five seasons in the AHL with Syracuse from 2017-18 to 2021-22 and earned 64 career points (18g-46a) in 155 regular-season games. Before his professional career, he played his Junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kelowna Rockets from 2015-16 to 2017-18 and was named team captain in his final WHL season. He led all Kelowna defensemen with 57 points (6g-51a) in 2016-17 and again in 2017-18 (19g-51a-70pts).

Terry signs 7-year, $49 million contract with Ducks, avoids arbitration

Posted on August 2, 2023

ANAHEIM, CA – Troy Terry signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old forward was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

Terry had 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games for the Ducks last season.

Terry, who had NHL career highs in goals (37) and points (67) in 2021-22, played in the NHL All-Star Game each of the past two seasons.

Selected by Anaheim in the fifth round (No. 148) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Terry has 176 points (75 goals, 101 assists) in 274 regular-season games.

Wild lock up goaltender Filip Gustavsson on 3-year, $11.25 million deal

Posted on August 1, 2023

ST.PAUL, MN – The biggest task of the offseason is finally complete for the Wild. They agreed to terms with Filip Gustavsson on Monday, keeping the 25-year-old goaltender in Minnesota on a 3-year, $11.25 million contract with an average annual value of $3.75 million.

This agreement helps the Wild avoid an arbitration hearing with Gustavsson that was scheduled for later this week. Things seemed headed to arbitration with general manager Bill Guerin previously unable to work out a deal with Gustavsson’s representation.

In the end, Guerin and agent Kurt Overhardt came to a compromise, and the Wild will head into next season with Gustavsson and future hall of famer Marc-Andre Fleury in goal.

Penguins Add Another NHL-Experienced Goalie In Garret Sparks, Ties to Dubas

Posted on July 19, 2023July 26, 2023

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Three is a crowd, but six might be a party. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins signed noted goalie Garret Sparks to an AHL deal Tuesday.

Sparks, 30, is a journeyman goalie with high points of AHL success and 40 career NHL games, mostly with the Toronto Maple Leafs and an award-winning run with the 2017-18 Toronto Marlies that ended with the Calder Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas was the general manager of that Marlies team. Sparks won the AHL award for best goaltender, led the league in wins (31), and save percentage (.936).

In his 11-year career, Sparks played 37 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, including 17 in 2015-16, and 20 more in 2918-19. He played one game for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019-20 and two games for the LA Kings in 2021-22.

In his NHL career, Sparks has an .899 save percentage and a 15-18-2 record.

Penguins Re-Sign Forward Jonathan Gruden to a One-Year Contract

Posted on July 14, 2023

PITTSBURGH, PA – The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Jonathan Gruden to a one-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas.

The two-way deal will run through the 2023-24 campaign and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.

Gruden, 23, spent 54 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in 2022-23. He recorded career highs in goals (16) and points (31), and his 31 points were sixth most on the team. He also appeared in three games with Pittsburgh, making his NHL debut on January 16, 2023 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Kraken Agree to Terms with Veteran Forward Bellemare

Posted on July 7, 2023July 25, 2023

SEATTLE, WA – The Kraken continued to restock fourth-line options Friday, agreeing to terms with veteran forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, 38, on a one-year contract ($775K average annual value).

Born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, France, Bellemare has enjoyed a late-starting but successful career. He has played nine seasons in the NHL, not making his league debut until 2014 at age 29. He moved through multiple European leagues, playing in France and Sweden, before getting a chance with the Philadelphia Flyers.

He was only the ninth player born in France to reach the NHL at the time. He went on to break Antoine Roussel’s league record for most games played by a Frenchman with his 608th career game Dec. 1. He trails only Roussel in career goals, assists and points.

Wings Sign JT Compher to a Five-Year, $25.5 Million Contract in Free Agency

Posted on July 3, 2023July 3, 2023

DETROIT, MI – General manager Steve Yzerman was intent on filling holes in the Wings’ lineup and few teams were as active Saturday on the first day of unrestricted free agency as the Wings were.

They made their biggest splash late in the day, signing center J.T. Compher to a five-year contract worth $25.5 million ($5.1 million cap hit).

Defenseman Ian Cole Agrees to One-Year Deal with Vancouver Canucks

Posted on July 3, 2023

VANCOUVER, BC – Defenceman Ian Cole has agreed to terms on a one-year, $3 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks, the club announced on Saturday.

Cole, 34, from Ann Arbor, Mich., has 182 points in 748 NHL games with Tampa Bay, Carolina, Colorado, Minnesota, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.

He will provide a veteran presence lost by the buyout of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who joined the Panthers on Saturday.

Stars Sign Forward Craig Smith to a One-Year Contract

Posted on July 3, 2023

DALLAS, TX – Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has signed forward Craig Smith to a one-year contract through the 2023-24 season. The one-year deal is worth $1 million.

Smith, 33, recorded nine goals and 16 points (9-7-16) in 64 regular-season games with Boston and Washington in 2022-23. Starting the season in Boston, Smith registered his 400th career point with an assist on Oct. 22, 2022 vs. Minnesota and skated in his 800th career regular-season game on Nov. 23, 2022 at Florida. Acquired by the Capitals on Feb. 23, Smith recorded five goals and six points (5-1-6) in 22 regular-season contests for Washington.

“Craig brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our group,” said Nill. “He’s a player we’ve been familiar with over the years, especially during his time in Nashville, and we’re looking forward to having him join our team.”