NHL Free Agency: Andrew Ladd Avoids Arbitration, Signs With Thrashers

The New York Islanders have seized rugged defenseman James Wisniewski from the Anaheim Ducks, trading a conditional third round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in exchange. He has a lot going for him such as the 30 points he emerged with last season, but carries a major risk factor with his injury/suspension dossier.

Either way, Islanders General Manager Garth Snow isn’t complaining.

The Atlanta Blackhawks, er, Thrashers will avoid arbitration with trade acquisition Andrew Ladd. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ladd signed a one-year, $2.35 million deal with the team on Thursday morning, the same day as his arbitration hearing.

A year ago with Chicago, Ladd made $1.65 million, so he’s getting a decent raise from his last contract. With Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and now Ladd locked on to the club for next season, it’s looking very windy in Atlanta these days.

Defenseman Anton Stralman won’t be going anywhere this summer. Traded twice last year before the season began, the 23-year-old has signed a one-year contract worth $1.95 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Stralman gave the Columbus blue line much-needed offensive instincts, leading the crew in assists (28) and points (34).

General Manager Scott Howson narrowly escaped arbitration by speaking with Stralman minutes before the scheduled hearing Wednesday morning.

He had a lot of great moments in his North American career. There’s that time he played for the Islanders. The time he bolted to Russia after not agreeing to a contract with them. Then that time he came back to North American to play for the Oilers. Then, of course, there was that time he took a puck to the groin after his most recent trade to the Predators.

But in all seriousness, Grebeshkov is a very solid defenseman, and as he bolts to Russia for the second time in less than a decade, the NHL is losing a solid player. According to multiple ssources, the hulking Russian defenseman is now a member of SKA of the KHL after signing a two-year worth more than the $3.15 million he made this past season. That number comes via Andy Strickland.

Tomas Fleischmann has taken a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals that will reportedly pay him $2.6 million. The Czech native registered a career-best 23 goals and 28 assists in 69 games last year and represented his country during the Winter Olympics.

Schedules for an arbitration hearing with the club, the 26-year-old has put many minds at ease with this solution. Fleischmann’s most intriguing statistic was his eight goals in the ten matches superstar Alexander Ovechkin missed during suspensions and injuries.

The Edmonton Oilers have dodged arbitration with Gilbert Brule by signing the young forward to a two-year deal worth $1.85 million per season. With 17 goals and 20 assists in 2010, the former sixth overall selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft crushed his previous best offensive totals - nine goals and ten assists in 2007.

Per TSN:

Restricted free agent goaltender Josh Harding signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. According to Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the contract is worth $1.2 million, $100,000 more than the qualifying offer originally made to Harding back before July 1.

Harding has been the subject of trade rumors throughout his Minnesota career, and even with this deal, that may still be in the cards. Harding is the number two goalie behind Niklas Backstrom, and the number three goalie and current AHL starter, Anton Khudobin, wants to sign a one-way deal with the Wild.

Opting not to hit the arbitration process, Dan Carcillo signed a one-year, $1.075 million contract with the Flyers today. Several sources, including CSN, are reporting that figure. It’s a smart move by Carbomb, who likely realized that the Flyers have a ton of weapons to throw his way in the arbitration process.

He may not have picked up $1.075 million from an arbitrator. Carcillo made $937,500 last a year ago, so it is a slight raise. It’s also likely a bit north of what his qualifying offer was from the Flyers. They had to offer him, at minimum, $984,375 according to the CBA. So... one more year, at least, of Carcillo in Philly.

The New York Rangers locked up defenseman Dan Girardi with a new contract at four years worth $3.325 million per season. Girardi posted 24 points in 2010 and has competed in 280 consecutive matches, placing himself ninth among active NHL players.

In Boston meanwhile, the Bruins signed rearguard Mark Stuart to a one-year deal with the financial terms being undisclosed at this point.

Dealt to the Washington Capitals during last year’s trade deadline, Joe Corvo has re-joined the Carolina Hurricanes under a two-year contract. The defenseman will receive $2 million in 2010-2011 and $2.5 million in 2011-2012. Corvo, who was exchanged for Brian Pothier, Oskar Osala and a 2011 second-round draft pick, had six points in 18 games with the Capitals and two more points in the postseason.

Per TSN:

According to the ever-reliable Dimitri Chesnokov over at Puck Daddy, a Russian outlet is reporting that free agent winger Nikolai Zherdev has signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. At this point, we don’t know the financial terms or any details of the contract. Philadelphia media, including CSN Philly and the Daily News, have been unable to confirm the news as of now.

Zherdev played in the KHL back in Mother Russia a year ago after the Rangers let him walk following arbitration. The arbitrator settled at just under $4 million last offseason, but after a year overseas, that shouldn’t necessarily be an indication of what the Flyers could be paying him here.

Regarding Ilya Kovalchuk, the fact that now six days have passed with no deal tells me that there hasn’t been a deal simply because there’s no acceptable offer. They’re not “working out the details.” They’re not “clearing cap space.” There’s nothing. Nothing acceptable to Kovalchuk/Grossman.

Because otherwise, they would have accepted it. So all they can do now is wait until a face-saving deal comes their way. Whether that’s a KHL deal, a deal from left field, or a tweaked version of either the Devils’ or Kings’ offers, it’s obviously impossible to know. But as time goes on, the smoke dissipates and eventually even the press will see Grossman with the big fan and the smoke machine and they’ll call it what it is.

Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is getting paid, but winning a Stanley Cup is probably out of the question for him at this point. He’s heading back to Russia after accepting a four-year deal worth $6 million a season with SKA St. Petersburg. Sovetsky Sport first reported the news.

Other former NHLers playing for SKA include Alexei Yashin, Darius Kasparitis and Sergei Zubov. For more, settle in at Fear The Fin, where Nabby’s former fans are reminiscing about his NHL career.

This is getting a little crazy, Ilya.

Despite announcing earlier Monday that a deal would come down today, the agent for free agent superstar Ilya Kovalchuk said late Monday that he won’t be making a decision just yet on which team he’ll sign with.

The Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes will come to an end on Monday, and that’s directly from the source -- his agent, Jay Grossman.

The consensus: Ilya Kovalchuk wants a lot of money.

Beyond that, we don’t really know what’s in his brain. Most people seem to think that the Los Angeles Kings are still the front runner to land his services this summer, and that the New Jersey Devils are still in the mix as well. But a new team is suddenly in the mix.

- The Devils have signed Johan Hedberg to a contract as their backup goaltender, or at the very least they’re close to a deal, according to Craig Custance of The Sporting News. Hedberg leaves an Atlanta team that just added a goaltender in Chris Mason, and he gives Martin Brodeur a reliable backup that can reliably take some starts away from the future Hall of Famer. Check out In Lou We Trust for more.

- The Rangers have reportedly signed Vinny Prospal to a one-year deal. Larry Brooks of the NY Post says it’s a $1 million deal. Blueshirt Banter for more.

From Ben Wright, the Atlanta Thrashers PR man...

From USA Today’s Kevin Allen...

Not since the 1988 Olympics and the Jamaican bobsled team has the city of Calgary seen something this crazy. The Flames are bringing back Olli Jokinen, who they brilliantly dumped off to the Rangers at the trade deadline just months ago.

Jokinen will get $6 million over two years from Darryl Sutter and the Flames. Meanwhile, Sutter will hide in his office to avoid projectiles.

Anton Volchenkov’s agent, Jay Grossman, has announced on Twitter that the former Ottawa Senator is close to a six-year deal with the New Jersey Devils. After losing Paul Martin, the Devils have now added Henrik Tallinder and Volchenkov in a concerted effort to get bigger on the blueline.

For more, be sure to check in with In Lou We Trust.

All along, it seemed like Dan Hamhuis was going to hold out for a chance to go home. In the end, the British Columbia native is heading to Vancouver, signing a six-year, $4.5 million deal with the Canucks.

For more, be sure to check out Nucks Misconduct.

Before today, most people seemed to think that Kurtis Foster would be the best bang for the buck on the free agent market, at least in terms of defensemen. Foster’s getting a serious raise today, but he’s still a good deal for the Edmonton Oilers.

Steve Tambellini has signed Foster to a two-year, $1.8 million deal. Check out The Copper & Blue for more, as well as SB Nation Edmonton. (Just kidding on that second one, you didn’t really think we’d have a regional site for Edmonton, did you?)

The Phoenix Coyotes have added veteran forward Ray Whitney to their roster. Whitney signs in Phoenix for two years, $3 million per year, according to Darren Dreger.

For more, visit Five For Howling.

Okay, so he’s not Scott Niedermayer, but Toni Lydman isn’t a bad player. The Anaheim Ducks have reportedly signed him to a three-year, $9 million contract according to TSN. We have more at our Ducks blog, Anaheim Calling, and at SB Nation Los Angeles.

In Buffalo, they’re left wondering what will happen on their blueline. Lydman and Henrik Tallinder are both out in that town. Check out Die By The Blade for more on that.