2020 was certainly a unique year away from the rink. However, it was also a year that featured several big trades and free agent signings, coaching changes, and much more. Over the coming days, PHR will take a look back at the top stories from around the game on a month-by-month basis. Next up is a look at May where the format for the NHL’s return started to take shape.
Boedker Goes Overseas: After seeing his role whittled down to just limited minutes in the few games he got to suit up for, veteran winger Mikkel Boedker decided to eschew the NHL free agent market, instead signing a two-year deal with Lugano of the Swiss NLA. The 31-year-old was a capable secondary scorer in the NHL for several years with Arizona and San Jose (plus a brief stint with Colorado) but after joining Ottawa in 2018, his production dipped sharply and he had just nine goals in 91 games in his two seasons with the Sens, hardly ideal production for someone with a $4MM cap hit. So far this season, Boedker has four goals and nine assists in 19 games, a level of production that won’t help get him back on the NHL radar.
Zub To Ottawa: One of the more sought-after international free agents this year was defenseman Artem Zub. He had offers from several teams but ultimately chose to sign with Ottawa, inking a one-year deal for the entry-level max of $925K plus another $850K in bonuses. Zub has been a quality defenseman on a strong KHL team in St. Petersburg and is expected to contend for a roster spot with Ottawa in training camp.
Extension For Halak: Veteran goaltender Jaroslav Halak decided that he didn’t need to test the UFA market again and instead opted to stick around with Boston, signing a one-year deal. The contract actually carries a lower AAV than his previous one at $2.25MM but it also contains a $1.25MM bonus if he plays in ten games, a likely outcome even with the shortened schedule as long as he stays healthy. The 35-year-old has been quite effective since joining Boston two years ago, posting a 2.36 GAA with a .921 SV% in 71 games to help form one of the top goaltending tandems in the league with Tuukka Rask. Both netminders are slated to become unrestricted free agents in July but for now, the duo remains intact.
Playoff Format: While it took a bit longer before we actually got to see it, the 24-team postseason format was agreed to as both the NHL and NHLPA continued to work their way through negotiating their eventual return. The one-time provision yielded some notable upsets with Pittsburgh and Edmonton being among the teams that were sent home in the Qualifying Round. While the format for the 2020-21 season is also different than usual, it will instead feature in-division playoffs only for the first two rounds and then re-seed from there.
Lehtonen To Toronto: One of the bigger surprises of the month was Finnish defenseman Mikko Lehtonen’s sudden termination of his KHL contract with a note that he was heading to the NHL. It turns out that Toronto was his destination as the 26-year-old signed a one-year, entry-level deal worth $925K. While he didn’t receive any bonuses like Zub, Lehtonen will have a shot at testing the open market once again next summer without any entry-level restrictions this time and a good showing with Toronto would certainly give him an opportunity to land a considerably richer deal this coming summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.