July 14: The team has officially announced Manninen’s signing, also announcing that he’ll be joined from the KHL by former Calgary Flames forward Spencer Foo. Both players signed one-year deals worth $750K.
July 13: The Vegas Golden Knights have officially announced a long list of depth signings, to go along with the Max Pacioretty trade and new contracts for Reilly Smith and Brett Howden. The team has also signed Jonas Rondbjerg to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $766,666, Sheldon Rempal to a two-year, two-way deal with an AAV of $762,500, Byron Froese to a two-year, two-way deal with an average annual value of $762,500, and Michael Hutchinson to a one-year, two-way contract with an AAV of $750K.
That’s not all, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Golden Knights will sign KHL forward Sakari Manninen.
These deals are almost all ticketed for the Henderson Silver Knights, with Manninen and Rondbjerg as potential exceptions. The 30-year-old Manninen has spent the last four years playing in the KHL and recently won gold at both the Olympics and World Championship. In 38 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev, he scored 19 goals and 32 games. Standing just 5’7″, it’s hard to see him making a huge impact at the NHL level, though perhaps his game will translate well even at his size.
Rondbjerg, on the other hand, stands 6’2″ and managed to get into 30 games for the Golden Knights this season, scoring his first six NHL points. The 2017 third-round pick was excellent in the minor leagues as well and at 23, stands a good chance at being part of the future in Vegas.
One rumor has Pacioretty going to the Preds. Nothing concrete on that yet.
Anyone gonna offer sheet Nic Roy? Seems a pretty inexpensive pick-up.
Manninen: “Standing just 5’7″, it’s hard to see him” Ok, LOL