After a blizzard of moves on day 1, day 2 saw less action but three big name free agents found new homes. Here is what happened on Day 2.
Brad Richards, F: Signed with the New York Rangers
The top free-agent on the market found a new home, signing a nine-year, $58.5 million dollar deal. The deal will reportedly carry only a $6.5 million cap hit, which is not bad. He also reportedly turned down more money from Toronto to come to the Big Apple. And it appears that the Rangers have found a top-line center; while the Calgary Flames look for someone to pair with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay.
Matt Gilroy, D: Signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts added more depth on the backend, signing the former Hobey Baker Award Winner, who turns 27 at the end of the month. He went undrafted out of Boston University and was also a walk-on for a couple years while with the Terriers. He is a defenseman that can play at both ends of the ice.
Rob Niedermayer, F: Signed with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A
The 36 year old, who spent last season in Buffalo, is heading to Europe. This means that the league will no longer have any of the Niedermayer brothers, Rob and Scott, playing in the league.
Anthony Stewart, F: Signed with the Carolina Hurricanes
The 6’3 230 26-year old singed a two-year deal. He will make $880,000 this upcoming season and then $1million in 2012-13. He is not going to Winnipeg, and had a career year last season, with 14 goals and 39 points for the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers.
Simon Gagne, LW: Signed with the Los Angeles Kings
Since the Kings lost out on the Brad Richards sweepstakes, they wasted no time in finding someone else. They signed former Tampa winger Simon Gagne to a two year deal. He will make $4.5 million this upcoming season and then $2.5 million in 2012-13, for a $3.5 million dollar cap hit. If he can bring some of his scoring touch out west, the Kings could be looking decent in the Pacific Division.
Tim Connolly, C: Signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs also missed out on Brad Richards, so they signed Tim Connolly as their consolation prize. He agreed to a two-year deal worth $9.5 million. He has had some major concussion problems earlier in his career, but he had 13 goals and 42 points in 69 games for the Buffalo Sabres last season, a season after his career-best 65 points in 2009-10.
Tomas Vokoun, G: Signed with the Washington Capitals
The Caps got two draft picks when they traded away goalie Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche. But they do have two capable goalies in Michal Neuvirth and Brent Holtby. But it looks like Vokoun will be their no.1 for one year at $1.5 million. And Vokoun has been wanting to play for a contender ever since he started playing for the Florida Panthers.
Those are the biggest moves on Day 2, we will see if anything else happens on Day 3.
