The Vegas Golden Knights had a quiet July 1st, as they signed three depth players. This was expected of a team that was already over next season’s salary cap, as they need to shed salary before the season begins in order to be cap-compliant. So, they were unable to try and sign any of the big fish, not that they wanted to or needed to, given they are a contending team and had already signed star forward Mark Stone, who would’ve been a UFA, to a massive contract back in March. Their biggest move of the offseason so far was resigning RFA forward William Karlsson to a big eight-year contract worth $47.2 million ($5.9 million AAV). Here’s a quick recap of their day and a short write-up on each player.
- Patrick Brown, F. Brown was signed to a two-year contract worth $1.4 million ($700,000 AAV). He did not appear in any NHL games last season, but he did play in 70 games for the Charlotte Checkers, in which he tallied 19 goals and 16 assists. He then produced at nearly a point per game pace for them in the playoffs, as he played in 11 games and produced five goals and five assists. He also served as the captain of the Calder Cup winning team. Signed by the Carolina Hurricanes as an underrated free agent prior to the 2014-15 season, he has appeared in 28 career NHL games, over which he has put up just one goal and one assist. He has also played in 334 career AHL games, in which he has recorded 53 goals and 72 assists. The 27-year-old center and right wing is leaving the only organization he has known over his five-season professional career.
- Tomas Nosek, F. Nosek was resigned to a one-year contract worth $1 million. In 68 games played for the Knights last season, he tallied eight goals and nine assists. He also appeared in seven playoff games for the team, but he recorded zero points in them. Signed by the, Nosek has appeared in 152 career NHL games, over which he has produced 16 goals and 17 assists. The 26-year-old center and left wing is remaining with his team of the past two seasons and second team overall over his four season NHL career.
- Brandon Pirri, F. Pirri was resigned to a two-year contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000). In 31 appearances for the Knights last season, he tallied 12 goals and six assists. He also played in three playoff game for the team, but he did not record any points in them. Drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Pirri has appeared in 259 career NHL games, over which he has produced 72 goals and 47 assists. The 28-year-old wing and center is remaining with his organization of the past two seasons and his fifth team overall over his nine-season NHL career.
- Malcolm Subban, G. Subban was resigned to a one-year contract worth $850,000 on July 9th. In 21 appearances for the Knights last season, he had a 2.93 GAA and 0.902 SV%. Drafted 24th overall of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Subban has played in 45 career NHL games, over which he owns a 4.31 GAA and 0.781 SV%. As awful as those numbers look, keep in mind they are heavily skewed by two single-game appearances for the Bruins in which he played terribly, and he has been much better in more appearances with Vegas, but he is still no more than an iffy backup at best. The 25-year-old netminder is remaining with his team of the past two seasons and second team overall over his four season NHL career.
This post will be updated later if and when the team makes any more signings.
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