Kevin Bieksa, arguably Vancouver’s best player in the playoffs re-signed with the team for five years at $23 million dollars. The deal will pay the defenseman $4.6 million dollars per season which will also include a no-trade clause.
Bieksa was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st after completing a three-year deal at $11.25 million.
He had six goals and 16 points in 66 games for the Canucks and has 34 goals and 113 assists in 347 career NHL games.
The Canucks also re-signed restricted free agent Maxim Lapierre to a two-year deal worth $2-million.
According to TSN.ca, Lapierre scored six goals and six assists in 78 during the regular season last year. He also provided three goals and two assists during the Canucks playoff run.
Flyers making more moves
The Flyers also continued to re-shape their roster by trading forward Darroll Powe to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Powe, 25, scored seven goals and 10 assists in 81 games for the Flyers last season. He also had one assist in 11 playoff appearances.
As I mentioned this Flyers have been busy so far this off-season. They most recently traded away two of their top forwards in Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. They also signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov plus forwards Andreas Nodl and Tom Sestito on Monday.
Blackhawks continue to deal
Just a few days after trading defenseman Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers, the Blackhawks weren’t done making deals with the Florida club. Monday Chicago traded the rights to impending UFA Tomas Kopecky to Florida for a seventh round draft pick. The Panthers will now try to sign Kopecky before he becomes a free agent on Friday.
Florida is still looking to add more than $20 million in payroll to reach the salary floor next year.
Source: TSN.ca, NHL.com