The free-agent market brought both surprises and predictable signings, along some salary cap adjustments and a few related trades and other transactions. In the second of a two-part piece, let’s take a look at how new free-agent additions have altered the Pacific Division, emphasizing points-only pool production with some peripheral considerations.

Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Miller – Miller moves south from Vancouver to backup John Gibson. The veteran will provide quality and probably plentiful relief starts, and serve as insurance if Gibson gets injured again. As we saw last year, Jonathan Bernier’s similar role was crucial in keeping the Ducks near the top of the Pacific. With a better defense and overall team than the Canucks could muster, expect all of Miller’s stats to look better than last year’s 18-29-6, 2.80, .914 excepting total contests played (54). Closer to his southern California-based family, with a reduced workload and superior supporting cast, this move may add an extra season or two to his illustrious career.

Dennis Rasmussen – After not receiving a qualifying offer from Chicago the penalty-killing, bottom-six center moves to the Ducks with an eye towards upping his offensive production. That shouldn’t be too difficult as his 17 points in 112 NHL games, including four goals, four assists, and just 32.7% offensive zone starts with last year’s Blackhawks attest. Initial thought has him serving as a fourth-line Duck upgrade but, as shown in prior Swedish Hockey League play, he does handle the stick, move the puck and drive the net well so he may still have some untapped offensive potential that translates to an elevated role.

Arizona Coyotes

Adam Clendening – Clendening’s a Chayka-era, puck-moving defenseman that deserves and will finally get extended NHL minutes. A smooth skater that racked up 59 and 46 points in separate AHL campaigns with the Blackhawks’ Rockford affiliate, he should help plug some right-handed gaps on Arizona’s blue line. Clendening posted a 9.4% CorsiRel in 31 contests last year, and his 0.35 points per-game was fourth on the Rangers despite finishing eighth on the squad in average TOI (15:48).

Nick Cousins (re-sign after trade from Philadelphia) – Expect increased playing time from the playmaking Cousins who, at 23, becomes a youthful veteran on the green Coyotes and should fortify their thin center corps. Coming off an injury-shortened Flyer year with six goals and ten assists in 60 games, and his best TOI per game average in parts of three NHL campaigns (12:00). Praised for his accurate, quick passes look for decent middle-six assist totals as he and the Arizona offense gels. 

Calgary Flames

Spencer Foo – Calgary was more than happy to land Foo, a 23-year-old forward, highly-sought college free agent and Hobey Baker finalist on the heels of his 26-goal, 36-assist campaign with Union College. Coaches gush about his determination and “wow-factor”. Foo’s stickhandling skills are top-notch and highly deceptive for opposing defensemen and netminders. He could have an immediate middle-six wing opportunity considering the Flames’ limited forward depth.

Edmonton Oilers

Jussi Jokinen – Bought out by the Panthers, Jokinen moves to northern Alberta as a middle-six left wing that may pick up steam with the prolific Oilers’ offense. Just one injury-plagued year removed from his second-best scoring campaign — 18 goals and 60 points — Jokinen’s experience along with distribution and two-way skills may play well alongside Edmonton’s youthful forwards. He could be a late-round steal coming off a down year and landing in a promising environment. The Oilers hope he’ll serve as an effective mentor for emerging winger Jesse Puljujarvi — a fellow Finn who played back home for Karat, a team Jokinen serves as part-owner. The two have also trained together for several summers.

Ty Rattie – Long-time Blues wing prospect, Rattie joins the Oilers after an odd waiver-induced move to Carolina and quick St. Louis return. At age 24, the former 32nd overall selection’s future doesn’t seem as bright it once did, but he’s a name to watch as Edmonton seeks forward depth upgrades. General manager Peter Chiarelli considers him an underachiever with untapped skills, but he’ll have a tough time landing anything above a fourth-line role, if even that.   

Los Angeles Kings

Darcy Kuemper – From backing up Devan Dubnyk to backing up Jonathan Quick, Kuemper continues his role as a No. 2 to a highly-used No. 1. With poor totals last year (8-5-3, 3.13, .902) that are well below the 27-year-old’s career numbers, the Kings’ choice seems a bit surprising, even more so considering Quick’s serious groin injury that caused him to miss most of 2016-2017. They’ll hope for a bounce back and good health in net. Seemingly not worth a fantasy spot in most settings unless Quick runs into injury or unlikely poor performance.

Mike Cammalleri – Back in LA on a one-year, $1 million deal, the Kings’ brass hopes Devils’ buyout Cammalleri can be part of an offensive re-awakening. His 38 points in an injury-shortened 42-game 2015-16, and continued productive work on the power play gives hope that the 35-year-old left winger has something significant left in the tank and can employ it in a middle-six role. His experience could be a good compliment to Nick Shore, Tyler Toffoli or other young forwards that could benefit from a boost.

Vancouver Canucks

Sam Gagner – Gagner moves from the high-octane Columbus offense, in particular their dangerous power play, to the much less productive Canucks where he will likely be counted on for a greater proportion of even-strength opportunities. He’ll probably see increased minutes, but it’s not a sure thing that his scoring will rise or even approach last year’s career-high 50 points. That amount was just two below Bo Horvat’s team-leading 52 last year and tied Henrik Sedin’s 50. To compare, Gagner was a close fifth on the Blue Jackets in 2016-17.

Michael Del Zotto – If he can avoid injury Del Zotto’s offense, including more minutes on the power play, may boost the Canucks’ 29th-ranked success rate (14.1% last year) with the man-advantage. That’s a big if, though, as he hasn’t played in more than 64 games since a 77-contest 2011-12 campaign with the Rangers. He’ll likely increase last year’s 19:30 average TOI with a larger role, bringing more experience to a blue line featuring 23-year-old Troy Stecher, 24-year-old Ben Hutton, and rising prospects including Olli Juolevi, Jordan Subban and Andrey Pedan. Monitor his progress for a possible pick up.

Anders Nilsson – With Ryan Miller’s departure, Vancouver has handed the starting gig to generally less-than-successful Jacob Markstrom. Nilsson doesn’t have a great track record of NHL success either (29-32-8, 2.94, .908 lifetime) but did reasonably well last year in a backup role with Buffalo (10-10-4, 2.67, .923) and will likely have opportunities to claim the top spot this year.

Vegas Golden Knights

Technically there were a few more free agent signings for the Knights, Deryk Engelland and Erik Haula to name two of the most influential, but since they counted as the club’s expansion selections we’ll opt instead to focus on two “true” singings.

Vadim Shipachyov – New to the NHL, the 30-year old pivot is an eight-year KHL vet who served as captain and assistant captain for SKA St. Petersburg over the past three. Vegas hopes his 137 goals and 275 assists in 445 contests (0.92 ppg) in Russia’s best league, and 70 points in 93 games of international play translates to the NHL. Past linemates include Ilya Kovalchuk, Artemi Panarin and Pavel Datsyuk, so he’s worked with other NHL success stories. While he might start slow along with the rest of the franchise, ultimately he’ll do well. Shipachyov’s 76 points (26 G, 50 A) in 50 contests placed third in the KHL last year.

Brad Hunt – Hunt signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract with Vegas, following 12 NHL games in St. Louis and Nashville last year, as well as a prolific nine goals and 29 points in 23 games for the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Chicago. While not a huge, physical force at 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, Hunt has a hard and heavy shot from the point. As one of nine left defensemen on the Knights’ depth chart, a roster spot isn’t guaranteed, but he’ll get a better opportunity than in stacked Nashville.

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