Devils Introduce Nico Hischier in Press Conference

The first ever No. 1 overall draft pick in New Jersey Devils history was officially introduced Monday afternoon, as Nico Hischier alongside Devils GM Ray Shero and head coach John Hynes at Prudential Center in Newark. 

Speaking to the large cluster of New York media for the first time, Hischier was all laughs while sporting the Devils sweater in the concourse-turned-press room at Prudential Center. 

"I knew that I can [get drafted No. 1] but at the end it was surprising for me -- I didn't know anything -- but I'm pretty happy right now," Hischier said Monday. "I'm really, really happy and excited to join such a great team."

Speaking at the press conference was just another stop on the tour for Hischier, a native of Halifax, Switzerland, whose adventurous week in New York and New Jersey happened to be his first time ever in the area. In addition to addressing the media Monday, Hirschier visited Newark City Hall and Hobby's Delicatessen, where he had a sandwich named after him earlier Monday. Over the weekend, he was welcomed at Yankee Stadium before the Yankees-Rangers game on Sunday, and he visited the soccer pitch at Red Bull Stadium to take in a match between the NY Red Bulls and NYCF on Saturday. 

It's safe to say he was given the star treatment. 

"It was my first time [in the New York-Metropolitan area]. It is different [than Switzerland], it's huge -- I think New York is bigger than Switzerland with all the people," said the 18-year-old. "I mean, I got my own sandwich now, so it's pretty fun here and they welcome me really nice. I like it so far."

While he hasn't even played a game in the NHL yet, Hirschier has already made a huge impact on the Devils fanbase -- a fanbase yearning for the team to make the playoffs for the first time since it's Stanley Cup run in 2012. Bringing much buzz to the franchise, Hirschier will add a dimension of offense and defense from the center position that should greatly improve the Devils this upcoming season. 

"It was important for us to draft the player that we thought for our organization had the skill set that we might need most. We're happy with Nico," Devils GM Ray Shero said. 

Hirschier will have an opportunity to begin earning a spot on the 2017-18 Devils squad in early July, when Skills Camp begins. 

"I really just want to win every game so I never give up," says Hirschier. 

Devils to Introduce Nico Hischier, No. 1 Overall Pick, Monday

NEWARK, NJ -- The kid from Switzerland will formally be introduced to the New Jersey Devils for the first time Monday afternoon, as the Devils will present Nico Hischier in a press conference at Prudential Center at 1 p.m.

Hischier, the first pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, will be available to the media and speak at the podium. Along with Hirschier, Devils GM Ray Shero and head coach John Hynes will also field questions regarding the Devils' first No. 1 overall pick in 38 years.

Prior to the press conference, the city of Newark will also do its part to greet Hischier. Mayor Ras Baraka will welcome the Naters, Switzerland, native to Newark City Hall at 11 a.m. Afterwards, Hischier will hit up renowned Hobby's Deli on Branford Place in Newark, where he will have a sandwich named after him. 

Anaheim Ducks Sign Patrick Eaves to Three Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks signed Patrick Eaves to a three-year deal worth about 3.15 million-dollars a year on Friday. 

Eaves could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 has he and the Ducks not reached an agreement. He noted that his ankle is healing well and that he will be ready for the start of the 2017-2018 season. 

He said, “I spoke to my agent and told him, `This is where I want to be.’ My agent knew Anaheim meant something to me. I wanted to be a part of everything that they are doing. I am so excited to be there. Everything worked out today.”

 

The 33-year-old right wing had thought about testing the free agent market. He said, “Being in that locker room is something special. I noticed that on day one. That was a big deal for me, signing for three years. It was something I wanted to completely be a part of.”

 

Eaves scored 32 goals and 19 assists between the Ducks and the Dallas Stars in 79 games this past season. 11 goals and three assists were scored in the 20 games following the deal that sent him to Southern California. He put up four points in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. 

The 29^th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, has played in 12 seasons with the Ducks, Stars, Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes. He has scored 131 goals and 110 assists in 624 regular season games.

He noted that he and his family will move to the Anaheim area over the summer. They had remained in Dallas following the trade. 

Eaves signed his new contract on his parents 38^th anniversary. He said, “I was able to call them while they were out to dinner on their date. That meant a lot to me. They were very excited. It was a big day for the Eaves family.”

Washington Capitals Re-Sign T.J. Oshie

The Washington Capitals agreed to terms on an eight-year, 46 million-dollar contract with the T.J. Oshie on Friday. 

Oshie, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and would have been able to begin discussions with interested teams on Sunday. He was hoping that he would be able to stay in the Nation’s Capital.  

Oshie said, “I sat down with my agent and told him that I really liked Washington and that it was somewhere that I would like to re-sign at. From there, it was just kind of a waiting game. Talks just got going, and really heated up in the last couple of days. So, I was kind of a nervous wreck for a while, [but] everything worked exactly how I wanted it to, and I really could not be happier with staying and re-signing.”   

After the National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association had agreed to set the salary cap at 75 million dollars this past week, is when Capitals general manager, Brian MacLellan noted that the contract talks began to pick up. MacLellan did not want Oshie getting to the open market and signed away by one of the other 30 clubs.

He added, “I think if we did not get it done before July 1, we might have gotten in a little trouble. You look at the free agent market for scoring wingers and it is pretty thin this year, and I would assume he would be one of the number one or two targets. I think he could have maybe gotten more money if he totally went to free agency.”   

His new deal carries an annual average salary cap hit of 5.75 million-dollars, third highest on the Capitals, behind Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom’s 6.7 million each. Oshie tied Ovechkin for the team scoring lead with a career high, 33 goals in 68 games. His 56 points fell just shy of his career high of 60, which he scored during the 2013-2014 season with the St. Louis Blues.

The Blues first round draft pick, 24^th overall in 2005, has scored 169 goals and 248 assists in 591 regular season games. He has added 15 goals and 16 assists in 55 postseason battles. 

Capitals coach, Barry Trotz said, “It sends a great message to not only our team, [but also] our fans. Oshie you see what he did the last two years. I think he is a big part of our culture, a big part of our success. So, I think it was a huge signing.”   

With just over 19 million in cap space, and 12 guys under contract, after signing the guy nicknamed, “T.J. Sochi” after his shootout ability against the Russian during the 2014 Sochi Olympics, MacLellan does not feel the Capitals will be able to re-sign defensemen, Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner and forwards, Justin Wiliams and Daniel Winnik. 

He is working to the resign restricted free agents for the organization. Forwards, Andre Burakovsky, Bret Connolly and Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and goaltender Philipp Grubauer are all RFA’s. Grubauer, Orlov, Burakovsky and Kuznetsov are due significant raises which will leave little wriggle room for many other free agents. 

Vegas Golden Knights Fill Out Their Roster at 2017 NHL Awards

The National Hockey League’s newest team, the Vegas Golden Knights revealed the players that they selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft on Wednesday night during the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Throughout the night, Golden Knights owner, Bill Foley and general manager, George McPhee announced which players they selected from the other 30 teams. The players were announced from the reverse order of finish from the 2016-2017 NHL season. 

The first player announced to the roster of the Golden Knights was Colorado Avalanche netminder, Calvin Picard. Luca Sbisa, of the Vancouver Canuks was the next player announced by the league’s 31^st franchise. 

Foley and McPhee alternated the announcing of the selections throughout the night. For the third player filling out the roster, Foley announced that they chose Teemu Pulkkinen, from the Arizona Coyotes. McPhee then let the crowd at their home arena know that New Jersey Devils defenseman, Jon Merrill was a member of the Golden Knights. 

It was then announced that Buffalo Sabres forward, William Carrier was chosen in the expansion draft. Vegas also received a sixth-round draft pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. 

Foley, then slipped up and announced that they selected Tomas Nosek, from the Detroit Red Wings instead of making the announcement of the player they chose from the Dallas Stars. NBCSports analyst, Kathryn Tappen, McPhee and Foley handled the mistake diplomatically as McPhee then let everyone know that they chose Cody Eakin, from the Stars. 

Nosek helped the Red Wings American Hockey League club, the Grand Rapids Griffins capture the Calder Cup this past season. McPhee drafted Eakin in 2009, when he was general manager of the Washington Capitals. 

From the Florida Panthers, the Golden Knights selected forward, Jonathan Marchessault. They also acquired via trade, Reilly Smith and the Cats’ 2018 fourth-round pick. Los Angeles Kings defenseman, Brayden McNabb was the next player to join the Golden Knights. 

Connor Brickley of the Carolina Hurricanes was the next player to find out he would be an original member of the Golden Knights. Vegas also acquired Carolina’s 2017 fifth-round draft pick. The Winnipeg Jets then found out they lost forward, Chris Thorburn. Winnipeg also traded their 2017 first-round pick and 2019 third-round pick in exchange for the Golden Knights’ 2017 first-round pick (obtained from the Columbus Blue Jackets).

Philadelphia Flyers forward, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was the next player announced by the Golden Knights. Vegas then selected Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, Jason Garrison. The Golden Knights also acquired the Bolts’ 2017 second-round, 2018 fourth-round and forward, Nikita Gusev. 

In addition to the New York Islanders losing goaltender, Jean-Francois Berube as the selection in the expansion draft, they sent forward, Mikhail Grabovsky, defenseman, Jake Bischoff, a 2017 first-round and a 2019 second-round to Sin City. Western Conference Champions, Nashville Predators, then found out that they lost forward James Neal to the Golden Knights. 

Former Las Vegas Wranglers, of the ECHL, defenseman Deryk Engelland, was the player the Golden Knights selected from the Calgary Flames. Toronto Maple Leafs forward, Brenden Leipsic, who spent most of the past season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL was the next name announced by the Golden Knights. 

Boston Bruins defenseman, Colin Miller was the next player selected by the newest franchise. Ottawa Senators defenseman and San Jose Sharks blueliner were the next two names announced to fill out the original roster in Las Vegas. 

Forwards, David Perron of the St. Louis Blues and Oscar Lindberg of the New York Rangers will be headed to Sin City as members of the original Golden Knights. Edmonton Oilers blueliner, Griffin Reinhart, who spent much of the season in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors was the next name the Vegas management announced on the night. 

The Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks each lost blueliners to the newest franchise, as Alexi Emelin and Clayton Stoner were selected by the Golden Knights. In addition to losing Stoner, the Ducks also sent defenseman, Shea Theodore to Vegas. 

The Golden Knights chose forward, Erik Haula from the Minnesota Wild. The Wild also sent Vegas, Alex Tuch in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2017 or 2018. By choosing to select William Karlsson from the Blue Jackets, the Golden Knights received the contract of David Clarkson, a 2017 first-round pick and 2019 second-round draft pick. 

The Golden Knights selected defenseman, Trevor van-Riemsdyk off the Chicago Blackhawks roster. With the emergence of goaltender, Matt Murray in Pittsburgh it was almost certain that repeat Stanley Cup Champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins would be losing Marc-Andre Fleury to the 31^st franchise. 

After the Golden Knights announced that they selected Fleury as their goaltender, he was given a standing ovation by the crowd at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas also received a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft from the Penguins. 

Fleury told Tappen, “I did not expect that. That is really crazy. Obviously, I am really excited to get this started.”

 

Back-to-back President Cup winner, Washington Capitals, was the final team to lose a player to the Golden Knights. That last player announced was defenseman, Nate Schmidt.  

Teams will be able to begin discussions again with the Golden Knights, starting Thursday. Rosters were frozen on Saturday, June 17 to give Vegas the opportunity to complete their selections. With the 2017 NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, some of the selections may be flipped for picks, or other assets that may help the franchise in their success.

The Golden Knights will open their inaugural season on October 6, against the Stars at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. The home opener will take place on October 10 as the Coyotes help them open the T-Mobile Arena.