Reaves was picked up from Pittsburgh midseason last year, and picked up two assists in 21 games with Vegas. He became a key member of their fourth line and a fan favourite, which is why he is getting nearly three million per season.
Lack will serve as the Devils’ No.3 goalie behind Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid. He spent most of last year in the AHL, where he was 6-7-2 with a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV% in 16 games.
After his three-year contract ended in Detroit, Green decides not to test the free agency market and re-up with the Red Wings. During that three-year stretch, Green ranked 25th among defensemen in goals (29) and 35th in points (104).
Armia was the No.16 overall pick in 2011 and is coming off of his best season in the NHL. The 25-year-old had 12 goals and 17 assists (29 points) in 79 games with the Jets. The big-winger will fill out a role in the Canadiens’ bottom-6.
Mason is entering his second season of a two-year contract that carries a $4.1M cap-hit. The 30-year-old netminder is coming off of a bad 2018 season, having gone just 5-6-1 with a 3.24 GAA and .906 SV% in 13 starts with the Jets. He will battle with Antti Niemi for the backup job behind Carey Price.
Doughty, who will turn 29 in December, is signed through the 2026-27 season. Doughty has played in all 82 games for four straight seasons, ranking eighth among defensemen in points (201) and tied for 16th in goals (43) over that span. Doughty will become the highest-paid blueliner when his extension kicks in.
Zykov led the AHL with 33 goals and added 21 assists (54 points) in 63 games with the Charlotte Checkers. Zykov will battle for a roster spot in Hurricanes’ training camp this fall. He has eight points (4G / 4A) in 12 career NHL games.
Vatrano split his 2018 season between the Bruins and Panthers. The 23-year-old had eight points (5G / 3A) in 16 games with Florida, finishing the year with 10 points (7G / 3A) in 41 games. Vatrano seemed to have found a nice home in Florida and should be a bottom-6 winger with them to start 2019.
Kempny was acquired from the Blackhawks mid-season in 2018. Kempny had seven points (1G / 6A) in 31 games with Chicago and three points (2G / 1A) in 22 games with Washington—10 points (3G / 7A) in 53 games overall. Kempny is a solid second/third-paring defenseman, who will be with the Capitals through the 2022 season.
In his first year with the Capitals, Smith-Pelly had 16 points (7G / 9A) in 75 games. The winger had a -4.7 relative Corsi with Washington and will likely be a fourth liner again in 2019.
Rau had just one assist in three games with the Wild last season. He spent most of the year in the AHL, where he had 50 points (23G / 27A) in 69 games. Rau will push for a roster spot in training camp but will have a tough time cracking one of the deepest rosters in the NHL.
Sheahan was acquired from the Red Wings early in the season, and scored 11 goals with 21 assists (32 points) in 73 games with the Penguins. Sheahan posted a horrible -6.0 relative Corsi with the Penguins, but earned another season with them. He will likely serve as their No.4 centre with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Derick Brassard ahead of him on the depth chart.
Connauton is coming off of his best season in the NHL, scoring 11 goals with 10 assists (21 points) in 73 games with the Coyotes. Connauton averaged just 15:11 TOI/GM, so expect him to serve as a third pairing defenseman again in 2019.
