There was at least one named player who joined a new team today. For the first time in his Hall of Fame NHL career, one player will be heading west. In addition, another player heads from the desert to the Big Apple while another former NHLer heads overseas to continue his career.
Stars lasso Jagr, Roy and Whitney
With everyone so enamored with the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter races, the Dallas Stars reached for a few good men to help them improve on their record that had them six points outside the playoff race last season. For the first time in his NHL career, Jaromir Jagr is heading to the Western conference. Having previously played with Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia, Jagr could feel like that baseball player who played his entire career in the National League then moving to the American League late in his career. The eighth-highest scoring player in NHL history signed a one-year deal at $4.55 million this season. The 40-year-old scored 19 goals and 35 assists in 73 games with the Flyers in 2011-12.
He joins fellow 40-year-old Ray Whitney on the Stars payroll. The Stars signed Whitney to a two-year, $9 million deal Sunday. He’s still serviceable as he was a second-team NHL All-Star last season. The Stars also boosted their roster via trade when they dealt Steve Ott and Adam Pardy to Buffalo in return for Derek Roy. Roy will come in to compete for the top-line center role that was previously filled by Mike Ribeiro. Ribiero was traded to Washington June 22.
Pyatt Leaves Coyotes for Rangers
One of the key pieces from the Western conference finalist Phoenix Coyotes will be wearing blue instead of red this season. Tyler Pyatt, who scored four goals in 16 playoff games last season has signed with the New York Rangers. Pyatt, 30, will receive a two-year deal worth $3.1 million according to TSN. He’s played the last three seasons with the Coyotes and his stat line read 9-10-19 in 73 games last season. The New York Islanders first round pick in 1999 has played 755 NHL games, and scored 130 goals along with 134 assists for 264 points. He’s also recorded 404 penalty minutes.
Raycroft Takes Talents to Italy
After bouncing back and forth between Dallas and their AHL affiliate Texas Stars, Andrew Raycroft will hone his craft in Italy this season after signing a contract with Milano Rossoblu. Milano Rossoblu earned promotion from Serie A2 to the top-tiered league Serie A last month. The 2004 Calder Award winner hasn’t captured the success in goal since his rookie season with Boston. He’s played for five teams in his 11-year NHL career and has a record of 113-114-21 with 10 ties in 280 games. Last season with Dallas, the 32-year-old went 2-8-0 with a 3.52 GAA before being placed on waivers December 28.