Florida Panthers restricted free agent forward Aleksi Heponimei has signed a one-year contract to play for EHC Biel-Bienne of the Swiss National League. Heponiemi appeared in ten games (1G/2A) with the Cats and produced 43 points in 62 games with the AHL Charlotte Checkers last season.
Philipp Kurashev and the Chicago Blackhawks went to arbitration yesterday as the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a new contract. According to reports, the 23-year-old Kurashev filed a request for a one-year contract worth $2.65 million. Chicago’s offer would pay him $1.4 million per season for the next two years. As this was a player elected hearing, the team will choose the term, either one or two years. The arbiter will make a decision on the new contract within 48 hours of the hearing, with the walkaway number being $4,538,958.
There is a hearing scheduled today between the Toronto Maple Leafs and restricted free agent goaltender Ilya Samsonov. The Maple Leafs are reportedly asking for a $2.4-million salary to be awarded, while the 26-year-old Samsonov is looking to get paid $4.9 million. Samsonov went 27-10-5 in 42 games and posted a career-high .919 save percentage. Seems the low-balling Leafs are way off here. Whatever the arbitrator’s decision is, the contract can only be fore one year deal because Samsonov is 26-years-old and only one year away from unrestricted free agency.
Speaking of the Leafs, the club added former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher and former Florida Panthers defenseman Mike Van Ryn as assistants to head coach Sheldon Keefe.