The weekend saw clubs get busy signing recent picks from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft to entry-level contracts.
Aatu Raty, the player I wanted the Florida Panthers to take in the first round, signed with the New York Islanders. Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders nabbed the skilled Finnish forward in the second round with the 52nd overall pick. (Lighthouse Hockey)
The Anaheim Ducks inked three prospects it took in July to deals. Forwards Mason McTavish, a bit of a surprise at number three overall, and Sasha Pastujov, who was taken in the third round (66th overall); and defenseman Olen Zellweger, who went in the second round (34th overall). (The Daily Goal Horn)
The Arizona Coyotes signed Swiss defenseman Janis Moser. Moser was taken in the second round with the 60th overall pick. The Coyotes acquired the pick from the Islanders in the Andrew Ladd deal. (Arizona Sports)
The Philadelphia Flyers signed Finnish forward Samu Tuomaala. Tuomaala, who played for Karpat in Liiga, was selected in the second round with the 46th overall pick. (Broad Street Hockey)
William Eklund, the seventh overall pick and second European taken, signed with the San Jose Sharks. Eklund, a left wing, put up 23 points in 40 games with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League. (Yardbarker)
The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Sebastian Cossa. Cossa went 15th overall and was the first goalie taken in the draft. He posted a 17-1-1 record, 1.57 GAA and .941 save percentage with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. (The Malik Report)
The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Aleksi Heimosalmi and forward Ville Koivunen. Heimosalmi was selected in the second round with the 44th overall pick and Koivunen was taken seven picks later. (Canes Country)
The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Dmitri Kuzmin. Kuzim was chosen in the third round with the 82nd overall pick. He appeared in 46 games for Dinamo-Molodechno last season. (Winnipeg Free Press)
Draftees weren’t the only ones getting signed.
Jason Dickinson inked a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks worth $7.95 million, avoiding arbitration. The Canucks acquired the 25-year-old forward from the Dallas Stars last month. He played 51 games for the Stars last season, putting up seven goals and eight assists. (CBC)
The Red Wings avoided arbitration with forward Adam Erne by is re-signing the RFA forward to a new two-year deal worth around $4.2 million. Erne scored 11 goals in 45 games with Detroit last season. (Winging It In Motown)