Sens Sign 3

[Man.Utd]

SENATORS SIGN TRIO OF PLAYERS TO ONE-YEAR DEALS
Club inks Steve Martins, Tomas Malec and Brett Clouthier

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators today announced they have signed centre Steve Martins, left-winger Brett Clouthier and defenceman Tomas Malec to one-year contracts.

In 2004-05, Martins played with JYP Jyvaskyla of the Finish Elite League. The 33-year old collected 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points in 54 games. Martins last skated in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues during the 2003-04 season. The Gatineau, Que., native recorded one goal and 22 penalty minutes in 25 games with St. Louis while also picking up 13 points (4-9) in 22 games with the Blues? American Hockey League affiliate, the Worcester IceCats.

Martins has collected 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 career points in 263 NHL games with Ottawa, St. Louis, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Islanders. In his two previous stints with the Senators (1998-99 to 2000-01 and 2001-02 to 2002-03), he recorded eight goals and six assists for 14 points in 66 games.

Clouthier, 24, joins the Senators organization after splitting the 2004-05 season between the Albany River Rats of the AHL and Augusta Lynx of the East Coast Hockey League. He picked up four assists and 168 penalty minutes with Albany and another two points (1-1) and 14 penalty minutes with Augusta. The Ottawa native was originally the New Jersey Devils' second-round pick (50th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Malec, 23, skated last season with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL. The Skalica, Slovakia, native picked up four goals, 14 assists, 18 points and 104 penalty minutes in 66 games. Over parts of two seasons (2002-03 and 2003-04), he has played in 43 NHL career games with Carolina, earning two assists and 45 penalty minutes to his credit. Malec was the Florida Panthers' third-round pick (64th overall) in the 2001 NHL draft.

[Man.Utd]

A bit late, but I feel these guys deserve their own thread as there are three of them and two of have a legit shot to stick with the big club IMO.

I really like all these signings. I can only assume all have signed for (or close to) the league minimum. All will be on two-way deals unless Muckler's lost it.

- Steve Martins is a good local boy (Gatineau) with tons of heart who is great on the draw and PK and brings a solid veteran presance to the table. He's also played in Ottawa before so he's firmiliar with the organization. We have an opening at 4th line C, so he and Kelly will compete for that role with the better playing getting a spot with the big club. Loser plays (and for my money captains) Bingo.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=1675&hubName=

- Brett Clouthier is also from the Ottawa area. He's a good signing just to keep the guys in Binghamton happy. A goon really but one of the best at the AHL level. He's 6'5, 230lbs so he's a monster. I still remember his days in the OHL for nearby Kingston. This kid was one of the best OHL fighters I've ever seen. I can only assume he kept the trend. For a guy who'll be playing on the farm and not couting against the cap it's a great way to keep fans in Binghamton entertained. Which begs the question, did Ottawa ink him to a deal so he can replace Gratts as Bingo's enforcer? Simple logic dictates that it'll be McGratton in Ottawa if we promote a fighter for the big club. And judging by some of the hints dropped in recent interviews by Muckler/Murray we may very well be taken such a course of aciton. I certainly wouldn't be opposed. McGratton is definatly tough enough to be in the NHL (set AHL record for PIM's, crushed all takers, big guy who has good enough skills for his role) but I do worry about his skating ability. However, Murray has stated he won't roll 4 lines the way Martin did. The idea is to see his skilled guys get more playing time. So McGratton won't be able to be exploited too often if he ends up here.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=1948&hubname=NJ

- Tomas Malec is the one I'm most exicted about. I've talked about him in the "What's Up" thread. Top-4 potential some day if everything goes right. May very well be ready for NHL duty now over guys like Pothier but he needs to find some consistancy. Big, fast, strong, mean, and solid at both ends of the ice Malec is a frustrating player from the sounds of it. The machiene doesn't seem to equal the sum of it's parts. That reminds me of former Ottawa defenseman Jason Doig....

http://tsn.ca/nhl/teams/player_bio.asp?player_id=2428&hubname=ANA

[Madferret]

How does it work with these guys now with clearing waivers? This is what the third time that Ottawa has signed Martins, and each time he has cleared waivers and picked up by other teams (Dallas then St. Louis IIR).
Somone CBA me on the issue of clearing waivers / 2 way contracts etc etc etc...

http://www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/blahblah.gif

[Man.Utd]

The waiver draft is no more. Two-way deals only count towards the salary cap if the player dresses for X amount of games with the NHL team. Not sure what that number is though,