Fansided

NHL Free Agency: Grading the Golden Knights’ signings

By Jeremy Lambert

WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - MAY 20: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates with teammates after scoring a second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell MTS Place on May 20, 2018 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 28: Ryan Carpenter #40, Alex Tuch #89 and Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 28, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 28: Ryan Carpenter #40, Alex Tuch #89 and Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals in Game One of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 28, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Kept Offensive Depth

Re-signed Ryan Reaves to two-year contract, $2.7 million AAV

A lot will be made of how much money Vegas gave Reaves. He’s a fourth-line guy who scored 10 points in 79 games for the Penguins and Knights last season. He’s been a below average possession player in each of the last five season. He scored two goals in the playoffs and was a healthy scratch for Game 5 of the Finals.

Should any team be paying nearly $3 million a season for a fourth-line player who may be a healthy scratch throughout the season? Of course not. But Vegas had money to play with, and it’s only a two-year deal. They didn’t hurt their long-term cap space with this deal and they obviously think highly of Reaves. If he’s a good guy in the locker room and they like him as an enforcer who sticks up for his teammates, more power to them. They could have found a similar player for cheaper, but again, they have money to burn and the term is more than reasonable.

Plus, as bad as this deal look, it’s like a four on the Zach Parise scale. Tomas Tatar and his $5.3 AAV until 2021 is like an eight. I’m just excited for the game where the Knights have over $8 million sitting up in the press box.

Think of this as Vegas rewarding the guy who scored the game-winning goal that sent them to the Finals. And the game-tying goal in their only Finals victory. Each goal was worth $1.35 million. Sometimes, the house in Vegas is friendly.

Grade: C

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