Vegas Golden Knights center Jake Leschyshyn (15) shoots and scores during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes at T-Mobile Arena Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022 | 5:24 p.m.
The Golden Knights continue to resolve their remaining contract situations, signing forwards Jake Leschyshyn and Paul Cotter to three-year deals at the league minimum, the team announced Saturday.
The league minimum is structured at $775,000 this season. Leschyshyn's contract is a one-way deal, according to trusted contract source PuckPedia, meaning he will make the same salary regardless if he's on the Golden Knights or begins the season with AHL Henderson.
Cotter's contract is a one-way deal in the last two years of the extension. He was entering the final year of his entry-level deal signed in 2018.
Leschyshyn, who was a restricted free agent this summer, played 41 games in his first season as a member of the Golden Knights. The 2017 second-round pick had six points shuffling around as a bottom-six option. Cotter played seven games and made his NHL debut last season, scoring his first NHL goal in his second ever game, Nov. 11 against Minnesota.
With the current unknown of the Vegas roster, Leschyshyn will once again compete for a roster spot. Cotter, who showed flashes in his limited time, is likely to start with the Silver Knights. He's been a strong training camp standout before.
Leschyshyn's signing leaves just defenseman Nic Hague as the long restricted free agent left to be signed. The Golden Knights find themselves in a much better position to sign the 23-year-old blue liner to a new deal. Vegas has about $2 million in cap relief to work with, but could have more once goalie Robin Lehner likely goes on long-term injured reserve after the team announced he would undergo hip surgery that would sideline him for the entire 2022-23 season.
Training camp begins Sept. 21.
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
