Former UMD Players Cash In

A number of former UMD players signed new pro contracts over the weekend, as NHL free agency opened on Sunday.

One -- defenseman Jason Garrison (2005-2008) -- really cashed in on the league's annual spending spree. Garrison inked a six-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks, one that will pay him $27.6 million.

Garrison spoke with me Monday from Chicago about his new beginning.

He joins another former UMD star, Mason Raymond, on the Vancouver roster. Raymond struggled last season after suffering a serious back injury during Game 6 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, but is expected back on a one-year deal at this point.

Elsewhere, another Garrison teammate at UMD, Matt Niskanen, signed for two more years in Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old Niskanen will make $4.6 million over two seasons, a bargain if he keeps improving like he did in his year-and-a-half in Pittsburgh.

Niskanen's confidence looked shot at times in Dallas. His trade to Pittsburgh appeared to come at a perfect time, as it put him in a different system where he could flourish. The Penguins' style, which is more about puck-moving and skating, seems a much better fit for the former Virginia/MIB Blue Devil.

Another defenseman -- Evan Oberg -- signed a one-year, two-way deal with Tampa Bay. Oberg played three games in the NHL last season, but was a regular for a Norfolk Admirals team that won the Calder Cup title and finished the year winning 45 of its last 48 games.

Forward Tim Stapleton, one of the top scorers in UMD history, is a free agent as of Sunday. He spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets after making the move with the franchise from Atlanta.

Raymond's Big Night

Hope everyone had a great holiday. Regular posting resumes this week. Well, as regular as we get around here.

Third-year pro Mason Raymond continues to impress for Vancouver. The former Bulldog is up to 17 goals after a huge first period Sunday night in Calgary.

Against the rival Flames, Raymond posted his first career hat trick, and he did it the natural way. His three-goal outburst in the first period gave Vancouver a 4-1 lead, and before he chased Flames netminder and Finnish Olympic hopeful Miikka Kiprusoff, Raymond embarrassed the star a little bit.

Watch this incredible goal. Oh, and it's not necessarily the good kind of incredible of you're a Flames fan.



Vancouver won the game 5-1.

In just 39 games, Raymond has set career highs in goal (17) and points (29). It's been a great start for him so far.

• Also, former Bulldog Michael Gergen is playing professionally in Salzburg, Austria. In a message last week, he told me he's enjoyed his move to defense. I have invited Gergen to put together a guest blog for us when he has time.