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Tag: Sign
Vegas Golden Knights Sign Forward Brandon Saad to One-Year Contract
VEGAS (January 31, 2025) – Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced today, January 31, that the team has signed forward Brandon Saad to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2024-25 NHL season worth an average annual value of $1,500,000.
Saad, 32, has appeared in 906 NHL games in his career, most recently with the St. Louis Blues where he signed as a free agent ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. The forward scored 26 goals last season while playing in each of the Blues’ 82 games and has collected a total of 515 points (260 G, 255 A) with a +37 rating across 13 seasons spent in St. Louis, Colorado, Columbus, and Chicago. Saad has scored at least 20 goals in seven seasons and has skated in over 70 games nine times in his career. Since his rookie year with the Blackhawks in 2012-13, the native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ranks third among all American-born skaters in games played during the regular season, while his 260 goals rank 10th.
Saad brings a wealth of additional experience in the postseason, where he won the Stanley Cup twice (2013, 2015) during his seven seasons with the Blackhawks. The 6-1 forward has seen action in 103 games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs while producing 55 points (27 G, 28 A) and a +17 rating while on the ice. Saad’s eight goals during Chicago’s run to the Cup in 2015 finished as the third-highest total among his club.
Chicago drafted Saad in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning pro, the forward spent two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Saginaw Spirit and one year in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Brandon Saad, Forward
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215 lbs.
Age: 32
Shoots: Left
Notes:
-Has played in 906 games during his 13-year NHL career with the Blues (2021-25), Avalanche (2020-21), Blue Jackets (2015-17), and Blackhawks (2017-20, 2011-15), collecting 515 points (260 G, 255 A) with a +37 rating
-Ranks third among American-born skaters in games played since his rookie season in 2012-13
-Scored 26 goals for St. Louis last season while appearing in each of the club’s 82 games
-Named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2016 and finished the 2015-16 campaign with a career-high 31 goals
-Won the Stanley Cup twice with Chicago (2013, 2015) and has recorded 55 points (27 G, 28 A) in 103 games during the postseason
-Finished rookie season as a finalist for the Calder Trophy in 2013 after posting 27 points (10 G, 17 A) in 46 NHL games
-Drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
-Spent two seasons playing in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit and one in the USA Hockey National Team Development ProgramABOUT THE VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Vegas Golden Knights are a National Hockey League franchise owned and operated by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC. Established by Owner and Chairman Bill Foley and his family, the Golden Knights were the most successful expansion franchise in North American professional sports history in 2017-18 and won the Stanley Cup in 2022-23. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights visit vegasgoldenknights.com and follow the team on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
The Vegas Golden Knights have made a big addition to their forward group, signing Brandon Saad to a one-year contract. Saad, who has spent the past few seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Golden Knights lineup.Saad is known for his scoring touch and ability to play in all situations, making him a valuable asset for the Golden Knights as they look to make a deep playoff run this season. The addition of Saad gives Vegas another weapon up front and adds even more depth to an already strong forward group.
Fans can expect to see Saad make an immediate impact for the Golden Knights as they continue their quest for a Stanley Cup. With his proven track record of success in the NHL, Saad is sure to be a key contributor for Vegas this season.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Vegas Golden Knights and their newest addition, Brandon Saad! #VegasBorn #BrandonSaad #NHLFreeAgency
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Vegas Golden Knights, Brandon Saad, NHL, hockey, one-year contract, signing, forward, free agency, Vegas, Golden Knights, new player, sports news.
#Vegas #Golden #Knights #Sign #Brandon #Saad #OneYear #ContractIndiana Fever to sign Natasha Howard in WNNBA free agency
- Natasha Howard is expected to receive a contract near the max with the Indiana Fever
- Howard was selected 5th in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever in 2015
- What this means for the Fever’s pursuit of Satou Sabally and NaLyssa Smith’s role with the team
Natasha Howard is returning to Indiana.
According to a report from ESPN, veteran power forward Natasha Howard will sign with the Indiana Fever for the 2025 season, returning to the team that drafted her 10 years ago.
Indiana originally picked Howard fifth in the 2015 WNBA Draft, and she played two seasons for Indiana before she was traded to Minnesota. Howard turned into a defensive juggernaut after she left Indiana, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. This time around, she will immediately bolster Indiana’s defensive scheme.
Howard will bring a veteran, championship-winning presence to the frontcourt as a three-time WNBA champion — 2017 with Minnesota, and ’18 and ’20 with Seattle. Her 6-2 frame and 10 years of experience make her a perfect pair with Fever center Aliyah Boston, who is going into her third year.
Howard, who is now 33, is coming off a partial season with the Dallas Wings after sustaining a broken foot in the season-opener. That injury kept her out over a month, but it didn’t slow her down on the court when she returned. In 27 games last season, Howard averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game — her second-best season points average of her career.
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What this means for the Indiana Fever and Satou Sabally
This signing also means Howard’s former teammate, Satou Sabally, will likely not be coming to the Fever. Sabally, who was cored by Dallas but is actively looking for a trade out of the franchise, was rumored to be interested in the Fever, but took meetings with New York and Phoenix during the free agency negotiation period.
What this means for NaLyssa Smith’s role with the Indiana Fever
Howard, who will command a near-max salary, will likely slot directly into the 4 spot in the Fever’s starting lineup. This calls into question what the Fever are planning to do with forward NaLyssa Smith, who has been in that spot since she was drafted in 2022. Compared to her first few years on the Fever, Smith had a down year in 2024, averaging 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She was relegated to the bench a couple times in favor of Temi Fagbenle, and she was vocal about her disappointment with the lack of playing time.
The Fever have a couple options with Smith: They could simply keep her on the roster and ask her to accept less playing time coming off the bench in 2025, they could trade her, or they could agree to a contract buyout. Either way, Smith’s role on the team will change dramatically with this signing.
The Indiana Fever are making moves in WNBA free agency, with reports indicating they are set to sign forward Natasha Howard. Howard, a two-time WNBA champion and former Defensive Player of the Year, will bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Fever roster.Howard, who most recently played for the New York Liberty, is known for her versatility on both ends of the court. With her ability to score in a variety of ways and lock down opponents defensively, she is sure to be a valuable addition to the Fever.
Fans of the Indiana Fever can look forward to seeing Howard in action and how she will contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming season. Stay tuned for official confirmation of the signing and more updates on the Fever’s free agency moves. #IndianaFever #NatashaHoward #WNBAFreeAgency
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Indiana Fever, Natasha Howard, WNBA free agency, Indiana Fever signings, Natasha Howard news, WNBA news, Indiana Fever roster, basketball news, sports updates
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