Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Colorado Avalanche News

The Sharks signed Brent Burns to a eight-year deal worth $64 million ($8.0M AAV).

Burns is a special player and that forced the Sharks to sign him to the longest contract in franchise history. Burns will be 32 in March, so he will be 40-year-old in the final year of his contract, which isn’t ideal, but was necessary to get him signed. After a historic 2015-16 season, Burns has picked up 16 points (7G / 9A) in 19 games, to put him on pace for a career-high 30 goals and 38 assists (68 points)

Brent Burns
Schwartz (elbow) returned to the ice on Friday.

Schwartz, who hyperextended his left elbow in practice back on September 29th, was originally expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks (end of October), skated today for the first time since suffering the injury. However, Schwartz remains on his original timetable, but it is still encouraging to see that he is making progress.

Jaden Schwartz
The Blues signed Jaden Schwartz to a five-year deal wirth $26.75 million ($5.35M AAV) on July 15th.

Schwartz, 24, missed 49 games in 2015-16 after fracturing his ankle in October, but still finished with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 33 games. The injury was frustrating for his fantasy investors, who were expecting another 25-goal, 60-point season out of him. Schwartz comes into 2016-17 with that kind of potential and should be drafted as a 60-point player with the potential for 30 goals.

Jaden Schwartz
The Avalanche signed Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year deal worth $44.1 million ($6.3M AAV).

MacKinnon, 20, was the first overall pick in 2013 and is coming off of three strong seasons to start his NHL career. In 2015-16, MacKinnon had 21 goals and 31 assists (52 points) in 72 games. He has missed 28 games over the three years, but has scored at a strong pace—22 goals, 35 assists per 82 games. Entering his age 21 season, expect MacKinnon to take another step forward.

Nathan MacKinnon
The Maple Leafs have signed Nazem Kadri to a six-year deal worth $27 million ($4.5M AAV).

Statistically Kadri didn’t have the greatest season but the Maple Leafs were impressed with his development and have inked him to a very reasonable six-year extension. Kadri will look to build off of his 2015-16 season where he had 17 goals and 28 assists (45 points) in 76 games. This raise should also help him pay for all those fines that seem to be adding up.

Nazem Kadri
Kadri has been suspended for four games for his cross-check on Luke Glendening.

Kadri was assessed a two-minute minor on the play, but has been suspended for the final four games of the regular season. Kadri finishes the season with 45 points (17G / 28A) in 76 games. Tyler Bozak will take over as the team’s top line centre.

Nazem Kadri