Patrik Nemeth Signs One-Year Deal, Avoids Arbitration

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NHL

Patrik Nemeth Avoids Arbitration, Signing a $2.5 Million Contract

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey franchise announced Wednesday that the team has signed defenseman Patrik Nemeth to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million. The deal allows the two sides to avoid the arbitration hearing they had scheduled for Saturday morning. The deal also allows Nemeth to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Nemeth was the last player on the Avalanche without a contract going into the new season. The team now has a full roster, with about $12 million in cap space remaining.

Nemeth, 26, ranked fourth among NHL defensemen and led the Avs with a +27 plus/minus rating this past season. That ranking is the highest by an Avalanche player since Alex Tanguay in 2003-04 (+30) and the highest by a Colorado blueliner since Adam Foote in 2002-03 (+30). The Stockholm, Sweden, native also ranked first on the team with 185 blocked shots. He also set career highs in points (15), goals (3), assists (12) and games (68).

“Patrik is a big, physical defenseman who is an important piece of our D-corps,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President / General Manager Joe Sakic. “He plays a significant role on our penalty kill, he blocks shots, and we’re happy to have him back this season.”

The deal is a 40% increase, which is a significant increase in pay for Nemeth. Before this contract, had not made more than $945,000 in one professional season. He was claimed on waivers from the Dallas Stars on Oct. 3 and tallied an assist in his Avalanche debut on Oct. 5 at the New York Rangers. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound rearguard recorded a career-high 11 blocked shots on Dec. 23 at Arizona, the second-most ever by an Avalanche player in a single game.

Patrik Nemeth Contract Debate

There has been some debate for Avalanche fans about Nemeth’s merits in the past 12 months. Many fans assume that he is a shutdown defender that can throw his weight around. Other fans see a player that gave up too many scoring chances and is a liability. Although he led the team in terms of plus/minus, advanced analytics paints a different picture. Out of the defenders on the roster last season, only Anton Lindholm had a worse CF%. Nemeth will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. With the recent signing of Ian Cole, and prospects Cale Makar, Nicholas Meloche, and Conor Timmins waiting in the wing, therefore, his future looks grim wearing Maroon and Blue.