Rams Sign Four

(AP) Calgary, Alberta

The bidding wars for unrestricted free agents ended earlier today and the Rams' opened the checkbook in spending the most in unrestricted free agent acquisitions this year. In all the Rams committed to a total of $56.7M usd in signing the four. The four signed to the hefty contracts were right winger Alexei Kovalev ($18M 3yrs), center pivot Jason Arnott ($15.75M 3yrs), left winger Simon Gagne ($15.45M 3yrs) and winger Alexei Ponikarovsky ($7.5M 3yrs).
GM Poelker said, "These four are going to make us competitive in the coming season added to the mix of players we already had. While a couple of the contracts raised some eyebrows around Alberta, we feel it was worth it and hopefully all of them will be a big help to the club for the duration of their contracts."
What the GM was referring to was the contacts offered to and accepted by Kovalev & Arnott. Both are getting a bit long in the tooth, Kovalev 35 at the time of signing and Arnott 34. Hopefully both have a few productive years left in the tank. Hopefully for the GM, of course.
While Gagne has had some concussion problems in the past, after some rigorous medical testing prior to the offer(s), it appears those days are behind him. That is, until he takes another head shot...eh
Pony adds some much needed depth and a role player on the wing for the next few years.