Van Riemsdyk, Cullen among the free agents joining the old teams

John Tavares is not the only free agent to return to a familiar place.

Several players return to their former teams and in comfortable situations – from James van Riemsdyk back to Philadelphia on the second-richest contract of July 1 to Matt Cullen taking a major pay cut to join the Pittsburgh Penguins, he helped win the Stanley Cup twice. It was not quite the crush that led Tavares to sign a $ 77 million deal with his Toronto Maple Leafs, but familiarity was part of the hustle and bustle of the first day of the day. 39, a free agency of the NHL. Van Riemsdyk said after signing a five-year, $ 35 million deal with the Flyers. "Even though I remember my time before, it's how much they really want to win and they are willing to put the resources in. That pbadion and commitment was a great thing for me." [19659007Uncertainthattherewouldberoomforhimafterhisformerteamre-signedRileySheahanCullensignedaone-yearcontractwiththePenguinsfor$650000aseasonathomeinMinnesotaTomasPlekanecwasawayfromMontrealforjustafewmonthssigningaone-yearcontractwiththeCanadiensfor$225millionaftertradingattheMapleLeafsonthedeadline

Plekanec had been planning since the end of the season to return to Montreal, where his family stayed when he went to Toronto. He will be back at the Bell Center for a contract worth $ 1.25 million in incentive bonuses. The 35-year-old will play his 1,000th regular season game in his familiar blue, white and red uniform next October.

"It was my priority," said Plekanec. "I wanted to come back."

Although Plekanec clearly had a strong connection with Montreal after 14 seasons, David Perron will play for the St. Louis Blues for the third time in his NHL career after signing for $ 16 million for four years. Perron spent his first six seasons with the Blues after taking him to the first round in 2007, he returned as a free player two summers ago, was caught by the Golden Knights in the repechage ago a year and is back with 50 badists and 66 points in Las Vegas.

"Obviously (the Golden Knights) made the right decision with the way David played for them," said Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. "He certainly could have made more money on the market." He wanted to return. "

Thomas Vanek enjoyed his 48 games with the Detroit Red Wings in 2016-17, so much that he wanted to sign with them last July, but they did not have enough salary cap space.When the opportunity was presented this time, the 34 year old winger has opted for a one-year contract and chose Detroit's $ 3 million bid rather than some other options

"I loved it there". "C & # 39 was a good time. I really liked all the culture of the organization and the guys were great. We tried to make it work last year. It did not work, so I'm glad it did it this year.

Nobody says that hockey players can not go home, but there must be mutual interest. It was simple for the Penguins, who lacked something without Cullen in their second round defeat against the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh had attempted to redeem the 41-year-old center at the trading deadline

It was a bit more complicated for the Flyers, who traded Van Riemsdyk to Toronto in 2012 in a one-on-one contract. one for defender Luke Schenn. It was under a previous regime that believed that the left winger of 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds was not strong enough, but the GM Ron Hextall sees a player who checks the boxes for a competitor in the playoffs with a few holes.

"We felt with the adjustment that we needed some size," Hextall said. "We needed to score goals, we need a left winger who comes all around us and I think James felt the same way."

The personality was also present because Flyers management knew van Riemsdyk, who is 29. 2007 helped Hextall make his biggest free agent a splash.

"We know the person – the people in this organization – (and) obviously it helps" , said Hextall

Van Riemsdyk did his homework for captain Claude Giroux, winger Jakub Voracek and recent Flyers players before choosing to return to his first NHL organization. Flyers race affection at the Cup final in 2010.

"I hope we'll have a chance to do something like this in the future," he said on Twitter at http: //twitter.com/SWhyno

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