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Home , Casey Mittelstadt, Colton Parayko, Connor Mackey, Kevin Shattenkirk, Nico Hischier, Nolan Patrick

Columbus Blue Jackets News Clips June 3‐5, 2017

Columbus Blue Jackets

Cleveland Monsters/Prospects

NHL/Websites PAGE 02: NBCSports.com: ‘No possibility’ 2018 All‐Star Game will be canceled for Olympics PAGE 03: .ca: What NHL Central Scouting says about top 5 North American draft prospects PAGE 07: Sportsnet.ca: The five teams to overcome 2‐0 Final deficits PAGE 09: USA TODAY: Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final nearly perfect for Predators and NHL PAGE 11: Sportsnet.ca: Vegas GM downplays idea of acquiring Ovechkin, Kovalchuk PAGE 13: USA TODAY: For Predators SVP Gerry Helper, Stanley Cup Final has been worth the wait PAGE 15: FanRag Sports: Three surprising NHL teams likely to face salary cap crunch

1 http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/06/02/no‐possibility‐2018‐all‐star‐game‐will‐be‐canceled‐for‐olympics/

NBCSports.com / ‘No possibility’ 2018 All‐Star Game will be canceled for Olympics

By Jason Brough – June 3, 2017

Earlier this week, when Tampa Bay was awarded the 2018 All‐Star Game, it was seen as a further blow to the chances of NHLers participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

That’s because the last three Olympic years (2006, 2010, 2014), there has been no All‐Star Game. For the NHL, it’s been go to the Olympics or host an All‐Star Game.

Today, commissioner Gary Bettman was asked if Tampa’s All‐Star Game could potentially be canceled if the NHL strikes a last‐minute minute deal to go to South Korea.

“No possibility,” Bettman replied, per the Tampa Bay Times. “I think we’ve been about as clear on this subject as we can. The announcement six weeks ago, I reaffirmed that on Monday. I know there’s a lot of people saying, the International Federation, the IOC, even the players’ association, ‘Oh no, this can still happen.’ No it can’t. We’ll be here, looking forward to being here, and the Olympics should not be a concern.”

Still, many will continue to hold out hope until the league’s 2017‐18 schedule is released later this month. After all, there were All‐Star Games in 1998 and 2002, and the NHL went to the Olympics both those years.

The 2018 Winter Olympics run Feb. 9‐25 in South Korea, starting just two weeks after the 2018 ASG is scheduled to be played (Jan. 28).

2 http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl‐central‐scouting‐says‐top‐5‐north‐american‐draft‐prospects/

Sportsnet.ca / What NHL Central Scouting says about top 5 North American draft prospects

By Rory Boylen – June 3, 2017

Most of the talk during the NHL combine and before the first round of the NHL Draft on June 23 will revolve around the top of the class: who will go first overall, or ?

For the first time in a while there is a legitimate case to be made for either of these players to go first to New Jersey. Whereas in most years there is a clear choice at the top, it seems like it really could go either way in 2017.

The 2017 NHL Draft is generally regarded as a weaker crop of prospects than we’ve become used to in recent seasons, but a lot of that could have to do with this competition for No. 1 overall and the lack of a generational talent along the lines of Connor McDavid or . There will still be some significant NHL contributors taken in the first round this year, and we’ll look at five of the most likely to do that below.

Every year, NHL Central Scouting ranks draft‐eligible players in four separate categories: North American skaters, North American goalies, European skaters and European goalies. Players from overseas who spent the season in the CHL, NCAA or USHL are placed in the North American rankings. Here is what Central Scouting said about the top five North American skaters ahead of the combine in Buffalo.

1. NOLAN PATRICK,

The top‐ranked player in the 2017 NHL Draft for a couple years now, the main concern around Patrick is his injury history. He was limited to just 33 games this season and missed Canada's summer world junior camp, the WJC tournament in December and his team's first‐round playoff series loss.

His injury troubles go back further than that, though, as Patrick has played 75 per cent of his team's games just twice since he was 13. The good news is one of those years was in 2015‐16, when Patrick scored 102 points with Brandon and then scored 30 points in 21 playoff games to earn post‐season MVP honours.

He played 76 per cent of Brandon's games in 2014‐15 and was named WHL rookie of the year with 56 points in 55 games.

He's got NHL pedigree as his father, Steve, played 250 games in the league while his uncle, James, played 1,280 games.

Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr: “He has more than proven over the last three years that he is the real deal and will be an impact NHL player. The poise, the presence, the attention to detail, the way he processes and executes plays — everything has been far more precise, far more accurate and a lot quicker this season.”

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2. NICO HISCHIER,

The challenger to Patrick's long‐held top spot, Hischier wasn't considered a top two pick at the start of the year, but up the rankings with an 86‐ season in the QMJHL and a standout performance at the WJC with underdog Switzerland.

Hischier was the runaway rookie of the year in the 'Q', finishing with 23 more points than the second‐ most productive freshman. He had seven points in five WJC games to finish just outside the top 10 in scoring, despite playing two fewer games than any other player around him.

The player Hischier most looked up to and tries to emulate is , which speaks volumes to his focus on the two‐way game, something most prospects struggle with as they move up to the professional ranks. Hischier actually played 15 games in Switzerland's top league with SC in 2015‐ 16, scoring one point – when he was just 16 years old.

Like Patrick, Hischier is a , although he's three inches shorter at six feet tall. He looks set to become the highest‐ever NHL draft pick from his home country of Switzerland, surpassing , who was chosen fifth overall in 2010.

Dan Marr: “Hischier is definitely worth the price of admission. He has a high skill level, but what’s most impressive is the way he competes, his drive and work ethic. He is a player who is first on the forecheck forcing a turnover and when the play transitions, he’s the first player back. He’s in that category as a special player.”

3. , EDEN PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL

Should Mittelstadt get picked in the top four at the NHL Draft, he'd become the highest‐selected player out of Minnesota high school hockey ever, surpassing going fifth overall in 2004.

The six‐foot, 201‐pound centre/winger was the winner of this year's Mr. Hockey Award as the top senior player in the state of Minnesota. Nick Bjugstad (2010), Nick Leddy (2009) and Ryan McDonagh (2007) are three current NHLers who also won the award. of Eden Prairie this season, Mittelstadt led the team with 21 goals and 64 points in just 25 games.

Mittelstadt also played 24 USHL games with the this season and had by far the highest PPG rate on the team with his 30 points. The highest scorer on the team over the full season was 20‐year‐old , who posted 47 points in 60 games.

Mittelstadt styles his game after and Tyler Seguin.

Dan Marr: “Mittelstadt is one of these anomalies that come along every few years [from high school hockey]. We’ve watched him play against his peers in international tournaments and have seen him play in the USHL and at various camps, and he always makes a difference. It doesn’t really matter where he plays because you get the same game from him no matter the environment.”

NHL Top 10 Draft Order

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4. GABRIEL VILARDI, WINDSOR SPITFIRES

One of three Spitfires named to the Memorial Cup all‐star team, Vilardi posted seven assists in four games at the tournament, capping off a championship season for him and his OHL club.

A six‐foot‐two power forward, Vilardi saw his production increase by 12 goals and 23 points in the OHL this season, despite playing 13 fewer games than he did in 2015‐16. Vilardi suffered a knee injury at Canada's under‐18 camp in August that sidelined him for six weeks and an appendectomy in November forced him out of more regular season action.

Despite missing time and playing just 49 games, Vilardi led the Memorial Cup champs in scoring. He's an analytics darling with strong possession numbers.

Dan Marr: “Vilardi is a high‐end possession centre with excellent hockey sense and puck‐handling ability. He plays a very composed game with the puck, using his vision and playmaking ability to influence the game in all three zones. Vilardi excels below the dots in the offensive zone, where he utilizes his size and reach to control the play and generate scoring opportunities.”

5. MICHAEL RASMUSSEN, TRI‐CITY AMERICANS

A huge centre at six‐foot‐five and 215 pounds (the biggest players of these top five), Rasmussen is a scorer with an underrated playmaking ability.

The Surrey, B.C., native enjoyed a big uptick in goals this season, jumping to 32 in 2016‐17 from 18 in 2015‐16. That's good enough for a top 30 spot in the WHL, although he played 50 games – 13 fewer than a year ago.

If you're looking for a little bit of a knock against that production, nearly half of Rasmussen's goals (15) came on the power play, so his even strength production was much more pedestrian.

For a big player, though, Rasmussen is a good, quick skater, which should translate well to the next levels. That combination of size and skating ability down the middle is a valuable asset at the pro levels.

Rasmussen styles his games after a couple of other large centres: and Mats Sundin.

NHL Central Scouting’s John Williams: “He’s playing with much more confidence this season. He’s adapted to playing a bigger role and playing heavy minutes against opponents’ top lines and defence.

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The game has slowed down for him a little bit and he’s just that much more poised. He can take that extra bit of time and understands he can take that time to make plays and score goals.”

6 http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/five‐teams‐overcome‐2‐0‐stanley‐cup‐final‐deficits/

Sportsnet.ca / The five teams to overcome 2‐0 Stanley Cup Final deficits

By Daniel Nugent‐Bowman – June 3, 2017

The are back on home ice facing a nearly monumental deficit.

The Predators became the 51st team in Stanley Cup Final history to lose the first two games of the series, losing 5‐3 in Game 1 and 4‐1 in Game 2 this week. Only five of the previous 50 teams that shared their predicament went on to lift the chalice.

“Teams to take a 2‐0 series lead in a best‐of‐seven #StanleyCupFinal have won the Cup 45 of 50 times in NHL history (90.0%).

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 1, 2017”

The Predators have been unlucky in the series. Most notably, they held the Penguins without a shot for 37 minutes in Game 1, yet still lost. Their fortunes will have to change to get back in the series.

Not all is lost for the Preds, though. Two of the 2‐0 comebacks have happened in the salary cap era. And their Stanley Cup Final opponent would be quite familiar with one of those.

These are the five teams that accomplished what the Predators are hoping to do.

2011

The Bruins entered their series with the Vancouver Canucks as underdogs and the results of the first two games went accordingly. However, the Canucks certainly didn’t manhandle the B’s. Raffi Torres broke a scoreless tie with 18.5 seconds remaining in Game 1 to give Vancouver a 1‐0 victory, while Game 2 required an Alex Burrows overtime goal in a 3‐2 decision.

Once the Bruins returned home, they went from hanging with the Canucks to dominating them. They won 8‐1, 4‐0 and 5‐2 at TD Garden, another narrow loss (1‐0) in Vancouver in Game 5 was the only blemish in Games 3‐6. The Bruins closed out the series with a convincing 4‐0 victory in Game 7, the sole road win of the matchup.

2009

If there’s a team that knows something about overcoming a 2‐0 hole in the championship series, it’s Nashville’s competition. , Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, Marc‐Andre Fleury and the injured Kris Letang remain from the team that dropped the first two games on the road to the Detroit Red Wings and rebounded to win it all.

Like the Bruins‐Canucks battle, this one was a homer series right until Game 7. That’s when grinder Max Talbot scored twice in a 2‐1 win capped off by Fleury’s shuffling shoulder save against Nicklas Lidstrom in the dying seconds. The Penguins’ win was retribution for the 2008 Cup final and prevented the Red Wings from winning back‐to‐back titles, something Pittsburgh is shooting for this year.

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1971

After failing to win their third straight Cup in 1970, the Canadiens returned to the final on the strength of call‐up goaltender Ken Dryden. There, they faced the West Division‐champion Chicago Black Hawks and dropped the first two games away from the Montreal Forum. The Canadiens tied the series in Montreal and the teams exchanged home‐ice wins to force a Game 7.

The Canadiens edged the Black Hawks 3‐2 in a game that saw Chicago coach Billy Reay questionably limit the ice time of stars Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. Dryden won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie the following season.

1966 Montreal Canadiens

The defending Cup champions dropped the first two games at the Montreal Forum, but recovered to win the next four to beat the Detroit Red Wings in six. Henri Richard scored the series‐winning goal in overtime to claim his sixth of an eventual 11 Stanley Cups – an NHL record for a player. Interesting to note: the Conn Smythe Trophy, in only its second year, was awarded to a member of the losing team as Red Wings goaltender Roger Crozier got the nod. A leg injury suffered by Crozier in Game 4, which reportedly limited his mobility, could have been the turning point in the series.

1942 Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs did one better – worse? – by losing the first three games of their series to the Detroit Red Wings, the third coming when they blew a 2‐0 lead to fall 5‐2. But Toronto evened the matchup with 4‐3, 9‐3 and 3‐0 victories, leading to a decisive affair at Maple Leaf Gardens.

The Leafs trailed 1‐0, but fought back to win 3‐1 thanks to two goals from Sweeney Schriner. No other team has ever fallen behind 3‐0 in the Stanley Cup Final and come back to win it all. Just in case the Predators forgot about how much was riding on Game 3 Saturday.

8 https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2017/06/04/nashville‐predators‐fans‐ stanley‐cup‐final‐pekka‐rinne/102483314/

USA TODAY / Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final nearly perfect for Predators and NHL

By Kevin Allen – June 4, 2017

NASHVILLE — Coaches will tell you that there is no such thing as a perfect team performance.

But the Nashville Predators’ 5‐1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final may have come close to being a perfect win in terms of what it meant for the team, Nashville fans, goalie Pekka Rinne and the NHL.

“It was electric here,” Predators forward Craig Smith said.

This was the first Stanley Cup Final game ever played in Nashville, and even during warm‐ups the lower bowl was packed with fans, all standing, all cheering and chanting with as much energy as you will ever witness at a sporting event.

Rinne said when players came into the dressing room after warm‐ups they were all telling each other that they had never seen anything like that.

“And we were all aware how crazy it was outside,” Predators forward James Neal said.

NHL officials have to be pleased with the outcome simply because it is very clear now that this could be a highly entertaining series featuring two energized fan bases.

MORE:

Predators claw back into Stanley Cup Final with Game 3 win over Penguins

P.K. Subban on what Sidney Crosby said after Game 3: 'He told me my breath smelled'

In Pittsburgh, Penguins shirts and signs are everywhere. In Nashville, the buzz about the Predators flows up Broadway. Talk of the Predators fills the honky‐tonks.

“This is giving our fans a chance to be recognized,” Rinne said. “They are on the big stage now. This is a good showcase for the City of Nashville."

On the ice, the Predators played their most consistent, and best game of the series. Defenseman Mattas Ekholm said recently that when the Predators are playing smart and sharply they can beat anybody.

The Predators proved his point in Game 3.

“I think this is for sure saying, ‘We are here to play and we are not out of this by any means,' " Ekholm said.

The Predators are now down 2‐1 in the best‐of‐seven series heading into Game 4 in Nashville on Monday. They are now 8‐1 at home in this postseason.

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“I thought the speed was there, the execution was there,” Ekholm said. “I really thought it was a 60‐ minute game. (Rinne) was unbelievable and every guy took his game to the next level and that is what we needed.”

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were both held without a shot in a playoff game for the first time in their history together.

The Penguins were also 0‐for‐3 on the power play, leaving them 1‐for‐13 on the power play in the series.

“My observation of coaching these guys, is when they have success on the power play, it helps their overall game, their five‐on‐five game,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “It gives them confidence. They feel the puck.

"We haven't had the (power play) success that we would like. We certainly have to figure that out as a group. I believe we will.”

Nashville defenseman led the offensive attack with a goal and two assists.

“He’s as consistent of a player as there is in the ,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said.

But the most important player was Rinne. For the past 48 hours, fans and media have debated whether he should be replaced by rookie Juuse Saros. Rinne had given up eight goals and posted a .778 save percentage in the first two games of the series.

He posted 27 saves in Game 3, including 13 in the second period when the Predators were building a 3‐1 lead.

“There has been no doubt in him at all,” Ekholm said. “But what a way to come back.”

10 http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/vegas‐gm‐downplays‐idea‐acquiring‐ovechkin‐kovalchuk/

Sportsnet.ca / Vegas GM downplays idea of acquiring Ovechkin, Kovalchuk

By Rory Boylen – June 4, 2017

Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee was the centre of attention at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo on Saturday, and while the top prospects in this year’s draft were sweating it out through gruelling tests, McPhee was being grilled by the press about his plans.

Early in the day, McPhee joined Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino and Jeff Marek to discuss how he might approach the Expansion Draft, from the possibility of selecting up to seven goalies to his outlook at the entry draft ahead. You can read more on those questions here.

McPhee also spoke to a larger contingent of media later in the day and was asked specifically about how the Vegas Golden Knights might target star players in the NHL, most likely via trade rather than plucking them off another team’s roster at the draft.

The Golden Knights GM downplayed his team’s need to get a superstar for the nascent franchise.

"The face of our franchise will be our logo," McPhee said. "That's the way we're going to try and do things and be team‐centric. We'll get as many good players as we can, but as we all know it's about building the right team, the right chemistry, all these cliches, but that's real.

"We don’t feel the need to go get names."

He was also questioned about the rumours in Washington about a possible Alex Ovechkin trade. Capitals GM Brian MacLellan made headlines this week when he didn't completely eliminate the idea that Ovechkin could be moved this summer. While MacLellan did say he didn't think a move like that is in the organization's best interests, he left the door open when he said: “Maybe at some point if there’s a legitimate hockey deal that came available."

McPhee, of course, is very familiar with Ovechkin from his time as Capitals GM. He signed Ovechkin to his current contract, which still has four years left with a $9.538 million cap hit, before the team let him go in 2014.

So would the Vegas GM be interested in reuniting with his star player in an effort to get towards the salary cap floor and give the expansion team a push forward?

"That's not going to happen. Too many No. 8 jerseys in Washington," McPhee told Golden Knights beat writer Steve Carp.

That wasn't the only Russian sniper McPhee was asked about. With rumours swirling that Ilya Kovalchuk could return to the NHL, some have wondered if the Golden Knights would make a trade with New Jersey to acquire his rights.

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"We haven’t had any discussion and I don’t imagine we'd go down that path," McPhee said. "We'll be looking for younger players and people who will be with us three to four years from now."

12 https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2017/06/04/gerry‐helper‐nashville‐predators‐stanley‐cup‐ final‐pittsburgh‐penguins/102487418/

USA TODAY / For Predators SVP Gerry Helper, Stanley Cup Final has been worth the wait

Kevin Allen – June 5, 2017

NASHVILLE – When Predators senior vice president Gerry Helper worked in the NHL communications department for four years starting in the late 1980s, he recalls league president John Ziegler saying NHL employees should only “root for sellouts and ties.”

“I loved my time in the league, because I got to work on bigger issues,” said Helper, who oversees the Predators' communications and public relations. “I saw 80 to 100 games per season, but I did miss having a rooting interest in every game. I missed the competition.”

Helper, who started his career with his hometown Buffalo Sabres in 1979, decided in 1991 to return to working with teams. He wanted to be part of group whose objective every year was to try to win the Stanley Cup.

He never could have guessed it would take him 26 more years, and 38 years total, just to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. After a Game 3 win, the Predators trail the series with the Pittsburgh Penguins 2‐1.

“I think I want to be in the Final as badly as the players do,” said Helper, 60, who has been with the Predators since they were founded in 1997.

He prepared for his tenure with the Nashville expansion team by working with the Tampa Bay expansion team from 1991‐97.

“I loved being part of process where you go to a market with a piece of paper (saying you have a team) and nothing else. You have a role in building it from the ground up,” Helper said.

Helper had grown up in the Buffalo area. He was 13 when the Sabres were formed. He was a high school senior when the Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1975 and considered it a “dream come true” when he found himself working right out of college with his heroes such as Gilbert Perreault, Jim Schoenfeld, Don Luce and Craig Ramsay among others.

“Suddenly, I had to ask Gil Perreault to do things and that was intimidating.” Helper said.

He laughs: “I felt like I knew everything. I thought I would never leave Buffalo. I thought this was my job for life.”

In Buffalo, he worked for someone who did actually did know everything – legendary coach Scotty Bowman.

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"I think Scott will season you pretty quickly,” said Predators radio broadcaster Pete Weber who was working in Buffalo when Helper was there.

Weber said he recalls sitting in Helper’s office often as Helper contemplated what new twist Bowman would bring to him that day.

“It was a great learning experience to learn from a guy who had already won multiple Stanley Cups and had his own way of doing things,” Helper said. “Looking back, I saw, heard and learned things that I could not have learned elsewhere.”

Weber joked that Bowman remains a resource for Weber and Helper these days. While Weber was broadcasting a Game 7 against Anaheim in 2016, Bowman reached out to him to tell him to tell “your engineer needs to turn down the crowd noise” because Bowman couldn’t hear Weber’s game‐call clearly.

“After the game, I credited Scotty as an associate producer,” Weber said.

When the Predators were forming, it was Helper who suggested that Weber and Terry Crisp, who coached the Lightning when Helper was in Tampa Bay, would be likable broadcast partners for a fresh market. They were the Predators' TV tandem until Crisp took a reduced role in 2014.

“Having known both of us, Gerry could see there would be good chemistry even though we hadn’t been together,” Weber said. “It was not his call, but it was his push.”

Not counting his time in the league, Helper estimates he has logged about 2,500 NHL games in his career.

“I guess the biggest change has been that (the business) keeps changing,” Helper said. “When I started there was no ESPN, no USA TODAY. It was all about local media. Now all media is national and international because (stories) get out through social media.”

When Helper started, he was younger than some players and now he points out that he’s old enough to be players’ fathers.

He says “even though I have nothing to do with the outcome of games” he has found himself nervous in the Predators’ playoff run. He wants to win as badly as he did when he was with the Sabres as an intern in 1978.

As part of his job, Helper has worked often with Predators general manager David Poile who has been in the NHL since 1973. Helper has advised him on media relations for 19 years.

Poile also is making his first trip to the Stanley Cup Final. “David was as emotional as I’ve seen him after we won Game 7 to get to the Final,” Helper said. “It was nice to share a hug with him. It was a special moment.”

14 https://www.fanragsports.com/nhl/three‐surprising‐nhl‐teams‐likely‐face‐salary‐cap‐crunch/

FanRag Sports / Three surprising NHL teams likely to face salary cap crunch

By Carolyn Wilke – June 5, 2017

This summer we may see something in the NHL that we haven’t seen for years: a flat salary cap.

The last time the salary cap was stagnant was from 2011‐12 to 2013‐14, with a weird blip for the pro‐ rated cap of the post‐lockout 2012‐13 season. Other than that year, it held steady at $64.3 million. Since then, the cap has increased by 7.3 percent (2015), 3.4 percent (2016), and finally for the 2016‐17 season, just 2.2 percent. While the cap has continued to increase, the pace of that growth is obviously slowing.

In 2017‐18, without the NHLPA’s five percent cap escalator, the NHL expects the cap to remain at the same $73 million it was for 2016‐17.

The NHLPA has invariably voted in favor of this artificial inflator over the last few years because it means that any free agent has a better chance of landing a big deal. The thinking is that a higher salary cap gives general managers more flexibility at the negotiating table.

However, that five percent escalator isn’t without drawbacks, and they are finally starting to sting. A higher salary cap means a higher percentage of a player’s paycheck – even for players who aren’t hitting free agency – goes into escrow. After years of seeing larger and larger escrow payments deducted from their salaries, many players are finally voicing their displeasure. The use of the cap escalator, which had been a certainty in years prior, is now very much in doubt.

A flat salary cap isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the sport, but it will force many teams to get creative. While everyone knows the are constantly in cap‐induced peril, this new reality could cause problems in some unexpected places.

Here are three less obvious teams likely to experience salary cap issues this summer.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Projected Cap Space: $2,937,025

Roster size: 21/23

While not the most cap‐stretched team, the Columbus Blue Jackets currently have the fourth‐least projected amount of cap space available. The good news for Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is that he won’t be forced to do much roster tweaking.

The bad news is that two of the players who need to be signed are Alexander Wennberg and Josh Anderson, both restricted free agents. There’s little doubt that they will receive qualifying offers from the team. Both were vital to Columbus’ surprising regular season success.

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While Anderson is a more‐than‐capable bottom‐six forward, Wennberg really broke out this year. He put up a career high of 59 points in 80 games played, and was integral to the Blue Jackets’ power play, where he posted 21 assists. It wouldn’t be crazy to suggest that Wennberg should be offered a long‐ term contract this summer, one that attempts to buy out a few years of free agency.

Of course, those kinds of deals are expensive, which means that $3 million of cap space could be eaten in one fell swoop.

Even losing a player in the expansion draft isn’t likely to provide much relief – netminders Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg need new deals, too. Plus, that doesn’t touch on trying to replace the cheap and productive Sam Gagner, who has already been told he won’t be back in Columbus navy.

Things are already looking dicey in Columbus, and with a flat salary cap, they could get worse before they get better.

St. Louis Blues

Projected Cap Space: $4,458,333

Roster size: 20/23

Unlike Columbus, the Blues have breathing room if they’re heading into the year under a flat cap. Like the Blue Jackets, St. Louis only has a few roster spots to fill, mostly cheap third‐ or fourth‐line forward roles.

But there’s one major stumbling block that will hamper the Blues’ cap flexibility. Key 24‐year‐old defenseman Colton Parayko is a restricted free agent this summer. Make no mistake about it – he will get paid.

After Kevin Shattenkirk’s trade, Parayko was expected to step up and fill his spot. He did so admirably, putting up 35 points in his 81 games played, and posting a 51.4 Corsi For percentage at 5‐on‐5. He also added two more minutes a night to his average ice time over his rookie season.

He capped the 2016‐17 season with a trip to the IIHF World Championship to play for Team Canada, where he drew plenty of praise from the coaching staff and earned a silver medal.

It’s unlikely the Blues will want to give him a one‐ or two‐year bridge deal which could give him the opportunity to earn even more money. Instead, they’ll probably try to sign him to a deal like Seth Jones’ package (six years, $32.4 million). Even on a bridge deal, Parayko could easily command more than $4 million a year.

The expansion draft could provide relief for the Blues, however. If GM Doug Armstrong can swing a deal with Vegas to take Jori Lehtera off their books – perhaps using the first‐round pick gained in the Shattenkirk trade – that would give the Blues much‐needed flexibility to lock up the future of their blue line.

Minnesota Wild

Projected Cap Space: $11,441,409

Roster size: 15/23

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At first glance, the look out of place on this list, with over $11 million in projected cap space, even with a flat cap. But a closer look reveals just how quickly they’ll blow through that $11 million.

First, unlike the other two teams highlighted, the Wild have only 15 players from their roster this year still under contract for 2017‐18. While many of the unrestricted free agents likely to leave this summer are replaceable, the loss of Martin Hanzal still leaves them searching for extra center depth – something notoriously hard to find on the cheap.

Plus, key restricted free agents are looking for new deals, specifically Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, and Erik Haula.

Granlund, 24, came into his own as a two‐way winger this past season. He led the Wild in scoring with 69 points in 81 games. He put up a reasonable 49.5 Corsi For percentage at 5‐on‐5. Niederreiter, also only 24 years old, was fourth on the team with 57 points. He controlled the ice when he was on it, posting an impressive 56.3 Corsi For percentage.

Haula, who was an integral part of the Wild’s depth scoring, split the difference when it came to Corsi, owning a 52.3 percent. He also potted 15 goals and totaled 26 points.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see both Granlund and Niederreiter command over $5 million on their next contracts, and Haula is likely to be extended for at least $1 million. Just those three contracts have already eaten through Minnesota’s projected cap space.

Unlike the Blues, the Wild have far fewer picks to entice Vegas into taking on a burdensome contract. And their abundance of talent also means they’ll be forced to expose a few players that could be major contributors to the brand new Golden Knights, giving them less leverage.

In short, the Wild have a tricky path to navigate this summer should the salary cap stay stuck at $73 million.

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