SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/16/2021 Red Wings 1217326 Patrik Laine, , Jake DeBrusk and 12 other 1217349 Ex- goalie on Matiss young forwards the Ducks might target Kivlenieks: 'Michigan was his 2nd home' 1217350 Detroit Red Wings' 2021 NHL draft: How Bruins could land a Hughes brother 1217327 Should the Kraken target the Bruins’ Trent 1217351 Decisions on which players to protect (or not) loom for Frederic or Jeremy Lauzon in the ? Red Wings in expansion draft 1217328 Bruins re-sign defenseman Brandon Carlo to six-year 1217352 Red Wings to host NHL Entry Draft party at Little Caesars extension Arena 1217329 Why Carlo's new contract with Bruins is huge win for both 1217353 Manny Legace pays tribute to Columbus goalie killed in sides Novi fireworks accident 1217330 Bean: Here's who the Bruins should protect from 1217354 Small, speedy William Eklund could provide Red Wings expansion draft with scoring, energy 1217331 BHN Puck Links: NHL Rumors; Yandle; Bruins And 1217355 One-time Red Wings’ free-agent targets , Zach Hall Close? Parise being bought out 1217332 Haggerty: Carlo Deal A Good Start For 1217356 Tyler Bertuzzi, UFA updates: What I’m hearing about the |BHN+ Red Wings offseason 1217333 ‘Absolute physical machine’: Kevan Miller retires, Brandon Carlo re-signs as the Bruins’ right side evolves Oilers 1217357 OILERS NOTES: Will Tyler Benson be the Seattle Flames Kraken's expansion pick? 1217334 Flames bring back Brett Ritchie on one-year deal 1217358 Lowetide: Oilers must apply lessons from previous drafts in 2021, from intel gaps to trade opportunities 1217335 Former high school player’s lawsuit against the Chicago Panthers Blackhawks may hinge on a ‘smoking gun,’ but attorney 1217359 Hot Seat scale: Ranking 10 coaches in South Florida 1217336 Caleb Jones: 5 things to know about the defenseman the market by most to least job pressure Chicago Blackhawks picked up in the trade 1217360 Panthers buy out maligned defenseman Keith Yandle with 1217337 Why Blackhawks should make serious run at Blue NHL Expansion Draft in mind Jackets' Jones 1217361 Panthers buy out Yandle, re-sign Forsling and Duclair 1217338 What I’m hearing about Max Shalunov and the rest of the 1217362 sign Anthony Duclair, Gus Forsling to Blackhawks’ offseason new contracts 1217363 Florida Panthers buyout final two seasons of Keith Yandle Avalanche contract 1217339 Avalanche trades expansion-draft target Ryan Graves to 1217364 NHL Trade Market Set To ‘Explode’; , Shea New Jersey for a Russian forward and draft pick Weber | FHN+ 1217340 Why the Avalanche traded Ryan Graves to the Devils ahead of the Kraken expansion draft 1217341 Avalanche send Ryan Graves to New Jersey for pick, 1217365 Prospect Profiles – Dylan Guenther & Mason McTavish prospect 1217342 Avalanche’s cap space will be less than $81.5 million in 2021-22 1217366 Bill Guerin's transformation of Wild continues with Zach 1217343 Ryan Graves traded to ; Here’s what it Parise, Ryan Suter buyouts means for the Avs moving forward 1217367 sad Wild career ‘ended with a little bit of a 1217344 Landeskog, Avs indeed are “far apart” bitter taste’ 1217368 Projecting Kevin Fiala’s next contract now that the Wild cleared a lot of salary cap space 1217345 Blue Jackets' Matiss Kivlenieks memorialized with tears, laughter and memories 1217346 ‘He died as a hero’ — Matiss Kivlenieks remembered by 1217369 Montreal Canadiens could miss next Blue Jackets players, coaches as prankster with mischiev season due to lingering injuries 1217370 Growing pains limited Canadiens blue-liners Romanov, Kulak in 1217347 Stars goalie agrees to waive no-movement 1217371 Stu Cowan: Weber adds another wrinkle to Canadiens' clause for expansion draft off-season plans 1217348 Ben Bishop waives his no-movement clause. What does it mean for the Stars’ offseason and the expansion draft? Maple Leafs 1217372 Shea Weber’s career-threatening injuries could cause 1217403 Zach Hyman wants to stick with Maple Leafs but the offers cap-recapture pain for the Predators are rolling in 1217373 A top free agent with interest in the Predators? Matt 1217404 Leafs' Zach Hyman exit strategy taking shape with trade of Duchene as Kraken bait? Replacing ? his rights being explored 1217374 Should the Predators be worried about Weber’s injury situation? Canucks 1217409 Canucks top 10 prospects: Mike DiPietro primed by New Jersey Devils practice, but needs to play 1217375 Devils get Ryan Graves in trade with Avalanche for Mikhail 1217410 Canucks a 'front-runner' to sign Hyman, also interested in Maltsev, draft pick Schwartz: reports 1217376 Devils snag Ryan Graves in trade with Avalanche 1217377 Devils mailbag: Jack Hughes’ progress? Nico Hischier overrated? Potential additions? 1217405 Afternoon Roundup: Trade Rumors, Buyouts and More Coming 1217378 Are the NY Rangers preparing to protect forward Colin Capitals Blackwell in the expansion draft? 1217406 Capitals release 6-game preseason schedule 1217379 Should the Rangers trade for ? Or 1217407 Alex Ovechkin’s contract? Ryan Suter buzz?: What I’m Ryan Reaves? Is Pavel Buchnevich done in New York? hearing about the Capitals’ offseason Websites 1217380 -scoring wing requests trade, would OK a Flyers deal 1217411 The Athletic / NHL Trade Big Board: Eichel, Jones, Tarasenko and … Stamkos? 25 players who could be dealt 1217381 Penguins GM Ron Hextall faces 'tough decisions' with 1217412 The Athletic / ‘I’m going to go No. 1’ — William Eklund’s next week's expansion draft drive to achieve his NHL dream boosted by his off-ic 1217382 Mark Madden: Penguins' protected list should leave out 1217413 .ca / NHL Rumour Roundup: Landeskog Jared McCann, Marcus Pettersson 'disappointed' he hasn't re-signed with Avalanche yet 1217383 Penguins A to Z: Valtteri Puustinen finally takes his 1217414 Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Canucks' on the 1217384 Which players should the Penguins protect? Three expansion draft, busy off-season Post-Gazette staffers play GM 1217415 Sportsnet.ca / Sportsnet’s 2021 NHL Draft Prospect 1217385 Penguins’ 2021 offseason grades: Teddy Blueger signs Rankings: Final Edition 2-year deal 1217416 TSN.CA / Keith trade a reminder that timing is everything 1217386 Update: Source Confirms Penguins Serious Interest in Hyman 1217387 Penguins Among Teams that Called about Zach Hyman, 1217408 How Winnipeg could use the expansion draft to find its Report next 1217388 Suter, Landeskog & More; the Penguins Chances & Needs for Pending UFAs 1217389 Whirlwind of News, Rumors, Action before Expansion SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 Draft 1217390 Sharks re-sign Dylan Gambrell as expansion draft plans become a bit clearer 1217391 Sharks have same Cup odds as team currently without players 1217392 Sharks want to sign a veteran center, but will they have the cap space? Who are the realistic targets? 1217393 Why Did Gambrell Cost Sharks So Much? 1217394 LOCKED ON SHARKS / What Are Some Realistic Sharks’ Trade Values? 1217395 Sheng’s Daily: 25 Players Who Could Be Traded This Off-Season Seattle Kraken 1217396 How the NHL’s latest signings, trades and buyouts impact the Kraken expansion draft St Louis Blues 1217397 Blues overflowing with goalies, but could still draft one 1217398 All of your Vladimir Tarasenko trade questions, last-minute expansion debate and offseason options: Blues mail 1217399 Did the Lightning, Rays just give Tampa Bay its greatest sports day ever? 1217400 Breaking down the Lightning’s expansion protected list, who they might lose and side deals to be made 1217401 How can the Buccaneers win another Super Bowl? Study how the Lightning pulled off another win 1217402 Tampa Bay’s tale of two titles: In 2021 Stanley Cup run, Lightning and community find what was missing in 2020 1217326 Anaheim Ducks Ah … if. Let’s see if Murray will do it, when it comes to setting the table for 2021-22.

Jake DeBrusk, LW, Boston Patrik Laine, Jonathan Drouin, Jake DeBrusk and 12 other young forwards the Ducks might target Age: 24

Contract status: One year left with $3.675 million cap hit, $4.85 million salary in 2021-22 By Eric Stephens 82-game average: 23 goals, 23 assists, 46 points, 15:24 TOI, 186 shots Jul 15, 2021 on goal

Why he should intrigue you: One gets the feeling that there is still a lot of In 2020-21, Rickard Rakell forced goalies to make stops on 144 of his untapped potential within DeBrusk. He has a 27-goal season in his bag shots. That ranked 45th among NHL players. That’s not a bad mark and should be hitting his stride in his fifth NHL campaign. It makes sense when looking across a 31-team league (now 32). Consider that Brad for the Bruins to move him to the opposite conference if they do. Marchand, now the preeminent left wing in the game, put 143 shots on Why he scares you: Inconsistency has been a hallmark of DeBrusk’s goal. time with the Bruins. In Boston coach ’s mind, the winger The horrific part of Rakell’s season is that only 6.3 percent of his shots has been a passenger on too many nights. DeBrusk owned up to his went over the goal line. That was by far his career-worst mark and a 180- shortcomings after a bad 2020-21 season. “I need to revamp some stuff,” degree shift from when he scored on 18.6 percent of his shots in his 33- he told reporters. “I dealt with a lot of negativity as well.” goal breakout season five years ago. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Montreal

Why are we highlighting this, especially when Rakell isn’t the only reason Age: 26 the Ducks had the league’s worst offense this past season? Well, Rakell was the only Anaheim player to get more than 100 shots on net. And Contract status: Two years left with $5.5 million cap hit, $5.5 million that’s ugly when you’re talking about that side of the game. salary in 2021-22.

Of course, there were only 56 games instead of 82, but the Ducks were 82-game average: 14 goals, 34 assists, 48 points, 16:14 TOI, 57.8 CF%, the only team with just one 100-shot player. Max Comtois was next with 160 shots on goal 94 and his 17-percent finish rate helped him lead Anaheim with 16 goals. But shot generation wasn’t their thing. Why he should intrigue you: The Ducks once looked hard at acquiring Drouin when he was with Tampa Bay. A fresh start could be best for him Truth be told, it hasn’t been for a while. The Ducks were last in shots on and that’s going to happen somewhere. When he’s on, Drouin is a goal with 26.8 per game. Two years ago, they were 27th. The season dynamic offensive player who has worked hard at improving his before? Dead last again. Going back to last year’s truncated schedule, defensive game over the years. He has a three-team no-trade list, so the no other team had fewer than three 100-shot players. Some had as many Canadiens have options as to who they could deal him to. as nine. Why he scares you: Despite his desire to succeed for his hometown There are varying elements to account for. Some teams have a more team, Drouin has struggled at times under the glare and intensity of the offense-friendly system, some do not. Some coaches encourage their Montreal market. It isn’t clear why he took a leave of absence from the players to shoot from anywhere, while some prefer that their players look Habs and missed out on their run to the Stanley Cup Final, and it may more for high-percentage chances. Some teams have more power plays never be clear. But that could give pause to some GMs. than others. (In the Ducks’ case, every other team does.) Some simply have more talent than others. Christian Dvorak, C, Arizona

All of the above might apply to the Ducks, but the last one might define Age: 25 where they are now. When it comes to their forwards, this club proudly Contract status: Four years left with a $4.45 million cap hit, $5.075 million wears a “two-way player” badge. The problem is, those so-called two- salary in 2021-22 way players don’t get it done often enough in the way of the shot clock and the scoreboard. At last check, the next and two All- 82-game average: 18 goals, 22 assists, 40 points, 134 shots on goal, Star linemates haven’t walked through the doors in Anaheim. 51.5% faceoffs, 16:31 TOI

If next season isn’t about taking a run at next year’s loaded top part of Why he should intrigue you: The signals out of Arizona that GM Bill the draft – and general manager Bob Murray is much too much an old- Armstrong may want to break up the core and start another rebuild have school competitor to purposely dump a year – then this summer is when not faded. Dvorak is a hard-working, effective two-way pivot who does a the Ducks must upgrade their roster to have a fighting chance in a Pacific lot of things well and has a sneaky shot that can beat goalies clean from Division that shouldn’t be near as treacherous as what they dealt with time to time. last season. There’s Vegas and … and … and … maybe Edmonton? Why he scares you: A reality in which Dvorak is really more of a nice No. A path to being competitive is there. The Ducks have, per Cap Friendly, 3 center than a No. 2. Not that it’s bad, but the Ducks need more than over $22.5 million of salary-cap space – and that’s not counting the ability another third-line center when it comes to producing offense. The cost for to put ’s $6.875 million on long-term injured reserve for one a center with team control until 2025 could be sky-high. final year. Sure, they have to pay some of their own players but that Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo won’t eat up a majority of that available room. There could also be a fertile market of offensive producers. Age: 24

A -producer in the 19-to-24-year-old range who is already getting it Contract status: Five years left with $10 million cap hit and salary through done at the NHL level is on the Ducks’ wish list. That player would be put 2025-26 with a growing potential new core. Those players are usually under lock and key. But this might be the rare summer in which a few can be on the 82-game average: 30 goals, 48 assists, 78 points, 290 shots on goal, move, perhaps quite a few, with many teams trying to get under an $81.5 20:19 TOI, 10.5% shooting million flat cap. (Buyouts of high-priced veterans are already underway.) Why he should intrigue you: Eichel is a legitimate No. 1 center. The Here are 15 forwards to whom the Ducks might give at least a passing Ducks need that, at least until Trevor Zegras completes an ascent to the thought. Some deserve much more than that. Since the last two seasons role. Either way, that’s a potential one-two playmaking punch to throw at have been abbreviated, we went with what their career statistics would teams. He’d be an instant upgrade over what they currently have. look over an 82-game average. Not all of them will play a full season. Why he scares you: He’s a $10-million player whose literal pain in his Few have. But it’s an idea of what Anaheim might get if they acquired neck could damage the club if he doesn’t fully recover. He puts up some one. numbers but never plays like a top-10 player. And can you imagine the Sabres not taking no for an answer when it comes to a huge return lapses in situational play? Troy Terry might score 15 goals and 40 points package including Zegras and the Ducks grudgingly saying yes? on just $1.45 million. Meanwhile, Labanc checks in at $5.875 million in real cash for the final two years. Warren Foegele, LW, Carolina Patrik Laine, RW, Columbus Age: 25 Age: 23 Contract status: Pending RFA with arbitration rights, just finished one- year, $2.15 million deal Contract status: Pending RFA with arbitration rights, just completed two- year, $13.5 million deal 82-game average: 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, 13:20 TOI, 136 shots on goal 82-game average: 35 goals, 28 assists, 63 points, 17:30 TOI, 233 shots on goal, 15.0% shooting Why he should intrigue you: Foegele has size and uses it. He’s hard on pucks and wins board battles. He’s also looking to carve out a bigger role Why he should intrigue you: There may be no better pure goal-scorer and may want to do it apart from the deep Hurricanes. Qualifying him who could realistically be on the move. Laine shoots in volume and is could be a tough decision and the Canes may decide to move him and accurate when he lets it rip. The Ducks did just fine in getting another get something in return before it comes to that. young Finnish sniper long ago.

Why he scares you: Foegele has zero power-play points in his three full Why he scares you: Things ended badly in Winnipeg and didn’t get any years with Carolina. Is that a reflection of the Canes having other options better in Columbus. Based on what he’s done before last season, he will to turn to on the power play? Or is that a reflection of Foegele being a want to get paid. A lot. And his recent comments to a Finnish media third-line winger at best? He can play a checking role but that might be outlet suggest (or scream?) that he’d prefer a system to fit around him where he tops out. rather than him fitting into one.

Conor Garland, RW, Arizona Sean Monahan, C, Calgary

Age: 25 Age: 26

Contract status: Pending RFA with arbitration rights, just finished a two- Contract status: Two years left with a $6.375 million cap hit, $6.125 year, $1.55 million deal million salary in 2021-22

82-game average: 23 goals, 25 assists, 48 points, 17:55 TOI, 205 shots 82-game average: 28 goals, 33 assists, 61 points, 18:17 TOI, 50.2% on goal, 11.5% shooting faceoffs, 194 shots on goal

Why he should intrigue you: There is a bit of pitbull in Garland that the Why he should intrigue you: You can’t say he hasn’t put up numbers. His Ducks can use. Tenacious and feisty, Garland gets under the skin of 10.2 percent shooting was a career-low, and he could be due to progress opponents and has shown that he has enough skill to beat them on the back to his 14.5 average. He has 61 power-play goals over his eight scoreboard. seasons. The cost might be prohibitive, but he’d be an upgrade.

Why he scares you: It seems odd that the Coyotes would consider Why he scares you: Turning 27 in October, Monahan is at the higher end dealing a gritty forward who developed under them but he’s due a huge of the age scale and there’s a question if we’ve already seen the very raise. He’s not a big guy and his in-your-face game might wear him down best of him. Last year (10 goals, 28 points) was a nightmare. Even in his over the long haul. 34-goal, 82-point career year, it never seemed as if he was a no-doubt No. 1 center. Can he thrive apart from ? Travis Konecny, LW/RW, Philadelphia Nolan Patrick, C, Philadelphia Age: 24 Age: 22 Contract status: Four years left with $5.5 million cap hit, $5.25 million salary in 2021-22 Contract status: Pending RFA, just finished one-year deal worth $874,125 82-game average: 22 goals, 29 assists, 51 points, 172 shots on goal, 15:20 TOI, 12.8% shooting 82-game average: 12 goals, 17 assists, 29 points, 14:06 TOI, 124 shots on goal, 51.3% faceoffs Why he should intrigue you: Konecny has three straight 24-goal seasons under his belt and fits at a price point that won’t throw the Ducks’ cap Why he should intrigue you: Patrick was the No. 2 overall pick in 2017 structure out of whack. The winger is a strong possession player on a behind Nico Hischier (and before ). Looking back, maybe team that needs more of that. And he’s been durable. he shouldn’t have been, but the Flyers couldn’t have been the only team thinking highly of him. The Ducks would be betting on him being able to Why he scares you: The Flyers aren’t moving him unless they’re big- flourish in a different organization. game hunting, and his deal is backloaded to where he’s making $13 million over the final two years. Is he really a $7 million forward? How Why he should scare you: That’s a big bet. Concussions and a history of much of his goal-scoring is of his own creation, and how much is reliant related migraines kept Patrick off the ice in 2019-20, and his play in upon a dynamic center? 2020-21 was disappointing to say the least. He didn’t set the NHL on fire before suffereing the head issues. Can he still be a useful player, much Travis Konecny. (Charles LeClaire / USA Today) less an impact one?

Kevin Labanc, RW, San Jose Sam Reinhart, RW/C, Buffalo

Age: 25 Age: 25

Contract status: Three years left with $4.75 million cap hit, $3.95 million Contract status: Pending RFA with arbitration rights, just finished one- salary in 2021-22 year, $5.2 million deal

82-game average: 15 goals, 28 assists, 43 points, 14:51 TOI, 161 shots 82-game average: 24 goals, 29 assists, 53 points, 178 shots on goal, on goal 18:06 TOI, minus-18 rating

Why he should intrigue you: There is some cost certainty with Labanc, Why he should intrigue you: Reinhart has five 20-goal seasons in his six and other moves can be made while adding a winger who can play up in full years in Buffalo. He tied his career-high of 25 last season and was on the top six and on the power play. The Sharks appear ready to move on, a 37-goal pace if it were an 82-game season. Even if his 19.2 percent and it won’t take a bunch of assets to get him, although Doug Wilson shooting is an outlier, as he still usually checks in at 12 to 15 percent. wouldn’t be eager to deal with Murray, his old Chicago defense partner and current rival GM. Why he scares you: He can certainly be an asset on the power play – he’s had seasons of 12 and 10 goals on the advantage – but does that Why he scares you: It feels like the Ducks can do better. Labanc has make up too much of his offense? His next contract will be costly. It could skills but are they enough to overlook his defensive shortcomings and be long-term or a short one (both with a raise in AAV) that takes him to UFA status.

Dylan Strome, C, Chicago

Age: 24

Contract status: One year left with $3 million cap hit, $3.6 million salary in 2021-22.

82-game average: 18 goals, 31 assists, 49 points, 15:33 TOI, 140 shots on goal, 47.1% faceoffs

Why he should intrigue you: With Kirby Dach having recovered after missing all of last season because of a surgically repaired wrist, Strome’s days as the Blackhawks’ No. 2 center appear on the wane. You’re not looking at a game-changer here. He’s a pretty good playmaker who can distribute on the power play. A pick and prospect, as long as it’s not a first-rounder and the prospect isn’t grade-A, could get a deal done.

Why he scares you: You’re not getting a bunch of defensive acumen with Strome, nor is he the fleetest of foot. He has good size but doesn’t really play to it. And how much of his production reflected playing with ? Unless the Ducks are willing to overlook his shortcomings or compensate for those in other areas, he has the feel of a player who isn’t a great fit.

Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Calgary

Age: 23

Contract status: One year left with $7 million cap hit, $9 million salary in 2021-22.

82-game average: 26 goals, 39 assists, 65 points, 17:07 TOI, 206 shots on goal, 84 minutes

Why he should intrigue you: Cut from his father’s cloth, Tkachuk is an ornery sort who relishes any game that heats up. For any team that needs a player to drag others into the battle, he’s your guy. He can play with good players and helps them by drawing defenders and opening up time and space. Tkachuk can be a core piece. And those matchups with Drew Doughty would take on an added dimension.

Why he scares you: Why the Flames would trade him is beyond belief, unless he truly wants out. (GM Brad Treliving recently and emphatically shot down any suggestion of the sort.) The high cost of acquiring him is probably the greatest scare. A potentially massive qualifying number as an arbitration-eligible RFA next summer is another one. Can you get him signed to an extension?

Jake Virtanen, RW, Vancouver

Age: 24

Contract status: One year left with $2.55-million cap hit, $3.4 million salary in 2021-22

82-game average: 14 goals, 13 assists, 27 points, 174 hits, 12:45 TOI, 160 shots on goal

Why he should intrigue you: This would be the definition of a low-risk buy with the hope of a high reward. The Ducks have shown significant interest in him, having gone down the road in talks with Vancouver last season. The hope is that the Ducks would be getting a hungry player out to get his career back on the rails. He could be had on the cheap if the Canucks could buy him out.

Why he scares you: He might be too radioactive at the moment. He’s coming off an awful season with the Canucks and is facing allegations of sexual assault. Not only would the club be inheriting that issue but it’s possible that the talented winger can’t be counted upon on the ice. Injuries and healthy scratches are also part of his resume.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217327 Boston Bruins By the numbers: Frederic has four NHL fights, two against . Three of his four goals, all scored last February and March, have been game-winners.

Should the Seattle Kraken target the Bruins’ Trent Frederic or Jeremy Chance Seattle takes him: Good. Not every prospect with Frederic’s size Lauzon in the expansion draft? is as willing to engage. It stands to reason the Kraken might see him as a player whose development has been hampered by recent illnesses.

By Matt Porter Globe Staff What it could mean for the Bruins: More opportunity for left-shooting Anton Blidh, Cameron Hughes, and Jakub Lauko to make the roster. Updated July 15, 2021, 11:10 a.m. Also, the organization would retain a measure of defensive depth. But it would lose a player who is fast becoming a favorite of old-school Bruins

fans. Now that he has signed a budget-friendly second contract — two years at Jeremy Lauzon $1.05 million annually — Trent Frederic (right) might be even more attractive to the Kraken in the expansion draft. Like most of the young Bruins potentially left exposed, Lauzon is familiar to new Kraken assistant coach Jay Leach. Now that he has signed a budget-friendly second contract — two years at $1.05 million annually — Trent Frederic (right) might be even more During his time as Providence , Leach had Lauzon for three attractive to the Kraken in the expansion draft.JOHN TLUMACKI/ years and 126 games. He relied on Lauzon for steady defending, penalty-killing, and clearing room around the net. GLOBE STAFF The Globe will take a closer look at the Bruins players who will likely be exposed in the July 21 NHL expansion draft in a three- Lauzon has brought some of that to the varsity in his three seasons, but part series. Part 2: Forward Trent Frederic and defenseman Jeremy not enough to earn a protection slot when the Bruins submit their list to Lauzon. the league.

Trent Frederic How he got here: Lauzon was a decent find as a second-round pick (52nd overall) in 2015. Like many players, he produced offense in the Would the Bruins let Frederic walk in the expansion draft after recently QMJHL, but that hasn’t translated to the pros. Of the three young left- handing him a contract extension? shot defensemen knocking on the varsity door last season, the Bruins It’s possible. Now that he has signed a budget-friendly second contract saw Lauzon as the safest bet. He opened the season in Zdeno Chara’s — two years at $1.05 million annually — Frederic might be even more old spot, on the top pair with Charlie McAvoy. Lauzon had pockets of attractive to the Kraken, should the Bruins choose to leave him strong play, but a pair of broken bones — one in each hand — hampered unprotected. If Seattle took Frederic, Boston would hold on to its crop of him late in the season. That didn’t help his puck play, which was already young, expansion draft-eligible defensemen, such as Connor Clifton, a weakness, and one of the factors that spurred the Bruins to add puck- Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakub Zboril. mover Mike Reilly at the trade deadline. Lauzon struggled with turnovers during seven games in the postseason, including a giveaway that led to Frederic, 23, is on track to becoming a quality bottom-six piece in the the Islanders’ winner in Game 2. NHL. A natural center who can play left wing, he has good size (6 feet 2 inches, 203 pounds) and an agitator’s mind-set, though questions persist Scouting report: Lauzon’s size (6-2, 205 pounds) and ruggedness could about how much offense he will provide. make him a defense-first, third-pair, penalty-kill type. There’s room for that in the league, particularly in tandem with a strong puck-handler. It seems more likely the Bruins will work with that, rather than let him Lauzon plays a heavy game, particularly along the boards in his zone, walk. But Frederic knows a spot is not guaranteed. and erases all but the strongest opposing forwards. He does not have top-level mobility, or much playmaking ability beyond a solid first pass, “Obviously, I have to come in next year and prove my worth, just getting but he can get up the ice with decent speed. He is an intelligent, diligent in the lineup and then just like any year, lines get shuffled and there’s penalty killer and a willing shot-blocker. His shot is hard but not something to be said for Game 1 or Game 2, or Game 52 could be particularly accurate. In Providence and Boston, he has played the left completely different,” he said. “So, I guess we’ll just have to see.” and right sides. How he got here: The seeds of Frederic’s time as a Bruin were planted By the numbers: Recorded a goal and seven assists in a career-high 41 when the Bruins traded Milan Lucic for goalie Martin Jones, defenseman games this past season ... Played in 16 games in 2018-19 and 19 in 2- Colin Miller, and the 13th overall pick in 2015 (Jakub Zboril). Jones, 19-20. Has three goals and 11 points in 76 NHL games the last three whose Bruins tenure lasted four days, was flipped to San Jose for Sean seasons ... His 20 giveaways ranked second among Bruins defensemen Kuraly and the 29th overall pick in 2016. The Bruins chose Frederic, who to McAvoy (44), who controls the puck a lot more than Lauzon ... The was entering his freshman year at Wisconsin after two years with the US Bruins were outscored,11-5, when Lauzon was on the ice in the National Team Development Program. postseason. That was the worst rate of the team’s D corps … Missed Frederic scored 65 points in 66 games in two college seasons. As a most of March because of a broken left hand, and Games 2-5 of the sophomore, he had a strong World Junior Championship (five goals in Capitals series with a broken right hand … Was suspended two games in seven games), turned pro, and started hot in Providence (5-3—8 in 11 February 2020 for an illegal check to the head on Derek Stepan, the first games). In two AHL seasons, Frederic made a name for himself as an such discipline of his career. Changed number from 79 to 55 entering this enforcer (eight fights in 2019-20, second-most in the league), but his season. production stagnated. In 59 NHL games over the last three years (42 this Chance Seattle takes him: Fair. Teams need reliable defensemen, and past season), he posted a 4-1—5 line. He has yet to appear in the Lauzon has the potential to be one with further development. His playoffs, having contracted COVID-19 in the summer of 2020 and a non- contract, which has one year remaining ($850,000), is budget-friendly. related illness this past season that hampered his second half. What it could mean for the Bruins: Jakub Zboril, Urho Vaakanainen, and Scouting report: Frederic is a decent straight-line skater once he gets Jack Ahcan, all left shots, would get longer looks on the third pair. The going, but quickness is not his strength. He needs to add power to his Bruins would be looking for more of a physical presence on the back end, game, to help his puck protection and shooting. He relishes his role as an ideally from someone batting higher in the order (see: the ongoing search agitator, and has played relatively clean while stirring the pot. This past for a large, left-shot, two-way defenseman). season, he took five minor penalties in 42 games (11:15 average TOI), and drew 15. He also finished positive in the faceoff circle (52.9 percent).

Frederic does have some touch on his passes, but overall has shown Boston Globe LOADED: 07.16.2021 mere flashes of offensive upside. He may wind up a third-line center who possesses the puck and plays a physical in-zone game, but he would need to make some major strides in the next few seasons to be a 30-40- point player.

“I think I have a lot more to offer,” he recently remarked. 1217328 Boston Bruins Carlo will be one of the players Sweeney includes on the protected list he will submit to the league Saturday ahead of next week’s Seattle expansion draft. The Kraken likely will cull a defenseman off the Bruins’ Bruins re-sign defenseman Brandon Carlo to six-year extension roster, be it Jeremy Lauzon, Connor Clifton, or perhaps Jakub Zboril.

Meanwhile, once the Seattle loss is known, Sweeney likely will tidy up deals with some of his other free agents, possibly including unrestricted By Kevin Paul Dupont Globe Staff Mike Reilly on the backline. However, Sweeney’s offerings back there could be influenced by Minnesota’s decision Tuesday to buy out veteran Updated July 14, 2021, 1:44 p.m. Ryan Suter.

Suter, a 36-year-old lefthanded defenseman, would seem a potential Brandon Carlo, without a contract when the day began, on Wednesday candidate for Sweeney to include in the mix. Now to collect $6.7 million agreed to a six-year extension through 2026-27, giving the 24-year-old over the next eight years as a product of the buyout, Suter also could defenseman the longest job security on the Bruins’ roster. come at an economical price on, say, a two- or three-year deal. Much of that, of course, will depend on where the market goes for someone of Carlo, a five-year veteran, will earn an average of $4.1 million, a boost of Suter’s profile and experience. His footspeed at this age is a concern, but nearly 50 percent over his cap hit ($2.8 million) the past two seasons, he has the experience and hockey IQ to mitigate some of that. and placing him second to Charlie McAvoy on the club’s blue-line pay scale. Sweeney’s other free agent concerns include a handful of forwards, with restricted and Ondrej Kase, as well as UFAs Taylor Hall, McAvoy, the Bruins’ budding franchise defenseman, in October will enter David Krejci, and perhaps Sean Kuraly. the final year of a two-year deal that carries a $4.9 million cap hit. He will earn $7.3 million in 2021-22. But Carlo’s deal is done, his economical $4.1 million cap hit inked in for six more seasons — beating by two seasons the Charlie Coyle deal “I’m feeling over the moon today,” Carlo said in a Zoom session. ($5.25 million cap) that expires in the spring of 2026.

Carlo, who has become a fixture on the right side of the club’s No. 2 “I don’t know if I’ll go with a big purchase right off the bat,” said Carlo, pairing, sustained a pair of concussions this past season, the second of asked if he’ll allow himself a luxury with his newfound wealth, “but which came in Game 3 of the second-round playoff series against the probably my first purchase payment will be a haircut. It’s getting out of Islanders. Considerably compromised with the 6-foot-5-inch Carlo out of hand here.” the mix, the Bruins bowed out of the series in six games.

In Colorado and about to resume skating for the first time since the playoffs ended, Carlo said he is back to feeling 100 percent and is not Boston Globe LOADED: 07.16.2021 concerned about his history of concussions.

“In general, before all this contract stuff, I’ve been feeling very good,” he said. “I’ve been feeling great, completely back to normal, 100 percent, I would say for well over a month or month and a half. My recovery was pretty quick within that [concussion] guideline . . . so everything’s good there.”

The new deal is structured, in part, to lessen Carlo’s exposure to anticipated escrow hits likely to be imposed while the NHL recovers from the COVID-19-related financial consequences specific to the salary cap and game revenues.

Per capfriendly.com, he will average $3 million over the first two seasons of the deal, then peak at $5.7 million and $5.45 million in Years 3 and 4, before tapering off to an approximate average of $3.75 million over each of the final two seasons (expiring in the spring of 2027 at age 30).

Through five seasons, totaling 324 games, Carlo has cobbled together a meager offensive line (15-40—55), with two coaches (Claude Julien and Bruce Cassidy) casting him in a classic defender’s role. Carlo has become a solid five-on-five defender, a stalwart on the penalty-killing unit, and rarely used on the power play, despite excellent speed and agility for a tall player. Likely to be kept in that role, he would not be expected to deliver more than, say, 20-25 points in his top season.

Positioned with such a long-term deal, Carlo will be expected to contribute a large voice and presence in the dressing room, and perhaps take a bigger leadership role on the ice.

“When they came to me with a six-year deal, it was a huge compliment,” he said, “recognizing within the room there’s areas that I’ve wanted to step up and be a leader — there’s a lot more room for that going forward. And I think this contract kind of reflects on that. I’m excited for that opportunity. It’s always something that I feel I’ve had within me, that leadership component. The responsibility comes with this deal.”

Though unlikely, the deal allows the Bruins to deal Carlo over the first two years. A modified no-trade clause governs the final four years of the pact, allowing Carlo to submit a list of teams that he would not accept in trade (that number ranging from three to 10 over those years).

But clearly general manager Don Sweeney has framed Carlo as one of the three defensemen, including Matt Grzelcyk and McAvoy, whom he intends to keep in residence long term. All three will be expected to work in the top two pairings, though Grzelcyk, because of his lack of size, might slip to the No. 3 pairing depending on how Sweeney fills out the rest of the six-pack. 1217329 Boston Bruins

Why Carlo's new contract with Bruins is huge win for both sides

BY NICK GOSS

The Boston Bruins entered the 2021 NHL offseason with several important free agents to re-sign, and they took care of one Wednesday with a contract that is great for both sides.

The B's signed defenseman Brandon Carlo to a six-year extension worth $24.6 million, including a $4.1 million salary cap hit.

Why is this deal a win for everyone involved?

Well, for the Bruins, they lock up a legit top-four defenseman's prime years for just $4.1 million per season. This number is below market value for a player who fills that role. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has shown an impressive ability to re-sign core players to team-friendly contracts. Two of the best examples before Carlo's deal are the extensions Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak signed.

2021 NHL free agents: Top 25 players for teams to sign in offseason

Carlo is a very good shutdown defenseman who defends well against opponents' top-six forwards and logs around 20 minutes of ice time per game. He also excels on the penalty kill, blocks shots, plays a physical game and brings much-needed size and strength to Boston's blue line.

The deal is a win for Carlo for several reasons, too. The biggest one is the term. Six years gives him plenty of security and protects against injury, which is one of the main risks of this contract from the Bruins' perspective.

Carlo suffered two concussions this season, including one that forced him to leave Game 3 of the second-round playoff series versus the . Carlo didn't play another minute in the series and the Bruins were eliminated in six games. His absence on the blue line was a massive one.

The 24-year-old defenseman said Wednesday that he's feeling "great" and isn't concerned about his career in regards to injuries.

"No, personally, I’ve never felt like that. I definitely recognize that these injuries can affect people in different ways, and it’s something to be taken very seriously," Carlo told reporters on a Zoom call. "But for myself, with the way that I recovered from my concussions and through the injury process, I never felt, in any way, shape, or form, that my career was going to be ending any time soon. I think, just going through all of these situations, I’ve learned more and grown a lot from it.

"From the focal point of if it was going to affect me going forward, I don’t feel that way. I’m still a young guy, I still feel very sharp in my mind. I feel great in my body. That was not a concern of mine, no."

If Carlo can stay healthy, the Bruins will be getting a bargain with this contract. Getting this deal done now also allows the team to turns its focus to other free agents, including Taylor Hall, David Krejci and Mike Reilly.

The Bruins have plenty of work remaining this offseason if they're going to be a legit Stanley Cup contender in 2022. This deal for Carlo is an excellent start, though.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217330 Boston Bruins

Bean: Here's who the Bruins should protect from expansion draft

BY DJ BEAN

That’s gotta be the opposite of burying the lede, but if you’re wondering who the Bruins can expect to lose to the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft next Wednesday, it’s one of their young defensemen.

Protected lists will be turned in and made public this weekend, so we’ll know soon enough who the Bruins have chosen to make off-limits.

Teams can either protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie or eight total skaters and a goalie. The move for Boston will likely be the 7-3-1 format, as it lets them keep more players. If they went the eight skater format in order to protect someone like Clifton, they would have to expose Craig Smith, which goes against any interests to contend in the here and now.

Plenty of young players are exempt from the expansion draft, so don’t fret when you don’t see Jeremy Swayman, Jack Studnicka or Urho Vaakanainen on the protected list. They aren’t going anywhere. Similarly, unrestricted free agents like David Krejci, Taylor Hall, Tuukka Rask and Mike Reilly don’t factor in. Restricted free agents, however, can be plucked by the Kraken if left unprotected.

Here’s what the Bruins’ protected list should look like:

That’s the protected list, but just as intriguing is the list of players that would then be available to Seattle. Should the Bruins protect the above players, Seattle would choose from the following notable players:

Bruins Exposed to NHL Expansion Draft

Don Sweeney’s toughest decision when assembling the protected list is choosing which two forwards to protect out of Jake DeBrusk, Nick Ritchie and Trent Frederic. The B’s signed Frederic, a (controversial) first-round pick who is due for a full-time job on the fourth line, to a two-year deal with a $1.05 million average annual value this offseason. They should hold onto him and find out whether they defied their track record by drafting a good forward.

Ritchie vs. DeBrusk is easier than it may seem. Yes, Ritchie was the better player last season, but his ceiling is also apparent. The Bruins can’t afford to lose DeBrusk, a proven scorer, for nothing. He could be this expansion draft’s , so the team should protect him.

Bean: The case for the Bruins protecting Jake DeBrusk

In the end, exposing Ritchie won’t matter anyway. The guess here is Clifton or Lauzon heads to the Kraken, with Clifton the favorite to go to Seattle.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217331 Boston Bruins Should the Pittsburgh Penguins protect Jeff Carter in the expansion draft? The PHN debate series begins – Our Dan Kingerski vs. notable sports radio hosts. Take the reader poll, too. Protect Carter, yeah or nay? BHN Puck Links: NHL Trade Rumors; Yandle; Bruins And Hall Close? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

More Penguins content from Dan: What are the chances the Pens land any of these potential UFA’s? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) Published 14 hours ago on July 15, 2021 NHL By Jimmy Murphy After helping to lead the Montreal Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup Final in 28 years, is captain Shea Weber’s career suddenly over? (Sportsnet) The NHL trade market is heating up and the Boston Bruins are expected to be right in the thick of the madness. Did the Brandon Carlo signing Former UMaine star goalie Ben Bishop has waived his no-movement Wednesday signify the revamping of the blue line is set to begin? clause with the Dallas Stars ahead of the NHL Expansion Draft. If the Seattle Kraken don’t select him, could he be the veteran goalie the Are the Boston Bruins closing in on an extension for winger Taylor Hall, Boston Bruins are looking for? (Dallas News) who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28?

Defenseman Keith Yandle has long been linked to the Boston Bruins in NHL trade rumors. Well, with the Florida Panthers buying out Yandle on Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 Wednesday, let the Yandle to the Bruins NHL Free Agency rumors begin!

Boston Bruins

Friend of BHN, Andy Strickland of Midwest is reporting that the Boston Bruins are closing in on an extension for winger Taylor Hall.

Longtime buddy and fellow proud Celiac, Kevin McGran says the Boston Bruins are one of a plethora of teams looking to acquire the rights to winger Zach Hyman before he hits unrestricted free agency on July 28. (Toronto Star)

As mentioned above, the Boston Bruins locked up defenseman Brandon Carlo to a six-year, $24.6 million contract extension on Wednesday. (Boston Hockey Now)

My partner-in-crime, Joe Haggerty says the Carlo signing could signal that the Boston Bruins blue line dominoes are about to fall into place. (Boston Hockey Now)

Is recently bought out defenseman Ryan Suter a no-brainer for the Boston Bruins to sign? Haggs thinks so, and I tend to agree with him. (Boston Hockey Now)

Kevan Miller’s body has had enough and sadly he had to announce his retirement Wednesday. When I first heard the news, I’ll admit I was emotional. Miller was a true warrior on the ice and a class act off it. I immediately thought back to this story I wrote for his high school alma mater, The Berkshire School on his rather unique journey to the NHL. Congrats on a great career Kevan! (Berkshire Bulletin)

National Hockey Now

Our man in FLA, George Richards with the newser on the Keith Yandle buyout. (Florida Hockey Now)

After buying out Yandle, the Panthers made some signings, inking defenseman Gus Forsling and forward Anthony Duclair to new contracts. (Florida Hockey Now)

Suter is in HIGH demand, it seems. Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spent a few years as the Wild GM. The Flyers need defensemen. Is this a match? (Philly Hockey Now)

Sources told the National Hockey fam that goalie Brian Elliott is likely headed towards free agency. Here’s the scoop. (Philly Hockey Now)

Another scoop for CHN. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will hit free agency on July 28. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Here’s a fun one—betting odds for the expansion draft. Evgeny Svechnikov is the betting favorite to be the Detroit Red Wing selected by the Seattle Kraken. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Want to see the Islanders’ new arena? Our staff got the tour, and it’s surely NOT the Coliseum. (NYI Hockey Now)

For our prospect watchers and WBS Penguins fans, you’ve seen prospect Beck Malenstyn. He’s back from an Achilles injury, but can he challenge for a roster spot? (Washington Hockey Now)

NHL Trade, Marry, Expose? Brent Burns, Evander Kane, and Kevin Labanc. If you’re a hockey podcast nut, this is fun. (San Jose Hockey Now) 1217332 Boston Bruins

Haggerty: Carlo Deal A Good Start For Boston Bruins |BHN+

Published 18 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By Joe Haggerty

On its face, Brandon Carlo’s importance to the Boston Bruins might not be that glaringly obvious when there are stars like Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, Tuukka Rask and Charlie McAvoy that garner most of the attention.

But the 24-year-old Carlo’s importance was underscored during the second round playoff series against the New York Islanders when both Carlo and Kevan Miller were missing due to injuries, and a humdrum Islanders PP ripped up the B’s penalty kill in a pivotal Game 5 loss at TD Garden. With Zdeno Chara gone, Kevan Miller retired and Jeremy Lauzon still forming his identity at the NHL level, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound Carlo is truly the only big, bad Bruins defenseman left standing on a roster full of puck-movers and offensive-minded players.

Sure, Charlie McAvoy is XXL-sized, will throw his weight around and isn’t afraid to block shots, either. But McAvoy isn’t a shutdown defenseman or ace penalty killer like the rugged Carlo, and the Boston Bruins have to realize their depth isn’t at an all-time high in that particular category of defensemen within the organization.

That’s part of the reason it was a priority for the B’s while getting some cost certainty on Carlo.

“The Bruins are very pleased to have extended Brandon on a long-term deal,” said Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “Brandon is a player who has grown into a foundational defenseman with our team while also emerging as an important leader on and off the ice.”

Still, Carlo signed this week for a reasonable $4.1 million per season on a contract extension that will take him up to his 30th birthday and will leave the Bruins with a homegrown shutdown D-man growing into a leadership role on and off the ice.

Boston Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217333 Boston Bruins year-old has recovered. He is training while incorporating motion and spinning repetitions that have not triggered post-concussion syndrome. Carlo plans to resume skating next week.

‘Absolute physical machine’: Kevan Miller retires, Brandon Carlo re-signs “Feeling very good,” Carlo said. “Been feeling great. Completely back to as the Bruins’ right side evolves normal, 100 percent, for I would say well over a month, month and a half now.”

By Fluto Shinzawa Carlo was headed into restricted free agency off a two-year, $5.7 million bridge deal. He was eligible for arbitration. An award, however, would not Jul 15, 2021 have accurately captured the defensive defenseman’s value.

Both player and team, moreover, preferred term. Carlo is a deep thinker, sometimes prone to confidence valleys when things go sideways. With By the end, Kevan Miller was broken for good. It was not just the right the security of a six-year extension, a stress-free Carlo can focus on knee that had required four operations. It was not the foot infection that improving as a defender and being more of a threat up the ice. The took him out for four games. It was not the concussion that ended his organization locked in Carlo on the same deal, per CapFriendly, that playoff run. Brian Dumoulin, Pittsburgh’s left-shot defensive defenseman, signed It was all of it, the physical and emotional weariness of bad NHL fortune, almost four years ago. that prompted the 33-year-old to announce his retirement Wednesday. It remains to be seen how Cassidy will deploy Carlo. He could be “Although my spirit for the game is there, unfortunately, my body isn’t,” reunited with Matt Grzelcyk, his partner at the start of 2020-21. If Mike Miller posted on Instagram. “My overall health and my family are now the Reilly is re-signed, he could play with Carlo. In all likelihood, Carlo’s priority. This was not an easy decision to make but it’s time to hang up running mate will feature a sprinkle of go-go dash to create an all- my skates.” situations tandem.

Miller ended a 352-game NHL career that was a long shot before its “I’ve always loved playing with puck-moving guys, offensive guys,” Carlo beginning. The native of Valencia, Calif., did not make his AAA midget said. “I feel like I’ve prided myself on the defensive aspect of my game team. He was cut from the varsity team at Berkshire School. He was for a long time now. I want to continue to develop as well. For a pairing accepted to the University of Vermont on a partial scholarship. Miller was that I would want to be established on, it would be primarily focused upon undrafted. The best the Bruins could initially do was an invitation to being as steady as possible. I think it’s very important to have Providence. consistency within your game, within your pairing and your D partner. I’ve found that with some guys, and it’s been great. I want to establish that But a ferocity for improvement, organizational guidance and a refusal to not just as a defensive pair but a pair that can be lethal along moving the acknowledge closed doors transformed Miller from a raw California kid puck and creating offense as well. I don’t want to establish it as one into an NHL apex predator. At full health, the steely Miller won pucks, thing, as a defensive pair or anything like a shutdown pair. I would like it knocked heads and defended teammates, all while wearing a scowl of a to have components of each thing.” perpetually perturbed bodyguard. McAvoy has the right side of the top pair locked down. Carlo is the right- “He made himself into an absolute physical machine,” said executive shot presence on the No. 2 duo. director of player personnel and Providence general manager John Ferguson Jr. “Improved in all of the areas he needed to. It is often said After that is unknown. that typically one attribute can get you to the NHL. You’ve got to improve Connor Clifton shares some of Miller’s story. Clifton was drafted by the everything else to stay there. He kept improving every year. That’s a Coyotes in the fifth round in 2013. But when the Coyotes elected not to hallmark of Kevan Miller’s career.” sign Clifton, the native of Long Branch, N.J., became a college free agent Miller entered pro hockey as a fast and brawny juggernaut. It remained to following his senior season at Quinnipiac. Shortly after reaching UFA be seen whether he’d develop the awareness and puck skills to status, Clifton signed an AHL contract. Ferguson, who is friendly with complement his physical skill set. Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold, was critical in landing Clifton.

Under the watch of Bruce Cassidy and Kevin Dean in Providence, Miller Like Miller, Clifton attended his first training camp with the Bruins on an grew into a reliable defender. By the time Cassidy was promoted to invitational basis. Clifton then followed Miller’s example by developing in Boston in 2016, followed by Dean a year later, Miller was already there. Providence for parts of two seasons under the hand of Jay Leach. Like Miller, Clifton found his most comfortable spot on the right side of the Miller competed with and ultimately bypassed Adam McQuaid. He played third pair following his full-time Boston promotion. a career-high 71 games in 2015-16, scoring five goals and 13 assists while averaging 19:04 of ice time per appearance. “Very, very similar career path,” Ferguson said. “Shares some of those same traits. Really driven to improve and optimize his capabilities.” Miller also joined forces with , his occasional even-strength partner, as on-ice proof of the Bruins’ commitment to college free Clifton studied mechanical engineering at Quinnipiac. The defenseman is agency. Undrafted collegians have continued to comprise part of the no dummy. Bruins’ teambuilding philosophy, from Frank Vatrano to Noel Acciari, He knows, then, that under the 7-3-1 protection model for the July 21 Karson Kuhlman and Jack Ahcan. expansion draft, McAvoy, Grzelcyk and Carlo are likely to be placed on “He is an amazing story, and really a poster child for this organization in Seattle’s off-limits list. terms of identifying college free agents, bringing that player in and “I’ll probably be left unprotected,” Clifton acknowledged at the end of the developing that player,” Ferguson said. “But as much as we can take any season. “It is what it is. It’s part of the business. I love being a Bruin and I form of credit for that, that credit has to go to Kevan Miller himself, first hope it remains as such.” and foremost.” Clifton’s wish may be short-lived. Teams are always hunting for right-shot One exits, another extends defensemen. Vegas confirmed that truth in 2017 when the Golden It just so happened that on the day Miller made his retirement official, the Knights selected Colin Miller from Boston for their inaugural roster. Bruins reinforced the right side by signing Brandon Carlo to a six-year, Clifton, 26, is two years older than Miller was at the time of the 2017 $24.6 million extension. expansion draft. But Clifton has proven his value with that experience. Carlo does not share Miller’s off-the-charts belligerence. But the 6-foot-5, He’s logged 94 career regular-season games and 36 more in the 227-pounder is still growing into his stick-and-positioning role as a playoffs. defense-first presence. He is a good second-pairing presence at even Clifton started 2020-21 as the No. 7 defenseman. An injury to Grzelcyk strength. Carlo is the vocal leader on the penalty kill, where he is usually gave Clifton the chance to play on the left side. His play and injuries to the first right-shot defenseman over the boards. other defensemen allowed Clifton to finish the regular season with 44 Carlo was unavailable for the final three games of the second round after appearances (1-6-7). suffering his second concussion in a three-month segment. But the 24- Recklessness sometimes sneaks into Clifton’s game. But when he focuses on his details, the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is a reliable defender.

He is a lively and effortless skater. He hits with the fierceness of a bigger player. He can play his off side. Perhaps Clifton, always eager to go up the ice, could produce more offense with more ice time. He is signed at $1 million annually through 2023. Even if Seattle does not have plans for Clifton in 2021-22, he could be a valuable trade asset to address other needs.

All of this makes Clifton more likely to be Seattle’s selection than Jeremy Lauzon, Jakub Zboril or Nick Ritchie, some of the other possibilities to be left unprotected. Leach, now an assistant coach in Seattle, has always been a boisterous Clifton proponent. Leach would likely lobby for a reunion.

This would not be good for the Bruins’ right side. The lone internal right- shot option is Brady Lyle. The undrafted 22-year-old scored 14 points in 25 games as a first-year pro for Providence in 2020-21. He has yet to make an NHL appearance.

The Bruins were better insulated for Vegas’ right-side raid in the summer of 2017. McAvoy was about to start his first full NHL season. Carlo was returning for his second. Kevan Miller and McQuaid were competing for right-side shifts on the No. 3 pair. Following the expansion draft, the Bruins would sign Paul Postma for depth.

A Clifton exit would leave the Bruins searching for right-side reinforcements when other priorities are more pressing. They require a left-shot stopper. An experienced goalie to partner with Jeremy Swayman is a must. David Krejci has yet to decide whether to return for 2021-22 or move to the Czech Republic. Re-signing Taylor Hall is a priority.

Within this context, acquiring or signing a third-pairing right-shot defenseman is not high on general manager Don Sweeney’s to-do list.

If the Bruins cannot add a righty, they would need someone to play his off side. Lauzon has done this before, mostly in 2019-20. Neither Zboril nor Urho Vaakanainen, also a lefty, has much right-side experience. Same for John Moore, the veteran whose 2020-21 season was cut short following hip surgery.

A right-side makeover could be coming.

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Flames bring back Brett Ritchie on one-year deal

Daniel Austin

Publishing date: Jul 15, 2021

It wasn’t exactly front-page news when Brett Ritchie signed a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames back in January.

Training camp was already underway and while Ritchie was a big body who had been in the NHL since 2014, it was definitely an under-the-radar signing.

By mid-season, though, Ritchie was in the lineup every night and spent a considerable amount of time playing big minutes alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.

In a disappointing season, Ritchie was a bright spot, and on Thursday the Flames announced they’d be bringing the 28-year-old back after signing him to a one-year, US$900,000 deal.

“We’re ahead of schedule and a little different circumstances,” Ritchie said. “I told my agent I’d love to be back and was hoping we could get something done and here we are. It’s awesome, there’s a lot to look forward to with the group, so I can’t wait to get back in.”

In 32 games last season, Ritchie recorded four goals and four assists, while also spending 24 minutes in the penalty box.

Those numbers don’t really tell the whole story, though.

After was hired to replace Geoff Ward as the Flames head coach at mid-season, Ritchie’s versatility proved to be an asset for the Flames. He was moved up-and-down the lineup, sometimes finding himself on the fourth line and other times being relied upon to dig pucks out of the corners for Gaudreau and Monahan.

Where does he see himself fitting in next year? Ritchie doesn’t seem to be concerning himself with that too much.

“I don’t think players really make those decisions,” Ritchie said. “I just look at myself as a player who can work up and down the lineup, you know. I’ve done that throughout my career. You just want to be a dependable player wherever you’re put and I think that’s what I can bring.”

A second-round pick, 44th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2011 NHL Draft, Ritchie spent the first five years of his career with the Stars before joining the Boston Bruins for one season and then coming to Calgary.

At 6-foot-4 and 220 lbs., he’s definitely a big body, and his physical, hard- nosed style would seem to make him a good fit for the style that Sutter wants his team to play. Ritchie only cracked the Flames lineup three times under Ward but played in every single game for the rest of the season after Sutter took over.

“I think certain coaches sort of play different styles and I feel like Darryl’s style matched up with how I naturally play the game,” Ritchie said. “So maybe it was a little easier of an adjustment than other situations. I definitely think he’s a great coach and a well-respected guy.”

Because he played in 32 games last season, the Flames will be able to leave Ritchie exposed in next week’s NHL Expansion Draft. Along with Milan Lucic, who has already waived his no-movement clause, that would make the Flames compliant with the league’s exposure requirements for forwards.

Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217335 Chicago Blackhawks “Are they investigating that sexual misconduct occurred at all, or are they investigating whether the Blackhawks in fact knew about it and did nothing about it? What are they investigating?” Loggans said. “Are they going to agree to make the results public? Those are the questions I Former high school player’s lawsuit against the Chicago Blackhawks may want answered.” hinge on a ‘smoking gun,’ but attorney says the team gained an unfair advantage with its independent investigation Loggans also questioned Jenner and Block’s independence because the Hawks are paying the firm to conduct the internal investigation.

“It’s like the fox hired an investigator to find out who’s robbing the By PHIL THOMPSON henhouse,” she said.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE Late last week, the Hawks filed a motion that in essence would bar Loggans from issuing subpoenas for documents and interviewing Hawks JUL 15, 2021 AT 9:37 AM management.

The motion says Illinois law has strict standards about whether the The attorney for a former Chicago Blackhawks player who’s suing the Hawks would “owe a duty to protect” John Doe 2, who never was team has called foul over the Hawks’ independent investigation of 2010 employed by or had a direct connection to the Hawks; therefore, he sexual abuse claims, saying the process allows their investigators to wouldn’t meet that standard. Nor did the Hawks “voluntarily take a duty to interview key witnesses outside of the court process while she’s protect” him, the motion says. restrained from doing the same for her two cases against the team. John Doe 2 was 16 and a member of the Houghton (Mich.) High School “The Blackhawks sought from court an order prohibiting me from hockey team in March 2013 when he was sexually assaulted by Aldrich, conducting any discovery until their motion to dismiss is ruled on,” said then a volunteer coach for the team. Aldrich pleaded guilty and was Chicago-based attorney Susan E. Loggans, who represents clients “John sentenced to nine months in jail and five years of probation and was Doe 1” and “John Doe 2” in separate lawsuits that stem from the Hawks’ required to register as a sex offender. handling of sexual abuse allegations against former video coach Bradley The lawsuit maintains that had the Hawks not been negligent in reporting Aldrich. “So I’ve tried to conduct discovery, but my hands are tied by that Aldrich to Chicago police in 2010, Houghton never would have hired him court order. as a volunteer, which constitutes “willful and wanton misconduct,” “So what they did in effect is tie my hands from doing anything while they Loggans said. go out and round up all of their former employees.” However, the Hawks’ motion to dismiss maintains that John Doe 2 “failed The Blackhawks didn’t respond to several email and phone requests for to plead any actions that show either a deliberate intention to harm or an comment this week. On June 28, the Hawks said in an email they would utter indifference to or conscious disregard for (his) welfare” that would refrain from making future statements “out of respect for the ongoing justify such a claim. legal proceedings and the independent review” by Chicago law firm Loggans told the Tribune she would request to amend that motion within Jenner and Block. the next 21 days to further demonstrate the team’s misconduct. Meanwhile, several law professors who spoke to the Tribune agreed that For the John Doe 2 lawsuit to proceed to discovery, in which both parties the lawsuit filed by John Doe 2 — a former high school hockey player can gather evidence, the client might have a high legal burden to meet, whom Aldrich was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2013 in Michigan three law professors said. They agreed it would take something akin to a — might have a high legal hurdle to clear before reaching the discovery letter of reference vouching for Aldrich to satisfy a judge. phase, in which the Hawks and other parties could be compelled to produce documents and witnesses indicating what they knew about “It seems to me … that the Blackhawks’ answer is very well-written and Aldrich’s employment, background, abuse allegations against him and very sound, and that the plaintiff’s complaint is a non-starter absent at other evidence relevant to the suit. least some allegation of a positive recommendation to the (Houghton) school district by the Blackhawks,” Chicago-Kent College of Law Several potentially impactful developments in the case have taken place professor Richard W. Wright told the Tribune via email. in the last week. Jennifer Brobst, an associate professor at Southern Illinois University On Friday, the Hawks filed a motion to dismiss the second lawsuit. Last School of Law, said that based on Illinois case law, “the standard (for the month they moved to dismiss the first lawsuit, filed by a former Hawks duty to warn others about an employee) is so high.” player who was on the 2009-10 Stanley Cup championship team. “The basic rule, the no-duty rule, is clear in the motion to dismiss: You On Monday, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, acknowledged to The can’t sue people ordinarily for looking the other way,” she said. that it is aware of two sexual assault allegations against Aldrich in 2012, when he was employed as the school’s director SIU School of Law professor Cheryl Anderson, who teaches employment of hockey operations, and that the university has launched an internal law, noted that courts tend to be fairly liberal with giving plaintiffs a investigation. chance to have discovery. Defendants can move to dismiss a case if no evidence turns up. On Tuesday, Brent Sopel, another player on the 2010 Hawks, told TSN that “almost every player and coach was aware of the allegations” “You take the allegations in the complaint as if they are true; you treat it leveled against Aldrich. as if the plaintiff can prove them,” Anderson said. “They alleged in the complaint that the Blackhawks provided positive references for (Aldrich). In a statement late Tuesday, former Hawks coach said If that’s true, then they have a plausible misrepresentation claim. … Then he has offered to participate in Jenner and Block’s independent review of the court should allow the discovery to see if they can show that that’s John Doe 1′s sexual abuse allegations, as well as those made by a true. teammate who’s acting as a witness in the suit. Quenneville, who now coaches the Florida Panthers, led the Hawks to the Stanley Cup “If there’s references out there where they represent that (Aldrich) is championship in June 2010, a month after the sexual abuse allegedly really good at his job, they could possibly face some liability for failing to occurred. fully disclose what they know.”

“Definitely would be interested in talking to Quenneville,” Loggans said. Loggans acknowledged to the Tribune she doesn’t have evidence that a letter of reference exists. She told the Tribune and at least one other media outlet this week that the two former Hawks players who made sexual abuse allegations “We don’t know, this is just our understanding,” she said. “We don’t have against Aldrich would be willing to cooperate with the independent review it. We can’t get it until discovery.” if the Hawks in turn allowed Loggans to conduct interviews with team executives and other key figures — a request she said the Hawks She agreed that “Illinois is reluctant to enhance these duties and rejected. obligations (to protect third parties). It is going to boil down to the discovery … the ‘smoking gun.’ ” She also said they declined to tell her the scope of the review. Loggans also left open the possibility of suing Miami University and Notre Dame, where Aldrich also worked before he volunteered at Houghton High School, if the discovery process produces something incriminating on their parts.

“I didn’t know about Notre Dame or Miami (before filing the lawsuit against the Hawks), and we couldn’t do discovery until the case was on file,” she said. “It’s possible that we’ll learn something really egregious from them that will be applicable to John Doe 2, but I don’t know until I get to do discovery.

“The Blackhawks have tried to have the court bar that until those motions are over.”

Jessica Rivinius, Miami’s director of university news and communications, sent the following statement to the Tribune via email in response:

“Miami University does not tolerate sexual assault and believes those who perpetuate such devastating acts should be held accountable. In both cases that we are aware of, we contacted appropriate law enforcement.

“In November 2012, Miami University was made aware of allegations of an off-campus sexual assault involving a non-student adult and Brad Aldrich. When the Miami University Police Department reached out to the alleged victim, they offered to assist the individual in filing a police report with the Oxford Police Department. The individual declined to make a report.

“A second adult alleged victim came forward in 2018 and filed a police report with Miami University Police about an assault that occurred off- campus in 2012. That report was forwarded to the Oxford Police Department.”

A Notre Dame spokesman didn’t respond to the Tribune’s request for comment.

Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217336 Chicago Blackhawks overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft, and has played for the Nashville Predators and Blue Jackets over his eight seasons. 24-year-old Caleb was drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round in 2015 and has spent parts of the previous three seasons with them, including 33 games last season. Caleb Jones: 5 things to know about the defenseman the Chicago Blackhawks picked up in the Duncan Keith trade As Caleb tells it, “We were living in Colorado, were all really young and the won the Cup” in 2001.

Popeye Jones played for the Nuggets in 1999-00 and “he ran into Joe By PHIL THOMPSON Sakic down in the Pepsi Center, and Joe told him what he needed to do to get us into hockey, because we kind of had gotten interested because CHICAGO TRIBUNE the Avs were so big,” Caleb said. JUL 15, 2021 AT 6:30 AM “Just being the youngest brother, I kind of just followed them into the sport and we never looked back. We all loved it.”

Caleb Jones shouldn’t worry about trying to fill the big skates left behind Blackhawks center Drake Caggiula (91) and Oilers defenseman Caleb by Duncan Keith, the venerable and decorated Chicago Blackhawks Jones (82) battle in the first period of a game at the United Center on defenseman with whom he swapped teams in Monday’s trade with the March 5, 2020. . 4. ‘My skating is my strongest asset.’ Jones is just trying to find his own game again after a disappointing , Blackhawks President of hockey operations and general season. manager, called Jones a smooth skater and versatile defenseman who The 24-year-old blue liner talked about getting a fresh start in Chicago brings some size at 6-1,a194 pounds. and joining the team’s youth movement while sharing details about his Jones agreed with that assessment. game and background during an introductory news conference Tuesday. “My skating’s my strongest asset,” he said. “I just need to put a couple of Here are five things to know about the defenseman. things together in my game to really round it out and become a really 1. How did Jones learn about the trade? good player, and I believe I can do that. Talking to Stan, they have a lot of great resources that you can use to reach your full potential.” In the deal, the Blackhawks sent Keith and Rockford IceHogs forward Tim Soderlund to the Oilers for Jones and a conditional 2022 third-round Jones also considers himself a physical, two-way defenseman. pick, which will become a second-round pick if Edmonton wins three “I feel really good on the defensive side of the puck first, but I think when playoff rounds next year and Keith ranks among the Oilers’ top four in ice I’m really playing well I’m using my skating ability to get up in the play time in those rounds. and create a little bit of offense that way too,” he said. That’s a lot to digest, and Jones was oblivious to it all when the news first Jones plans to talk to coach soon. broke. Keith’s departure clears a path for the Hawks’ next wave of defensemen “It was funny, I was playing NBA 2K and I got a quick text from someone to earn meaningful ice time, but Jones will still have to battle against saying, ‘Whoa is that true?’ And I didn’t know what they were talking other young stars, such as Wyatt Kalynuk and Ian Mitchell, for his shot about. on the blue line. “I kind of saw a few things popping up about rumors. I just kind of went “I think every time you can have a healthy competition it only makes you on social media and it happened just that quick and I started getting better and it will make the team better,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward phone calls,” Jones said. “It took a little bit to set in, but I’m really excited. to meeting all those guys. Hopefully, I’ll be able to grow with them too, Edmonton Oilers' Caleb Jones plays against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 4, and possibly playing with one of them and growing into a good 2020. partnership.”

2. Jones addressed the elephant in the room: Has brother Seth talked 5. Jones has a plan to bounce back from his struggles last season. about playing in Chicago? Caleb had a 19-game stretch from January to April where he didn’t The announcement of the trade was followed almost immediately by register a point. For the season, he had four assists in 33 games. speculation that the Hawks could be laying the groundwork for acquiring He harped on his lack of consistency, “making sure every night ready to Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones, Caleb’s older brother. go and I play the same way every night.” According to several reports, Seth wants to leave Columbus and the “Probably the biggest thing for me is mentally, if I make a mistake or Jackets seem inclined to oblige — that is, if a team can reach a contract something, just kind of flushing it away and getting back out there and extension with Seth and sway them with a hefty trade offer. Otherwise, continuing to play the same way I do,” he said. “That’s a growing process the highly coveted defenseman will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022. I had to go through last year but I think I will be better for it in the future.” Caleb said the prospect of the brothers playing together has “popped up Caleb and Seth have been training together in Dallas for about month a few times.” like they have for the last five or six summers. “I’ve actually never even played against him, so I’ve been looking for that When Caleb gets on the ice, he’s going to continue finetuning his skating day to come,” Caleb said. “But honestly, playing with him would be really and working on his shot. He scored four goals on 48 shots in 2019-20, fun. but missed all 23 attempts last season. “He’s kind of got his own situation going on over there, so we’ll see what “Having my head up a lot more is a big thing for me this summer. Seeing happens throughout the summer with that,” he said. “But if it ever did what plays I can make, making sure I always know what’s going on and happen, it would be really fun and we’d both enjoy it.” what I’m trying to do with the puck is the biggest thing for me.” 3. How did the Jones brothers — Caleb, Seth and Justin — get into hockey when their dad played in the NBA? Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.16.2021 Their dad is Popeye Jones, the assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and former power forward who played for six teams over 11 seasons, including four with the Dallas Mavericks.

But none of his sons followed in the old man’s NBA footsteps.

The eldest, 30-year-old Justin, played for the University of , NAHL and Salve Regina University. 26-year-old Seth, the No. 4 1217337 Chicago Blackhawks The Hawks are definitely in a weird spot -- a crossroads that could define the next five-plus years. Unless they are uber confident they can land Hamilton, I'd make the move for Jones.

Why Blackhawks should make serious run at Blue Jackets' Jones Yes, the price will be steep.

But more than worth it in the end.

John Dietz

Follow @johndietzdh Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.16.2021

Updated 7/15/2021 8:25 PM

The Blackhawks are the lead horse in the Seth Jones derby.

Wait, no they're not.

Actually, yes they are.

Hold on -- they're not.

Depending on which way the wind's blowing, the swirling rumor mill has the Columbus Blue Jackets' standout defenseman being traded to the Hawks one day and the Avalanche, Stars, Kings, Canadiens or somebody else the next.

Adding the 26-year-old Jones to a young defense corps would obviously help the Hawks on the back end.

But would it be worth the cost -- not only in lost players but also in the salary Jones will command.

It says here that, yes, it will most likely be worth it.

Give Columbus Kirby Dach and a defenseman like Ian Mitchell or Nicolas Beaudin plus a 2022 second-round pick. According to the Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford, Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Keklainen really wants a centerman and isn't that worried about draft picks.

And if it takes the first-round 2022 pick? So be it.

Some are worried that Jones -- who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022 -- struggled last season, posting just 5 goals, 23 assists and a minus-18 rating in 56 games. Plenty of underlying issues led to this, however, not the least of which was the fact that his defense partner -- Zach Werenski -- was allowed to push the pace offensively, often leaving Jones on his own when Werenski got trapped in deep.

Werenski also played with a sports hernia for much of last season, which affected his skating. This affected Jones as well.

The powerful 6-foot-4, 209-pound Jones is one of the best skaters in the league -- a true No. 1 defenseman that the Hawks have been lacking for years.

Now, I hear a lot of you screaming about losing Dach. Isn't he supposed to be the Hawks' No. 1 center of the future.

That was definitely the plan when GM Stan Bowman drafted him No. 3 overall in 2019. But while certainly talented and capable, Dach doesn't appear to be a true generational talent that will alter the course of a franchise. It's debatable as to whether he'll even average 45-50 points a season.

If made, the move would leave the Hawks thinner at center, but they are getting back and can address the loss of Dach when free agency opens July 28.

Speaking of free agency, the Hawks can obviously make a run at unrestricted free agent , another top-tier defenseman. If Bowman believes he can land the 28-year-old, it's likely a no brainer to go this route instead of losing assets for Jones.

Still, Hamilton -- who has averaged an eye-popping 13.5 goals the past seven seasons -- isn't the true shutdown defender Jones is.

Plus, Hamilton can sign anywhere. While Chicago is an team and a city guys love to play in, he will consider how close the Hawks are to contending for a Stanley Cup.

Jones may have the same thoughts, of course, but he could be lured to Chicago so he can play with his younger brother, Caleb, whom the Hawks acquired from Edmonton in the Duncan Keith deal last week.

So is your head spinning? 1217338 Chicago Blackhawks

What I’m hearing about Max Shalunov and the rest of the Blackhawks’ offseason

By Scott Powers

Jul 15, 2021

Max Shalunov could end up in the NHL next season, but it may just not be with the Blackhawks.

Shalunov’s agent Shumi Babaev said Thursday the Blackhawks have given him permission to seek another NHL team that would be interested in trading for Shalunov. Babaev said Shalunov’s desire is still to sign with the Blackhawks, who own his NHL rights, but he wanted to cover all bases in case the Blackhawks don’t have room for Shalunov.

As of now, the Blackhawks don’t have roster space for Shalunov. They don’t even have room for all their returning and incoming forwards next season. The Blackhawks have eight forwards under contract who were regulars or somewhat regulars last season. They are also expecting Jonathan Toews and Alex Nylander to return to the lineup after missing last season. They also recently signed Henrik Borgström and Lukas Reichel and they both could push for NHL spots next season. Plus, Adam Gaudette, Brandon Hagel, David Kämpf and Pius Suter are restricted free agents and Vinnie Hinostroza is set to become an unrestricted free agent. When you add them all up, the Blackhawks clearly have some roster decisions ahead of them.

It’s also easy to see how Shalunov may end up being one of the forwards left in the cold without a contract when everything shakes out. One source said the Blackhawks like Shalunov and what he could offer them, but it will come down to roster numbers and cap space.

The Blackhawks would probably be happy to trade Shalunov if Babaev can find a suitor. Shalunov will be 29 in January and the window for him to sign in the NHL is likely closing. If the Blackhawks don’t sign him, they’d likely want to still give him the opportunity to play in the NHL, according to a source. The Blackhawks probably wouldn’t want much in exchange either.

* The Blackhawks have been in discussions with an assortment of teams recently, but it’s probable nothing will happen until after the expansion draft on July 21. You expect a lot of roster movement after the draft.

* The Blackhawks and restricted free agent defenseman Nikita Zadorov haven’t had any contract negotiations in recent weeks, but they are still expected to get a deal done. A source said the Blackhawks likely don’t want to set the market value by signing Zadorov too early and will want to see where other contracts come in.

One potential comparable for Zadorov is Boston Bruins 24-year-old defenseman Brandon Carlo, who recently signed a six-year contract extension with a $4.1 million cap hit. Evolving-Hockey projects the 26- year-old Zadorov to get a $2.892 million cap hit on a three-year contract.

* Cap Friendly reported Thursday the Blackhawks will have a $452,439 cap overage for next season due to performance bonuses this season.

* The Blackhawks won’t be looking to sign defenseman Ryan Suter, according to a source. Suter was bought out earlier this week by the Minnesota Wild.

* The Blackhawks didn’t acquire Caleb Jones to simply be bait for his brother Seth Jones, a source said. “There’s probably too much hype in the Caleb/Seth thing,” a source said.

The Blackhawks are interested in Seth, but there is a chance they don’t acquire him from the Columbus Blue Jackets. “The question is what does it take to get him in a trade,” the source said. “That remains to be seen.” Regardless, the Blackhawks plan to utilize Caleb in their defense next season.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217339 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche trades expansion-draft target Ryan Graves to New Jersey for a Russian forward and draft pick

By MIKE CHAMBERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: July 15, 2021 at 6:58 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2021 at 7:40 p.m.

The Avalanche on Thursday traded a player it probably would have lost in next week’s expansion draft.

Colorado sent defenseman Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils for Russian forward Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection (61st overall) in the 2021 draft. Maltsev, 23, the Devils’ fourth-round pick in 2016, is coming off his rookie season with New Jersey.

The Avs, who traded their 2021 and ’22 second-round picks to the New York Islanders for defenseman Devon Toews before last season, now have a second-round pick in the upcoming draft and won’t lose the 26- year-old Graves for zero in return. The three defensemen they are expected to protect from the expansion Seattle Kraken are Toews, and . Oft-injured veteran defenseman Erik Johnson waived his no-trade clause to allow Colorado to protect its top-three ice- time leaders.

The Avs also gained some salary relief. Graves’ cap hit over the next two seasons is $3.12 million. He likely will be replaced by a young player on his entry-level contract with a cap hit of less than $1 million. The candidates are Bo Byram, Justin Barron, Nate Clurman and Keaton Middleton, among others.

The Avs acquired Graves from the New York Rangers on Feb. 26, 2018, in a straight-up swap of young defensemen from the 2013 draft class. Chris Bigras, the Avs’ second-round pick, was sent to New York. Graves, a fourth-rounder, partnered with Makar on the Avs’ top pairing in 2019-20 and led the NHL with a plus-40 rating.

Maltsev, 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, made his NHL debut Jan. 31 and produced nine points (six goals) in 33 games. He also played one game for the Devils’ AHL affiliate and produced a goal.

Denver Post: LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217340 Colorado Avalanche

Why the Avalanche traded Ryan Graves to the Devils ahead of the Kraken expansion draft

By Peter Baugh

Jul 16, 2021

The Avalanche have made their first sacrifice in what will be an offseason of tough decisions. General manager traded defenseman Ryan Graves to New Jersey on Thursday, acquiring Mikhail Maltsev and a 2021 second-round pick from the Devils.

Graves was at risk of being left unprotected in the upcoming expansion draft. Instead of possibly losing him to the Seattle Kraken for nothing, the Avalanche front office opted to get something in return. The 23-year-old Maltsev played 33 games with the Devils this past season, logging six goals and three assists. The pick is No. 61 pick in next week’s draft.

While with the Avalanche, Graves transformed himself from an AHL-level player into a consistent top-four NHL defenseman. He led the league in plus-minus in 2019-20 and is a strong defensive defenseman. At 6-foot- 5, he also brought a needed big body to the Avalanche’s defensive corps. He carried a $3.16 million cap hit, so the Avalanche also gain financial flexibility by moving him.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, Graves said he was compartmentalizing thoughts of the expansion draft potentially leading to his departure.

“There’s no sense of stressing over things you can’t control,” he said. “I love it here. I love playing for the Avs. I love being on a good team, and I love the guys in that room. I don’t know what will happen or who we’ll lose (in the expansion draft), but every team is in the same situation where every team is going to lose somebody that’s a good player for them that everyone in that room cares about.”

At 6-3, Maltsev brings size to the Avalanche’s forward group and will compete for a spot on the NHL roster. He played center for the Devils and was known as a smart player who was good at stickhandling and in tight spaces. He’ll need to improve his speed, though, according to The Athletic’s Devils writer Corey Masisak. He got quicker ahead of the 2020- 21 season, and another jump in quickness could help him when he joins the Avalanche. Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, the Avalanche’s fourth-line center last year, could leave in free agency, so perhaps Maltsev could slot in there.

The Avalanche believe Maltsev has untapped skill and like that he is sound defensively. They believe he could help the team sooner rather than later.

With Graves gone, and with Erik Johnson having waived his no- movement clause earlier in the week, the Avalanche will almost certainly opt to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one . Here’s an updated projection of their protection list, which could change depending on the status of the team’s pained negotiations with captain Gabriel Landeskog, an unrestricted free agent:

That would leave quality middle-six forwards available for Seattle, including Joonas Donskoi and J.T. Compher. Johnson will also be available, but Seattle almost certainly won’t pick him due to his injury history and $6 million cap hit.

Beyond Makar, Girard, Toews and Johnson, the Avalanche have Bowen Byram, Conor Timmins (both exempt from the expansion draft) and Jacob MacDonald as defensive options with NHL experience for 2021- 22. With the loss of Graves, the team could also pursue a defenseman in free agency. Ryan Suter, recently bought out by Minnesota, could be a fit if he’s willing to sign for a manageable cap hit.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217341 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche send Ryan Graves to New Jersey for pick, prospect

By Aarif Deen

July 15, 2021

The Avalanche made their first notable move of the offseason Thursday, trading defenseman Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils for a second- round draft pick and prospect Mikhail Maltsev.

Graves, 26, was expected to be exposed in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft Wednesday and was a candidate to be selected. He appeared in 54-of-56 games in for the Avs this season, recording two goals and 15 points. He also had six points in 10 games in the playoffs.

The former New York Rangers draft pick burst onto the scene with the Avs in 2019-20, playing a majority of the season alongside Cale Makar, who went on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. Graves led the NHL with a plus-41 rating that season.

Graves signed a three-year extension following the 2020 which pays him $3.17 million per year. The Avs did not retain any of his salary in the deal that runs through 2022-23.

Maltsev, 23, completed his rookie season with the Devils in 2020-21, finishing with nine points (six goals) in 33 games. He made his NHL debut in January at Buffalo and recorded his first NHL goal in his second career appearance on Feb. 16 against the Rangers.

milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217342 Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche’s cap space will be less than $81.5 million in 2021-22

By Aarif Deen

July 15, 2021

An already tight salary cap is suddenly tighter for the 2021 Presidents’ Trophy winners.

The Avalanche finished their season with $1.74 million in cap overage because of bonuses to young star defenseman Cale Makar ($1.71 million) and rookie forward Alex Newhook ($34,000). With that number carrying into the following year, Colorado will have to juggle an already tight cap situation with a ceiling of just $79.76 million instead of $81.5 million, according to Puck Pedia.

It’s no secret that Avs general manager Joe Sakic is perhaps facing the toughest decisions of his career. Captain Gabe Landeskog, a pending unrestricted free agent, is unhappy with the current impasse facing the two sides just 13 days before free agency begins.

The possibility of a decade-long marriage ending with Landeskog walking in free agency is becoming more of a reality with each passing day. That could all change on a dime but it’s just one of the tough decisions Sakic faces.

The Avs have reportedly made formal offers of four, five and eight years to their nine-year captain — the latter of which is just over $41 million for the length of the deal, according to Andy Strickland of .

The salary cap overages may also play a factor in the future of goaltender Philipp Grubauer. The finalist is coming off a three-year deal that paid him $10 million. The Avs may not have the room to offer him more than $5 million unless they clear space elsewhere.

If Grubauer walks, the Avs may look at trading for Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Face Off. Kuemper is on the last year of a deal that pays him $4.5 million. His salary could fit into Colorado’s structure better than Grubauer’s potential deal with the cap overages.

milehighsports.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217343 Colorado Avalanche

Ryan Graves traded to New Jersey Devils; Here’s what it means for the Avs moving forward

Published 8 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By Adrian Dater

This is hot off the wire here: the Colorado Avalanche have traded Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils for left wing Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection in the 2021 NHL draft (No. 61 overall).

So there you have it. There goes any worry about losing Ryan Graves for nothing to Seattle in the expansion draft on July 21. Of course, that means Ryan Graves is no longer a member of the Avs, quite possibly because they had intel that the Kraken would have taken him with their Avs pick. We may never know on that, but the Avs pre-empted such a move by trading him away for at least something.

A second-round pick in any draft is never a bad thing, and the Avs did not have a second-round pick in this year’s draft prior to this deal. Who is Mikhail Maltsev? Well, to this point he hasn’t made much of a mark in his NHL career. He’s 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, a left winger from Russia who played 33 games for the Devils in his rookie season this year and had six goals and nine points. He had 55 shots in the 33 games, which isn’t bad. He’s a fourth-round pick from the 2016 draft (102nd overall).

Translation: he’s a bit of project as a young guy. Kind of like Graves was when they acquired him from the New York Rangers in exchange for Chris Bigras a few years ago.

Graves transformed himself from a career minor-leaguer to a guy who often played with Cale Makar on the Avs’ top 2 defensively the last couple of years.

Overtime Bonus!

I’ve said all along that I really like Graves as a player, but the expansion draft was going to put the squeeze on the Avs as far as keeping a guy like him. I think this was otherwise a tremendous move by Joe Sakic to get some assets for him. I think this trade is a clear indication that the Avs thought the Kraken would take him. Better to get some assets for him, therefore, than see him go to Seattle for nothing.

Graves’ departure not only clears $3.16 million from the Avs’ payroll (though Maltsev adds $809,000 back to the cap – though his is a two- way contract whereby he’d only cost the Avs $82k if he plays for the Colorado Eagles), it creates more opportunity now for youngsters such as Bo Byram and Conor Timmins on the back end. And, maybe, it clears enough space to sign a guy like a Ryan Suter on the free-agent market, if the Avs don’t feel like either Byram or Timmins is ready to play full-time this coming season.

Joe Sakic thought ahead in making this kind of deal. In an expansion year, a guy like Graves was always at risk of being lost for nothing. I think Sakic did a fine job of gathering assets for him in the meantime.

Plus, who know what might become of that second-round pick? This is considered a pretty deep draft year, so I expect the Avs to come away with a nice player with that 61st pick.

Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217344 Colorado Avalanche

Landeskog, Avs indeed are “far apart”

Published 18 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By Adrian Dater

The other day I started the ball rolling on the story of Gabe Landeskog and Avs not quite seeing eye to eye just yet on a new contract. Other media kept it going with stories that, no, they weren’t too close at all to a deal yet.

In doubling back with my sources last night, I’m told the sides are indeed “far apart.” The clock is ticking, too, with just 13 days until NHL free agency opens. I don’t know what the gulf is between the sides is as far as money or term. But when I hear “far apart” I’ve got to think…well, who knows? I was going to say a million or more per year apart, but who knows.

The only thistle of optimism I see is that the talks apparently have not broken off, that there is, from what I could gather, more dialogue planned.

Also, as some astute readers have pointed out, Mikko Rantanen and the Avs were said to be “far apart” right before training camp a couple years ago, only for the sides to agree on a six-year deal with a $9.25 cap hit.

Overtime Bonus!

The difference there, though? Rantanen was a restricted free agent. He wasn’t going to any new team, no matter what, for free. Landeskog is UFA and can start taking any offer from any team in 13 days.

The clock is ticking…

Colorado hockeynow LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217345 Columbus Blue Jackets “He saved, not just many lives … but when it happened, I was standing 20 to 30 feet in back of him,” Merzlikins said of Kivlenieks. “And I was hugging my wife. He saved my son, he saved my wife and he saved me. My son’s second name is gonna be Matiss. Blue Jackets' Matiss Kivlenieks memorialized with tears, laughter and memories "But accept that … if that wasn’t me or my wife or son, it would be 50 other people. He died as hero, and that’s not me saying that. That was the doctor saying (it). If he would just sit, (he) would’ve had nothing.”

Brian Hedger It was a solemn moment.

The Columbus Dispatch Merzlikins shared more quirks and personality traits of Kivlenieks, who needed a cup of coffee every morning and was a perfectionist in

everything from goaltending to golf clubs, which he kept as immaculate It was an hour of tears, laughter, memories and a lot of emotion. as his car. Kivlenieks was also honored with a montage video of his brief Blue Jackets career, including his victory in his NHL debut at Madison Eleven days after Matiss Kivlenieks’ life ended at age 24 in a tragic Square Garden, and his framed No. 80 jersey was positioned to the right fireworks mishap, the former Blue Jackets goalie was memorialized of the casket. Thursday at Schoedinger Funeral Home in Upper Arlington, a touching service in front of his family, friends, teammates and coaches from nearly Speakers included Larsen, forward Nathan Gerbe, Legace and every stop of his hockey career. Merzlikins from the Blue Jackets, while pastor Craig Heselton, of Westerville, delivered the convocation. Emotions led to sobs and a flood of tears. Happier memories ended with laughs. There was even a quip about former Blue Jackets coach John Those who attended included teammates and coaches from Kivlenieks’ Tortorella, who returned to Columbus to attend. multiple stops prior to signing with the Blue Jackets, during his remarkable climb to the NHL from a starting point in Latvia followed by Kivlenieks' journey: Blue Jackets goalie had unique path to NHL three levels of U.S. junior hockey.

“Look how many lives you’ve touched, Matiss,” said Blue Jackets They descended upon Columbus from all over the globe, including his goaltending coach Manny Legace, who spoke publicly for the first time family who arrived earlier this week from Latvia — a journey of more than since the incident at his home in Novi, Michigan. “Look how many lives 4,500 miles. Others came from multiple U.S. states and Canada, which you’ve touched. Torts even flew in … and he hates goalies.” Legace and Merzlikins tearfully noted in their commentaries.

Standing behind him, Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins put his head They also closed with heart-wrenching sentiments. down and laughed. The rest of the room laughed too. “I love you, I always will love you,” Legace said, after sharing an example “That’s the funniest thing that you’ve ever said,” Merzlikins told Legace, of Kivlenieks’ tireless work ethic. “You were my son and you were a great lightening the mood to give his coach added strength. friend to everybody here.”

“I know a lot of you guys don’t know, but ever since Kivi joined our Merzlikins focused his final sentiments on Kivlenieks’ 10-year old sister, organization, he would come up and live with my wife and I, every Madara, who traveled from Latvia with their mother, Astrida. summer,” Legace said. “And he became a son to us. … I got to play golf with him every day in the summer. I got to hang out with him, play cards. “To their family, to (his) little sister especially … I’m honest always,” He got to become one of my family.” Merzlikins said. “I learned that from two years with coach Torts, to be straight, so I was straight with little girl and I said to her, ‘I’m not your Legace looked toward Blue Jackets coach , who was brother, but I’m your new brother. I’m always going to be on your side. overcome with emotions multiple times during his own comments. Whenever you need anything, I’m going to be there for you … you can always think that I’m your brother. And I’m going to love you as my little “Lars, there’s a reason he had the Joker on his mask,” Legace said, sister.’” referring to the Kivlenieks’ mask design with the famed movie villain on the back. “He had that smile that … he was gonna getcha, you know? He was gonna getcha.” Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2021 Merzlikins touched everybody with his memories of Kivlenieks, whom he’d never heard of until the Blue Jackets signed his fellow countryman in 2017. The two developed a strong bond.

“I promised myself that I had to come here and talk to him,” Merzlikins said, swallowing hard. “It’s really tough. Matiss … he wasn’t my friend. Matiss was my little brother.”

Merzlikins said he and his wife, Aleksandra, housed Kivlenieks in their guestroom during the pandemic, which he light-heartedly apologized for because it wasn’t in adherence to the NHL’s COVID-19 policies. Kivlenieks also stayed with the couple upon returning to Columbus on June 23 after playing for Latvia during a world championship tournament held in their shared hometown of Riga, Latvia.

In the week leading up to the July 4 holiday weekend, Merzlikins and Kivlenieks were a tandem, both participating in a ride-along event at Mid- Ohio Sportscar Course with IndyCar driver Alex Rossi and also constructing a crib for the unborn son the Merzlikins couple are expecting in September. Merzlikins also posted a photo on Instagram in the days after Kivlenieks’ death of them sitting by the pool at Legace’s home prior to the incident.

It was a wedding for Legace’s daughter, Sabrina, and the two Latvian netminders were having a great time. Police say a nine-shot rack of fireworks was angled toward a hot tub where Kivlenieks and others were seated, but a police report detailing how it happened has yet to be released.

Merzlikins offered a shocking glimpse into what it was like for those under siege from the mortar shells, which were 3 inches in diameter, legally purchased and legally used. 1217346 Columbus Blue Jackets when I said this to her: ‘I’m not your brother, but I’m your new brother. I’m always going to be by your side. Whenever you need anything I’m going to be there for you.’

‘He died as a hero’ — Matiss Kivlenieks remembered by Blue Jackets “For all of (Kivlenieks’) family, if ever you need any help, I’m gonna be players, coaches as prankster with mischievous smile there. Because I know that Kivi would there for my mom and my family. I’m going to be there always for you. You can always think that I’m your brother, (Madara), and I’m going to love you as my little sister.”

By Aaron Portzline Elvis Merzlikins pledged to be Madara’s, bottom left, “new brother.” (Courtesy of Astrida Meldere) Jul 15, 2021 The service opened with a playing of “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs. It

ended with a techno cover of Eagle-Eye Cherry’s “Save Tonight.” COLUMBUS, Ohio — For many, the lasting memory of Matiss Kivlenieks To the left of Kivlenieks’ casket was a large framed photograph of him will be his radiant smile, an outward expression of his inherent joy and playing for the Blue Jackets; to the right was his No. 80 jersey in a frame. optimism. But there was something else at play in that ever-present grin, said those who knew him best. Legace joked that Kivlenieks wouldn’t have wanted such a formal fuss made about him. “He’d want everyone just to have a beer and go on their The late Blue Jackets goaltender was memorialized in a one-hour service way,” he said. on Thursday in suburban Columbus following his death in a fireworks mishap on July 4. The service was understandably emotional, but it was In thanking those who traveled from far away to attend the memorial, also dotted with moments of levity and sweetness. Legace cracked: “Torts even flew in, and he hates .”

Members of Kivlenieks’ family, including his mother, Astrida Meldere, But there were times when Legace had to fight back his emotions. traveled from Riga, Latvia, to attend. Blue Jackets players filled an entire row, while several of Kivlenieks’ former coaches dotted the crowd. “He made us all so proud,” Legace said. “So proud. The way you greeted people with that smile, never wanting to be the center of attention. From Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen, goaltending coach Manny Legace, and the first time I was ever on the ice with him … Kivi was always wanting players Nathan Gerbe and Elvis Merzlikins eulogized Kivlenieks, one more drill. ‘One more drill, coach. One more drill.’ remembering the 24-year-old for his warmth and kindness, his competitive spirit, his fastidiousness with his clothing and style, and his “I love you. I always will love you. You were my son and you were a great love for playing pranks on teammates and friends. friend to everybody here.”

“Ever since Kivi joined our organization he would come up and live with Gerbe said he met Kivlenieks on a three-hour drive from Cleveland to my wife and me every summer,” Legace said. “He became a son to us. Michigan shortly after he was acquired by the Blue Jackets during the He became a brother to my daughter and son, a great friend to our 2017-18 season. nephew. I give so much thanks to Matiss’ mom and dad for raising a “I got to know him really well,” Gerbe said. “We have three rules in my beautiful child and sharing him with the world.” family: respect, good attitude and hard work. Isn’t that Kivi? He lived As for Kivlenieks’ ornery side, Legace said: “He had that smile; he was those three things.” gonna get ya. He had a joker on his goaltending mask (for a reason).”

Larsen knew Kivlenieks only briefly in Columbus, he said, but the time he The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 spent with Legace and Merzlikins in Novi, Mich., in the days after the tragedy — the fireworks mishap occurred at Legace’s home there — painted a more complete picture.

“Matiss exuded humility,” Larsen said. “He was selfless. He was a man of integrity.

“Apparently, Kivi loved to prank people. He literally spent weeks on the internet studying how to prank somebody, which brought a whole new meaning to that smile for me, because he was a little mischievous behind that smile.”

Merzlikins, without getting into too much detail about the tragedy, painted Kivlenieks as nothing less than a hero. He was at Legace’s home, along with “60, 70, 80 people” when the tragedy happened.

He said Kivlenieks, who was struck in the chest by the firework, according to an autopsy, saved others’ lives with his actions. (The Novi police report is currently being reviewed by the Oakland County, Mich., prosecutor before its public release.)

“(Kivlenieks) saved not just many lives, but when it happened I was standing 20-30 feet back of him,” Merzlikins said. “I was hugging my wife. He saved my (unborn) son. He saved my wife and saved me.

“He died as a hero. That’s not me saying it, that was the doctor saying it. I just wanted you to know that he was a hero. He saved a lot of lives. And I’m pretty sure he did it with a smile.”

When Merzlikins’ wife, Aleksandra, gives birth to the couple’s first child in September, the baby’s “second name” will be Matiss, Merzlikins said.

“I’m happy that in this life, I told him everything that I could,” Merzlikins said. “Every single day I told him that I really love him, I told him he was my brother, not just my friend.”

Merzlikins directed his final comments at Kivlenieks’ family, specifically his young stepsister Madara.

“I’m honest, always,” Merzlikins said. “And I learn that in two years from coach Torts (John Tortorella), to be straight. I was straight with (Madara) 1217347 Dallas Stars It is unlikely but possible that Seattle selects Bishop in next week’s expansion draft. He said he did not think about the possibility of joining the Kraken.

Stars goalie Ben Bishop agrees to waive no-movement clause for “I wasn’t too worried about it,” Bishop said. “Just trying to think about the expansion draft Dallas Stars and our opportunity here. It’s one of those things where hopefully, my goal is to get back and be able to play, but it’s still up in the air. I didn’t want to put the Stars in a bad situation. It’s just what was best for the team and myself, as far as what I thought was right. Obviously, Staff Report you do expose yourself and there is a chance, but that’s not what I’m thinking about.”

Bishop’s decision would allow Dallas to protect , while Bishop’s decision to waive his no-movement clause clarifies the Stars’ is exempt from selection. murky goaltending situation. Entering the summer, both Khudobin and Oettinger’s statuses were up in the air. Khudobin could have been Stars goaltender Ben Bishop has agreed to waive his no-movement selected by Seattle or traded or backing up Bishop. Oettinger could have clause for the upcoming Seattle expansion draft, Bishop and Stars been playing in the NHL or the AHL. general manager told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday. Now, with Bishop’s health in question, the Stars could lean on another Nill said Bishop approached the Stars about four weeks ago and thought season of a Khudobin-Oettinger tandem in the NHL, and Dallas will be it was in the best interest of the team that he waives his no-move clause. able to protect Khudobin from Seattle because of Bishop’s choice. Bishop’s decision allows the Stars to protect Anton Khudobin in the expansion draft, while Jake Oettinger is exempt from selection. Bishop’s In the 2020-21 season, the Stars ranked 16th in the league with a .903 decision to waive his NMC applies only to the expansion draft and not to save percentage. Khudobin went 12-11-7 with a .905 save percentage a trade, Nill confirmed. and 2.54 goals against average, while Oettinger went 11-8-7 with a .911 save percentage and 2.36 GAA in his rookie season. “I just thought it was best for the team,” Bishop said in a phone interview. “You can see the writing on the walls as far as what might happen. Khudobin is entering the second season of a three-year contract that You’ve got Dobby being exposed. I think the Dallas Stars, we still have carries a $3.333 million cap hit, while Oettinger will be in the final year of this window here where we’re trying to win the Stanley Cup. Just thought his entry-level contract. it was the best thing to do. We all agreed.” “I thought that was a good move for him and the team,” Bishop’s agent Bishop did not play during the 2020-21 season after undergoing Allain Roy told The News. “In the big picture, the goal is to win the offseason knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October. He last Stanley Cup, so I think he felt that was the right move for the team to be played in the second round of the playoffs against Colorado last year, but the best team possible next year. Makes sense.” has not been a regular in the Stars lineup since March 2020.

When healthy, Bishop is one of the league’s best goaltenders. He’s been Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.16.2021 a Vezina Trophy finalist three times. He led the NHL in save percentage in 2018-19, and helped form one of the strongest goaltending duos in the NHL alongside Khudobin. In 2019, he made 52 saves in Game 7 against St. Louis, nearly dragging Dallas to the Western Conference finals.

Bishop, though, has been hurt in each of his four seasons in Dallas, missing 88 regular-season games and 22 playoff games. The 2020-21 season was the first time in his career that he missed the entire season.

“To have a season where you don’t get to play, it’s a bummer,” Bishop said. “You want to be out there. You want to be playing. Those competitive juices don’t leave you. But knowing that you can’t get out there and play, it kind of stinks. It’s hard to watch.”

The status of Bishop’s health for next season is unclear, and makes it unlikely that Seattle selects him in next week’s expansion draft. He is under contract for two more years with a $4.917 million cap hit, money that could be applied to long-term injured reserve should he not be able to play.

Bishop said he began skating recently for the first time since he was shut down around the trade deadline last season, though he has been able to lift weights. He said the idea is to be ready for training camp in September “if the knee allows that.”

“Still a long ways to go,” Bishop said. “With a little bit of uncertainty, we’ve still got to get to where I can play at an elite level. There’s still a process to be played out here.”

Bishop appeared close to a return around mid-April after skating on his own and before Stars practices, but was instead ruled out for the season as his knee was given more time to heal. Looking back, Bishop said, “Probably wasn’t ready at that point in the season. It was the right decision.”

“We sat back and realized that if I was able to come back, it wasn’t going to be until with a week or two left in the season,” Bishop said. “It was kind of like, ‘What’s the point in trying to push this thing and rush it when you’re only going to be able to come back for, at best, the last week or two?’”

He has not undergone any other procedures on his knee this summer, Bishop said. 1217348 Dallas Stars the Stars to place him on LTIR and use his cap space to pursue options elsewhere, whether it be in net or another position.

Still, it would seem unlikely that the Kraken would take a chance on a Ben Bishop waives his no-movement clause. What does it mean for the player with as many red flags as Bishop. A goaltending situation that Stars’ offseason and the expansion draft? seemed reactionary just a few weeks ago now has the Stars in the driver’s seat thanks to Bishop’s decision.

The Stars must submit their expansion protected list on Saturday. It is By Saad Yousuf now expected to be (NMC), Tyler Seguin (NMC), (NMC), Roope Hintz, , Radek Faksa, Joe Jul 15, 2021 Pavelski, John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell and Khudobin.

Stars goaltender Ben Bishop has agreed to waive his no-movement The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 clause for the sole purpose of the expansion draft, general manager Jim Nill confirmed to The Athletic. The decision was first reported by the Dallas Morning News. Dallas will now be able to protect veteran goaltender Anton Khudobin as Bishop’s health situation remains murky. Jake Oettinger, the franchise’s future in the crease, is exempt from the expansion draft.

What this means for the Stars

This provides some clarity for the team’s goaltending situation going into next season. At a minimum, the Stars will be able to return the tandem of Khudobin and Oettinger. Though it may appear to be running things back from this past season, that doesn’t necessarily have to be true. Going into last season, Khudobin’s stock was high following two years of being an extremely effective 1B to Bishop’s 1A. Oettinger was highly touted but still an unknown commodity going into his rookie season.

Things have changed. Oettinger had a stellar rookie campaign and Khudobin had an inconsistent season, partially due to lingering effects following a lengthy battle with COVID-19. Though the cast may potentially be the same, the roles may potentially be flipped, which may be in the best interest of all parties involved. Oettinger has shown the ability to play well in the NHL and he remains the franchise’s future. Khudobin’s track record shows that he’s an able goaltender, capable of thriving in a No. 2/1B role.

That is all the “at minimum” scenario. Bishop is still rehabbing this offseason from knee surgery last year and is under contract for two more years at a $4.917 million cap hit. There are significant questions, though. Will that rehab result in him playing NHL games again? And even if he does get to that point, will he be the same Vezina-caliber goaltender he’s shown to be in his career? Over his Stars career, Bishop has missed 88 games. Nill said there is no update on the rehab status of Bishop.

If Bishop’s rehab goes well and the Stars feel confident in his abilities, they could reunite the Bishop-Khudobin tandem of two seasons ago and have Oettinger play in the AHL for the full upcoming season. They could also start with a Bishop-Khudobin tandem and see how Bishop’s health holds up. If the results are good, Dallas could look to move Khudobin before the trade deadline and bring Oettinger back up to the NHL to pair with Bishop.

If Bishop’s rehab falls through and his health doesn’t allow him to play in the NHL again, the Stars would be able to place him on long-term injured reserve and utilize his cap space to address needs elsewhere on the roster. If they did that before the season began, the Stars would be able to use that money in free agency and offseason moves. If they waited until after the regular season began, the Stars could use that cap space to make moves in-season and at the trade deadline.

This development doesn’t necessarily change much for the possibilities of what the Stars’ goaltending tandem could look like next season but it does push up the floor of that situation.

What does this mean for Seattle and the expansion draft?

This move puts the Kraken in a precarious situation. On the one hand, it would always be wise to steer clear of a player who has as much of an injury history and future uncertainty as Bishop. But when the other side of a coin is a potential Vezina goaltender, it creates at least a moment of hesitation, especially considering what else Dallas has to offer.

Is the guaranteed availability of a bottom-six forward in Jason Dickinson or a B-list prospect such as Adam Mascherin more worth it than a chance at the type of goaltender Bishop is capable of being? That’s a question the Kraken will have to consider. Even if they selected Bishop and he was never able to play again, the Kraken would have the same ability as 1217349 Detroit Red Wings Always he came to me, he looked for me. We had our last beer, our last shot, last cigar. He was always smiling. I think he made me stronger as a man.

Ex-Detroit Red Wings goalie Manny Legace on Matiss Kivlenieks: “I’m having a little baby coming up. He saved not just many lives, but 'Michigan was his 2nd home' when it happened, I was standing 20-to-30 feet back of him, and I was hugging my wife. He saved my son. He saved my wife and he saved me. My son’s second name is going to be Matiss.

Helene St. James “He died as hero. He saved a lot of lives. And I’m pretty sure he did that with a smile.” Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.16.2021 Former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Manny Legace drew tears and laughter as he remembered Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, who died in a fireworks accident July 4 at Legace’s home in Novi.

Legace, the goalie coach for the Blue Jackets, spoke Thursday at Kivlenieks’ memorial service in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

“Michigan was his second home,” Legace said. “Ever since Kivi joined our organization, he would come up and live with my wife and I every summer. He became a son to us. He lived with us through the pandemic.”

Legace’s quip that he and his wife “quarantined two weeks before he came up,” drew laughter from the people in attendance. The service was streamed on social media and YouTube.

“I got to play golf with him every day in the summer,” Legace said. “Got to hang out with him, play cards. He had that smile that, he was going to get you.

“He got to become one of my family. A brother to my daughter.”

The gathering at Legace’s house was to celebrate the wedding of his daughter, Sabrina.

“He wanted to come to that wedding on July Fourth,” Legace said.

Legace thanked everyone attending the service, though he noted that Kivlenieks, “wouldn’t want this. You guys don’t know Kivi. He wouldn’t want this. He’d want everyone to just have a beer and go on their way.”

Legace drew laughter again when he pointed out that former Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella attended.

“Torts even flew in,” Legace said, “and he hates goalies.”

That prompted a big smile and laughter from Blue Jackets goal Elvis Merzlikins, who stood next to Legace.

“That is the funniest thing you ever said,” Merzlikins said.

Kivlenieks appeared in two games this season, playing May 7 and 8 against the Wings. He had a 3.09 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in eight career NHL games. He was considered a bright prospect in the organization, and an always-welcome sight.

“Matiss, he wasn’t my friend,” Merzlikins said. “He was my little brother. Before the (NHL playoff) bubble, Matiss was living with me. He was in my guest room. For my wife, he was little brother was well. We played so many board games.”

Merzlikins painted a picture of a young man who helped with household chores, doing dishes and cleaning the house.

“Who does that? I’m not doing that,” Merzlikins said. “He was helping with everything.

“My wife was worried about our marriage, because she said me and Matiss, we had our bromance. Every single day, I told him I loved him. I told him he’s my brother, not a friend.”

Kivlenieks was in a hot tub when a firework shell misfired. An autopsy concluded Kivlenieks suffered percussive injuries to his internal organs as a result of a fireworks explosion. After a weeklong investigation, the police report was turned over to the Oakland County prosecutor earlier this week, but Novi police have not recommended any charges.

Kivlenieks, a native of Latvia, was 24.

“Just to tell you about the last day,” Merzlikins said. “There were 60, 70, 80 people. I never looked for him. I was talking to so many people. 1217350 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' 2021 NHL draft: How Steve Yzerman could land a Hughes brother

HELENE ST. JAMES

There’s a little more than a week to go before the first round of the 2021 NHL draft, which promises to be an especially interesting one.

Star Michigan defenseman Owen Power is widely viewed as the obvious No. 1 pick, which belongs to the , at least for now, for the second time in four years. But after a year in which scouting was made challenging because of the pandemic, the rest of the top 10 are harder to predict. , another Wolverine standout, is likely to go in the top five, as is defenseman Simon Edvinsson — but again, there’s less certainty than in normal times.

Wings general manager Steve Yzerman holds the No. 6 pick; it's the second time in three years he has selected at that spot. Previously, he took defenseman Moritz Seider, who since has made that 2019 pick look supremely savvy by posting back-to-back standout seasons.

After the draft lottery in June, Yzerman made the point that the Wings need help at every position. We've explored a few possible picks over the past few weeks, looking at using the team’s first pick on goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, and forwards Mason McTavish, Dylan Guenther and Michigan’s Kent Johnson.

In this edition, Yzerman picks another defenseman —one whose brothers also were first-round picks.

D Luke Hughes

Size: 6-feet-2, 184 pounds.

2020-21: 6 goals, 28 assists in 38 games with the U.S. National U18 team; 4 goals, 11 assists in 18 games with the USNTDP juniors in the USHL.

The buzz: Hughes is the younger brother of Quinn, a defenseman drafted at No. 7 by the in 2018 (one spot after the Wings selected Filip Zadina) and Jack, a forward who was the first overall pick in 2019. (The New Jersey Devils, who drafted Jack, pick fourth this season, so they may well snap up Luke.)

Like his brothers, Hughes is supremely skilled; he’s a smooth skater with soft hands and a phenomenal passer with high-IQ vision. He’s stealthy and nimbly able to poke the puck away from an opponent. He has the ability to dart with the puck like Quinn, deftly avoiding defenders to create a scoring opportunity. He also has a great shot, and loves to use it. He needs to improve his decision-making on the defensive side, but that should come as he develops. He’s a late birthday, with his 18th birthday coming Sept. 9, narrowly missing the Sept. 15 cutoff. Hughes is committed to playing next season at Michigan, which is the same path Quinn took. (And , for that matter, who was drafted by the Wings in 2014, played at Michigan in 2014-15, and made the Wings in 2015.)

Why he makes sense: If Hughes is available to the Wings, he’d be hard to pass up. The Wings don’t score easily, and Hughes is a dynamic player who can run a power play, join the rush, make an outlet pass and transport the puck. Potentially, he and Seider could anchor the Wings’ defense for a decade.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217351 Detroit Red Wings minded center he could progress into being. After the progress Rasmussen showed, you can't afford to lose him.

► Givani Smith: The seventh and final spot goes to Smith, a physical, Decisions on which players to protect (or not) loom for Red Wings in bruising forward who is out of options and must either stick with the expansion draft Wings to begin the season or be exposed to waivers. You can't afford to lose an intriguing prospect whom you have team control over for several more years for nothing.

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News UNPROTECTED FORWARDS

► Vladislav Namestnikov, Frans Nielsen, Richard Panik, Evgeny Svechnikov: Of these players, Namestnikov might be the most attractive Detroit — The Seattle Kraken are joining the NHL next season and they option for Seattle. Panik (age 30, two years at $2.75 million) and Nielsen need actual players. (37, one year at $5.25 million) are veterans with term on their contracts That’s where the Red Wings and the remainder of the NHL — except for and don't fit what Seattle wants to build. Svechnikov has struggled to stay the Vegas Golden Knights, who joined in 2017 and are totally exempt — healthy and hasn't been able to crack the NHL lineup. Namestnikov, 28, help out. has one more year at $2 million and can be a veteran who plays up and down the lineup for Seattle. He can also be a trade chip at the deadline. Seattle will put together its first team — one player from each of the 30 teams — in Wednesday's expansion draft. Before then, the Wings and PROTECTED DEFENSEMEN the rest of the league must submit their protected lists by 5 p.m. ► Filip Hronek: Arguably the Wings' best all-around defenseman the last Saturday. The NHL is expected to publicly reveal the lists on Sunday. several seasons, Hronek is an easy choice to protect. For some teams it's going to be a difficult process, one with deep thinking ► Dennis Cholowski: The 2016 first-round selection has struggled to and shrewd dealing (possibly inducing Seattle not to pick a certain gain a foothold in the NHL. But there were glimpses late last season that player, in exchange for draft picks). Cholowski, 23, was getting closer to be an NHL regular and it would be But for other teams, like the Red Wings, the process should be relatively difficult to just lose him for nothing. straightforward. ► Gustav Lindstrom: He's another young defenseman who has actually Each team has the option of protecting either seven forwards, three shown a bit more than Cholowski at the NHL level in his brief stretches in defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (non-goalies) and one the lineup. Lindstrom is only 22 and appears to have an NHL future. goalie. UNPROTECTED DEFENSEMEN The 7-3-1 option is much more popular. Teams that have four or more ► Danny DeKeyser, Troy Stecher: Essentially, the thinking is you keep valued defensemen — Tampa and Nashville are possible examples — two younger defensemen over two older ones. DeKeyser is 31 and has are likely go the 8-1 format. one more year at $5 million remaining on his contract. Coming off back For a player to be eligible for the expansion draft, they must have played surgery, DeKeyser progressed over the course of the season and looked more than two professional seasons at the conclusion of the 2020-21 stronger. Still, it's unlikely DeKeyser would entice Seattle. campaign. That makes young players such as the Wings' Filip Zadina, But Stecher is another matter. Stecher, 27, has one year at $1.7 million Joe Veleno and Moritz Seider ineligible because they haven’t yet remaining on his contract and is coming off a fine showing for gold reached that threshold. medal-winning Team Canada at the world championships (Stecher was Unrestricted free agents, such as Luke Glendening, Jonathan Bernier an alternate captain). Stecher displayed a competitiveness and tenacity and Marc Staal, don't need to be protected. that would make him a plus for any team's lineup.

Seattle must select at least 14 forwards, a minimum of nine defensemen PROTECTED GOALTENDER and at least three goalies. The total salary cap hit of the players Seattle ► Thomas Greiss: The only non-UFA goaltender on the roster, Greiss takes must be between 60-100% of the 2020-21 cap hit (minimum $49.8 was one of the NHL's better goalies the last several weeks of the season million, ceiling $81.5 million). after overcoming his early struggles. So how will the Red Wings' protected list look when it's released? Here's SEATTLE SELECTS one prediction, using the 7-3-1 protection format: ► Troy Stecher: Depending on how the Kraken comprise the rest of the PROTECTED FORWARDS roster, Stecher is a good fit. He can be used in a variety of ways, he'd be ► Dylan Larkin: The captain of the team, the face of the franchise, one of a good leader for what could be a younger roster, and the fact he's from the best players on the ice, and he'll be only 25 on July 30. Yes, this is an nearby Vancouver doesn't hurt either. It would leave the Wings with a easy choice. hole to fill.

► Jakub Vrana: Acquired from Washington in the trade, Vrana had eight goals in 11 games with the Wings and showed plenty of Detroit News LOADED: 07.16.2021 game-breaking potential. He showed enough to be considered a building block going forward.

► Tyler Bertuzzi: He's considered one of the key pieces in the rebuild, but coming off back surgery and the fact he'll be approaching unrestricted free agency in a couple years, you can understand the trade rumors that are beginning to surface. Still, easy choice to protect.

► Robby Fabbri: He'll be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but at this point you don't want to lose Fabbri for nothing. He could be a trade chip at the deadline. Or maybe he shows enough to be a building block for the future and someone who should be re-signed.

► Adam Erne: He, possibly, wouldn't have been on this list last summer. But after a breakout season in which led the Wings with 11 goals and showed an ability to be used in a variety of roles, including a key figure on the team's best checking line, Erne is a slam dunk to be protected.

► Michael Rasmussen: The 2017 first-round draft pick had his best pro season, giving the organization a glimpse into the shutdown, tough- 1217352 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings to host NHL Entry Draft party at Little Caesars Arena

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News

Detroit — The Red Wings will hold a draft party next Friday at Little Caesars Arena where fans can watch the team make their two scheduled first-round selections.

The draft will be broadcast live on the outdoor video board at Chevrolet Plaza.

The event gets underway at 6 p.m. and will continue through the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, which begins at 8 p.m. on July 23.

The Wings will pick sixth and 22nd during the first round.

Fans are encouraged to claim free tickets by visiting detroitredwings.com/draftparty.

Registered fans will be emailed a parking code good for complimentary entry into the Little Caesars Arena Garage (165 Sproat St.) next week.

Select Red Wings alumni will be signing free autographs in the Via concourse and fans can enter for giveaways throughout the event.

Detroit's Dan Rafferty Band will perform live from Chevrolet Plaza beginning at 6 p.m. A panel featuring Red Wings radio voice Ken Kal, Red Wings TV’s Carley Johnston and Art Regner and select alumni will entertain fans and discuss the draft starting at 7 p.m.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217353 Detroit Red Wings

Manny Legace pays tribute to Columbus goalie killed in Novi fireworks accident

TED KULFAN | The Detroit News

Former Red Wings goaltender Manny Legace was emotional Thursday when eulogizing Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks at a memorial service in Columbus.

Kivlenieks, 24, died July 4 when a fireworks mortar struck him in the chest. Kivlenieks was attending the wedding of Legace’s daughter at Legace’s Novi home.

“I love you, I always will love you, you were my son,” said Legace, standing with Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. “You were a great friend to everybody here.”

The public comments were Legace’s first since the accident. Kivlenieks spent the last several summers at Legace’s Novi home and developed friendships with many Michigan residents.

“You made Kivi feel at home, Michigan was his second home,” Legace said.

Kivlenieks and Legace had developed a close bond since the Latvian goaltender signed with Columbus as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

“Ever since Kivi joined our organization he would come up and live with my wife and I every summer,” Legace said. “He became a son to us. He lived with us through the pandemic. I got to play golf with him every day in the summer, got to hang out with him, play cards.

“He got to become one of my family. He got to be a brother to my daughter and my son, a great friend to our nephew.

“He wanted to come to that wedding (on July 4).”

Legace added that Kivlenieks wouldn’t have liked all the attention of the memorial, adding “he’d want everyone to just have a beer and go on their way. He made us so proud, on and off the ice. The way he greeted people with a smile, never wanted to be the front of attention.

“I want to thank Matiss’ mom and dad for raising a beautiful child.”

Legace supplied a laugh during the service when he noted the attendance of former Columbus coach John Tortorella at the service.

“Look at how many lives he (Kivlenieks) touched,” Legace said. “Torts even flew in, and he hates goalies.”

At which point, Merzlikins added, “that’s the funniest thing that you’ve ever said.”

Merzlikins shed light on the July 4 accident when saying Kivlenieks saved the lives of Merzlikins and his wife and baby on his way.

Merzlikins said he was hugging his pregnant wife, approximately 20-30 feet behind Kivlenieks, when the fireworks mortar struck Kivlenieks.

"He saved my son, he saved my wife and he saved me,” Merzlikins said. “He died as a hero."

Novi police said Monday they have completed their investigation into Kivlenieks' death and turned in their findings to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Detroit News LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217354 Detroit Red Wings Michigan Live LOADED: 07.16.2021

Small, speedy William Eklund could provide Red Wings with scoring, energy

Posted Jul 14, 6:02 AM

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

William Eklund is one of the top prospects in this year’s NHL draft and despite being on smaller size, teams aren’t likely to be deterred by his size.

The list of players under 5-10 flourishing in the league includes Alex DeBrincat, Johnny Gaudreau, Cam Atkinsson, Johnathan Marchessault and Torey Krug.

Eklund, a 5-10, 176-pound left wing who plays for Djurgardens in the , is the top-rated European skater in the draft in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings.

Some are projecting him to be selected as high as No. 2 to the expansion Seattle Kraken. Or perhaps he will be available for the Detroit Red Wings at No. 6 during the first round on July 23.

Someone will be getting a fast-skating, highly skilled player who should be quite productive at the highest level.

“I know I’m not going to be the tallest player on the team, and I see the game has changed so much over the past few years,” Eklund said. “Those smaller, really skilled players can be really effective in the NHL, too. It’s fun to see they have such good success in the NHL.”

Eklund spent the entire 2020-21 season in the SHL as an 18-year-old, tying for second on his team in goals (11) and being named rookie of the year and Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year after putting up 23 points in 40 games.

Dan Marr, director of NHL Central Scouting, said of Eklund: “He competes and works hard with excellent hockey sense, quickness and elite puck skills to be both a playmaker and a scorer. A scoring threat on every shift, he plays bigger than his size and plays to win.”

Eklund, during a media call last week, described himself as a player who brings energy to the team.

“I want to be an offensive threat every time I touch the puck and I want to be a guy you can count on in different situations,” he said.

“I think I improved my game around the net, to able to stay there for a long time. I scored some goals (where) I was in the right spot.”

As for areas of improvement, Eklund said, “I think I have to improve my shooting. I think I have to get that shot off faster and better in tight areas. I also have to have better top speed, more quick, fast.”

He expects to work on those things while playing in one more season.

“I think I have one more year in Europe to develop to a better player here,” Eklund said. “I’ve seen a lot of players come back to Sweden to play one more year to develop. I think that’s a good thing, especially this year when we’ve got a good coach (former Red Wings assistant Barry Smith was hired in April), a good group here. That’s also good for your development.”

Eklund likened himself to Mathew Barzal of the Islanders.

“He’s amazing to watch,” Eklund said. “I try to look at his way to use his edges in the corner and how fast he turns and gets speed and how good he is at finding his teammates.”

After overcoming an emergency appendectomy and positive COVID-19 test this season, Eklund received the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence. It is presented annually by the NHL in honor of McGuire, who served as director of Central Scouting from 2005 until he died of cancer in 2011. It’s given to the candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.

1217355 Detroit Red Wings

One-time Red Wings’ free-agent targets Ryan Suter, Zach Parise being bought out

Updated Jul 13, 2021; Posted Jul 13, 2021

By Ansar Khan | [email protected]

The Detroit Red Wings were major players in the free-agent market nine years ago when they made a huge pitch for defenseman Ryan Suter and left wing Zach Parise.

They lost out to the Minnesota Wild, who signed the close friends to matching 13-year, $98 million contracts on July 4, 2012.

On Tuesday, Wild general manager Bill Guerin announced that Suter and Parise, both 36, are being bought out of the final four years of their contracts.

They will be on Minnesota’s cap for the next eight seasons, with each having a $2.3 million hit in 2021-22, $6.3 million in 2022-23, $7.3 million in each of the following two seasons and $833,000 in each of the final four seasons, according to capfriendly.com.

The Red Wings weren’t as interested in Parise as they were in Suter, the mobile, puck-mover they envisioned plugging the hole left by Nicklas Lidstrom, who retired two months earlier.

Owner Mike Ilitch, along with general manager , coach Mike Babcock and advisor Chris Chelios flew to Suter’s farm in Madison, Wis., for a face-to-face meeting. They returned fairly confident he would sign, making him a competitive offer of 13 years at $90 million.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get Suter,’' Holland said at the time. “Certainly, when you offer someone the amount of money we offered him you feel you’re a legitimate player.

“We made an offer to Parise … it was legitimate. We were told a couple of times that we were on a short list of teams he was considering.’'

The Red Wings believed both players wanted to play closer to home. Parise is from Minnesota and Suter from Madison.

Suter, who started his career in Nashville, finished second in Norris Trophy voting as the league’s top defenseman his first season with the Wild but was not one of the three finalists in any of the next eight seasons. Parise, whose career began in New Jersey, scored 25 or more goals in five of his first eight seasons in Minnesota but his play deteriorated this past season (seven goals, 18 points in 45 games) to the point where he was a healthy scratch on a few occasions.

Minnesota reached the playoffs in eight of nine seasons with Suter and Parise but won only two rounds and didn’t advance past the second round.

“Zach and Ryan have been an integral part of the Wild’s success over the past nine years, and we’ll always be grateful for their many contributions,” Guerin said in a statement. “There were numerous factors that entered into the difficult decision to buy out their contracts, but primarily these moves are a continuation of the transformation of our roster aimed at the eventual goal of winning a Stanley Cup.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217356 Detroit Red Wings That’s great news, no matter how things shake out this summer. 2. It’s been quiet around Detroit’s pending unrestricted free agents as

well, but things are expected to heat up after the expansion draft, when Tyler Bertuzzi, UFA updates: What I’m hearing about the Red Wings teams have a clearer picture of where they stand. There is believed to be offseason mutual interest between the team and pending UFA goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who has been great for the Red Wings the last two seasons, posting a .914 save percentage in 2021. There is also expected to be interest in bringing back veteran center and alternate captain Luke By Max Bultman Glendening, though again substantive talks have not begun. Jul 15, 2021 3. Trading a player at the deadline and then re-signing him the following offseason is a far more widely speculated concept than actually tends to occur. But for what it’s worth, it is believed defenseman Jon Merrill would The bulk of the NHL’s offseason business will come to a head in the next be interested in a return to Detroit if that opportunity presents itself. three weeks. By this weekend, teams will have to finalize their Merrill will likely have other suitors, too, and Montreal (with whom Merrill preparations for the expansion draft and submit the lists of players they went on a long playoff run this summer after the Red Wings traded him will protect from Seattle on Saturday. Then a trade freeze will be initiated there) is believed to be interested in bringing him back. through next Wednesday’s expansion draft. Next comes the amateur draft, an annual spark for player movement as well the actual drafting. 4. As of now, the Red Wings are not expected to buy out any players in And a few days after that, on July 28, free agency will begin. the current buyout window, after going that route last offseason with Justin Abdelkader. That’s not surprising, considering the only real That means busy times for Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, candidate might have been Frans Nielsen — who is set to count $5.25 who has a mountain of cap space, a war chest of draft picks and a million against the cap next season and played in just 29 games in 2021. penchant for surprises at this time of year. He has only one year remaining on his contract.

Here’s what I’ve been able to gather from conversations around the At present, Detroit has only two non-entry-level contracts on the books league about what the coming weeks may hold for the Red Wings. for 2022-23: those belonging to Larkin and Richard Panik, both of which are set to expire in 2023. The current RFA crop will likely change that a 1. Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi has been a popular subject the last bit, but either way, Detroit currently has as close to a blank slate as exists few days after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the Maple Leafs in the NHL, even with Abdelkader’s dead cap hit on the books through had interest in Bertuzzi leading up to the 2021 trade deadline. The 2026. Athletic’s Craig Custance reported that teams believe Yzerman is open to trading Bertuzzi, but not in a huge hurry to do so. That is in line with The 5. It’s been impossible to get clarity on what the Red Wings are going to Athletic’s report in March that Detroit might consider trading Bertuzzi or do with their expansion draft protected list, and my prediction has waffled Anthony Mantha. Mantha was dealt to Washington in the final moments plenty over the course of the year. My final guess matches the one I before the deadline. wrote in my latest projection last month: a 7-3-1 protection route in which Detroit protects Larkin, Bertuzzi, Vrana, Robby Fabbri, Michael Bertuzzi is a pending restricted free agent, and according to a source this Rasmussen, Adam Erne and Givani Smith up front, Filip Hronek, Dennis week, there have been no developments so far between him and the Red Cholowski and Gustav Lindstrom on defense and Thomas Greiss in net. Wings on a new contract. But I get the sense that’s not uncommon But that list is just that: a guess. among Detroit’s major pending RFAs right now. The glaring omission there would be defenseman Troy Stecher, who is Bertuzzi went to arbitration with the Red Wings last offseason, with more just 27 and had a good first season in Detroit. If you’re strictly talking than a $1 million gap between the team’s and player’s filing numbers — about 2021-22 impact, Stecher would help the Red Wings next year and then missed all but nine games this season with a back injury that more than either Cholowski or Lindstrom. He also could very well have eventually required surgery. That certainly doesn’t make his contract some trade value at the deadline, especially with retained salary. Both of situation less complicated, nor does the fact he’s now just one year away those facts cause some hesitation in projecting all three younger D to be from being eligible for unrestricted free agency. And while fellow soon-to- protected over him. But I simply have yet to see Yzerman make a move be RFA winger Jakub Vrana was healthy and played 50 games, only 11 that puts a player on a one-year deal above younger prospects with team of them came with the Red Wings after being acquired from Washington control remaining, and my gut won’t let me predict he starts now. We’ll in the Mantha deal (although he was excellent in those 11 games, see what happens, though. averaging a point per game). I wonder if that could make Filip Hronek’s contract the most straightforward of the three major RFAs, given the The potential curveball would be a trade prior to the submission of more complicated circumstances with Bertuzzi and Vrana. protected lists Saturday changing Detroit’s outlook. That could come in the form of a player going out, and thus creating a new spot on the list or But back to Bertuzzi: Without getting too deep into rumor-land, if a trade a new player coming in and forcing someone else off it. There is a sense were to happen this summer, it would obviously be a substantial that teams around the league may have fewer protection problems in this development for the Red Wings. Bertuzzi is not only one of Detroit’s best expansion draft than they did with Vegas in 2017, so I wouldn’t sit on the players, but he’s also a heart-and-soul, playoff-style player of whom edge of your seat waiting for something in that vein. But it does only take coach once said, “as this team gets better and we’re in one team, making one phone call, to potentially change that. position to have way more meaningful games, whether it’s during the regular season or playoffs or whatever, he’s going to be an even bigger piece.” And at the end of the 2021 regular season, Dylan Larkin said Bertuzzi was “someone I kind of count on when things aren’t going well The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 personally and you don’t have confidence.”

Those things matter. They’re also the reasons it’s not surprising teams, and especially contenders, would be interested in him should he indeed be available. He’s wired for playoff hockey and has thrived in postseason play in the OHL and AHL.

Back injuries are scary, though, especially considering Bertuzzi’s fearless, physical style of play. One executive raised that concern in March, wondering if Bertuzzi could reasonably stay healthy considering the way he plays. That may be relevant when it comes to his trade value, especially when he hasn’t yet returned to game action.

For what it’s worth, two weeks ago, Blashill said Bertuzzi had “been able to do a little bit more lately, and I think he’s getting to the stage where he can start to get out of just pure rehab and get into strength training trying to build his body back up.” 1217357 Edmonton Oilers another coach on the Oiler bench. He can also work with their young defencemen. He didn’t just win three Stanley Cups in Chicago, he was their leader on defence. When they won their last Cup (in 2015), they basically played with 3 and a half defencemen: Keith, (Brent) Seabrook, OILERS NOTES: Will Tyler Benson be the Seattle Kraken's expansion (Nik Hjalmarsson and Johnny Oduya as the fourth,” said the league pick? source.

Rest assured, Oilers GM Ken Holland is keeping an eye on Tomas Tatar for a third-line left-wing role in free agency, at the right price and that is Jim Matheson • no more than $3 million. Publishing date: Jul 15, 2021 One eastern-based scout: “Perennial 20-goal scorer, third line, second power play. He’s not soft. He didn’t play for Montreal in the playoffs. I think it was a case of the coach didn’t like him.” If you’re Seattle Kraken general manager , the pickings off the Edmonton Oilers roster are not as appetizing as those off some other This ‘n’ that teams for the expansion draft. It’s not like Francis looks around at what’s Oil Kings head of scouting Jamie Porter, invaluable with his expertise in on the Oilers’ plate and he’s sees, uh, half a steak, mushrooms and stocking the powerhouse junior team, has been hired by Colorado to gravy on some mashed potatoes and some freshly baked bread. work on their amateur scouting team. Big loss for the Oil Kings. It’s not scraps, for sure, but if Zack Kassian is the seventh forward Is there any chance Nashville would be interested in Koskinen to pair protected, Francis is looking at the Oilers’ best farmhand forward, with fellow Finn Juuse Saros with Pekka Rinne retiring, if Oilers ate a Benson, who has only played seven NHL games, or fourth-line third of Koskinen’s contract? Khaira, an ace penalty-killer who was also available for Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft. On defence, a 7-8 shutdown guy, Lagesson, had a Keep Mikael Granlund’s name in mind for third-line centre in free-agency. taste of regular-work with Adam Larsson for a few weeks last season and He won 52 per cent of his face-offs last year in Nashville and had 27 goalie, Stalock, has the chops to be an NHL backup at 34 but never points in 51 games which equates to a 40-point 82-game season. He played a single minute last season. shoots left, not the more preferred right, but at $3 million for three years, maybe? Francis isn’t taking goalie and his $4.5 million contract, who won’t be protected. No surprise if the Colorado Avalanche’s speculated eight-year offer to Gabe Landeskog mirrors the deal Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got here ($41 If you’re the Oilers, who would you rather not lose with the team’s million, $5.125 million average cap hit). Colorado will give their captain protected lists due into the NHL head office 3 p.m. Saturday for scrutiny term and security but for reduced salary from his $5.57 million average. before being announced Sunday? Both are 28, from the same 2011 draft year. Nugent-Hopkins went No. 1, Potential in Benson and Lagesson, an NHLer in Khaira, who can play in Landeskog No. 2. In the Calder vote that 2011-12 season, Landeskog the league as a bottom-six forward (with the Oilers likely wanting him was first, Nugent-Hopkins second. Landeskog has 512 points in 678 back but at a reduced price from the $1.2 million he made last season), games, Nugent-Hopkins 478 in 656 games. and Stalock, who was Minnesota’s goalie during the 2020 bubble here.

He’s a guy who won 20 games, but had heart issues and spent several Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.16.2021 months here on the roster as a third goalie to Mike Smith and Koskinen but didn’t get into a game.

“I would suspect Edmonton will be one of those teams Seattle gets to last when it comes to who they will take. They’ll be at the back-end of their priorities. It’s not like it goes in order where they have to choose,” said a western-based pro scout. “When Vegas was picking (in the 2017 expansion draft), I’m sure the Oilers, maybe Carolina, were down their list with what they had.”

Vegas took Oilers farmhand defenceman Griffin Reinhart, who never played a game for them. The Golden Knights took forward Connor Brickley from the Hurricanes. He never played for them either.

Benson has worked incredibly hard after early injury issues and is knocking on the NHL door.

“I suspect Seattle will take some players who can go on waivers and clear to get them to their farm team,” said the pro scout, who likes Benson’s game at the level. “He’s clever, he sniffs out offensive opportunities.

“He has to play in your top-nine in the NHL. He may just be an NHL callup player.”

Khaira, who is a restricted free-agent, has to be qualified by July 28 to keep his rights or he becomes unrestricted. The Oilers would probably want him making the same sort of money ($900,000) signed for in Minnesota. Seattle too, if they took him. He was available in the 2017 Vegas draft too but they went for Reinhart.

“There’s utility there with Khaira. He’s a good penalty killer. He’s like ,” said another pro scout. “For me, there’s value in Stalock, maybe as a third goalie because of his experience and salary.”

The Duncan Keith trade has been panned by many Oilers fans because of his age, but one team executive who has been around the NHL for 30 years says it’s way off base.

“He’s a freak of nature. Age is just a number with Keith. I’m saying every team in the league would have Keith in their top-four. He’s like (Zdeno) Chara in Boston at the same age. Incredible hockey sense. He’ll be 1217358 Edmonton Oilers to Chiarelli would have been wildly positive and based solely on his experience with the (Reinhart was dominant in the WHL).

Lowetide: Oilers must apply lessons from previous drafts in 2021, from The fault lies in the decision to pursue a player who hadn’t been closely intel gaps to trade opportunities scouted for an entire year. Shifting so many roles so close to the draft left the organization vulnerable. In this case, the Oilers traded multiple picks during the deepest draft pool in memory.

By Allan Mitchell It had an enormous impact on the McDavid-era Oilers and resonates to this day. Jul 15, 2021 Lessons learned

There was a lot going on that spring, and we’ll probably never know all The Edmonton Oilers have been known to wheel and deal on draft day, the forces at play during the months leading to the 2015 draft. Owner often in pursuit of immediate help. As this year’s draft approaches, and would have been receiving a tremendous amount of input with the organization holding just one selection in the top 100, it might be from Oilers executive Bob Nicholson, who had been hired in June 2014. time to look at how the team handled previous drafts. Nicholson was brought in to coordinate things with Kevin Lowe (hockey Mistakes of the past guide the future, but only if they are remembered. side) and Patrick Laforge (business side), beginning with an audit that ultimately led to the club hiring Chiarelli. Stay the course, have up-to-date intel The lessons: In 2015, not long after the Oilers selected Connor McDavid with the No. 1 selection, Edmonton dealt two valuable selections (Nos. 16 and 33) for 1. Changing management so close to the draft and free agency had a young defenceman Griffin Reinhart. Since that trade, the players major impact on the 2015 draft and free agency. selected with those picks — Mathew Barzal (289 games, 76 goals, 176 2. Trade targets, or sudden trade opportunities, should involve having assists, 252 points) and Mitchell Stephens (45 games, 3-4-7) — have recent inside intel. If the information is lagging, it is best to stand pat played more than Reinhart (29 games, 0-1-1). unless a trusted resource has recently viewed a player. Former Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli clearly thought he was 3. Trust the scouts. Although the Oilers sat for more than 100 selections, acquiring a plug-and-play top-six NHL defenceman, saying “he’s ready to they drafted four NHL players that day (McDavid, Caleb Jones, Ethan play and he’s going to be a very good part of our D” the night of the deal. Bear and John Marino). What if management had kept all picks? What if As it turned out, the deal was devastating for the Oilers, at least partly the organization had kept Craig MacTavish as general manager for the because the organization didn’t have a close eye on Reinhart during his draft? rookie AHL season in 2014-15. Bob Green, then the Oilers director of 4. Edmonton should use intel gaps to its advantage, especially this player personnel, said, “I didn’t see him play in the American League. I summer. If the Oilers were scouting Evan Bouchard when he played in know what he brings, what he brought in junior. He’s played one year of Sweden’s Allsvenskan early in the 2020-21 season, there were several pro, he’s got some developing to do, but Griffin’s a winner. He’s a horse. draft-eligible players in that league. The top talent (Oskar Olausson is an He can play all night.” example) will be known to all teams, but there might also be late-round Reinhart was an amazing junior defenceman, but he had issues making gems available. the jump from the junior level, and his subpar speed was exposed. This year’s draft Edmonton’s pro scouts clearly didn’t observe his struggles, and once fall arrived and Reinhart arrived in camp, the gap was vast between The club has five selections (19, 116, 180, 186, 212) in the seven-round Reinhart’s ability and what the job required. draft, a group of selections that bears some resemblance to the 2015 draft slots. Ideally, current Oilers GM Ken Holland can add a pick inside Oilers coach Todd McLellan didn’t consider him among the seven best the top 100 before draft weekend. options in training camp, saying, “I consider Griff to be a very young defenceman in the league, very young. He’s probably played less than The Oilers’ scouts did well with the picks the team had in 2015, and (Brandon Davidson) now I think, so he needs that time to grow and gain again in 2020. In fact, all six draft picks in 2020 have a story to tell: some experience.” The Oilers need more picks, one in each round, to make an impact. Over the years, all involved took a great deal of heat, but if we back up Everything else, from scouts identifying quality through development the timeline, changes made in management during the spring would have upon arrival in Bakersfield and bringing prospects along slowly, is had an enormous impact on the decisions made at the draft table. Here working better than at any time this century. The Oilers are drafting and is the timeline: developing talent but will need more picks to feed the pipeline.

• July 2014 to April 2015: Oilers head amateur scout Stu MacGregor and Since 2015, outside the first round, the club has produced players who his staff assess and rank the 2015 draft pool. have either arrived (Bear, Jones) or are on the verge of doing it (Ryan McLeod, Dmitri Samorukov). The prospects have enough quality to be • April 18, 2015: Oilers win draft lottery, giving them the chance to select bargaining pieces for actual NHL players. McDavid. Draft and develop isn’t an easy formula, but the organization has found • April 24, 2015: Oilers hire Chiarelli as president and general manager. the right group. Adding a pick or two this week would benefit the Oilers’ • May 19, 2015: Oilers hire McLellan as head coach. future.

• June 22, 2015: Oilers fire MacGregor.

Entering the weekend (Chiarelli traded for Reinhart on June 26), The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 MacGregor was gone and Green was the main adviser to Chiarelli at the draft table. We don’t know how long Reinhart had been a target, but we do know that Green was director of player personnel and hadn’t seen Reinhart in the AHL.

Based on those facts, it’s reasonable to assume the desire to make this trade occurred in April, when Chiarelli was hired. If the plan to acquire Reinhart was part of the previous administration, there would have been miles of scouting reports detailing Reinhart’s progress.

As it was, once Chiarelli arrived, scouting Reinhart in the AHL would have been impossible since he played his final game of the season for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on April 12. Any information given by Green 1217359 Florida Panthers guy . Also in play: A recent New York Post report suggesting Quenneville might consider leaving Sunrise to coach the expansion Seattle Kraken, whose GM is a longtime friend and former teammate.

Hot Seat scale: Ranking 10 coaches in South Florida market by most to ▪ Willie Taggert, FAU football: Hot Seat 2.5 — Taggert went 5-4 in his least job pressure Owls debut last year after being fired by Florida State after only 21 games. But Lane Kiffin is a tough act to follow. With a five-year contract, Taggert is still in the honeymoon phase in Boca Raton but might get only three seasons to establish firm progress. BY GREG COTE ▪ Jim Larranaga, Hurricanes men’s : Hot Seat 2.0 — Larranaga JULY 15, 2021 03:33 PM is signed through 2023-24 and, at 70, isn’t thinking retirement. He’s had six 20-win seasons in his 10 years in Coral Gables but the past three have been a real downturn, with a combined 39-51 record including 16- Like a wine paired to a certain meal, we can recommend a musical 41 in the ACC. His job isn’t riding on it, but he could dearly use a faith- accompaniment to what you are about to read. It is the 1980s song, restoring bounce-back year. “Under Pressure,” by Queen and David Bowie. ▪ Katie Meier, Hurricanes women’s basketball: Hot Seat 1.5 — Meier is Pressure, pushing down on me, pressing down on you ... entering (time flies) her 17th season in Gables, as the longest-tenured of the market’s big-team coaches, and UM appreciates what it has. Her We identified the 10 most prominent teams in the Greater Miami/South latest contract extension runs through the 2024-25 season. The very- Florida sports market (no offense, FIU hoops, Miami FC soccer and respected coach has been a consistent winner here but seeks a rebound others who just missed) and then came up with a Hot Seat scale to rank year after consecutive .500 seasons. Her resume could also use a which of the teams’ head coaches (or manager) are under the most postseason kick, as her teams have yet to advance past the second pressure in terms of job security. round of the NCAA Tournament. The scale is 0 to 10 — 0 meaning the coach’s job presently could not be ▪ Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins: Hot Seat 1.0 — CBS Sports’ Jason La safer, 10 meaning the firing line is in view and the blindfold and cigarette Canfora recently listed Flores among nine NFL coaches in his own hot- are being offered. seat rankings. BetOnline’s first-coach-fired odds have Flores 12th Our summer of ‘21 Hot Seat rankings: highest, or upper half. Wrong! Don’t buy any of it. That can change fast with this team — and so much of it depends on quarterback Tua ▪ Phil Neville, Inter Miami: Hot Seat 8.0 — David Beckham made an ill- Tagovailoa’s progress and ceiling — but entering his third season of a fated coaching hire in Diego Alonso for Inter Miami’s inaugural year in five-year, fully guaranteed deal, Flores is rock-solid safe. Players love , then fired him after the season. Beckham then him. And after a 5-11 debut Flores went 10-6 last year with the Fins’ best hired a former teammate and longtime friend, Phil Neville, who’d been plus-points differential in 18 years. Last season mustn’t prove to have England’s national women’s coach, for Year 2. Results have been hugely been a fluke, though. It needs to have been the start of sustained underwhelming. Miami is 2-2-7 with five consecutive losses entering winning, or the seat under Flores could go from comfy-cool to toasty fast. Saturday night’s match, and has scored the fewest goals in the league. Friend or not, if Neville (with only a two-year contract) doesn’t right the ▪ Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat: Hot Seat 0.5 — Spo just finished his 13th listing ship and turn around what has been a really shaky launch to this season by the bay, second in NBA tenure to only San Antonio’s Gregg franchise, Beckham likely will be on the coach hunt yet again. Popovich. He has 10 playoff seasons, two championships and three other Finals appearances including last year. On this team, the question ▪ Butch Davis, FIU football: Hot Seat 6.5 — The old Canes boss turns 70 is if Pat Riley can give Spoelstra the players to contend for a title — during the coming season. He’s after a late-career hurrah and we hope never whether they’ll be sufficiently coached. FIU’s mercurial athletics leadership gives him a fair chance as he enters his fifth season — the last in a five-year contract. Davis has gone 6-12 the past two seasons including a COVID-racked 0-5 last year, so the Miami Herald LOADED: 07.16.2021 heat will be on barring a big turnaround this fall.

▪ Don Mattingly, Miami Marlins: Hot Seat 5.5 — Mattingly is in his his sixth season with the Marlins; only four MLB managers have been with their current club longer. His two-year contract extension expires this year, but the Marlins picked up his option for 2022. Miami unexpectedly made the playoffs in pandemic-strewn 2020 but have regressed and disappointed this year and are lodged in the NL East cellar — despite starting pitching as a strength. Derek Jeter must begin to spend to add offense, but owners don’t fire themselves. And surely first-year general manager Kim Ng will be given time as ’s first-ever woman (and Asian woman) GM. That will turn up the heat under Mattingly if the now- bounteous farm system and potential don’t start being reflected in the standings.

▪ Manny Diaz, Hurricanes football: Hot Seat 5.0 — The standard and expectations make this one of the most high-pressure, must-win jobs in the market, and the seat under Diaz is a bit warm entering the third season of a five-year contract. Improving to 8-3 last year after a 6-7 debut was fine, but Diaz is 0-2 in minor bowls (including an embarrassing loss to Louisiana Tech), has lost to FIU, and lost 62-26 at home to North Carolina late last season. Much room for improvement. (Upsetting national champion Alabama in the 2021 opener would be the loudest possible statement.) Big picture: Canes must find a way to solve Clemson and become an ACC power. And if the College Football Playoff increases from four teams to 12, the pressure will greatly increase on wanna-be contenders like UM to consistently reach the playoff.

▪ Joel Quenneville, Florida Panthers: Hot Seat 3.5 — “Coach Q” just finished the second season of a five-year deal, with two early playoff exits putting a disappointing damper on two solid regular seasons. With the franchise’s first Stanley Cup the clear goal, there is urgency to stop wasting the Aleksander Barkov/ years. This club, and Quenneville, need a deep postseason run. Another factor here: Q was hired by now-departed general manager Dale Tallon, not by current 1217360 Florida Panthers In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, Quenneville twice made Yandle a healthy scratch, though. Yandle struggled in the first two games of a first- round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and benching him was a loophole solution to Florida’s issue: Postseason games don’t count Panthers buy out maligned defenseman Keith Yandle with NHL toward the NHL record, so the Panthers could scratch Yandle without Expansion Draft in mind ending his streak.

The decision provided a clear picture of the dilemma Florida dealt with all year. The Panthers often dressed seven defensemen and played Yandle BY DAVID WILSON sparingly, but Quenneville was never willing to bench Yandle and end his JULY 15, 2021 11:16 AM streak, even when it may have benefited Florida to do so.

Yandle spent most of the season playing on the Panthers’ third defensive pairing, scoring three goals and handing out 27 assists. He finishes his Keith Yandle’s five years with the Florida Panthers saw him hit career time in Florida ranked second in Panther history in assists per game and milestones, earn All-Star recognition, put up unprecedented scoring second all-time among Florida defensemen with 201 assists. He also had numbers for a Panthers defenseman and help Florida to a rare trip to the perhaps the best season of his career while with the Panthers, scoring a Stanley Cup playoffs. career-high 62 points in the 2018-19 NHL season to earn All-Star recognition for the third time. But the past year was filled with controversy, as rumors swirled about the Panthers’ desire to move on from the 34-year-old despite his chase of With Florida still hoping to improve its defense next season, the Panthers the NHL’s all-time consecutive games played record. can now try to upgrade Yandle’s spot without ending one of the most impressive streaks in NHL history. Some other team will now be able to On Thursday, Florida found a solution and bought out the three-time All- bring in Yandle and likely celebrate an NHL record next season. Star ahead of the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The Yandle buyout, and Forsling and Duclair extensions effectively locks “We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Keith for all that he’s in Florida’s decisions for the Expansion Draft on Wednesday. The contributed to the Florida Panthers organization and to the South Florida Panthers can protect 11 players — one goaltender, three defensemen community over the past five seasons,” general manager Bill Zito said in and seven forwards — and the decisions are now straightforward. a statement. “While a decision of this kind is never an easy one to make, we believe that this shift is necessary as we look towards the 2021-22 ▪ Goaltender: Sergei Bobrovsky, who has a no-movement clause. season and our club’s future.” ▪ Defensemen: Weegar, Ekblad and Forsling. Yandle was under contract for two more seasons and the buyout, completed in accordance with the league’s collective-bargaining ▪ Forwards: Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Patric Hornqvist, agreement, will pay out about $8 million across the next four years. Carter Verhaeghe, , Frank Vatrano and Duclair.

The move frees up the Panthers to protect defenseman Gustav Forsling While Bennett is set to be a restricted free agent, Zito said he envisions in the NHL Expansion Draft. Previously, Florida was required to protect the versatile forward as a long-term piece. Vatrano is the closest thing to Yandle from the Seattle Kraken because he had a no-movement clause. a debate now, with wingers Noel Acciari, Mason Marchment and Alex Wennberg also candidates to be protected. Wennberg, however, is an In the aftermath of the buyout, the Panthers also announced a pair of unrestricted free agent, which means there’s no guarantee he’d be back three-year extensions for Forsling and winger Anthony Duclair. Forsling’s in Florida next season if he was protected. extension is worth $2.66 million per year, while Duclair’s is for $3 million annually. First- and second-year players are exempt from the Expansion Draft, which means the Panthers don’t need to worry about goaltender Spencer Both Forsling and Duclair were set to be restricted free agents. Knight or left wing Owen Tippett.

Yandle had been under contract through 2023, due to make $5.25 million Protections are due to the league by Saturday. next season and $2.2 million the year after, and Florida also still owed him $3 million of signing-bonus money. The buyout will save the Panthers about $4 million in cap space for the 2021-22 NHL season, Miami Herald LOADED: 07.16.2021 according to CapFriendly, and about $1 million for the following season. Yandle’s cap hit will be about $1.24 million for each of the following seasons.

With Yandle off the books and two new extensions in place, the Panthers have more than $11 million in projected cap space. It will help them make a serious run at the Stanley Cup next season, but it was only a part of the decision.

After plucking Forsling off the waiver wire in January and turning him into a first-pairing defenseman in the second half of the season, Florida was set to potentially lose the 25-year-old Swede for nothing as part of the Expansion Draft. Now Florida can protect Forsling, MacKenzie Weegar and Aaron Ekblad — the three defensemen coach Joel Quenneville trusted most throughout last season.

“After joining the Panthers in January, Gustav had a career season setting personal records and establishing his defensive game to bolster our blue line,” Zito said in a statement. “We are looking forward to watching him continue to develop his game with our club.”

While Yandle’s five years with the Panthers made him one of the most productive defensemen in franchise history, the veteran spent most of 2021 on the outs with the organization. The organization toyed with the idea of making him a healthy scratch at the start of the year, reported in January, and explored trade possibilities before keeping him on the active roster throughout the regular season. Yandle played in all 56 games, extending his consecutive games streak to 922 — the longest active streak in the NHL and just 42 shy of the all-time record. 1217361 Florida Panthers us on the ice and a valuable member of our community. We are thrilled to have him as a part of the Panthers family for years to come.”

Panthers buy out Yandle, re-sign Forsling and Duclair Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.16.2021

By MALLORY SCHNELL

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL

JUL 15, 2021 AT 1:08 PM

The Florida Panthers are making moves ahead of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. After five rocky seasons, the Panthers have bought out the contract of defenseman Keith Yandle. Additionally, the Panthers have re-signed defenseman Gustav Forsling and forward Anthony Duclair.

“We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Keith for all that he’s contributed to the Florida Panthers organization and to the South Florida community over the past five seasons,” general manager Bill Zito said Thursday in a news release. “While a decision of this kind is never an easy one to make, we believe that this shift is necessary as we look towards the 2021-22 season and our club’s future.”

Yandle had two more years left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.35 million. The buyout will cost the Panthers $2.3 million in 2021-22, $5.4 million in 2022-23 and only $1.2 million in both 2023-24 and 2024- 25.

Due to his no-movement clause, Yandle does not need to go on buyout waivers. He becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with another team when free agency begins July 28.

The 34-year-old holds the longest active ironman streak in the NHL at 922 consecutive regular-season games played — 42 short of Doug Jarvis’ record. The Panthers made Yandle a healthy scratch for half of their first-round playoff series, but that does not affect his streak.

Yandle had 114 power-play points and often was on the ice for every power play opportunity the Panthers had.

While he was the quarterback of the power play, Yandle often had turnovers on the defensive end.

Throughout his five years with the Panthers, Yandle had a total of 489 giveaways.

With this buyout, the Panthers are able to protect another player in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Protected lists are due Saturday.

Forsling’s new three-year contract is worth $7.98 million, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sports Net.

He joined the Panthers on Jan 9, 2021 after the released him.

“After joining the Panthers in January, Gustav had a career season setting personal records and establishing his defensive game to bolster our blueline,” Zito said. “We are looking forward to watching him continue to develop his game with our club.”

Forsling, 25, played in 43 regular season games with the Panthers this year, recording 17 points (5-12-17). In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, he played in six games, scoring one goal and one assist.

After being on six teams over the last seven seasons, Duclair will finally gain some stability.

He was re-signed to a three-year contract worth $9 million, according to Friedman.

Duclair has appeared in 396 career NHL regular season games for Florida (2020-21), (2018-19 to 2019-20), Columbus (2018-19), Chicago (2017-18), Arizona (2015-16 to 2017-18) and New York Rangers (2014-15).

In his first season with the Panthers, Duclair, 25, recorded 32 points (10- 22-32) in 43 regular season games and also appeared in six playoff games. Duclair led the team’s forwards with a career-high +27 rating.

“Anthony brought great speed and skill to our club this season,” Zito said. “We look forward to seeing him continue to be a creative playmaker for 1217362 Florida Panthers

Florida Panthers sign Anthony Duclair, Gus Forsling to new contracts

Published 17 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By George Richards

The Florida Panthers were quite busy on Thursday. Not only did the team officially buyout the final two years of Keith Yandle’s contract, but they signed restricted free agents Anthony Duclair and Gus Forsling to three- year contract extensions as well.

Both players will now be protected from the upcoming Seattle Expansion Draft.

Duclair, 25, signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Panthers during the offseason after he was not tendered by Ottawa.

Although Duclair only scored 10 goals with the Panthers last season, he was a big part of the top line’s success and showed he had an affect regardless of which line he was put on.

“Anthony brought great speed and skill to our club this season,” Bill Zito said in a statement announcing the deal.

“We look forward to seeing him continue to be a creative playmaker for us on the ice and a valuable member of our community. We are thrilled to have him as a part of the Panthers family for years to come.”

The Panthers, Duclair said before the 2021 season started, were a perfect fit for him after he has bounced around the league a little bit.

Now, it appears Duclair has found a home in South Florida.

“I think we’re a pretty deceiving team from the outside looking in,’’ Duclair said during training camp. “There is a lot of talent on this team, another level we can reach. We want to be a competitive team right off the bat.”

As for Forsling, Florida was able to come to a deal with him after cutting ties with Yandle and thereby being able to protect a third defenseman from Seattle.

Forsling, also 25, came to the Panthers off the waiver wire as he was cut loose by Carolina during training camp and snapped up by Florida.

The Panthers dug what Forsling brought from the start as he was quickly placed in a top-four role — and was up on the top pairing with MacKenzie Weegar when Aaron Ekblad got hurt in March.

Forsling played in 43 regular season games scoring five goals with 17 points. In the playoffs, he had a goal and an assist.

“After joining the Panthers in January, Gustav had a career season setting personal records and establishing his defensive game to bolster our blueline,” Zito said.

“We are looking forward to watching him continue to develop his game with our club.”

Here is how Forsling’s contract will break down per Puckpedia.com. Duclair is getting $3 million per season on his new deal.

Florida is also working to re-sign RFA Sam Bennett as well.

Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217363 Florida Panthers “Honestly, as much as I have tried not to think about it — I’m not on Twitter or anything like that — I’m just doing my job. My parents always told me to ‘go to work every day, put your head down and grind’ and that’s what I have always done. That’s what I am doing now.” Florida Panthers buyout final two seasons of Keith Yandle contract By buying out Yandle’s contract, the Panthers add $4 million of cap space this season although next season, Yandle’s cap hit (due to $3 million being owed in signing bonus) the savings will not be much at all. Published 19 hours ago on July 15, 2021 Over the course of four years, Yandle’s cap hit — per CapFriendly.com By George Richards — will be: $2.34 million (2021-22); $5.39m (2022-23); $1.24m (2023-24); $1.24m (2024-25).

The Florida Panthers will buyout the final two years of Keith Yandle’s Florida will, however, be able to protect an additional defenseman from contract on Thursday, officially parting ways with the popular Seattle. defenseman. Had Florida held onto Yandle, he would have had to have been protected Yandle, 34, will become a free agent and can sign with any other team due to the NMC. when the market opens in two weeks. With Yandle now no longer part of the team, Florida is expected to On Wednesday it came to light that Florida general manager Bill Zito did protect defensemen Aaron Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar and Gus not ask Yandle to waive his full no-movement clause in his contract Forsling. before the Panthers have to present their protected list for the Seattle The Panthers signed Forsling to a three-year extension Thursday. Expansion Draft which is due on Saturday afternoon. Anthony Duclair was also extended. Word of Florida potentially using a buyout on Yandle had been floating What the Panthers are losing is a player who is beloved in and outside of around NHL circles for weeks. their locker room. Thursday morning, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported Florida’s To call Yandle one of the most popular Panthers — at least among his intentions. teammates — would be an understatement. “We would like to extend a sincere thank you to Keith for all that he’s Yandle is not only popular because of his personality, but for his contributed to the Florida Panthers organization and to the South Florida toughness. The Ironman streak definitely could have come to an end a community over the past five seasons,” Zito said in a statement. number of times during his Florida run, but Yandle was out there each “While a decision of this kind is never an easy one to make, we believe and every night. that this shift is necessary as we look towards the 2021-22 season and During the 2019-20 season, Yandle took a puck at full speed off his face our club’s future.” and left his mouth a mess. Yandle broke or shattered nine teeth that Although Yandle is one of the top point producers among defensemen in night in Carolina — and only missed a period as he got stitched up. the league, his actual defensive play has faltered over the past couple of And, the following day, he was back on the ice and in the lineup against years. Buffalo despite spending much of his day in a dentist chair. Florida, despite paying Yandle an average of $6.35 million per season, “I was surprised to see him come back because it looked so bad, but at had been using him as a bottom pair defenseman for much of this the same time, I was not surprised,” Aaron Ekblad said then. season. “Knowing him as a competitor, I know how much he wants to battle and Since joining the Panthers, Yandle’s 30 goals and 231 points rank eighth be out there helping us especially in a game like that where we were in the NHL amongst defensemen. His 114 power play points ranks fourth. losing. If we were up 5-2, maybe he stays in the room. He is a battler and While the Panthers kept Yandle in the lineup throughout this season to it is great to see. We have seen guys come back from nasty stuff before keep his NHL-leading Ironman streak going — he is currently at 922 and it means a lot to his teammates.” consecutive regular season games played which is 42 games away from tying the all-time record — he was scratched in three of Florida’s final four playoff games. Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 Yandle ended up playing five seasons with the Panthers after Florida acquired his negotiating rights for a sixth-round pick before the 2016 free agency period opened.

The Panthers ended up giving Yandle a seven-year contract (as well as sending a fourth-round pick back to the Rangers) worth $44.5 million with a full no-movement clause.

Yandle could not be traded to any team without his approval.

“The biggest thing I have grown fond of is the people,’’ Yandle told me last summer.

“Everyone at the rink and everyone involved with the team are such good people. The people we have met and become friends with really is a life- changing experience. You meet new people, and now we have friends for life.

“We’re probably going to stay here the rest of our lives. We really love it here, everything it has to offer. Whether it’s the schools for the kids or their sports, we have enjoyed it. … When you have the time to enjoy all that South Florida has to offer, it’s an amazing place.”

Before this season started, Yandle said the Panthers had never approached him to waive his NMC — although they could have gone about that in other ways to know he was unreceptive to any sort of trade.

“I love playing here and love the guys,” Yandle told FHN during training camp. “I love our group, the coaches, everyone. My family is invested down here. I signed here expecting to play the rest of my career here. 1217364 Florida Panthers Final,” an NHL executive said to OTR late Wednesday night. “Did they see how the major difference in that series was the depth in skill the Lightning have, and the Habs don’t? This is ludicrous to even suggest Bergy is trying to do what Julien did. Not that what Julien did was illegal NHL Trade Market Set To ‘Explode’; Seth Jones, Shea Weber | FHN+ but trust me, the Habs can’t survive a whole 82-game season without Weber unless they have some deal for Seth Jones lined up that we don’t

know about. They just don’t have the depth–the Lightning did, and people Published 11 hours ago on July 15, 2021 need to start focusing on how amazing it was that they finished where they did without [Steven] Stamkos and [Nikita] Kucherov.” By Jimmy Murphy 3. NHL Trade Market About To ‘Explode.’

In last week’s ‘Off The Record,’ we told you that many NHL insiders felt The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning that while there was plenty of NHL trade chatter, the expectation was that were already expected to be major players on the NHL trade market as things wouldn’t heat up until this Saturday when NHL teams must submit they try to become cap compliant again, but could they still acquire a their protected list for the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft. There has high-end player? been a feeling this week that things could kick off any moment, but one thing is certain, this may be the busiest NHL trade market we’ve seen in The Montreal Canadiens aren’t the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that’s why a while. the Shea Weber news is not a sign that they’re about to pull a 2021 Lightning coup with the NHL salary cap. Off the record:

The NHL trade market is expected to ‘explode’ in 3-2-1… “Things are about to explode,” an NHL GM told OTR earlier this week. “I really think we are going to see more trades than we have in the past. Here’s the latest in ‘Off The Record’: Lots of teams need to dump salary, and there are teams like the Kings, 1. Could Lightning Actually Trade For Jones? Senators, Red Wings, and Devils waiting to absorb cap hits for players that normally wouldn’t be on the trade market. Even a regular contender Per our friends at PuckPedia, the Tampa Bay Lightning are $3.5 million like the Boston Bruins has a ton of cap space. This is going to get crazy OVER the flattened $81.5 million salary cap. real fast.”

As the offseason kicks off in earnest this weekend with the submission of teams’ protected lists for the NHL Expansion Draft next Wednesday, the Lightning are expected to pull off a series of moves to become cap Florida Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 compliant.

There’s no way the back-to-back champs could be sellers and buyers on the NHL trade market, right?

Or, could they actually be players in the Seth Jones sweepstakes?

Off the record:

“I know it sounds crazy, but given Julien’s (BriseBois) track record, I’m not surprised by anything when it comes to the Lightning. He’s a cap genius,” an NHL executive source told OTR recently. “Look at it this way, he’s losing a player in the expansion draft. Is that Tyler Johnson ($5 million), maybe (Alex) Killorn, too.

Or trade them. Let (David) Savard walk. He’s got some NHL-ready prospects coming and can always fill some holes with cheap signings if need be. The next offseason is the tougher one for him, (with Brayden) Point and (Ondrej) Palat to sign. If you’re just bringing Jones in for a season and it gives you a chance at a three-peat, I say at least explore it, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does.”

As we noted two weeks ago, the Colorado Avalanche are in a similar position in terms of going for it and willing to absorb Jones’ $5.4 million cap hit and according to numerous sources, remain frontrunners for Jones.

2. Habs Aren’t Circumventing Cap

TVA Insider Renaud Lavoie broke some shocking news Wednesday night. He reported that the Montreal Canadiens would not protect captain and veteran defenseman Shea Weber in the NHL Expansion Draft next Wednesday.

Our Canadiens team source also confirmed the report early Thursday morning, and there is a strong fear that the soon-to-be 36-year-old’s career could be over. Weber has five years remaining on the 14-year, $110 million he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers that was matched by the Nashville Predators just over nine years ago.

PuckPedia did a great job explaining the recapture penalties the Predators and Canadiens would face if Weber does retire.

The hot take since Lavoie broke this news has been the Canadiens are trying to circumvent the salary cap in the same way the team that just disposed of them in five games in the Stanley Cup Final did this past season.

Off the record:

“Anyone saying the Habs are pulling a Lightning cap job here needs to take a look at the Habs roster and clearly didn’t watch the Stanley Cup 1217365 Los Angeles Kings [Guenther] thinks the game at a high level and is constantly utilizing all resources to improve his game. While offense is what jumps out, the proficiency in his game extends the length of the ice.

Prospect Profiles – Dylan Guenther & Mason McTavish McKeen’s Hockey

Guenther is an off-puck specialist, constantly supporting his teammates through clever pathing all over the ice. This style of play projects very By Jack Jablonski well towards the NHL and provides different developmental paths for whatever team that drafts him to mold him in.

Potential Fit With the NHL Draft coming up quickly, on July 23-24, LAKI takes a deep dive into the possible options for the Kings at their No. 8 draft position in Guenther is in line with the type of player that the Kings have started to the first round. draft since the “retool” of the team. He’s agile, fast and versatile. Expected to go in the vacinity the eighth pick, Guenther would be an Dylan Guenther enticing pick for the Kings. Drafting Guenther would add to the high-end Vitals talent up front that Kings are already excited about and bring plenty of flexibility to the prospect pool. Height – 6’1” Mason McTavish Weight – 181 Lbs Vitals From – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Height – 6’2” DOB – April 10, 2003 Weight – 207 Lbs 2021-22 Season – Edmonton Oil Kings (12 games, 12-12=24) From – Zurich, Switzerland (represents Canada internationally) Position – Right Wing/Left Wing DOB – January 30, 2003 Summary 2021-22 Season – EHC Olten (13 games, 9-2=11) Dylan Guenther is the definition of elusive. In the offensive zone he is slippery with the puck and hard to defend without the puck. In transition, Position – Center Guenther is even more lethal. Offensively, Guenther has the complete Summary package. With the ability to score in any facet, find time, open space and open teammates for opportunities, Guenther is a good-looking offensive Mason McTavish was one of many players to be severely impacted on prospect. the ice by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first year in the OHL in 2019- 20 season, McTavish racked up 42 points (29-13=42) in 57 games with In the limited WHL season, Guenther recorded 24 points (12-12=24) in the Peterborough Pete’s, the second-highest point total among OHL 12 games. His two points per game led the WHL in PPG, among players rookies. Ready to come back and make a splash in his sophomore who played in 10 or more games. season, McTavish didn’t get that chance. With OHL season cancelled Raising his stock even more, Guenther is also good in the defensive after several attempts to get it underway, McTavish had to find elsewhere zone. With a good understanding on the defensive side of the game, to play. Guenther is positionally sound and has the hockey IQ to read plays and Born in Zurich, Switzerland, McTavish went back to his birth country and sniff out passes in his area. Although he does need to put on muscle and played for EHC Olten, a team in the second-tier Swiss league. Though weight, he still has a mentality of not being afraid to go into the corners McTavish only played in 13 games in Switzerland, the strong and and battle. talented center recorded 9 goals and 11 points. What They’ve Said McTavish has tremendous offensive skills and is a versatile player who On if he’s stronger creating offense with or without in offensive zone can impact the game on and off the scoresheet. At 6’2” and 207 pounds, McTavish can play both big and small if needful. His size and skill I think both. I think being a guy who creates offense is a big strength in provide a unique combination that not many in this draft have. And lastly, my game. I think it’s important to do both. Whether it’s getting a shot on as one of the premium goal-scorers in this year’s draft, McTavish has a net or getting open for a pass, they’re both important. When I have the shot that has goalies on edge from everywhere in the offensive zone. puck on my stick, I’m a threat to shoot and score, but I can also pass and With more of a shoot-first mindset, McTavish has the ability to be a make plays. That’s a big part of my game. leading goal scorer on an NHL team one day.

On his hockey IQ What They’ve Said

I think hockey IQ and scoring go hand-in-hand. I feel like I’m able to time On being compared to the play and read them ahead of time, so that I know the position I need to be in to get my shot off or get into a scoring area. Being able to read I really admire the way Getzlaf plays. He’s a big center that gets around what’s going to happen and where your teammates are going to be at and obviously has high-end skill. I try to play like him and compare really helps. myself to him.

On how he handled not being able to play hockey during COVID-19 On his experience in Switzerland and what he learned shutdowns I grew up in Switzerland and moved back to Ottawa when I was 10 [years I was sitting at home for a long period of time where a lot of other old], so I was comfortable over there. I really enjoyed my time over there countries and players continued to get better and play a normal season. I and learned a lot from the older guys and the coaching staff. was unable to do that, so I had to find ways to continue to get better and Reviews work on my game. Those were definitely tough times, but I had to continue to push myself and I think I did a good job of that. Craig Button, TSN

Reviews Mason is a really competitive player, he’s got a real fire in his game. He’s a good goalscorer, he can shoot the puck and really get goaltenders Bob McKenzie, TSN back on their heels from 35, 40 feet and that in and of itself is a good Dylan Guenther [is a] goal-scoring shooter who is also quite adept at skill, plus he’s a really good two-way player. making plays and playing ultra-competitively in the hard areas around the Steve Kourianos, The Draft Analyst net.

Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet Violence and aggression are just two of several commonplaces in your typical McTavish shift, but he’s also a highly-skilled playmaker and shooter who causes all sorts of matchup problems for defenses.

Jacob Barker, Dobber Prospects

His toolbox is highlighted by a bomb of a shot, which he can get off quickly and accurately from anywhere in various scenarios. However, the most impressive part of his game is his ability to put himself in high danger areas in the offensive zone.

Potential Fit

The physical presence that McTavish presents is a standout trait when you’re looking at potential difference-makers, if the draft prospect reaches his projected potential. With the skill of a high-end point producer and the size of a power forward, it’d be hard to find an NHL team not interested in that build. As for that eighth-overall pick, McTavish is projected to go around the Kings first-round selection or just after.

If McTavish were to be picked by the Kings, his addition into the Kings prospect pool would not necessarily be filling any “needs”, but that does not mean it’d be a bad pick. McTavish has a very unique skillset for his size and there are debatably no other players like him in the top-20 picks. If the Kings indeed value McTavish’s assets as “can’t miss,” then McTavish at eight has the potential for the Kings to continue to build a big, heavy and hard to play against roster down the middle like we saw back in the Stanley Cup runs.

The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled for July 23 and 24. Following the addition of Victor Arvidsson in exchange for a 2021 second-round pick and 2022 third-round pick, the Kings now have seven picks in this year’s draft. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be showcasing several draft-eligible prospects here on LAKI, beginning with those selected by the NHL for media participation last week.

For more draft-eligible prospect content, you can find that on All The Kings Men as I am joined by draft experts to break down the 2021 Draft class in segmented groups.

LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217366 Minnesota Wild Marco Rossi to consider. Same with some players from its minor league team in Iowa.

Even if the addition of youth is limited, up-and-coming prospects could Bill Guerin's transformation of Wild continues with Zach Parise, Ryan play a key role in ensuing seasons when the team is carrying heftier Suter buyouts salary-cap charges for the Parise and Suter buyouts; the Wild may eventually need to rely on entry-level contracts to fit under the salary cap.

And creating space for younger players was a factor in the Wild's thought By Sarah McLellan Star Tribune process when it chose to cut ties with Parise and Suter, the latest chapter in an evolution that doesn't look ready to hit the brakes. JULY 15, 2021 — 9:57PM "It opens the door for other guys," Guerin said. "It creates opportunity.

Even going back to the Jason Zucker trade, Jason was a very good Not much changed with the Wild's lineup in the months after Bill Guerin player here and it wasn't a very popular move. But it opened the door for was hired as general manager. Kevin Fiala, and that's really what allowed him to start being the player you see now. The roster he inherited in 2019 was similar to the one that finished the season; a second-half trade that sent Jason Zucker to Pittsburgh was the "There are some guys that are going to jump on this opportunity, and only significant shake-up. that's what we expect. That's what we hope for."

"I needed that first year to kind of assess what's going on and to kind of move slowly and methodically," Guerin said. "It took a while for me to Star Tribune LOADED: 07.16.2021 make our first deal."

But breaking up with a longtime Wild player like Zucker wasn't a one-off.

That decision was actually the start of a deconstruction of the team's core, a year-plus process that culminated Tuesday in the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

And more adjustments are waiting in the wings.

"You continually assess your position and what you feel needs to be done," Guerin said, "and we're going to continue to do that. This will never stop. I'm not saying that these size moves are always going to be done, but these things always have to happen."

Going into the 2019-20 season with Guerin at the helm, the Wild had 10 players who had been in action with the team since at least 2016.

Now, only four meet that criteria: , , and Joel Eriksson Ek.

Zucker was the first to go, a deal that fetched the Wild a package that included prospect Calen Addison, who might become a full-timer on the Wild blue line next season after Suter's departure, and a first-round pick in next week's draft.

Up next was , who left via trade like Zucker. The Wild also didn't bring back then-captain and shipped out goalie . The team moved on from youngsters Ryan Donato and Luke Kunin along the way, too.

Add in the exits earlier this week by Parise and Suter, who had the final four seasons of their 13-year, $98 million contracts bought out, and the Wild have been completely reimagined under Guerin's direction — a transformation that may not be unusual when a new leader takes over but a dramatic makeover nonetheless.

"I know that there was great affection for a lot of the players that we've parted ways with the last couple of years — for good reason," Guerin said. "There's been some good years here, but times change. Players get older. New players come in. So, we have to keep changing. We have to keep evolving. This is part of it. It's not a fun part, but it's part of it."

While dissolving the nucleus of the Wild, Guerin also assembled the replacement version.

Spurgeon was named Koivu's successor as captain and signed to a seven-year contract, with fellow defenseman Brodin also getting a seven- year deal. Eriksson Ek has received the longest commitment so far from the Guerin regime, an eight-year, $42 million deal, and the team is also working to re-sign forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala.

Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman accepted three-year extensions, and Dumba is now in position to be protected by the Wild in the Seattle expansion draft after the Wild gained flexibility for its protection list by buying out Parise and Suter.

Who will surround, or join, this new guard is the next transition.

Although the Wild will look to add to its roster in free agency with short- term deals, the team also has prospects like Addison, Matt Boldy and 1217367 Minnesota Wild Wild for $98 million apiece — Parise said he can walk away with his head held high.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” Parise said. “It ended with a little bit of a Zach Parise sad Wild career ‘ended with a little bit of a bitter taste’ bitter taste. But I don’t regret it at all. I know I gave everything I had and I did my best to try and help this team win. I can live with that.”

By DANE MIZUTANI | [email protected] | Pioneer Press Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.16.2021 PUBLISHED: July 15, 2021 at 12:24 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2021 at 1:49 p.m.

When Zach Parise saw Bill Guerin’s name pop up on his iPhone on Tuesday morning, his mind immediately went to next week’s NHL expansion draft. With the Seattle Kraken set to pick their initial roster on July 21, and with each team’s protection lists due this week, Parise thought the Wild general manager was calling to ask him to waive his no- movement clause.

The 36-year-old veteran forward quickly realized that wasn’t the case.

“He told me (owner ) was in the room with him and I was like, ‘Alright, this is not what the call is about,’ ” Parise recalled in a phone interview with the Pioneer Press on Thursday morning, roughly 48 hours after learning the Wild were buying out of the final four years of his contract. “It was a quick conversation. There isn’t much to say at that point. You just have to move on.”

While the news came as a complete shock to most everyone at the time — especially the fact that the Wild also were buying out the final four years of Ryan Suter’s contract — Parise admitted he was anticipating something like this to happen at some point this offseason. At least to him.

“I felt like the writing was on the wall for me,” Parise said. “There was sadness that this was the way it was ending, but I was somewhat prepared for it. I did not see them buying out Ryan, too. That was a big- time surprise to me. And I know it was a big-time surprise to him.”

As for Parise specifically, it’s no secret that he was unhappy with his diminishing role on the roster. Not only did he see his playing time steadily decrease last season, he was a healthy scratch for the start of the playoffs, and might not have played at all had fellow winger Marcus Johansson not broken his arm.

“I had my expectations heading into last season and where I fit in on the team,” Parise said. “Then it shakes out the way it did. I never questioned whether I was good enough to play in the NHL. Just unfortunate the way it ended up working out during the season. It wasn’t fun, I’ll say that much.”

In that sense, Parise is welcoming a fresh start when free agency opens on July 28 . He said the initial shock of being bought out has worn off over the past 48 hours and he has already started talking with other teams about where he might fit in next season.

There’s no doubt Parise can still contribute at a high level if give the chance. He proved that much in the first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, scoring a pair of big goals to help the Wild stave off elimination. Vegas ended up winning the series in seven games.

“I’m starting to get excited again,” Parise said. “I knew my spot here wasn’t going to change. It was going to be the same thing next season. To get a better opportunity is really exciting. It’s energizing. It’s rejuvenating. I’m looking forward to seeing where this is going to go.”

Asked about his Wild career as a whole, Parise said everything was still a little too fresh to effectively sum up the past decade. He remembers the elation of signing on July 4, 2012. He remembers some of the past Wild teams he felt were good enough to win a Stanley Cup. He remembers running into the rival Chicago Blackhawks time and time again in the playoffs.

“We had some great teams early on,” Parise said. “Unfortunately we ran into a team that was in the midst of a dynasty. That’s just the way it goes. I thought 2013-14 and 2014-15 could’ve been our years. It’s just unfortunate that the Blackhawks were pretty close to unstoppable at that point.”

Though he never brought a Stanley Cup to the Twin Cities — which was the goal when he and Suter signed identical contracts with the 1217368 Minnesota Wild Where Fiala ranks highly in creating offense, Kaprizov does too. While one rightfully eclipsed the other in importance to the team, it only helps the Wild to have both in positions to succeed on different lines. Opponents are generally going to have their best up against Kaprizov to Projecting Kevin Fiala’s next contract now that the Wild cleared a lot of try to contain him, which only increases the need for more lines with skill. salary cap space So, having Fiala in Minnesota for the foreseeable future could be the right move. But, it’s going to come down to cost and term.

By Shayna Goldman What might that cost be?

Jul 15, 2021 The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn’s model, based on Game Score Value Added, sets Fiala’s market value at $6.9 million, on average, over the

next seven seasons. That value projects top-line caliber play over the With the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter this week, the Wild next four seasons, and a 50-plus percent chance of providing positive freed up $10.3 million in salary cap space for next season. A big chunk of value in those years, before trending into top-six territory. that is going to be dedicated to re-signing Kevin Fiala and Kirill Kaprizov. When establishing any player’s value, comparables can help both set the If the Wild want to contend in the near future, they need more offensive market and project a player’s trajectory. One way to pinpoint Fiala’s skill. The average contender, based on the last decade of champions, comparables is with Luszczyszyn’s similarity score generator. This generally has a more stacked offense — as did most of the eight teams compares players’ production while factoring in attributes such as age, to make it into Round 2 this postseason. height and weight. It does not, however, compare skaters based on their playing styles. While Joel Eriksson Ek’s breakout and Kaprizov’s arrival boosted Minnesota’s skill up front, it was still a below-average team offensively The visuals below highlight those who ranked as “similar” to Fiala in last season. Having a player with Fiala’s abilities, granted he’s put in a 2020-21, most of whom fit into the strong match category. The charts better position to succeed, helps the Wild get closer to that contending also show how some of those players’ careers continued after that team. comparable season.

That’s why Minnesota may be more inclined to extend the restricted free Those players’ curves can be weighed into Fiala’s projection to get a agent winger, as talks continued last week but remain complicated, The better idea of where his value may trend. His market value slightly lowers Athletic’s Michael Russo reported. to $6.3 million on average. The probability of him providing positive value in the near future increases, but those chances fade more so in the later “The number’s the number and a lot of it like with a kid his age has to do years. with things like term and things like that and how much do you pay for the UFA years and it can get complicated,” Minnesota GM Bill Guerin told Luszczyszyn’s model, though, looks at market value — or what a player Russo on his Straight from the Source podcast. “Trust me, I was could garner on the open market. As a restricted free agent, Fiala won’t stubborn as hell. I had two holdouts as a player. I was a pain in the ass. be hitting the market so that price tag could be slightly off from what he’ll But you know you get guys that are really competitive and they see actually sign. what’s out there in the market and what their peers are getting and So, another way to explore what Fiala’s next contract could cost is with they’re like ‘I want that, too. I’m better than him, why shouldn’t I get that.’ Evolving-Hockey’s contract projections. And I get that, that’s the competitiveness that you want.” Evolving-Hockey gives the highest probability to a five-year contract, So what exactly is Fiala worth? which would carry a cap hit of $6.1 million. That isn’t too far off from his This past season, Fiala netted 20 goals and 40 points in 50 games. His market value calculated with Luszczyszyn’s model. A five-year contract, ice time, thanks to generous power play usage, just put him into second- for a 25-year-old, at that cost has a high probability of remaining a line territory. At even strength, he scored at the rate of a first liner. positive value throughout the life of it with aging curves in mind.

The winger’s on ice presence helped the Wild create offense at an The tricky part is that Fiala’s last contract was a two-year bridge deal that above-average rate, as they generated quality scoring that equated to gave him an opportunity to show what he could do before signing what’s 2.57 expected goals per 60. He had the best influence on their shot likely going to be the most significant contract of his career. While he’s creation and was a plus on their quality chances production. still going to get a raise from his last contract that carried a $3 million cap hit, it may not have the potential he had hoped for since the current Without him deployed, there wasn’t much taken between the circles; their environment has limited some players’ earnings. offensive generation of 2.22 expected goals per 60 was 12 percent weaker than league average. Still, with Fiala’s production to this point in his career in mind, that contract does match up to other top-six forwards around the league via Over the years, Fiala’s generally had a positive impact on his team’s CapFriendly’s contract comparable tool. offense as the top row of heat maps below show with red representing a higher volume of shots. That was the case this year, as well. Four of these contracts were signed after March 2020, which gives some insight into what teams are willing to give players of this caliber in a flat The challenge for him, this year in particular, was creating offense cap world. There are two four-year contracts, one five and a seven with despite not having the best supporting cast on his line. Josh Anderson’s in Montreal.

His most frequent forward linemates were Marcus Johansson, Ryan A five-year deal fits in more with league trends because lengthier Hartman and Victor Rask, and that clearly affected his game. Just take contracts have become more of a rarity in this environment; Eriksson the team’s offensive generation when he was (left, with blue showing Ek’s eight-year contract was one of the few exceptions. While the Wild where shots weren’t taken at a high volume) and wasn’t (right) on the ice showed a willingness to sign that maximum length contract, and are likely with Johansson. willing to do the same for Kaprizov, Guerin already noted, as reported by Russo, that might not be true for Fiala. The term for other contracts all Fiala was one of the best players, along with Kaprizov, both in Minnesota depends on the player and situation. and in the league, at bringing the puck into the offensive zone with possession, according to Corey Sznajder’s manual tracking data. And “I think it’s just a matter of finding a fair middle ground and what works Fiala excelled at generating offense in transition off of those zone entries. best (with Kaprizov and Fiala),” Guerin said. “I think that’s true with any Along with shooting the puck at a high rate, Fiala’s consistently ranked deal. Ekky signed an eight-year deal. That might not be the case for highly in creating primary shot assists, or passes that directly precede a Kevin. And it might be the case for Kirill. We don’t know. … It all just shot — whether from a play in transition or just cycling the puck in the depends on years and dollars and what we can afford to pay and what offensive zone. we can fit in.”

What would take Fiala’s playmaking game to the next level would be a So, can the Wild afford to sign Fiala to a contract in that $6 million range linemate with more finishing ability who could score on those set-up that both Luszczyszyn and Evolving-Hockey’s model point to? plays. And, it wouldn’t hurt to play alongside someone who could set him up with more quality chances since he’s willing to shoot. As it stands, with their current signings and Evolving-Hockey’s projections for all of their pending free agents, Minnesota now has some cap space for next season thanks to the $10.3 million savings from the buyouts of Parise and Suter. Those savings drop, though, as the Wild end up with over $12 million in dead space for the following three years, with two more roster spots to fill.

Those initial savings give the Wild more space this upcoming season to extend their own and keep the rest of this roster intact (minus whichever player is lost to Seattle, which should lower their cap hit too). But those savings significantly drop in the few seasons to follow, and the buyouts leave roster spots to fill, particularly on the blue line without Suter. However, buying them out now helps Minnesota avoid cap recapture penalties if either were to retire before those contracts expire.

So, Guerin may still have to actively seek a deal to shed more salary so other players — more likely a top-nine center — can be added to take this team a step further than this past season.

Moving Fiala, instead of paying him more, could help solve that problem, especially if he’s moved for a center. But that takes much-needed skill out of the lineup. Ideally, the Wild can cost-cut around their top two wingers so that they can extend both and add another top-nine center to give this team the multi-dimensional offense it needs.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217369 Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber could miss next season due to lingering injuries

REUTERS

PUBLISHED JULY 15, 2021

UPDATED 21 HOURS AGO

Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber’s future is uncertain, according to multiple reports.

The 35-year-old defenceman may not play next season – and possibly beyond – due to lingering knee, foot, ankle and thumb injuries. He missed the Canadiens’ final eight regular-season games with a thumb injury but played 22 games (one goal, five assists) during the recently concluded Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Canadiens, NHL and NHLPA are all looking into the long-time defenceman’s medical status and what it could mean for the remaining years on his 14-year contract, which he signed in 2012. Weber underwent surgery to repair tendons in his left foot in March 2018 and missed 80 games between 2017-19. He was limited to 48 regular-season games due to injury this season, scoring just 19 points (six goals, 13 assists).

According to reports, the Canadiens will expose the three-time Norris Trophy finalist in next Wednesday’s Seattle Kraken expansion draft, allowing Montreal to protect a healthier player.

Weber just finished his 16th season, accumulating 589 points in 1,038 career games with the Nashville Predators (2005-16) and Montreal.

Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217370 Montreal Canadiens “He skated the puck well, he played simple and those two guys moved the puck well all night and it gave our other guys a chance to rest by playing a lot of minutes. So it worked out well at the end for him. Would you want guys to be a little more consistent always? Absolutely. And I’m Growing pains limited Canadiens blue-liners Romanov, Kulak in playoffs sure they would probably want to as well. But Brett has really had some growth in his game and I think he’s a guy that’s very versatile. He can

play on the right side, the left side with his skating ability, and that’s a Stu Cowan • plus for him and that will be something that he needs to make sure he continues to move forward.” Publishing date: Jul 15, 2021

Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2021 The Canadiens didn’t trust Alexander Romanov enough to play him regularly in the playoffs.

It was the same thing with Brett Kulak.

On Wednesday, assistant coach Luke Richardson spoke about both defencemen and what kept them out of the lineup.

After playing in 54 of 56 regular-season games, Romanov was a healthy scratch for 18 of the 22 playoff games. The 21-year-old only played in two semifinal games against the Vegas Golden Knights and the last two games of the Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I think Romy had a big year,” Richardson said. “He got a lot of regular- season games in. That’s great for a player. Played well. I think there’s obviously some ups and downs in the season for him. You know what, he’s an intuitive kid. He asks questions on the bench. I thought his English, our communication skills got better as the season went along. He’s very excitable and sometimes I call it happy feet. He’s crossing over all over the place, wasting some energy and moving a little too much laterally, where I think he’s used to that on the bigger ice (in the KHL). By the end of the season, he started to control that a little bit better.

“We tried to keep him a little tighter and more positional and then it’s going to work well for him,” Richardson added. “He’s such an explosive player that he can get to a guy 10 feet away very quickly, as we’ve seen many times, and surprise them with a big hit. He’s a physical guy. Shoots the puck well, we saw that in the playoffs. Finds the net for a goal at a crucial time for us. He’ll block a shot no matter who’s winding up and shooting that puck. He’s got a heart of a lion there. You really can’t teach that to a player … they have it or they don’t.

“When he wants to block a shot, he really tries to block that shot and that’s a skill and heart. All that combined together is going to go a long way for his maturity and his growth into next year and the future for the Montreal Canadiens and Romy himself.”

Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander pursues Montreal Canadiens defenceman Brett Kulak as he moves the puck up the ice during NHL playoff action in Montreal on May 25, 2021.

Kulak was a healthy scratch for nine playoff games as the coaching staff decided to go with Jon Merrill and Erik Gustafsson as the fifth and sixth defencemen.

“Brett is a great skater,” Richardson said about the 27-year-old Kulak. “I think that’s one of his best attributes is his skating. I think you see that … he can really skate himself out of trouble. The odd time maybe he hangs on to the puck a little too long, and again he’s such a great skater it gets him into trouble. So we have a lot of good discussions about that. Another bright guy, he takes in what you say and really tries to implement it in his game. I’ve seen a lot of growth in his game and definitely there’s times where you really want players to be just a touch more consistent and it helps them, helps the team and everything.

“But I really tend to like my players. I over-like them. I don’t want anybody else. Of course, you’d love six all-stars out there every night if you had a choice. But what we have is a great group. They all learn, want to learn, want to get better, work hard at their game. They’re all great athletes that come in in good shape and battle through injuries. We have a really good group, so Brett is part of that and he was a real key.

“He had some real good games early on in the playoffs,” Richardson added. “We made some lineup changes that we needed to make even probably more for special teams, which he doesn’t play on, and that took him out of the lineup for a while. But then when we needed to make a change and make a boost for the team, no hesitation at all through Dom (Ducharme) and the coaching staff to make that choice to put Brett back in with Romy and it did give us a charge. 1217371 Montreal Canadiens The Predators were forced to match the 14-year, US$110-million offer sheet Weber received from the Philadelphia Flyers in summer 2012 in order to keep him. When the Predators traded Weber to the Canadiens on June 29, 2016, in exchange for P.K. Subban, they were trading the Stu Cowan: Weber adds another wrinkle to Canadiens' off-season plans ridiculous contract as much as the player. That deal could still come back to haunt the Predators.

The Weber situation is one more headache for Canadiens GM Marc Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette Bergevin ahead of the expansion draft, the NHL Draft July 23-24 and free Publishing date: Jul 15, 2021 agency, which begins on July 28.

Before deciding which seven forwards he wants to protect in the expansion draft, Bergevin has to figure out if he can re-sign unrestricted The Four Clydesdales. free agents Phillip Danault and Joel Armia and also what the future holds for Jonathan Drouin, who left the team for personal reasons in April. That’s how Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson described the Veteran forward , who Bergevin would probably like to bring team’s top four defencemen during the playoffs. back, is also an unrestricted free agent, while Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry and definitely Artturi Lehkonen are restricted free agents. played like large, powerful horses during the Canadiens’ run to the Depending on what happens between before the end of the month, the Stanley Cup final. At 6-foot-3 and 208 pounds, Petry is the smallest of Canadiens could be a much different team next season. the group and they all averaged more than 23 minutes of ice time during the playoffs.

On Wednesday afternoon, Richardson spoke about how he was hoping Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2021 general manager Marc Bergevin would protect the Four Clydesdales for next Wednesday’s Seattle Kraken expansion draft. Bergevin has the option of protecting seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards or defencemen) and one goalie.

“Coaches are always going to be greedy and try and ask for as much as they want from the management and the organization,” Richardson said after agreeing to a three-year contract with the Canadiens. “I think the way our guys played in the playoffs — and I think Marc has mentioned it right away — we’re built for the playoffs. Well, I think a big part of that has probably been the size and physicality and skill level combined on our big four D that we’ve mentioned many times in the playoffs. So that’s going to be obviously a huge consideration for him moving forward in the next few weeks.

“But they always have to look at all the landscapes of other teams and maybe discussions even with Seattle,” Richardson added. “There’s different areas of our organization I’m sure that they’re concerned about. Obviously, you don’t want to lose a goaltender, you don’t want to lose one of our big four D. But how our forwards played in the playoffs and the consistency throughout our lineup up front, that’s going to be a concern, too. So no matter who we lose we won’t be happy, but every team’s in the same boat. As a coach we’re going to be greedy and I’m a defence coach, I want my four D back. But you can never count on that 100 per cent.”

The expansion-draft landscape for the Canadiens changed Wednesday night with news that Weber might not be on the protected list because of injuries that could sideline him for all of next season and might also be career-threatening. Weber missed the last eight games of the regular season, but played in all 22 playoff games while averaging 25:13 of ice time. After losing the Stanley Cup final to the Tampa Bay Lightning, head coach Dominique Ducharme confirmed Weber had been playing with a thumb injury, but it appears he was playing through much more pain that just that.

Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported Wednesday night that Weber was also dealing with lingering foot, ankle and knee issues and could be sidelined for an extended period of time, which is why the Canadiens are unlikely to protect the 35-year-old in the expansion draft.

If that’s the case, the good news is that the Canadiens can protect the other three Clydesdales, along with seven forwards, without fear the Kraken would take the injured Weber. The bad news is the Canadiens could be without their leader and captain for an extended period of time and possibly for good. Weber has five seasons remaining on his 14-year, US$110-million contract with an average salary-cap hit of $7.857 million.

Depending on what happens with Weber’s medical situation moving forward, the Canadiens could put him on the long-term injured reserve list and gain some salary-cap relief, as the Lightning did this season with Nikita Kucherov after he had off-season hip surgery. The NHL would have to make the final decision on that. If Weber decided to retire because of his injuries, the Nashville Predators would have a “cap recapture” penalty of just over $4.9 million per season through 2025-26, which is when Weber’s contract expires. 1217372 Nashville Predators

Shea Weber’s career-threatening injuries could cause cap-recapture pain for the Predators

By Adam Vingan

Jul 15, 2021

Days after Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne announced his retirement, the career of another franchise legend could be in jeopardy.

News broke Wednesday evening that Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber could miss the 2021-22 season “due to concerns over myriad injuries suffered over the years.”

Weber’s 14-year, $110 million contract is subject to cap-recapture penalties. The Predators, who matched an offer sheet authored by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012, would be affected if Weber is forced to retire this summer.

If that were to happen, then the Predators would carry a $4,914,286 cap hit per season until 2026, when Weber’s contract expires. (The Canadiens would have a $542,857 cap penalty for five seasons.)

When the Predators traded Weber to the Canadiens for P.K. Subban in June 2016, they had paid him $56 million, but his total cap hit over the first four years of his front-loaded megadeal was $31,428,572.

The Predators would be on the hook for the $24,571,428 difference, which would be spread out over five years.

With the cap not expected to rise past $81.5 million for the foreseeable future, roughly $4.9 million in dead money is not a small chunk of change. The Predators are already carrying a $2 million cap hit through 2028 for , whom they bought out last year.

Minus that $4.9 million, the Predators would have around $17.9 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly. Weber retiring could prevent them from re-signing unrestricted free agent forward Mikael Granlund, which they are interested in doing. Evolving-Hockey projects that Granlund is most likely to receive a three-year contract with a $5.185 million cap hit.

Starting goaltender Juuse Saros, a restricted free agent, is a top priority for the Predators. Defenseman Dante Fabbro and winger Eeli Tolvanen are among several other RFAs who need new contracts before next season.

Weber, who turns 36 next month, has dealt with ankle, knee and thumb injuries since joining the Canadiens. He is expected to be exposed to the Seattle Kraken in next week’s expansion draft.

If he is unable to continue his career, the recapture penalty can be avoided if the NHL allows the Canadiens to place him on long-term injured reserve. The Chicago Blackhawks, for example, suffered no recapture-related consequences when Marian Hossa ended up on LTIR in 2017 as the result of a career-ending skin condition.

The league amended its recapture rules last year, eliminating the Predators’ doomsday scenario of carrying a $24,571,428 cap hit if Weber were to retire with one year left on his contract.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217373 Nashville Predators At this point, should we expect both and Ryan Johansen to be on the roster on opening night, or is house money on David Poile moving one of them? — Michael N.

A top free agent with interest in the Predators? Matt Duchene as Kraken If Duchene is left off the Predators’ protection list for the Seattle Kraken bait? Replacing Pekka Rinne? draft when it is submitted Saturday, it will not be surprising. We have been discussing that possibility since the season ended.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner waived his no-movement clause By Adam Vingan Wednesday, which will allow the team to expose him to the Kraken. Skinner’s $9 million cap hit and the six years remaining on his contract Jul 15, 2021 basically function as a no-movement clause, since the Kraken are unlikely to take him.

Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length. The same can be said about Duchene and Johansen, both of whom have $8 million cap hits. Duchene has five years left on his contract. Johansen Since the Predators do not seem to have the necessary assets to pull off has four. a trade for someone like Jack Eichel, could you see Patrik Laine fitting in with the Predators if he is made available by the Blue Jackets? — Jordan The Predators would be wise to get out from under one of those deals, C. and it is believed that they are trying. As LeBrun reported Wednesday, the cost to broker a side deal with the Kraken is “exorbitant.” No. Things change quickly at this time of year, but I think there is a greater My editor has informed me that I have to be more expansive, so here than 50 percent chance that both Duchene and Johansen are on the goes: No way. Predators to start next season. Their contracts are too onerous.

Columbus colleague Aaron Portzline has reported that Laine, whom the Now that Pekka Rinne has retired, who could the Predators target as a Blue Jackets acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for Pierre-Luc Dubois in backup for Juuse Saros? What about bringing back ? — January, is “believed to be available.” Portzline told me that the Blue Chase B. Jackets are aiming to get a first-round draft pick and a “good prospect” for the 23-year-old sharpshooter, who is a restricted free agent coming Hutton, 35, is available and told me Wednesday he would be interested off a two-year, $13.5 million contract. in returning to Nashville. As fun as it would be to have Hutton around again, there are better options. (He had a 3.12 goals-against average There is no denying Laine’s scoring ability; his 150 goals since entering and .902 save percentage in three seasons with the Sabres.) the NHL in 2016-17 rank 11th in that time, and the Predators are in desperate need of a difference-maker in the offensive zone. But Laine’s Petr Mrazek, 29, is intriguing if the Carolina Hurricanes let him go. indifference toward defense caused headaches for former Blue Jackets Injuries limited him to 12 starts last season, but he posted a 2.06 GAA coach John Tortorella, who benched him in February after he “verbally and .923 save percentage in those games. disrespected” a member of the coaching staff. That clashes with the Perhaps Mrazek, looking to reestablish himself, would come cheap. (He identity that the Predators started building last season. made $3.125 million per season on his last contract.) Last year, a league source said this to me about the Predators: “They’re Other free-agent goaltenders include Jonathan Bernier, Jaroslav Halak, buying the name brands and not looking under the hood a lot of times in Antti Raanta and James Reimer. their acquisitions and in their signings,” referring to Matt Duchene, Ryan Johansen and Kyle Turris (who was still on the team). Laine would fall Predators general manager David Poile provided an update Tuesday on into that category, as would disgruntled St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir 24-year-old goaltending prospect Connor Ingram, who spent most of last Tarasenko, who has undergone multiple shoulder surgeries and has a season in the league’s player assistance program. $9.5 million salary next season. The best player is not always the right player. “It’s well documented what he went through,” Poile said. “He’s actually coming here, I believe, next Monday to spend the rest of the offseason In short: here to work on his game, conditioning and all those things to get ready for next year. (It was) almost a non-season for Connor. He did play some Who do the Predators need to target this offseason to become more of games down in (AHL) Chicago at the end, but the most important thing is an offensive threat? — Alex P. it appears that he has his life back on track and in order. If he gets that So if Eichel, Laine and Tarasenko are off the table, then who can help back in order, the hockey should come. He’s still a young guy with solve the Predators’ scoring problems? tremendous talent.”

Winger Zach Hyman, 29, is expected to enter free agency after spending What will the Predators lose in the dressing room with Pekka Rinne being six years with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who do not have the cap space gone? He just seemed to be the heart and soul of the team. I know the to re-sign him. players are professionals, but it has to deflate the room to see him go. — James W. “If (the Predators) have interest, he will have interest,” Todd Reynolds, Hyman’s agent, recently told The Athletic. Rinne was the Predators’ emotional leader and will certainly be missed in the dressing room. I am not concerned, however, that the large void he Hyman, who has twice scored 21 goals, is not a marksman, but he is leaves will cause the room to crater. Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and relentless on the forecheck and incredibly effective in front of the net. have strong voices. Take a look at where his goals have come from since 2015, according to IcyData: Which younger player is an optimal target for one of David Poile’s long- term contracts that looks like a steal once it expires, such as Roman In recent seasons, Hyman has played with Auston Matthews and Mitch Josi’s seven-year, $28 million deal in 2013? — Josh F. Marner, two of the top five scorers in the league last season. Naturally, Hyman has benefited from having elite linemates, but as Micah Blake Poile has done well at locking up his young players with affordable McCurdy’s handy heat maps illustrate, Hyman’s success is not solely a contracts. Ekholm’s six-year, $22.5 million deal, which he signed in product of that. October 2015, is another example. Calle Jarnkrok has also provided excellent value throughout his six-year, $12 million deal. (Both players The Athletic’s James Mirtle reported last month that “other teams and are one year away from free agency.) agents around the league believe Hyman can now command close to $6 million a season on a long-term deal.” Dom Luszczyszyn, who ranked Eeli Tolvanen, one of several restricted free agents this summer, seems Hyman as the fourth-best unrestricted free agent this offseason, expects like a prime candidate for such a contract. him to provide top-line value through 2023. If the Predators can get Tolvanen, 22, to sign a five-year, $15 million From afar, Hyman appears to be the type of player who would fit right contract or thereabouts, it could be the next great bargain. into Predators coach ’ system. Where does Philip Tomasino fit in with the Predators next season? I can’t see them putting him anywhere but the top six. — Andy R.

I agree. Tomasino, who turns 20 on July 28, will be given every opportunity to make the team out of training camp. He could be a good fit on the right side of the second line with Duchene or Mikael Granlund at center (assuming at least one of them is still with the Predators next season).

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Should the Predators be worried about Weber’s injury situation?

MICHAEL GALLAGHER

JUL 15, 2021

We’re only eight days removed from the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second straight Stanley Cup, and already one Nashville Predators legend has called it a career, and a second might not be far behind.

In news everyone saw coming, longtime goaltender Pekka Rinne announced his retirement after 15 years with the organization, and on Wednesday evening NHL Network’s Renaud Lavoie reported that former captain Shea Weber might have played his final game after dealing with a litany of injuries to his thumb, knee and ankle.

Montreal isn’t expected to protect Weber in the Seattle expansion draft either.

Typically, a team wouldn’t be as invested in one of its former players like the Predators are with Weber, however, most teams don’t have to worry about shelling out a large chunk of money in a flat cap year to said former player.

As part of the 14-year, $110 million contract the Predators signed Weber to in 2012 that matched an offer sheet he had signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville opened itself up to possible future penalties under the cap recapture, which was created to deter teams from evading the salary cap under the previous CBA with front-loaded contracts.

The NHL has since banned such contracts, limiting contracts to seven years on the open market and eight years for an extension. The cap recapture is calculated by the difference in total salary and total cap hit over the length of the contract divided by the number of years left on the contract until retirement.

Simply put: if Weber retires before his contract expires, the Predators will be tagged with a $4.9 million cap hit through the 2026 season when the contract expires. Nashville would then be looking at $6.9 million in dead money of an $81.5 million salary cap after paying Kyle Turris’ $2 million per year buyout through 2028.

The Weber news could alter how general manager David Poile attacks free agency, and it could also damage the Predators’ odds of re-signing forward Mikael Granlund, who is set to see a salary spike from the $3.75 million he played for last season, or fellow forward Erik Haula.

Montreal, however, could place Weber on long-term injured reserve to provide some cap relief if it believes his injuries are potentially career ending, similar to what the Detroit Red Wings did with Johan Franzen or the Chicago Blackhawks did with Marian Hossa.

Nashville Post LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217375 New Jersey Devils

Devils get Ryan Graves in trade with Avalanche for Mikhail Maltsev, draft pick

Sean Farrell

NorthJersey.com

The Devils made an acquisition to bolster the blue line ahead of next week's NHL Expansion Draft and Saturday's trade freeze.

The team landed defenseman Ryan Graves from the Avalanche in exchange for forward prospect Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft.

Graves, 26, scored two goals and 13 assists in 54 games with the Avalanche last season. He added six points in 10 games in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Ryan brings physicality, size, an ability to defend in tough situations and a fearless compete level that makes him tough to play against," general manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement.

"His assertive style of play and ability to play with young defensemen are characteristics that fit into what we are building with our group.”

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Graves is owed $3.17 million in each of the next two seasons. The Devils still have more than $31 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly.

Graves is a left-shot defenseman who was used heavily as a penalty killer in Colorado. Last season, he led the Avs in short-handed time per game, ranked first in blocked shots (91) and second in hits (77). He averaged a career-best 19 minutes, three seconds of ice time last season while playing in a loaded defensive group.

Maltsev scored six goals and three assists in 33 games with New Jersey after being taken by the Devils in the fourth round in 2016.

Bergen Record LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217376 New Jersey Devils

Devils snag Ryan Graves in trade with Avalanche

Staff Report

By Associated Press

July 16, 2021 | 1:21am

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche sent veteran defenseman Ryan Graves to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in a move made with an eye on the upcoming expansion draft of the Seattle Kraken.

In exchange, the Avalanche acquired forward Mikhail Maltsev and a second-round selection this year from New Jersey.

By trading Graves — along with Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson agreeing to waive his no-movement clause — the team can protect defensemen Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Samuel Girard. The Devils have plenty of room to protect Graves.

Protected lists are due Saturday, and the expansion draft is Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Graves had two goals and 13 assists over 54 games with the Avalanche last season. He led the team in blocked shots with 91 and was second in hits with 77.

Ryan Graves

He was dependable on the blue line for Colorado since he was acquired Feb. 26, 2018, from the New York Rangers. His plus-40 rating in 2019-20 led the league, the first time an Avalanche player accomplished the feat since Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg (plus-52) in 2002-03.

Graves will bolster a Devils defense that was so-so last season. The main cogs are Ty Smith, Damon Severson and P.K. Subban. spent much of the year in the doghouse.

“Ryan brings physicality, size, an ability to defend in tough situations and a fearless compete level that makes him tough to play against,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said in a statement. “His assertive style of play and ability to play with young defensemen are characteristics that fit into what we are building with our group.”

Colorado picks up another scoring threat to join the likes of Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The 23-year-old Maltsev had nine points and three assists in 33 contests during his rookie season. He appeared in his first NHL game on Jan. 31, 2021, at Buffalo.

The 6-foot-3, 198-pound Maltsev was a fourth-round pick of the Devils in 2016. He also played in Russia, where he had a goal and seven assists in 35 career Kontinental Hockey League games with SKA St. Petersburg.

Colorado has quite a few big players who are free agents, including captain Gabriel Landeskog and goaltender Philipp Grubauer. There’s also forwards Brandon Saad, Matt Calvert, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Carl Soderberg, goaltender Devan Dubnyk and defenseman Patrik Nemeth.

New York Post LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217377 New Jersey Devils was played when he was on the ice. The Devils controlled the puck and created offensive chances in a way that I would have expected by his third NHL season — and I mean expected before the 2019 draft, not the new reset after his rookie year. Devils mailbag: Jack Hughes’ progress? Nico Hischier overrated? Potential additions? It’s not an apples to apples comparison because the season will be longer and preseason projection models are typically conservative, but the forwards who finished in the 34-40 range in GAR included Jonathan Huberdeau, Brendan Gallagher and T.J. Oshie. By Corey Masisak Again, because Hughes is expected to (again) be so good at drawing Jul 15, 2021 and not taking penalties, he might not have the same offensive output to reach a high-level GAR. But if the Devils improve their power play, and both Hughes and his teammates convert the chances he creates at a If the Devils are going to be a contender for the Stanley Cup by the little higher rate, the points are going to flow. middle of this decade, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are likely to be at the vanguard of New Jersey’s push toward the top of the NHL standings. How big of a jump could he make in Year 3? I’d say a significant one, like between Gallagher and Oshie in points, with fewer goals. The ceiling on There are more external pieces to add and more internal ones to improve his offensive output is likely still a couple years away, and then he’ll likely and support them. But finding a way forward in the near future that spend the rest of his 20s developing into a better all-around player. doesn’t include Hischier and Hughes growing into one of the most formidable 1-2 duos at center in the league is not easy. There is more The big point here is Hughes has already proven he can be a dynamic, work for them to do, still plenty of pressure on them to max out their impact player in this league without a fully developed NHL body. Maybe personal growth and uncertainty about what they will ultimately be. there’s a concern that if he does stop progressing off the ice, he’d leave himself susceptible to injuries but in terms of his on-ice play there should We focused a lot on the 2021 NHL Draft in Part 1 of the Devils mega be fewer concerns, not more after his sophomore campaign. mailbag. And there are few questions about the coming weeks in this offseason in Part 2. But there are also a couple of serious, big-picture As for the second part of Tyler’s question, the ideal long-term goal would questions about the franchise’s two leading men … and one about be to have Holtz eventually settle in next to Hughes and feast on all booze. those chances. I do think that the vast majority of the players who skate next to Hughes are going to produce better than when they don’t — that Let’s get into it. was a theme in 2021. If Holtz’s skating is a bit of an issue at the NHL level, maybe he doesn’t become a top-line winger. It’s still early in the Note: Submitted questions may be edited for clarity and style. game to think about that, though. And he and Hughes could still team up Evolving-Hockey has Jack Hughes projected to be the 36th most on the power play. valuable player in the league by their GAR metric. How much of a step Has the Devils organization and fans been overrating Nico Hischier? The do you believe he is going to take? And slightly unrelated, is he already organization and fans seem to think he is still an elite piece. His analytics good enough in transition and as a playmaker that Alexander Holtz could are good, but not great and I think his defensive game is a little overrated fit comfortably on his wing despite warts in his game? — Tyler V. since his draft year. I love Nico, but does he have the talent level New Hughes checks in just behind Ryan O’Reilly and Sam Reinhart and head Jersey needs for their second center pillar? — Dan G. of Kirill Kaprizov, and Brad Marchand on Evolving- It’s crazy how things can change in one year, or in this case like two- Hockey’s projected GAR list for 2021-22. If you want to keep it to just thirds of a normal year, spread out across almost two years. There were centers, he’s behind ROR and ahead of John Tavares, Joel Eriksson Ek similar questions about Hughes a year ago, though generally within the and Dylan Larkin. That’s nice company for a guy who won’t turn 21 until proper context that it was just one season and he had just made a May 2022, particularly when you consider how far he’s come since his galactic jump from the USHL to the NHL. rookie season. Now the roles are reversed. I’m going to go ahead and say that Dan is in First, a reminder that GAR is a holistic attempt to quantify value for the minority among Devils fans with legitimate concerns about Hischier, everything a player does on the ice. If you were comparing Hughes to but he’s also basically admitting that. O’Reilly, naturally you’d think, “Well, Hughes is projected to be better offensively and ROR better in his own end … right? That’s sort of true, Let’s use two projection models, but with some added context at the end. but O’Reilly is projected to be better on offensive at even strength First, The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn projects Hischier to finish next (Hughes has the advantage on the power play). Hughes is expected to season with a 1.4 GSVA (Game Score Value Added). That’s 0.5 higher be essentially a net neutral on defense (better than Hischier, which than Hughes, but once Dom adjusts the model for age, that gap should seems notable). be smaller. Still, the No. 2 center for the final eight teams in the 2021 playoffs had an average GSVA of 1.6, so despite Hischier’s down 2021 So where does Hughes make up ground? GAR places a lot of value on campaign, Dom’s model still likes him nearly as much as the average No. penalties, specifically drawing them and not taking them. Hughes is 2 center on those playoff teams. excellent at getting his team to the power play, and for being a young player who likes to take the puck away from opponents, doesn’t take a lot Evolving-Hockey’s GAR model is less bullish on Hischier (which is of stick-related penalties. He’s projected to be worth 2.4 goals above notable because Nico has been a GAR darling earlier in his career). They replacement on these two categories — which is 1.5 better than O’Reilly, have him pegged at 3.8 goals above replacement, which is fourth on the Tavares and Eriksson Ek. team behind Hughes (9.8), Jesper Bratt (7.1) and Yegor Sharangovich (4.1). That’s tied for 215th among skaters, near with players like Connor The only players in the top 50 projected to provide more penalty-related Brown and . value to his club are Connor McDavid, , Brayden Point and Cale Makar. That is even nicer company. This isn’t a one-year downturn for Hischier, per Evolving-Hockey’s GAR model. He was an elite player (15+ GAR) in both of his first two seasons, That also tracks with some of the work Hughes was doing last year that then he fell back to 4.8 in 2019-20 and 1.2 last year. Injuries (and didn’t show up as goals and points — he’s already an elite NHL player in COVID-19) certainly played a role, because GAR is a cumulative certain parts of the game. The big question is when will the traditional counting stat. His defensive impact has basically been average (-0.1 stats catch up, and what are reasonable expectations for him now? GAR each of the past two seasons), and he’s lost some of the penalty I’ve mentioned this before (on the radio, I think), but I had a general idea magic that he had the first two years (and Hughes had in 2021). for a roadmap with Hughes before he was drafted. One of the biggest Hischier’s defensive reputation is an interesting topic — his coaches and unknowns with him was his body, how much he could improve it and teammates swear by him as a stout, responsible player, but the data when. The rookie year was not a reason to panic, but it did reset that says otherwise to this point in his career. Much of his overall value has original roadmap for me — the expectation should have been going into come at the offensive end, and in his penalty differential. Year 2 that he was going to need more time than a typical high-end pick. The talent is not an issue — yes, his best offensive season came riding Well, then 2021 happened. There were nights when he was the best shotgun with the league’s MVP, but that guy also gave Hischier a lot of player on the ice. There were nights where he dictated how the game credit for helping him out. And he had a very good second year when talent. I have been a very patient fan but I am starting to lose my Taylor Hall was not quite as effective and then injured for two-thirds of patience quickly with this team’s inability to compete with the top 20 the year. teams in the league. — Rob C.

It’s certainly plausible that Hischier’s reputation as a defensive player will There are some concerns about Tarasenko — namely, he’s had a rough outstretch his actual impact, but it’s also possible he just grows into the couple of years with major injuries and he’ll turn 30 in December. He has reputation — is a decent example of that. As for his two years left on his contract at $7.5 million. The cap hit is a bigger offensive impact, let’s wait and see him for a full year in ’s concern for other teams. system and potentially with two quality wings flanking him. Two concerns for the Devils — how close to the guy from 2018-19, who It’s pretty easy to envision a future where Hughes and Hischier scored 33 in the regular season and 11 in the playoffs, can Tarasenko complement each other really well. And having both of them among the still be? And would he consider coming to New Jersey? Tarasenko has a league’s best at creating power plays could be a significant under-the- no-trade clause, but The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford has reported the hood advantage. Russian winger submitted a list of 10 teams he’d waive the NTC for. Rutherford has also reported eight of the 10 teams on Tarasenko’s list … What’s one offseason acquisition that would shock you but when you and the Devils weren’t one of them. Rutherford mentioned that packaging dive in it could make sense. — Warren G. Tarasenko with potential expansion draft casualty Vince Dunn before the It would honestly be pretty shocking if Dougie Hamilton signs with New Saturday trade freeze was a possibility. Jersey. For it to happen, I think a few things would need to happen. If the Devils are one of the two mystery teams, would they be interested One, those in the Devils front office who believe more fervently in the in that? Dunn has been a popular name among Devils fans over the past modern information available might need to do some convincing that couple of seasons, but he has had a bit of a falling out in St. Louis, and Hamilton is worth a massive contract. Two, the Devils would need to sell he is a pretty similar player to Will Butcher, who just spent a large chunk Hamilton on their short- and long-term outlook, how he impacts it and of the season as a healthy scratch during Ruff’s first season in charge. how he can help them become a contender sooner rather than later. It certainly makes sense that even the patient fans are getting antsy at Three, Hamilton and his team would need to survey the landscape and this point. The Devils may want to take a big step forward next season, pick the Devils. but the veterans they add still need to fit in the long-term plan of Maybe that last item is as simple as the Devils have the ability to offer the becoming a consistent Stanley Cup contender for years to come. A guy most money, and that works. But there are other teams out there that like Tarasenko can give the Devils a short-term boost, and for a minimal could probably get close to what New Jersey is willing to offer — should cost that has real value. But at a significant cost, adding guys Hamilton get to unrestricted free agency in the first place. Whether or not approaching the wrong side of 30 is still a potentially bad idea in 2021. the Devils are willing to yield the assets necessary to collect Hamilton Would the Devils trade for Cal Foote and Adam Henrique plus sign before he reaches the market, and then sign him to a huge deal, is an Dougie Hamilton and Chris Driedger as free agents? If they would what even more complex chain of events. are the chances they do? How much of a contender would they be with There are obvious reasons why it could make sense. He’s an elite player, those players added? — Ryan L. at a position where players on that level rarely reach the open market, That would be an impressive haul this offseason. Add Hamilton as the and a bit younger than other recent elite defensemen who did become anchor on defense, Henrique as the No. 3 center and veteran leader, available. He’s the one player out there where discussions about Foote as another young defenseman with top-four potential and Driedger timelines and similar ages to core players don’t need to come into play, to give the Devils a potent 1-2 punch in net. or at least not as much as they do with all of the potential non-elite additions. Let’s go back to the two projection models for some assistance here. Dom’s model projects Hamilton to be worth 3.2 wins next season — Tom Fitzgerald mentioned Graeme Clarke during his end-of-season third-most among defensemen and easily the jewel of the UFA crop. He media availability. Should we expect to see his name a lot more in the also has Driedger as the top goalie available, and after conferring with next year? And if he is a candidate to make the roster, who is he him, the model says 2.0 wins if he plays 41 games. Foote is around -0.5, competing with? — Joceylene G. pending his role. Henrique is between 0.75-1.0.

I asked Fitzgerald which of the players that didn’t make their NHL debuts Here’s a reminder of Dom’s projection for the Devils next season, given this season was he excited to see when training camp opens in the fall. the rough estimate of a depth chart I tossed his way. Clarke was the first guy he mentioned, and dropped this line: “The one player we’ve all been talking about is Graeme Clarke.” A quick reminder that Dom still has some adjusting to do, and a few of the young players like Hughes and Ty Smith will likely see bumps in their I don’t know if Clarke is going to be ready to compete for an NHL job in projections. camp. He did say that playing in the AHL this season has changed his mindset going into 2021-22, that he won’t just feel like one of the kids Adding Hamilton is huge, and would one of Smith or Damon Severson trying to make an impression but rather someone who is competing for a down to the second pairing (which is currently P.K. Subban and Jonas spot. Siegenthaler … Dom’s model still likes Will Butcher in the No. 5 role quite a bit). Clarke might need more time in the AHL, but he’s a natural goal scorer in an organization that could use a couple of those. So if he starts filling the Adding Henrique is a nice upgrade as well, turning a negative at 3C into net during camp, or early in the AHL season, he will be on the decision a potential positive. Blackwood’s projection is for a majority of the games, makers’ radar. but that might go down if Driedger is his partner. Between the two of them, if both played 41 games, they’d get to about 2.7 projected wins. We still don’t have a good handle of what the depth chart is going to look Foote isn’t projected to help much next season, but he’s more of a long- like going into camp. If the Devils did not lose a forward to Seattle in the term play anyway. expansion draft, and they do not make any major additions, it looks like there are 10 guys who should feel relatively comfortable about having a How close would those four guys get the Devils to “contender” status. spot on the team unless they have a terrible camp or get injured — This is where doing this stuff gets tricky. If we were projecting those four Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, Sharangovich, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Johnsson, players onto Vegas or Colorado or even a team like Dallas or St. Louis — McLeod, Wood and Bastian. That leaves 2-4 openings, and the pool of veteran-laden crews — the certainty about how much it helps would be potentials could include Jesper Boqvist, , Mikhail Maltsev, greater. Holtz, Dawson Mercer, Nolan Foote, Marian Studenic and Clarke. The reality is those three guys (let’s leave Foote out of it) are projected to It’s a huge group of players, and while losing one guy to Seattle opens be worth about six wins together. That is in the neighborhood of 12 points another spot, every veteran that gets added in a trade or as a free agent in the standings, or to compare to last season’s shortened schedule, likely reduces the number of openings. about eight points. Eight points for the Wild is the difference between third and first in the division. Eight points makes Edmonton a division Thoughts on adding Vladimir Tarasenko? This team is in dire need of a winner. It gets Dallas, and possibly Calgary or Chicago into the playoffs. veteran goal scorer. Tarasenko is a goal scorer and he’s a Stanley Cup champion. At some point, this team needs to start adding some proven Eight points in 2021, or about 12 in 2021-22, doesn’t close the gap for the Devils. Now, back to why this is tricky — none of this takes into account any potential improvements or regression that go against the model.

The Devils could easily add those players and rocket into playoff contention. But other than Hamilton and maybe Driedger, depending on how much he plays, they wouldn’t necessarily be the main source of the improvement. A healthy Hischier getting back to being a two-win player is a big help. Hughes becoming a two-win player would be a big help. Special teams improving from terrible to mediocre would be a huge help.

I guess that’s all a long-winded way of saying that Hamilton definitely moves the club closer to contention, and adding Driedger/Henrique could be helpful. But those moves alone aren’t flipping the switch and making the Devils into the Islanders or Avalanche or Golden Knights. Some patience, unless a lot of things went right outside of those additions, would still be needed.

As for the chances of them adding all four of those players, I’d put it at about 3 percent. Not that the Devils have a 3 percent chance of adding four players, but trying to pick out which four specific players they will add is almost impossible. And I just said that New Jersey actually landing Hamilton, when the Devils are still in the midst of rebuilding, would still be a shocking move — even if it’s been talked about for months by people outside the organization.

If Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier were alcoholic beverages, what would they be and why? — Nick M.

I enlisted the help of a couple of other people who know the Devils well for this one. I thought this was going to take a long time and a lot of research, but both answers came together pretty quickly.

If Hughes was an alcoholic beverage, he’d be a Long Island Ice Tea. Why? From a consultant: “There’s a lot going on, it’s level 100 all the time and can get the night going quickly in the same way Jack does when he plays well.” An added bonus, from me: Jack’s father grew up on Long Island, where his grandfather lived while working for the FDNY.

If Hischier was an alcoholic beverage, he’d be a bottle of Nino Negri Inferno (2017 vintage, obviously). Nino Negri is a winery in Chiuro, Italy, a little northeast of Lake Como. They make wines with Chiavennasca grapes, a local version of a more famous Italian grape. Their grapes grow on the steeply inclined hillsides that look a little like mountains and have a distinct process where the grapes are picked and dried for 100 days. The Inferno is a Valtellina Superiore wine, named for the subregion where the grapes are grown. It’s the hottest subregion on the hillside.

Hischier grew up on the side of a mountain, less than four hours from Nino Negri (an estate that includes a castle with vast wine cellars in the underground levels). It’s a complex wine, like Hischier has a complex game. The Inferno subregion certainly befits a Devils captain. As a bonus, some of Nino Negri’s wines are bottled across the border in Switzerland. And he’s called the Swiss prince of hockey, and there is a castle … I think we’ve covered enough similarities here that everyone should get why this works by now.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217378 New York Rangers Weighing the alternatives The case for protecting Howden or Rooney would center on their penalty

kill contributions. They were two of the four most-used forwards on an Are the NY Rangers preparing to protect forward Colin Blackwell in the improved PK that ranked 10th in the league. But Blackwell was the sixth expansion draft? most-used forward and produced the best shorthanded GA/60 and xGA/60 of that trio, albeit in a smaller sample size.

The wild card is Gauthier. He was limited to just 30 games last season Vincent Z. Mercogliano and ended up in former coach David Quinn's doghouse, frequently serving as a healthy scratch. Perhaps Gallant feels different and NHL Writer advocates for the 6-foot-4 speedster to stick around, believing he can mold him into a net-crashing, hard-forechecking force. He's easily the most talented of the forwards under consideration for the final protection Most people barely batted an eye when Colin Blackwell and Kevin slot, but he's also the least polished and struggled with understanding Rooney signed minor free-agent deals with the New York Rangers last situational hockey. year. Julien Gauthier (12) of the New York Rangers scores in the second They figured to be depth forwards, more likely to be stashed on the taxi period against Carter Hart (79) of the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL squad or with AHL Hartford than play regularly in the NHL. The only hockey game at , Monday, March 15, 2021, in reason they were signed to two-year deals was to become fodder for the New York. Seattle Kraken, providing the Blueshirts with two expendable players they wouldn't mind exposing in the expansion draft. Another factor working in favor of Gauthier and Howden is that they're under team control for another four years before becoming unrestricted No one saw the two journeymen combining to play 101 games last free agents. That's valuable if they're contributing or can be used as season, but even then, they both seemed destined for exposure. Now, trade bait, but their value will deteriorate if they struggle to stay in the there are reasons to believe that one could be prioritized by the Rangers. lineup.

Barring a trade, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Pavel At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise for any of the four to have their Buchnevich, Filip Chytil and are locked in as six of the name included when protection lists are due at 5 p.m. Saturday. Drury is seven protected forwards. The final slot is up for grabs. keeping a tight lid on his plans, in part because he's still exploring trade opportunities. For months, it figured to come down to Brett Howden and Julien Gauthier — two former first-round picks who are both just 23 years old. Under the If no moves materialize, the decision could come down to which player previous regime, led by team president John Davidson and general fits best as a fourth-liner in Gallant's system. And if the goal is to put the manager Jeff Gorton, multiple sources indicated the plan was to protect best possible team on the ice next season, then there's a logical Howden. But with a new front-office boss in Chris Drury and a new head argument to hold on to Blackwell. coach in , all bets are off.

A key indicator came last week, when Howden was re-signed to a one- year, $885,000 contract. Expansion draft rules mandate that each team Bergen Record LOADED: 07.16.2021 expose at least two forwards who are under contract for the 2021-22 season, which left Blackwell and Rooney as the only feasible options prior to the new Howden deal. But now the under-performing young forward is eligible to fill one of the two exposure requirements, opening the possibility of protecting Blackwell or Rooney.

The case for Colin Blackwell

If the criteria is based on last season's performance, Blackwell is the clear choice.

He entered 2021 having played only 33 NHL games in his career vs. 187 in the AHL. He began the season on the Rangers' taxi squad, but entered the lineup after four games and never looked back. Blackwell produced a point in each of his first three games en route to 22 points in 47 games. His 12 goals tied for sixth on the team with No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafrenière, who played nine more games than Blackwell.

His willingness to get to the net and play fast shined through, which made him a much more productive player than Howden, Gauthier or Rooney. The Rangers averaged 2.8 goals per 60 minutes with Blackwell on the ice, according to Evolving Hockey, with none of the other three finishing higher than Gauthier's 2.18. Howden, whose offense has regressed in each of his three seasons, ranked worst among all Rangers forwards at 1.64.

As a result, Blackwell played more minutes as the right winger on the second line than any other forward. Who saw that coming?

Teamed with Panarin and Strome, the Harvard product was charged with doing the dirty work and bringing a competitive edge, which garnered the respect of his teammates. He was also one of the players who dropped the gloves against the Washington Capitals on May 5 in retaliation for Tom Wilson injuring Panarin.

Blackwell's memorable year continued after the season when he was selected as a member of the U.S. National Team for the IIHF World Championships, where he served as an alternate captain, scored four goals in 10 games and picked up a bronze medal.

There's no chance that Drury goes into 2021-22 with Blackwell playing a top-six role again, but he could be an appealing option for the fourth line following his breakout campaign. 1217379 New York Rangers Let’s assume (perhaps unlikely) that Miller, Jones, Lundkvist, Schneider all play big chunks next season. Who do you expect to have the most successful season? — PJ E.

Should the Rangers trade for Vladimir Tarasenko? Or Ryan Reaves? Is I don’t think we’re going to see all four play big chunks next season. Just Pavel Buchnevich done in New York? not probable given the presence of , Ryan Lindgren, Fox and probably another veteran to be added. But I’d expect Miller to have a leg up, given what he did as a rookie.

By Rick Carpiniello How active do you see Drury being over the next several weeks? Do you think he does much of his work in free agency or via trades? Do you Jul 15, 2021 really see Drury making a significant move in the next few weeks to Hi everybody. Thank you once again for participating in our regular change the Rangers’ top-six forwards group? With all the talk of Eichel, is offseason Rangers mailbags. there any chance the Rangers try to get Sam Reinhart from Buffalo instead at a lower cost? I think he would make a great addition. — And a special thanks to reader Ryan I., and some others, who did a lot of Nicholas R. my work for me, answering most (if not all) of the questions readers asked before I did in the comments section of our mailcall. That’s a lot of questions (and there were even more, LOL). But I’ve said and written that this is the big opportunity for Drury to remake the team Apologies, as usual, for not being able to get to every single question and because the first-round pick is a big asset. Thus a trade would have to comment. happen by July 23. Is Reinhart better than Ryan Strome?

It’s a big couple of weeks coming up with the expansion draft, entry draft Will the New York press report why Tony DeAngelo was really and free agency, and as I’ve written, I expect Rangers president and suspended? — Sean P. general manager Chris Drury will be very active with this opportunity to upgrade. That’s pretty obvious, no? Maturity issues. Multiple warnings. A final- straw warning. Then a fight he started by mouthing off to the goalie after Here goes. a tough loss. Not to mention the other baggage.

With no Jack Eichel trade at this point, and hearing the potential time Are there any tendencies Gerard Gallant has from his time in Vegas and frame for Eichel to have surgery, rehab, etc., before he’d be able to get previous stops we should be aware of? Does he give rookies long or on the ice, do you think it works in the Rangers’ favor as far as what the short leashes? Ride the hot goalie? Make line changes/strategies mid- (reduced) package would be to trade for him? Could the Rangers get him game or stick to his plan? — David C. for picks and prospects without giving up core pieces? — Ian S. Those are questions to which I am trying to find answers. I do hear that It’s hard to quantify this right now. I don’t think Buffalo will get what it his X’s and O’s may be wanting, and I generally dislike the “leash” term. originally set out to get, but I also doubt very much that a core piece Kids make mistakes and have to learn from them. It’s not a leash. Never won’t go the other way, and that goes for the Rangers or Minnesota or was with David Quinn, , or anybody. L.A. or any other team involved. Also, the more teams in the auction, the higher the price, right? You obviously don’t like the Rangers to offer sheet Elias Pettersson. Is it the player? That he’s not an upgrade? Or the fit: too thin, not tough On the last 31 (32?) Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman mentioned some teams enough? Or the price, even if it’s two firsts, a second and a third? You were sniffing around Arizona’s Christian Dvorak, a solid center with four don’t think it will work? Vancouver will match whatever the cost (even if it years left at $4.45 million. Have you had any indication the Rangers have doesn’t have cap space)? Something else? — Kent N. made inquiries beyond what seems to be the mantra for the offseason: “The Rangers are listening in on everyone and everything?” — Reed L. As I’ve written, offer sheets aren’t happening and don’t work. The Rangers would have to make an absurdly high offer for Vancouver to not I don’t have any indication, no. I can assure you that the last GM would match, giving up tons of draft picks to boot. Not happening. have turned over every stone. I imagine Drury would/will too. How can you look at Evgeny Kuznetsov and see an upgrade over Carp, excellent job this summer, as always. Please tell me the Rangers Strome? Yeah, his peak is an improvement, but the chances of seeing are not seriously considering trading either K’Andre Miller or Zac Jones. that peak at that price? No thanks. — Bryan S. Young, talented defensemen are hard to come by, and we seem to have more than our share. It’s a good way to build a Cup contender. Also, I’m not sure I ever said that. Pretty sure, actually, that I didn’t. His upside what’s the word on the street about “The King”? Any possibility of him is obviously higher. coming back home? Is he calling it a career? — Bob W. I like the idea of Casey Cizikas on the Rangers because I think he does I cannot not tell either of you that about Miller, Jones or Lundkvist. But fill a need while simultaneously removing part of the soul of the Islanders. their value could, you know, also go down if the team waits to let them What do you think the chances are of him signing? — David G. show more at the NHL level. The Rangers have to deal from their surplus He’ll be terribly overpaid if the Rangers get him. Like most of the UFA of young talent, and a lot of that is on D, where they are going to bottom-six grit guys available. eventually have seven or eight or nine players vying for six spots. Do you see Buchnevich and Filip Chytil with the first-rounder as a I don’t think we’re going to see Fox-Lundkvist on the PP right away. As package for a 1A/1B center who opens up the right side for for Henrik Lundqvist, the likelihood of him playing again is slim, to me at and Vitali Kravtsov and possibly slides Stromer to a C spot with Chris least, but I’m pretty sure he won’t be playing for the Rangers. And Drury Kreider and the remaining RWs (Colin Blackwell, Ryan Gauthier, Will has already overloaded his goalie-guru stable. Cuylle)? — Nick L. Can’t help you on the spell check issue. I think a lot of that would be ideal if they get the right center, and I think After Drury puts his stamp on the team in the next few weeks, who will be they’d love to have Strome as the third center. But he’ll be making too the most surprising Ranger traded? — Jim O. much money for that spot.

Would Pavel Buchnevich count as a surprise? I’m pretty sure one of the Tampa Bay will need to move some salary even with the expansion draft. prized prospects/young players is going to be gone, too, if they really I think Yanni Gourde and his game would look really good on the make a major acquisition. opposite wing of Artemi Panarin. I’d rather chew up some cap going for this instead of forcing Kakko or Blackwell there again. — Ben S. Rick, I feel certain Morgan Barron will be on the opening night roster. What are the chances Braden Schneider is too? — Doug V. Not sure Gourde is the perfect fit there, either, but certainly Blackwell is not. Agreed on Barron. Especially with the mission statement on grit/size. I think it would be a big jump for Schneider to make it to the NHL by Does John Davidson ever come back in any role in this lifetime besides opening night, but the hopes are extremely high for him. Maybe higher “forever beloved by fans”? — Michael T. than those for, say, K’Andre Miller. Can’t ever envision JD ever returning to a James Dolan-owned team. mailbag is, simply, how frickin’ annoyed do you get by those of us who fill Pretty simple. your inbox with questions that can only be seen as a waste of your time? Let me know before you can’t take it anymore and decide to scrap your Personally, I am more on the JD/Jeff Gorton philosophy than the big mailbag columns. I’d hate for that to happen. — Dave S. trade/make the playoffs this year. I do think we can make the playoffs with a few tweaks and still keep building. I disagree with you on trading I don’t get annoyed at all. It’s the questions that make these mailbags our first pick. The quick big trade won’t win us a cup. We need to keep work. And I’ve always enjoyed interacting with the majority of the fan building every year to become a champion and a dynasty. I would try to base. sign Big Z, Zdeno Chara, as a third-pair LD and Eric Staal as a fourth-line center, both on one-year deals. We also need a heavyweight enforcer How many shots of Jameson do you need to get through all of the who can play well enough to handle fourth-line duties. I am thinking Zack redundant questions, mailbag after mailbag? — Francis I. Kassian or Milan Lucic. We need to make a trade for one, but both Haha. No more than usual. players are grossly overpaid and their teams need to retain half the salary. — Paul F. Do you think Buffalo prefers to send Eichel to the West or will they take the largest package? — John M. That first pick won’t play in the NHL for two or three years, minimum. Kassian and Lucic are toast. While a good theory, why would Staal return If they’re serious about ever getting out of their laughingstock status, to this organization, during a rebuild, to play on a fourth line? Same for they’ll take the best offer. Chara on a third pair? Thanks again Carp for the continued excellent coverage! Over your many On Line Movement, and Doug MacLean talked about years of covering the Rangers, who would you rank as the best coaches, Gallant liking Ryan Reaves and speculated that the Rangers and Toronto GMs and, do I dare ask, owners? — Dennis K. would be in the mix if Vegas was interested in moving him. Thoughts? By Well, one GM has won the Cup () even if he wasn’t perfect. the way: “Try the veal, best in the city.” (You know who this is). — Jeff B. One coach won the Cup, though he nearly sabotaged it. I would say that Sollozzo? I think Reaves is on the downside, too, and expensive to boot. the best coaching jobs I’ve covered were handed in by , by But I do think there’s a distinct possibility the Rangers will add a pure Roger Neilson in his early seasons, by John Tortorella in his ’11-12 enforcer, dumb as that sounds in 2021. season with a young and thin team, and by Alain Vigneault in his first two seasons. Now I’ll duck. And all of the owners previous to the current one Do the Rangers have to make a blockbuster trade? Can’t we assume allowed the Rangers to spend, spend, spend. Dolan did too, pre-salary improvement from all of the youngsters will be enough? — D S. cap, and even after in terms of buyouts and front-office spending. Until Not when the owner has turned up the heat to make the playoffs. I think he flipped in May, he wasn’t overly involved in the hockey team and, in they were going to do significant upgrading even before Dolan threw a fact, had OK’d the rebuild. He was fine. Until May. temper tantrum and cleaned house. Can any of the right-handed defensemen not named Fox play on the left Would the Rangers have a chance at acquiring a center like Andrew side? — Jay B. Copp this offseason? He’s big, plays a gritty defensive game and broke Yes, Jones. out offensively this season. From what I heard from the writers in Winnipeg, his value is at its peak. Additionally, since the Jets have a Please, can they move Kreider? And the albatross contract they gave large number of centers, his original role as a shutdown third-line center Trouba? How do you pay the young guys with all this money tied up in has been changed, making him a bit of an awkward fit on the team. I these two? Seth Jones and Fox on PP. — Michael K. would think these circumstances would place him on the trade market, Totally and completely disagree on Kreider and Trouba. They need more yet I haven’t heard anything so far. He seems like a good fit for this team. players like them, not fewer. — Tom-Miriam R. I think Gallant will utilize the current talent differently than Quinn did, and Interesting, but it’s complicated. If the Rangers get a 1A/1B center and open it up a bit more. That being said, what the Rangers really need is a keep Strome (and/or Chytil) where is Copp playing? 4C? third- or fourth-line shutdown center who can win faceoffs. Don’t you Is there any scenario in which the Rangers make a significant trade for think someone like that can be acquired without depleting the cupboard grit or a 1B center that doesn’t include Buchnevich? I can’t see how they and breaking the bank? — Brian L. can add any salary and keep him. — David B. Gallant may use the current talent differently, but will he do it better? In The money is going to complicate things with Buchnevich, along with the fact, Quinn’s teams opened it up too much, which is why they couldn’t two RW prospects in Kakko and Kravtsov. If the Rangers were to, say, compete with, say, the Islanders or teams that trap. Those third- and trade Strome, they could make Buchnevich’s money work in the short fourth-line centers, if they come via free agency, are going to be very term. expensive.

This is a team with a lot of wingers and not enough centers. Do you see With all the changes, how difficult is it for a writer like yourself to establish any of those wingers effectively shifting to center? I’m thinking of Alexis relationships with the new regime? In the era of COVID-19, that appears Lafrenière, because he’s young, smart and very motivated, and I can to be extra difficult. — Bob F. imagine him rising to the challenge. — Sean B. I’ve covered so many coaches and GMs over the years, and actually, it I think the center they’re looking to add, and need, is a legit NHL 1A or depends on the person. I never really had a relationship with Vigneault or 1B. I don’t see how Lafrenière would handle that role so young, though Ted Sator, for example. Probably never would have no matter how long I’m sure he’d love the challenge. they were here. The pandemic has made things nearly impossible. I have yet to meet Alexis Lafrenière. Imagine? Do you see the Rangers letting Mika Zibanejad play out his contract and become a UFA next summer or will they work on a new contract before Rick, thanks for doing this. One thought I continually have with all of the the season starts? — William S. center personnel talk — particularly around upgrading 1C/2C and bumping Strome to 3C — is that nearly all of these scenarios require To me, it makes no sense to let him walk, and he will if it comes to that. trading Chytil. I feel like all versions of this would put the Rangers in But on the other hand, it’s gonna be expensive to get him signed before something similar to being on the wrong end of a -for- then. It will be foolish to let him go in my opinion. I’ve said it before: I’d Zibanejad-type of trade and this will very likely come back to haunt the rather have Zibanejad than Eichel. team. Am I missing something here? — Eric F.

Hey, Rick. I’ve noticed my own propensity for submitting questions that, They’re going to have to part with some of their young talent to fill the upon further review, you’ve either already answered directly or have holes they have, plain and simple. The risk is the haunting you expounded on while replying to a different query in your past writings. I mentioned. That will probably happen. But if the trade(s) is successful, most recently did myself proud by asking what you knew about and they win, so be it. something I read on the subject of Mark Scheifele being on the trade market, only to reread a previous column of yours and realize it was Rick, what is your opinion of Phillip Danault, and do you think he would there that I saw a reference to a Scheifele trade (and your extreme doubt be a good fit for the Rangers? Personally, as a 3C behind Mika and that any such thing might happen) in the first place. My question for this Strome (for five years at $5.5 million per year), I think he would look great. — Sylvio B.

Isn’t that a lot of money for a 3C? And isn’t that less than what Montreal would pay to keep him? I agree that he’d be a great fit (for any team), but at what cost?

Thoughts on Vladimir Tarasenko? (No way, right?) Why are the Rangers a team even linked to him? — Luke N.

Why in Gretzky’s name would the Rangers make a move for Tarasenko? Please explain why I keep seeing this online. — Jay D.

Never say never. But he’s not what they need, and he’s got a $7.5M cap hit. The Rangers are linked because he reportedly has them on his wish list and he’s buddies with Artemi Panarin.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217380 Philadelphia Flyers Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2021

Goal-scoring wing requests trade, would OK a Flyers deal

BY ADAM HERMANN

Sometimes when a player requests a trade, the speculation of your team landing that guy is merely that: speculation, combined with a little wishful thinking.

But St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko's case is different, because he's reportedly requested a trade and provided his team with a list of approved trade destinations.

And guess who's on that list? The Flyers, along with a handful of other teams, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford:

"Tarasenko has given the Blues a list of at least 10 clubs to which he can be traded, and we think we know a majority of those: the Rangers, Islanders, Golden Knights, Bruins and Flyers we reported previously, and you can add the Lightning, Capitals and Panthers to that list."

Look at the Flyers, getting a nod with some of the league's top squads from Tarasenko! That's not bad, reputation-wise, even if nothing comes from this.

Rutherford also floated this hypothetical deal: The Flyers get the right winger Tarasenko, and the Blues get center and defenseman Philippe Myers.

Hmm. Is he worth giving up two youngsters who Flyers fans are excited about?

Value-wise, you can't get Tarasenko for pennies on the dollar. He turns 30 in December and is just a few years removed from being one of the league's deadliest scoring threats, a perennial 30-goal scorer who could snipe with the NHL's best.

But shoulder problems have hampered the Russian wing and he's played just 34 games since the Blues' Stanley Cup run in the 2018-19 season, scoring seven goals and tallying 24 points.

The Flyers have plenty of holes to fill this offseason, and the real concerns start at the blue line — hence the chatter surrounding Seth Jones, Dougie Hamilton, and the like. But adding a top-six forward for scoring depth to a team that finished in the middle of the league in goals last season couldn't hurt.

Sure, Tarasenko's not the spring chicken he once was, and the lingering shoulder problems aren't exactly enticing ... but his ceiling should still be considered high. He wasn't tailing off before he suffered the shoulder injury, he just got hurt. He's scored at least 20 goals in each season where he's played 75 percent of the team's games, and over his last five full seasons he's averaged 36.4 goals and 71.2 points per season. The guy produces.

Money-wise, Tarasenko doesn't come cheap — he's owed $9.5 million in 2021-22 and $5.5 million in 2022-23, which would immediately make him the highest-paid Flyers next year. The Flyers will have someone come off the books in the expansion draft, but if they want to shore up their defensive corps (which they need to), spending all that money on a forward might not be prudent, even if it would be exciting.

Earlier this month, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said the trade "phones have been busy" ahead of the expansion draft and the 2021 NHL draft, but he doesn't sound like he wants to rush into anything:

"We certainly aren't going to be making a trade today or tomorrow, unless something unexpected breaks."

Ultimately, while adding Tarasenko would probably give things a little jolt excitement-wise and he would almost certainly thrive if healthy, this move doesn't make a whole bunch of sense at the moment.

But if in a few weeks' time Jakub Voracek and his cap hit have moved to Seattle and Tarasenko is still available, perhaps we'll have a different conversation.

1217381 Pittsburgh Penguins white. There’s some gray in there. There’s tough decisions but we don’t have a choice. We have to make those tough decisions.”

During the 2017 expansion draft, the Golden Knights swung a number of Penguins GM Ron Hextall faces 'tough decisions' with next week's side deals for future assets to complete agreements with incumbent expansion draft franchises in selecting certain players. In the Penguins’ case, they sent a second-round pick to the Golden Knights to guarantee they would select goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury instead of another player.

SETH RORABAUGH Hextall, mindful of the Penguins’ shallow pool of prospects and draft picks, indicated he did not want to go that route with the Kraken and was Thursday, July 15, 2021 2:58 p.m. content to lose a player without any prior arrangements during his end-of- season press conference in June.

Penguins general manager Ron Hextall watches a morning skate at On Thursday, Hextall said his stance on that front has not changed. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. on May 20. “That’s where we’re at right now, yes,” Hextall said. “I don’t anticipate a As a goaltender during his playing career, Ron Hextall knew some nights deal with Seattle. I guess things could change but I think at this point, we were going to be easier than others. would just lose a player.”

Especially if that night’s opponent was an . One player who appears to be safe is forward Teddy Blueger. On Wednesday, Blueger, who was scheduled to become a restricted free In the early 1990s, the NHL expanded with five teams — the San Jose agent this upcoming offseason, signed a two-year contract extension with Sharks, , Tampa Bay Lightning, Mighty Ducks of a salary cap hit of $2.2 million. Hextall stopped short of saying if Blueger Anaheim and Florida Panthers — and usually, those teams were bad. would indeed be protected but offered a hearty endorsement of the defensive center. “Back then, you liked playing expansion teams because it was almost a guaranteed win (with) Ottawa, San Jose, whatever team it was,” Hextall “Teddy’s a highly intelligent player,” Hextall said. “He works extremely said. “It’s certainly different nowadays. (The Vegas Golden Knights) hard. He’s a top penalty killer for us. He’s probably still a little bit obviously did a terrific job with the (2017) expansion draft. The rules are underrated. He makes a lot of plays. He obviously put up good numbers much more fair now than they were then. You’re obviously paying a lot of last year. Teddy, he’s a big part of our team and we’re certainly happy to money for an expansion team and you deserve to have a better team.” have him under contract for the next two years.”

After paying $500 million to join the NHL in 2017, the Golden Knights Who exactly will be a member of the Penguins’ roster when training took advantage of less restrictive rules for the expansion draft and camp opens in roughly two months remains a work in progress. That crafted a roster that was good enough to go to the Stanley Cup Final process will unfold over the next two weeks with the entry-level draft (July during their inaugural season. 23 and 24) and the opening of the free agent signing period (July 28).

When this year’s expansion draft opens Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken, But first, the expansion draft needs to play out. The process of picking having recently been liberated of $650 million in order to gain entry into what players the Penguins choose to protect is much more nuanced than the NHL, will operate under the same exact rules and will likely be able to just trying to find the best 20 players to dress for the lineup. create a team that will rival the 2017-18 Golden Knights. “There’s many things that come into play,” Hextall said. “Your depth at a One of those players will have been a member of the 2020-21 Pittsburgh position. The contracts, the age. We’ve looked at everything in terms of Penguins. every player. You make your decisions based on that. Some, for a lot of teams, are going to be contract-related. There’s a lot that goes into it. It’s Hextall has the task of figuring out which one of those players will be not as probably simple as we’d all like to think it is.” dressing for the Kraken in October.

Incumbent NHL teams — Vegas is exempt from this expansion draft — must submit a list of players they will protect by Saturday. The NHL is Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2021 expected to announce those lists Sunday.

The league will allow incumbent franchises to protect either seven forwards, three defenseman and one goaltender or some combination of eight forwards and defenseman as well as one goaltender. Hextall indicated the Penguins will likely go with the first option.

By rule, franchise forwards , Evgeni Malkin and defenseman must be protected due to the no-movement clauses in their contracts. That leaves the Penguins with the freedom to protect five additional forwards and two other defensemen as well as a goaltender.

Hextall was hesitant to reveal who else he will protect but indicated he is close to finalizing his list.

“We have a real good idea,” Hextall said by phone Thursday. “We’re going to go over it the next couple of days here one more time. But we have a real good idea at this point. It was a little bit up in the air a couple of weeks ago. You didn’t know if you were going to move someone prior to. But right now, I’d say, best guess, that we’re not going move anybody. We have a real good idea but we’ll review it one more time.”

Players with fairly prominent roles such as forwards Jeff Carter, Jared McCann, Brandon Tanev and Jason Zucker as well as defensemen Mike Matheson and Marcus Pettersson are, at the very least, candidates to not be protected.

“We will let players know that aren’t protected,” said Hextall, who served as the Philadelphia Flyers general manager during the 2017 expansion draft. “It is tough. Went through it when Vegas came in. Calling the players, no player wants to get that call. But we are restricted. It’s seven (forwards), three (defensemen) and one (goaltender). It’s difficult for most teams. The last couple of decisions are hard. Typically, it’s not black and 1217382 Pittsburgh Penguins (That’s until Malkin returns.) The depth chart at center trickles up in a way that hurts the Penguins.

But it’s hard to imagine Seattle taking a 36-year-old who carries a $5.27 Mark Madden: Penguins' protected list should leave out Jared McCann, million cap hit, has one year left on his contract, will likely retire after that, Marcus Pettersson and might well quit immediately if he’s claimed in the expansion draft. (Carter should make that known.)

Carter got red-hot for the Penguins: 13 goals in 20 games (including MARK MADDEN playoffs) after joining the team. But there’s no guarantee he’ll keep producing anywhere close to that, let alone skating on an expansion Thursday, July 15, 2021 11:04 a.m. team. Carter hasn’t topped 17 goals in a season since 2016-17.

McCann is a better pick for an expansion team than Carter. So, the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS Penguins should expose Carter.

Jared McCann and the Pittsburgh Penguins practice May 3, 2021, at Creating debate is my business. But the Penguins’ protected list seems Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. obvious.

The Penguins’ protected list for Wednesday’s expansion draft seems The player the Penguins want to lose is winger Jason Zucker. He’s got a fairly straightforward. They will protect seven forwards, three defensemen cap hit of $5.5 million and is signed through 2023. His swiftness and skill and a goalie. should make him a good fit with the Penguins, but it hasn’t. It would be good to get him off the books, but Seattle won’t bite. They should be: One potential gambit: If management isn’t sold on Jarry, expose him and Forwards – Teddy Blueger, Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Kasperi hope Seattle takes him. Patronize free agency for a goaltender like Antti Kapanen, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Brandon Tanev. Raanta, most recently of Arizona.

Defensemen – Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang, Mike Matheson. Potential problems: If Seattle doesn’t claim Jarry, his confidence gets further shaken. If Seattle does claim Jarry, the Penguins would have to Goalie – Tristan Jarry. get two goalies. Raanta (or whoever) and Casey DeSmith isn’t enough First- and second year professionals are exempt from the draft. So, the depth. Penguins do not have to protect P-O Joseph and John Marino. DeSmith is between a rock and a hard place: He’s an adequate backup if The points of debate are: your starter is both legit and durable. Jarry isn’t. Raanta (or whoever) wouldn’t be. • Blueger vs. Jared McCann. The best move would be to sign Raanta (or whoever) and have him • Matheson vs. Marcus Pettersson. compete with Jarry for the No. 1 job.

But the Penguins just signed Blueger to a two-year contract. They didn’t do that to give him to Seattle. McCann is 25 and is already on his third team. He shows flashes and is more productive than Blueger, who is a Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2021 solid bottom-four center. Those are deceptively valuable. Kills penalties, too.

Matheson is better than Pettersson. The Penguins may trade the latter if Seattle doesn’t take him. Matheson carries an onerous price tag: He’s signed through 2026 at an annual cap hit of $4.875 million. He gets a whopping $6.5 million, $6.5 million and $7 million in that contract’s last three years.

But that deal would likely keep Seattle from taking Matheson if he’s available.

Your protected list isn’t just about protecting your perceived best players. It’s not a merit badge. It’s about maneuvering Seattle into taking who you don’t mind losing.

Nobody was able to con Vegas like that in 2017. That’s how the Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final as an expansion team.

Bad news for Seattle: There’s no goalie like Marc-Andre Fleury to be had this year.

There are two other popular points of discussion regarding the Penguins’ protected list:

• Given Evgeni Malkin’s lengthy recovery from knee surgery, should the Penguins protect Jeff Carter by way of not exposing the center position to potential disaster?

• Expose Brandon Tanev by way of ditching his contract, which carries a $3.5 million cap hit through 2025.

To even consider the latter smacks of insanity, so I doubt that GM Ron Hextall is.

Tanev’s cap hit isn’t that bad. He’s an oasis of grit in the Penguins’ vast desert of Charmin. His speed enables him to fit perfectly throughout the lineup. He’s an invaluable penalty-killer.

Tanev is a winning hockey player. If he’s exposed, Seattle definitely takes him.

The trepidation about exposing Carter is understandable. If Carter goes, McCann is the Penguins’ second-line center and Blueger is third-line. 1217383 Pittsburgh Penguins their most intriguing given how much his game has developed in the two seasons since he was selected late in the 2019 draft.

Starting next season, he’ll finally take his shot at reaching the NHL. Penguins A to Z: Valtteri Puustinen finally takes his shot

Tribune Review LOADED: 07.16.2021 SETH RORABAUGH

Thursday, July 15, 2021 8:01 a.m.

In 51 Liiga games with HPK last season, Penguins forward prospect Valtteri Puustinen had 41 points (21 goals, 20 assist) for HPK.

With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is looking at all 48 players currently under NHL contracts to the organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Valtteri Puustinen

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Right

Age: 22

Height: 5-foot-9

Weight: 183 pounds

2020-21 Liiga statistics: 51 games, 41 points (21 goals, 20 assists)

Contract: Entering the first year of a two-year entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $842,500. Pending restricted free agent in 2023.

Acquired: Seventh-round draft pick (No. 203 overall), June 22, 2019

2020-21 season: The Penguins have a history of finding some value in the late rounds of the draft.

Forwards Maxime Talbot (eighth round — 2002) and Scott Wilson (seventh round — 2011) as well as defensemen Paul Stanton (eighth round — 1985) and Jim Paek (ninth round — 1985) each contributed to Stanley Cup championships for the franchise.

Others such as forwards Dave Hannan (10th round — 1981), Tom Kostopoulos (seventh round — 1999) and defenseman Andrew Ference (eighth round — 1997) all enjoyed NHL careers that lasted more than a decade.

Puustinen could wind up being the Penguins’ best late-round pick ever. At the very least, he has the talent to claim that designation.

Dubbed “the Finnish Phil Kessel,” Puustinen was a dominant offensive force in the Liiga, the top-tier league in his home country this past season.

Despite missing three weeks in October for covid-19 related concerns, Puustinen finished as the Liiga’s eighth-leading goal-scorer while playing for a non-playoff team in HPK. The high point of his season came during a 3-0 home win against Tappara when he accounted for all of his team’s offense with two goals and an assist.

One of that leagues’ most prolific shooters with 222 shots, Puustinen did much of his damage via the power play with eight goals on the man advantage.

After the Penguins signed Puustinen to his entry-level contract on May 6 (before his signing rights expired), he was selected for Finland’s roster in the International Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship Tournament but only appeared in two games and failed to score.

The future: Before Puustinen is anointed a top-six winger who can ride shotgun with the Penguins’ bevy of franchise centers, please keep in mind he has never played a minute of North American hockey. He’ll need to adjust to a different game, a different ice surface and a different culture next season, presumably in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

While undersized, Puustinen is a stronger skater who is intelligent enough to locate soft scoring areas in the offensive zone and can flat-out shoot. He’s not the Penguins’ most talented prospect, but he’s definitely 1217384 Pittsburgh Penguins FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Brandon Tanev, Kasperi Kapanen and Jeff Carter

The Penguins might be willing to play a game of chicken with Seattle and Which players should the Penguins protect? Three Post-Gazette staffers assume the Kraken will not select a 36-year-old who has just one year play GM remaining on his contract. In fact, I’d expect them to take this bet and leave Carter exposed. But if I’m playing GM? That’s too big of a gamble now that we know Evgeni Malkin underwent significant offseason knee surgery that will force him to miss the beginning of the season. Who Matt Vensel knows when Malkin will actually return? Who knows how effective he’ll be 7/15/2021 at 35 with a wonky wheel and a disrupted offseason program? The Penguins need a reliable insurance policy. Carter is exactly that. Carter fit in seamlessly in the dressing room after he was acquired at the deadline and made his presence felt on the ice, too, scoring 13 goals in Ron Hextall has been mum about which Penguins he plans to protect in 20 games, including playoffs. next Wednesday’s expansion draft. We have educated guesses but won’t officially find out until the weekend, after teams must formally submit their DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Mike Matheson protected lists to the new Seattle Kraken and the rest of the league. There’s an argument to be made that the Penguins should leave both In the meantime, we decided we would steal Hextall’s comfy GM chair for Pettersson and Matheson exposed and try to entice Seattle to take one a moment, kick back our feet, swivel around a little bit and share which of those long, expensive contracts off their hands. However, the way the players we would protect if was crazy enough to let us run Penguins’ speed-oriented system highlighted Matheson’s strengths the team. makes him a player that I wouldn’t want to lose for nothing.

Who’s we? Post-Gazette beat reporters Matt Vensel and Mike DeFabo GOALIE: Tristan Jarry and columnist Ron Cook, game-day regulars over at PPG Paints Arena. Jarry’s postseason performance didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. But All three over us opted to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and where will the Penguins be if Seattle selects their No. 1 netminder? I’d a goalie instead of eight overall skaters and a goalie. And while we all still try to add a goalie to challenge Jarry for starting time or possibly agreed on most of the players we would keep, there were a few even supplant him. But knowing he’s on the roster gives the team more differences. So we explained the rationale behind our personal protected options and a safety net. lists. SEATTLE SELECTS… We also projected which guy the Kraken would grab in each scenario. Teddy Blueger. Give the 26-year-old center credit. He’s almost always Finally, these protected lists are somewhat based on the personal the last player on the ice at practice, fine-tuning his game as he adds an preferences of each of us. But there is some actual intel buried in here. offensive dimension to what’s already a consistent defensive game. But So enjoy, let us know which of us is the smartest and feel free to share let’s not make him out to be more than he is. He’s still, more or less, a your lists, too. fourth-line center on a team filled with talented forwards. The Penguins would have a much-easier time replacing a fourth-line center than a Matt Vensel, Penguins beat reporter second-line center like Carter. FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Ron Cook, Post-Gazette columnist Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger and Kasperi Kapanen FORWARDS: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, The first four guys are no-brainers. Tanev and Blueger are quick calls for Kasperi Kapanen, Brandon Tanev and Teddy Blueger me, too. Tanev is a guy who can provide a spark on a random Tuesday in January and help you win playoff games in May. He is also integral to Only the final spot was difficult for me: Blueger or Jared McCann. I’m the team’s off-ice chemistry. Blueger has become an effective shutdown gambling the Kraken won’t take Jeff Carter at his advanced age even center and added 22 points in 43 games last season. The final forward though he would be a perfect leader on a young team. It would be nice if spot comes down to Kapanen and Jeff Carter. Carter is the more useful Seattle would take Jason Zucker and his inflated salary off the Penguins’ player to Pittsburgh for 2021-22, especially with Malkin out indefinitely. hands, but that isn’t going to happen. I went with Blueger over McCann But I’ll gamble that Seattle passes on the 36-year-old and I will instead because he is more qualified as a center. keep Kapanen, an imperfect middle-six winger but a tradable asset. DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Mike Matheson DEFENSEMEN: Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin and Cody Ceci The Penguins don’t have to worry about losing much on the blue line. Letang and Dumoulin are the easy ones. And young blue-liners John Matheson and Marcus Pettersson are more than expendable because of Marino and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are exempt, so no need to worry about their high salaries, but the Kraken won’t be interested in either player. It’s protecting them. No one else is a priority. Mike Matheson had a nice first good that John Marino is exempt from this draft. I see him coming back season here and fellow lefty Marcus Pettersson is well-rounded with next season and having a good year. Getting bigger and tougher on perhaps a little more room to grow. Unfortunately, both have pricey, long- defense should be Ron Hextall’s No. 1 offseason priority. Opponents go term deals that eat up too much cap room relative to their level of virtually untouched in front of the Penguins’ net. performance. Ceci is an unrestricted free agent but he is someone whom the Penguins should and will consider resigning. I’ll keep his rights, which GOALIE: Tristan Jarry could maybe be traded for a future asset if we can’t afford him. Penguins management insists it still believes in Jarry despite his playoff GOALIE: Tristan Jarry flameout. I wasn’t buying any of it until someone I trust in the organization told me that the coaches and players know the truth about Protecting Jarry is not endorsing him as my No. 1 entering 2021-22. I just Jarry – that he was injured late in the season, didn’t get to practice before don’t want to be caught without a goalie when the record screeches on the playoff series against the Islanders and lost his edge. I still have my the offseason game of musical chairs. I still hope to bring in a veteran doubts and want to see the team bring in a veteran goaltender to with some semblance of a playoff pedigree to push or potentially outright challenge Jarry for playing time. That wouldn’t be good news for Casey replace Jarry on the roster. DeSmith, who is a solid No. 2 netminder. Who knows? DeSmith might have given the Penguins a better chance against the Islanders if he SEATTLE SELECTS… hadn’t been injured. Jared McCann. I crossed my fingers that Kraken GM Ron Francis would SEATTLE SELECTS… take one of these bigger cap hits off our books. But they pass on Matheson, Pettersson and winger Jason Zucker and roll the dice on McCann. Sadly. The Penguins won the NHL’s most rugged division last McCann. The former first-rounder has speed, a wicked wrister, versatility season so you know they are going to lose a good player in the and a reasonable $2.9 million salary. The Kraken hope that the 25-year- expansion draft. That will be McCann. I will hate to see him go despite old finally puts it all together on his fourth NHL team. the fact he came up small in the postseason the past two years. I see him as a solid NHL player for many years. Mike DeFabo, Penguins beat reporter

Post Gazette LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217385 Pittsburgh Penguins the start of 2021-22, because Malkin will be eligible for long-term injury (LTI) designation if his recovery will keep him from playing in at least 10 games and missing at least 24 days.

Penguins’ 2021 offseason grades: Teddy Blueger signs 2-year deal The severity of Malkin’s injury/surgery is such that he’ll assuredly be LTI- eligible and the Penguins could temporarily use all or part of his $9.5 million cap hit to fill out a roster until his return.

By Rob Rossi Also, the Penguins will gain some cap relief when the Kraken select a player. If that player is either Mike Matheson or Marcus Pettersson, the Jul 15, 2021 Penguins would gain between $3-4 million in cap space presuming P.O. Joseph slots in as a replacement as a left-side defenseman.

Teddy Blueger is the anchor of coach Mike Sullivan’s most consistent Former GM Jim Rutherford’s final offseason figures to haunt Hextall this line over the past two seasons. He also might be that line’s lone safe bet summer. Rutherford’s decision to award defenseman Juuso Riikola a to play for the Penguins next season. two-year contract at a $1.15 million cap hit remains inexplicable for many reasons. But the Penguins can bury Riikola’s contract at a cap cost of Hard decisions face each of the NHL’s general managers with an only $25,000. They have chosen that route as of now and likely will need expansion draft looming and a presumptive full (but flat-capped) season to stay on that course to become cap compliant without ridiculously to follow. Pittsburgh GM Ron Hextall seemed to make one Wednesday exceeding the space made available by Malkin’s potential LTI status. by finalizing a new contract for Blueger. The nearly $1.2 million cap cost for defenseman Jack Johnson, who was That two-year deal buys out Blueger’s first season of unrestricted free- bought out by Rutherford last offseason, is another damaging blow to agent eligibility. Blueger will count $2.1 million against the cap, which will Hextall. Had Rutherford not re-signed Riikola and merely absorbed $1 remain at $81.5 million as per the collectively bargained agreement million annually on any possible Johnson trade, Hextall would have $3.4 between the league and players before the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. million in additional cap space going into the expansion draft.

Hextall said Thursday he did not expect to re-sign any other current That would be enough to fill out the roster. It would also have positioned players before the NHL’s roster freeze, so Blueger’s deal will suffice as him better to upgrade. the big development until the Kraken select a player from the Penguins. In his final year as GM, Rutherford can fairly be thought to have overpaid Let’s take a closer look at the likely implications of Blueger’s new contract in both term and immediate AAV on new deals for Riikola, Pettersson … (five years, $4,025,175) and their fellow defenseman John Marino (six years, $4.4 million), not to mention goalie Tristan Jarry (three years, $3.5 Expansion draft/depth chart million). He also acquired Matheson, who will count $4.825 million There is nothing that would prevent the Penguins from exposing Blueger against the cap each of the next five seasons. to Seattle for the expansion draft. The certainty that comes with his new Hextall, upon assuming the GM job in February, inherited a roster that contract would probably make him more attractive to the Kraken. But why lacked a clear-cut No. 3 center. Masterfully, Hextall traded for Carter to would Hextall re-sign Blueger a few days before the final protected list is fill that role and — for the cost of only a couple of conditional picks — due? had the Kings pick up $5.272 million cap cost. Exactly. After the playoffs, the Penguins appeared quite deep at center. Malkin’s Centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin require protection because of injury is the equivalent of losing an iceberg-sized chunk of stability at that their full no-movement clauses, and neither was asked to waive so as to pivotal position, but Hextall is basically getting Carter and Blueger for the be made available to the Kraken. Defenseman Kris Letang was not combined cost of Carter’s actual AAV. asked to alter his limited movement clause, so he’ll be among the Were he to go on the open market to make a play for a bottom-six center, Penguins’ protected players. Hextall said the Penguins will protect seven Hextall would have surely paid a steeper price than he did to re-sign forwards, three defensemen and a goalie. Blueger. The good folks at Evolving-Hockey were kind enough to provide The Penguins are probably protecting Blueger, too. There’s that not so the following comparable options for a player of Blueger’s age, little thing about the new contract and the very big thing that is Malkin’s experience and production: status after right-knee surgery in June. Hextall can only do so much to make up for Rutherford’s overreaches in The Penguins don’t know when Malkin will return to action in 2021-22. his final year running the Penguins. Adding Carter for a reduced cap-cost Jeff Carter can slide into the second-line center role during Malkin’s and keeping Blueger at the AAV he did at a minimum provided insurance absence, but that would also mean Blueger becoming the No. 3 center and in the best-case scenario — that being Malkin’s return to form at for all intents and purposes. some point next season — solidified the Penguins down the middle for at least 2021-22. Before Malkin’s surgery, it was fair to wonder if the Penguins could really afford to protect two additional centers (Carter and Blueger) in addition to But those contracts given to Riikola, Pettersson, Marino and Jarry, along Crosby and Malkin. As the protected lists deadline approaches, working with the addition of Matheson, are basically chaining to the wall a GM out how they avoid having those four centers comprise either half of their that was already handcuffed going into his first offseason with the skaters or the majority of their forwards that are protected. Penguins.

Colleague Jesse Marshall started the protect-Blueger-no-matter-what Bottom line bandwagon early this past season. He appears to have been way ahead At least Hextall didn’t blow what little good money he had available after of the curve with that stance, because Malkin’s injury and contractual the bad that was spent by Rutherford when giving a player such a status place the Penguins in a perilous position at center unless they Blueger a reasonable new contract. latch onto Blueger and at least another center-capable forward — likely Carter, but perhaps Jared McCann — when the final keeper list is due. For $2.2 million, the Penguins would be lucky to find a similar bottom-six forward that slots as a top penalty killer and has enough offensive upside Club’s protected lists will be publicly revealed Sunday. (The Athletic’s to project as a serviceable No. 3 center during Malkin’s absence. staffers took their best guess at which players the clubs they cover will lose to the Kraken in this article.) Grade this a solid B move by Hextall. The only downside is that Blueger has only really shown his best when playing on a line with wingers Salary cap Brandon Tanev and Zach Aston-Reese. The Penguins could lose Tanev The PuckPedia website has the Penguins at near $80.5 million for 20 to the Kraken and might not have the cap space to keep Aston-Reese, a players for next season. It’s possible the Penguins’ actual cap number pending restricted free agent that figures to command at least a slight differs, but PuckPedia is a highly reliable resource for the general public. raise on his previous $1 million cap hit.

Obviously, the Penguins cannot fill out a 23-player roster with just about Can’t keep everyone in a cap system. If circumstances he inherited made $1 million in available cap space. Nor would they need to, at least not at it so that Hextall could only keep one of those three forwards that made up Sullivan’s go-to defensive line the past two seasons, a strong argument can be made that Blueger was the Penguins can least afford to play without next season.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217386 Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday, which is spurring the NHL trade market to “go to crazy,” according to one GM in our weekly “Off the Record” column.

PHN has debated which players the Penguins will protect, but the NHL Update: Source Confirms Penguins Serious Interest in Hyman trade winds can change plans, and a Penguins trade for Hyman may quickly change the Penguins’ plans. Brace for a surprise.

Hyman, 29, scored 21 goals in consecutive seasons before dipping to 18 Published 8 hours ago on July 15, 2021 in 43 games last season. His hit total averages more than one hit per game, and his totals in the last two 82-game schedules were 117 and By Dan Kingerski 102, respectively.

The Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Detroit Red Wings are also The NHL trade rumors stirred on Thursday morning with reports from teams that are reportedly interested. multiple Canadian outlets, first by TSN’s Daren Dreger. The Toronto

Maple Leafs granted right-winger Zach Hyman permission to seek a rights trade rather than lose him to free agency. It essentially signaled a Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 white flag in negotiations but opened the door for a pig-pile of teams, including the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s a reverse sign-and-trade. The player will likely be traded but not before negotiating a new contract with the acquiring team.

PHN can confirm the Penguins are among those teams vying for Hyman’s rights. Hyman will be an unrestricted free agent on July 28 if he is not signed by then. One benefit to the trade-and-sign deal, the acquiring team has the option to give an eight-year contract if inked before July 28, rather than the seven-year max contract of UFAs.

Building off the earlier reports and the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGrann, who first reported the Penguins’ interest on Thursday afternoon, PHN can also confirm the Penguins made more than a casual pass.

When asked if the Penguins were serious in their pursuit, the source with direct knowledge of the Penguins’ communications confirmed the Penguins’ earnest intent, “Yes…”

We’re unable to provide the rest of the quote without compromising the source.

Color me surprised.

The current process allows teams to discuss contract numbers with Hyman and his agent Todd Reynolds. The acquiring team must then complete the trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The early reports on Thursday, including from Dreger of TSN, rattled off the same teams: the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames.

Later Thursday afternoon McGrann reported the Penguins were among nearly 10 teams that called. However, confirming the Penguins’ serious interest is another step forward and the first time the Penguins have been credibly linked to trade activity this week.

PHN cannot confirm if the Pittsburgh Penguins have yet made a formal offer to Toronto for Hyman’s rights or to Hyman on salary.

Penguins Situation

After signing Teddy Blueger on Wednesday, the Penguins are about $1 million over the salary cap, according to PuckPedia.com.

McGrann reported that at least one interested team offered Hyman’s camp a contract for more than $5 million per season, with an eight-year term. That raises the stakes for everyone.

Earlier, I gave this quote to PHN staff writer Chase Wilpert for the initial story, but the Penguins may prove me wrong.

“I can’t see it. Hyman’s cost will be above $5 million per season, and he wants eight years…He’s a right-winger, so you’re signing him to be a third liner or replacing Bryan Rust with a player who is older and not as good. Hyman is a gritty, net-front guy who would fit well right now, but he’s also a complimentary player, and an eight-year deal doesn’t sound like GM Ron Hextall’s cup of tea.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins top-nine is currently full at RW, including Bryan Rust, Kasperi Kapanen, Brandon Tanev. Acquiring the 6-foot-1, 211- pound Hyman would certainly add some truculence, but it would also raise a few questions about the future of other Penguins’ RWs.

The expansion draft list is due by Saturday at 5 p.m. The list will be made public on Sunday. The Seattle Kraken expansion draft is next 1217387 Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Among Teams that Called about Zach Hyman, Report

Published 10 hours ago on July 15, 2021

By Chase Wilpert

An odd year has spawned another unique twist. The first report broke earlier Thursday morning that the Toronto Maple Leafs gave gritty winger Zach Hyman permission to seek shelter on the NHL trade market ahead of his pending free agency on July 28.

UPDATE: A source with direct knowledge of the Penguins communications confirmed to PHN the Penguins are serious players for Hyman.

Most reports, including from Daren Dreger of TSN and Andy Strickland in St. Louis rattled off the same teams: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and the St. Louis Blues.

However, later Thursday afternoon the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran unearthed yet another team on the NHL trade market which was interested in the trade-and-sign. Yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins made their first appearence in official NHL trade rumors this week.

Read the full report from McGrann and the Toronto Star here.

Now, before you get too excited, PHN Editor-in-Chief Dan Kingerski offered this analysis:

“I can’t see it. Hyman’s cost will be above $5 million per season and he wants eight years,” Kingerski analyzed. “He’s a right-winger, so you’re signing him to be a third liner, or replacing Bryan Rust with a player who is older and not as good. Hyman is a gritty, net-front guy who would fit well, right now, but he’s also a complimentary player and an eight-year deal doesn’t sound like GM Ron Hextall’s cup of tea.”

According to McGrann, offers have already rolled in for Zach Hyman which are over $5 million per season.

Other Hockey Now cities including the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Detroit Red Wings also kicking the tires, according to Hyman’s agent Todd Reynolds.

PHN efforted to reach Reynolds before publishing but was unsuccessful.

Hyman, 29, is 6-foot-1, 211 pounds and chipped in 15 goals and 33 points in 43 games last season. His four-year, $9 million contract expires on July 28. The RW scored 21 goals in successive seasons, in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

He also had ACL surgery in the summer of 2018. He tore his knee in Game 4 of the 2018 Round One series against Boston, but played 71 games in the 2018-19 season.

Toronto coaches have slid Hyman up and down the talented Maple Leafs lineup throughout his six-year career. Those coaches include Mike Babcock and .

Eight-years at more than $5 million would seem too rich for the Penguins, especially the double cost of spending an asset just to get the player. However, Hyman does fit ’s “truculence” style, though Hyman’s start in Toronto did not overlap with Burke’s tenure as the Maple Leafs GM.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217388 Pittsburgh Penguins He would be a significant addition for the Penguins. His age, style, and talents are what the Penguins are looking for if they move to a more physical style.

Suter, Landeskog & More; the Penguins Chances & Needs for Pending The Penguins and a dozen other teams, too. UFAs If Jeff Skinner was worth $9 million, what is Landeskog worth? Sorry, Buffalo readers. Landeskog will probably get more than $50 million on a six-year contract. There are a few teams in need of established leaders Published 18 hours ago on July 15, 2021 who can score. Hello Detroit, Ottawa, and New Jersey. Even the Boston Bruins, who have been big-game hunting for a year, have the cash to By Dan Kingerski spend–and may lose Taylor Hall, which creates an immediate LW need.

Last season, Landeskog scored 52 points, including 20 goals. He’s legit. It does not appear the Pittsburgh Penguins will be big players or even The Penguins would have to clear space on the left wing for him, but they dabblers on the NHL trade scene leading up to Saturday at 5 p.m. as the surely must consider it. However, easier said than done. The Penguins roster lockdowns begin when the expansion draft protection lists are would need to unload at least two of three: Jason Zucker, Marcus submitted. Instead, the Pittsburgh Penguins could make a few moves Pettersson, or Jake Guentzel. towards free agency as a few new names on the list shook up the scene. Penguins chances: 5%. That unexpected name on everyone’s list is soon-to-be-former Minnesota 3. Brian Elliott Wild defenseman, Ryan Suter. It seems the fanbases across the league are clamoring for him, and a few teams are already lining up, too. Our What?! Follow me here. This is also a palate cleanser. Elliott has Adrian Dater had the first scoop that the Washington Capitals and LA slumped behind the porous Philadelphia Flyers defense. He has playoff Kings first pulled a number and stepped in line. experience and has been a 1A guy for a few years.

Side note–the number of NHL trade rumor scoops from the Off the His save percentage sank to .889 last season. Philadelphia GM Chuck Record columns and the Hockey Now fam have been very underrated. Fletcher, among many admonishments, included his goaltending. I’m not sure everyone realizes how plugged in this “little” network is becoming. “I think there’s been a lot of focus on the blue line. To me, the number one priority is our goals-against. It was just ridiculous how many goals we There are more than a couple of surprise pending free agents, from Suter gave up last year. That goes back to everything,” Fletcher said on to Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. Penguins Tuesday. “(It) goes back to the coaches having a great training camp and defenseman Cody Ceci is floating out there, too. However, all sides have using the practice time early in the season to reinforce our systems and been mum on any talks, progress, or interest. our structures. It’s our goaltenders playing better; it’s our defensemen playing better; it’s our forwards managing the puck better.” For now, we’re focusing on right-side defensemen, left-wingers, and goalies. The Penguins are stable at RW and C. No, the Pittsburgh Penguins should not go after Elliott to be a 1A or even a backup goalie. At 36-years-old, Elliott’s prospects are probably slim. NHL Free Agents and the Pittsburgh Penguins Chances What a perfect No. 3 to stash with the WBS Penguins. If DeSmith has a 1. Ryan Suter, LHD nagging lower-body injury or starting goalie Tristan Jarry suffers an injury, then Elliott is NHL capable. The Penguins might need a left-handed defenseman. Suter is a lefty. He’s steady with some offensive chops, though not physical. After The Penguins would be hard-pressed to find a better option for a third scoring between 47 and 51 points for the last three seasons, Suter goalie. Remember Maxime Lagace watching from the bench as Jarry dipped to just 19 points (3-16-19) last season and hung up on Minnesota struggled in the playoffs? Wild GM Bill Guerin when Guerin called to inform Suter he would be We project Elliott on a one-year, $750,000 to $1 million deal, which would bought out. fit in the minors, too. Suter had four years remaining on his massive 13-year deal. It makes sense for the Penguins to explore this. Pittsburgh Penguins GM Can he help the Penguins? You bet. Ron Hextall was the boss who signed Elliott to the Flyers.

Can the Penguins afford him? Hell no. Penguins Chances: 25%.

Suter’s immediate demand, combined with scoring 256 points over the 4. last six seasons (#sixseasonsandamovie), will net him another payday. He is a tough right-side defenseman who can move reasonably well and He won’t make $7.5 million like he was, but he will have his pick of has a recent checkered past on the ice to keep his cost down. suitors, and he should command north of $5 million. He’ll get even more money per year on a shorter deal. Perfect!

Suter, 36, will get paid and have his choice of some interesting locations. Montour was one of the many players to get swallowed whole by the The Penguins are over the salary cap by $1 million after the Teddy stink-itude of the Buffalo Sabres. The misery dragged everyone down Blueger contract on Wednesday. The Penguins will need to shed until became the head coach and flung open the barn doors significant salary to be a contender–two players, maybe three. with a speed game. But it was too late to salvage the season. Or reverse the whammy on the org. I don’t see it. The 27-year-old defenseman played solidly in the second half of the Penguins Chance: 1%. season with Buffalo and the Florida Panthers. He was rough on the UPDATE: We incorrectly identified Suter as a RHD, and corrected the Penguins forwards, which should add to his value, too. story. Montour will appear on a few of our coming lists, not because we’re fans, 2. Gabriel Landeskog, LW but because he fills a few needs. A little birdy also told us the Florida Panthers were duly impressed, so there will be some competition for his Landeskog, 28, wants a payday. The Colorado Avalanche need a team- services. He’ll make less than $4 million, but not too much less. friendly deal. This isn’t shaping up to be an ’80s buddy cop movie. The Penguins will need some cash. Let’s see who Seattle likes. Landeskog is/was the Colorado captain but disappeared in the Round Two loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Landeskog is a point-per-game Penguins Chances: 33%. LW with some size (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and can play stiff on the wall 5. Keith Yandle but is not necessarily a banger. News broke Thursday morning that Florida would buy out Keith Yandle. He doesn’t fit any of the Penguins criteria. Knock us over with a feather if this ever came to pass.

Several more potential RHDs will hit the market. But these are the recent developments. Also, Adam Larsson still hasn’t signed in Edmonton. That’s something to keep an eye on, even as all reports, local and national, indicated he was close to a contract last month.

Some Seattle shenanigans, or is the player holding firm?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217389 Pittsburgh Penguins Florida: This one genuinely surprised me. The Florida Panthers did NOT ask Keith Yandle to waive his NMC

Colorado: Another scoop for CHN. His agent confirmed–heavy fourth line Whirlwind of News, Rumors, Action before Expansion Draft center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will hit free agency on July 28.

NYI: Want to see the Islanders’ new arena? Our staff got the tour, and it’s surely NOT the Coliseum. Published 21 hours ago on July 15, 2021 Washington: For our prospect watchers and WBS Penguins fans, you’ve By Dan Kingerski seen Washington Capitals prospect Beck Malenstyn. He’s back from an Achilles injury, but can he challenge for a roster spot?

San Jose Podcast: Trade, Marry, Expose? Brent Burns, Evander Kane, If you missed a few news items on Wednesday, you’re not alone. and Kevin Labanc. If you’re a hockey podcast nut, this is fun. Keeping up with the pace of the action was like watching a steam locomotive become a bullet train. The Pittsburgh Penguins locked up Teddy Blueger, the Montreal Canadiens might lose Shea Weber permanently, teams are lining up for Ryan Suter, and everyone on the Pittsburgh Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 NHL trade market or in free agency wants to be a Maple Leaf, don’t ya know?

For some reason, my opening line has me singing the Simpson’s “Monorail” song. Nothing like a 25-year-old cartoon reference to draw the youngsters.

To the Penguins Hockey!

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Should the Pittsburgh Penguins protect Jeff Carter in the expansion draft? The PHN debate series begins — Me. vs. 93-7 the Fan’s Chris Mack. And take the reader poll, too. Protect Carter, yeah or nay?

The NHL and NHLPA will contribute to the Penguins diversity efforts. It’s about time we break the hockey barriers.

And–the Penguins inked Teddy Blueger to a two-year, $4.4 million deal, but no mention of expansion protection.

NHL Trade Rumors

Montreal Gazette: Renaud Lavoie of RSN (French sports TV network) broke the bombshell that rattled the Canadiens fanbase. Shea Weber will miss next season and more due to serious foot and ankle injuries.

Weber will not be protected in the expansion draft. The Athletic also reported Jeff Skinner, who has six years remaining on his massive contract, waived his NMC so the Buffalo Sabres could protect an eighth forward (who doesn’t make $9 million on the fourth line).

Sportsnet podcast: Bill Guerin hopped on Fan590 in Toronto to chat. He didn’t exactly quell the NHL trade chatter.

TSN Insiders: Are Guerin and the Wild ready to pursue Eichel, or maybe Johansen, or other No. 1 centers on the NHL trade market? The Nashville Predators are active, but can they protect four, or even five, of their defensemen?

Not sure if you saw ace reporter Michael Russo’s tweet on Tuesday night–when Guerin called Suter to inform him of the buyout, Suter promptly hung up on him.

NHL Free Agency, Expansion Draft & National Hockey Now Network Scoops

Philly: Suter is in HIGH demand, it seems. Philadelphia Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spent a few years as the Wild GM. The Flyers need defensemen. Is this a match?

On Tuesday, our Adrian Dater (Colorado Hockey Now) broke the story that the LA Kings and Washington Capitals were first on him.

Also–Sources told the National Hockey fam that goalie Brian Elliott is likely headed towards free agency. Creative Pittsburgh Penguins fans will get why I included that. Here’s the scoop.

Detroit: Evgeny Svechnikov is the betting favorite to be the Detroit Red Wing selected by the Seattle Kraken.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Frederick Andersen are still talking. Surprisingly. But no offer has been made yet.

Boston: Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller retired on Wednesday after an eight-year career. Then the Boston Bruins ended some speculation and signed defenseman Brandon Carlo to a six-year deal. 1217390 San Jose Sharks

Sharks re-sign Dylan Gambrell as expansion draft plans become a bit clearer

NHL: Gambrell, a native of Washington state, could be exposed by the San Jose Sharks for the Seattle Kraken’s expansion draft next week

By CURTIS PASHELKA |PUBLISHED: July 15, 2021 at 4:13 p.m. | UPDATED: July 15, 2021 at 4:13 p.m.

SAN JOSE — The Sharks have signed forward Dylan Gambrell to a one- year, $1.1 million contract extension, officially meeting their exposure requirement for the expansion draft the Seattle Kraken will hold next week.

For the July 21 expansion draft, NHL teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters — regardless of position — and one goalie.

With the Sharks expected to protect seven forwards, they needed to expose at least two more forwards who are signed through next season and played either 40 games this past year or 70 or more games the last two years. The Sharks signed the first of those forwards, Matt Nieto, to a two-year, $1.7 million deal last month.

If the Sharks do not make any personnel changes before the expansion draft, they figure to protect Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, Kevin Labanc, Rudolfs Balcers, and newly signed Jonathan Dahlén. Balcers remains a restricted free agent.

Among their defense corps, the Sharks need to protect Erik Karlsson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic because of the no-movement clauses in their contracts, and will also likely shelter Brent Burns and expose Radim Simek. Among their goalies, the Sharks can choose to protect either Martin Jones or Josef Korenar.

Other forwards who are candidates to be exposed to Seattle besides Gambrell and Nieto include Ryan Donato, Jayden Halbgewachs, and Alex True, all of whom are pending RFAs.

Gambrell, the Sharks’ second-round draft pick in 2016 out of the University of Denver, could make sense for the Kraken, if only from a geographic standpoint. Gambrell is from Bonney Lake, Washington, roughly a 40-mile drive south of Seattle, and is one of only five active NHL players from the state.

This season, Gambrell, playing mainly as the Sharks’ third-line center, had 12 points in 49 games and led all San Jose forwards in shorthanded time on ice (111:22). He has 23 points in 110 NHL games.

“Dylan appeared in his first full-time role last season with us and showed he is a reliable player,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said in a statement. “He played in a lot of different situations and utilized his speed to be an effective player.”

If Gambrell, who turns 25 next month, returns to the Sharks, he’ll likely compete to be the team’s fourth-line center. Besides searching for goaltending help, Wilson is in the market for a third-line centerman who can chip in offensively and take some of the defensive load away from Couture and Hertl.

San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217391 San Jose Sharks

Sharks have same Cup odds as team currently without players

BY BRIAN WITT

The Sharks have been a bad hockey team the last two seasons.

They're determined to be much better in 2021-22, dead-set on getting back to the playoffs, but it's difficult to see that happening without some serious roster upheaval this offseason.

The problem is, San Jose is very restricted in its ability to overhaul the composition of the roster. Most of the larger salaries are unmovable or close, and the Sharks don't have much in the way of young NHL-ready players who could bring back a significant return in a trade. So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they rank near the bottom of the league in terms of 2021-22 Stanley Cup Champion odds.

The Sharks are plus-10,000 to win the Stanley Cup next season on PointsBet, meaning that a $100 bet would pay out $10,100. Only seven other teams have worse odds.

Of the two NHL teams that have identical odds to the Sharks', one doesn't even have anything resembling a full roster at this point. That team, of course, is the Seattle Kraken, who will build out their roster via the Expansion Draft later this month.

That's not exactly what you would call a vote of confidence in San Jose. If the Sharks' odds are going to improve before the start of next season, it's going to be a busy couple of months.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217392 San Jose Sharks Now, obviously, it’s doubtful that all of these prognostications will fall into place, but at the very least it shows a path that could give the Sharks some options to add down the middle when free agency opens on July 28. Sharks want to sign a veteran center, but will they have the cap space? Who are the realistic targets? So, who is a realistic free-agent target to help fill out the forward group?

First, teams in the midst of a “reset” don’t go big-game hunting. The last thing the Sharks need right now is to gamble on another long-term By Kevin Kurz Jul 15, 2021 contract that may or may not pan out. And, let’s face it, the Sharks probably aren’t that appealing right now to players who have the ability to

choose where they want to play next. It’s probably not sensible to No look ahead to free agency can be done without first analyzing a envision free-agent centermen like David Krejci, Phil Danault or Blake team’s salary cap situation. That’s particularly true with the Sharks, who Coleman landing in San Jose, for example. have so many expensive contracts that probably can’t be moved, but In other words, keep expectations in check in the coming weeks. who are also in desperate need of more effective depth pieces and goaltending after a second straight disappointing season. Still, looking at colleague Dom Luszczyszyn’s list of the top free agents, there is a decent crop of potential third-line centers available who have In his end-of-season media availability, Sharks general manager Doug experience and could give the Sharks much better depth than they’ve Wilson strongly suggested that the team will have space available under had lately. According to a source, the Sharks are likely to target a more the $81.5 million limit to alter and therefore hopefully improve the roster. veteran player for this role, as the team attempts — for the third straight “We feel comfortable with the ability for us to add the things we need to season — to integrate some of its younger, scoring wingers into the add — we can certainly do that,” Wilson said on May 12. “I’m not sure lineup. They’re more likely to acquire this type of player via free agency how you guys (the media) look at (the salary cap) or analyze it, but we’ll rather than in a trade. be in a good position.” Potential third line center targets He continued: “When you acquire people, you’ve got to have young players, draft picks and cap space. We have those three things that I think will enable us to be able to add to this team between now and 33 October.” MIN Looking at and analyzing the salary cap always begins with a quick glance at the venerable website Cap Friendly. It currently reads that the 55 Sharks have $71.125 million committed to 15 players. That leaves just 10 $10.375 million in space to fill out the roster. Not ideal. 16 But let’s make some educated guesses about how that cap number could become more flexible. A buyout of Martin Jones, which right now seems Derick Brassard to be the likeliest outcome, would add approximately $3.83 million in room. 33

Let’s also remove Radim Simek and his $2.25 million salary. There’s a ARI chance that Simek could get claimed by Seattle in the expansion draft, 53 but even if he doesn’t, there’s a good chance he will be somewhere else by the start of next season because he’s currently being shopped. 8

Ryan Donato won’t be qualified as a restricted free agent even if he’s not 12 a future Kraken. I don’t expect the Sharks to re-sign pending unrestricted free agents Patrick Marleau, Kurtis Gabriel or Marcus Sorensen, either. Casey Cizikas None of those decisions saves the team any money from its current 30 bottom line, however. NYI A Kevin Labanc trade sure does, though. Labanc is set to begin the second year of the four-year, $18.9 million deal he signed last summer. 56 That equates to a $4.725 salary cap hit, which may seem to some a bit inflated for a player of his caliber. But for argument’s sake, let’s say 7 Labanc gets dealt without the Sharks retaining any of that money, 7 perhaps as part of a deal for a new goalie. Mikael Granlund Now, who needs to be added? Rudolfs Balcers is a pending restricted free agent, and after he proved to be a pleasant surprise, a two-year deal 29 for approximately $3 million (with a $1.5 million cap hit) seems NSH reasonable. Matt Nieto isn’t included in Cap Friendy’s current rundown, but he re-signed a two-year extension on June 21 for a reasonable 51 $850,000 annual cap hit. Prospect winger Jonathan Dahlen is also on a one-way deal at $750,000, so he’s on the roster. Noah Gregor is still a 13 player who the organization likes, so we’ll re-sign the pending restricted 14 free agent for approximately $800,000 and give him a spot in the opening night lineup. Derek Ryan

Of course, the Jones buyout leaves the team with two openings in goal, 34 because if that happens, it’s more likely that the Sharks will add two experienced goalies rather than rely upon prospects Josef Korenar or CGY Alexei Melnichuk as the backup. Let’s allocate $4.5 million toward a new 43 starter and a new No. 2. We’ll also plug one of Dylan Gambrell or Alex True in as the fourth-line center for $1 million even. 2

So, where does that leave us after some quick back-of-the-napkin math? 11 Approximately $12 million under the cap with 19 players signed, including that new TBD goalie tandem. 35 WPG

56

13

16

Derek Stepan

31

OTT

20

1

5

Brandon Sutter

32

VAN

43

9

3

Travis Zajac

36

NJ/NYI

46

8

12

Nick Bonino could be an option. A sixth-round pick of the Sharks in 2007, the 33-year-old posted 26 points in 55 games with Minnesota last season and consistently has been a strong depth piece on some very good teams throughout his career, including the Pittsburgh club that beat the Sharks in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

The New York Islanders’ depth has been the envy of the NHL for some time. One of their key depth centers, Casey Cizikas, is a pending unrestricted free agent. The 30-year-old doesn’t light up the scoreboard — he had 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 55 games with New York last season — but he’s a gritty player who can kill penalties and who consistently works his butt off. That element has been missing too often on the Sharks in each of the past two seasons.

Paul Stastny, 35, is also potentially looking for a new home after spending last season in Winnipeg, where he posted 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 56 games. If the Sharks are seeking more of a playmaker type, he might fit the bill. Ditto on Nashville’s Mikael Granlund, 29, after he posted 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists) in 51 games last season.

Offensively, Derek Ryan’s production was down, with just two goals and 13 points in 43 games with Calgary last season. But the 34-year-old is a respected teammate who is responsible in his own zone, has strong analytics and could give a team some decent two-way minutes on a third line.

Other veteran options include Travis Zajac, Derek Stepan, Brandon Sutter and Derick Brassard. This group seems less appealing than the names listed above, but if the Sharks don’t free up enough space, perhaps they might look at one of these guys.

Regardless, there should be at least some money available for the Sharks to add an experienced center who can give them an upgrade over Gambrell, who spent the bulk of the minutes as the third-line center last season with underwhelming results. Wilson has his work cut out for him to get the Sharks back to the playoffs next season, but the team’s salary cap situation might not be as dire as it looks currently, as long as he can make a few maneuvers.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217393 San Jose Sharks San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021

Why Did Gambrell Cost Sharks So Much?

By Sheng Peng

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed Dylan Gambrell.

Per Cap Friendly, the 24-year-old RFA has been inked to a one-year, $1.1 million dollar contract.

“Dylan appeared in his first full-time role last season with us and showed he is a reliable player,” San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson said in a press release. “He played in a lot of different situations and utilized his speed to be an effective player.”

Gambrell should fulfill the San Jose Sharks’ expansion draft exposure requirements: They must expose at least two eligible forwards, one eligible defenseman, and one eligible goalie to the Seattle Kraken.

Eligible forwards and defensemen must be under contract for the 2021- 22 season and have played 27 or more NHL games last year or at least 54 games over the past two years.

The San Jose Sharks currently have just seven forwards on their roster who meet exposure requirements: Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl, Kevin Labanc, Matt Nieto, and now, Gambrell.

San Jose Hockey Now projects that Couture, Kane, Meier, Hertl, and Labanc will be protected, along with unsigned RFA Rudolfs Balcers and prospect Jonathan Dahlen. That leaves Nieto and Gambrell to fulfill expansion requirements up front.

Defenseman Radim Simek and goaltender Martin Jones are the qualified players also expected to be exposed. Seattle may also opt to select unsigned RFA Ryan Donato.

Some are up at arms about Gambrell’s relative cost.

If you look at what this deal is paying Gambrell as a percentage of what he deserves, it will likely be one of the bigger overpayments handed out between now and the start of the 2021 season. This is at least 20% more than he reasonably deserves. Just a senseless, horrible deal. https://t.co/qKkwwWws0o

— Patrick Bacon (@TopDownHockey) July 15, 2021

I agree it’s a little bit high, but I have a theory: Besides the aforementioned forwards, RFA Donato and UFAs Marcus Sorensen and Patrick Marleau were the Sharks’ only other qualified forwards.

Remember, if the Kraken pass, you’re stuck with the player.

Donato is coming off a $1.9 million dollar contract; since the San Jose Sharks are probably moving on from him, you don’t want to be on the hook for that if Seattle doesn’t choose him. Sorensen and Marleau also don’t appear to be in San Jose’s plans, and they may not want to be back either — in case you were thinking the Sharks could sign say Sorensen to the veteran’s minimum and bury him with the Barracuda.

Doug Wilson also could’ve swung a trade for a forward outside of the organization who meets exposure demands — like the Dylan Wells deal — but that would’ve cost something too.

So Gambrell had some leverage — you could’ve played hardball with him and shaved $100K or so off his contract if you sign him later — but that wouldn’t help you with this Saturday’s protection list.

You can also apply the same theory to Nieto: He signed for two years, $1.7 million. Perhaps that extra guaranteed year was Nieto’s reward for signing early?

Also relevant to Gambrell and Nieto: I don’t think the San Jose Sharks will mind if they’re back with the organization next year too. There’s a place for both, unlike Donato, Sorensen, and Marleau.

On the other hand, “mid-August” appears to be the deadline to re-sign Balcers — the surest sign that the San Jose Sharks intend to protect the winger i.e. there’s no rush to sign him so they can expose him by this Saturday. 1217394 San Jose Sharks

LOCKED ON SHARKS / What Are Some Realistic Sharks’ Trade Values?

By JD Young

Kyle, Erik, and JD go through the list of San Jose Sharks players who we think could be traded and try to determine what their value would be. We start with Evander Kane and Brent Burns and then get into players like Alexander Barabanov (7:30), Dylan Gambrell (10:00), and Radim Simek (14:30). We finish by talking about Kevin Labanc’s value and some possible teams/trades that actually make sense for the San Jose Sharks (24:00).

San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217395 San Jose Sharks

Sheng’s Daily: 25 Players Who Could Be Traded This Off-Season

By Sheng Peng

Three NHL scouts talked about goalies that the San Jose Sharks could trade for.

Are they worried about Anton Khudobin’s struggles? Would they trust as a starter?

These questions and more are answered here:

Scouts on Khudobin, Holtby & Other Sharks Goalie Trade Targets | SJHN+

Let’s have some fun: It’s “Trade, Marry, Expose — the San Jose Sharks edition.”

Trade, Marry, Expose: San Jose Sharks Edition

IN OTHER SAN JOSE SHARKS NEWS…

I joined Boomer on the Point:

The Point w/ Boomer & @jhahn4 is LIVE 1-3p ET!

▪After buyouts, what is next for #MNWild?

▪#NHLBruins reach deal with Brandon Carlo

▪#NHL Offseason previews continue

Guests:

1:20- @VogsCaps #ALLCAPS

2:00- @Sheng_Peng #SJSharks

: https://t.co/F3l2nu3fHT pic.twitter.com/cKJHKAWZ0r

— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) July 14, 2021

A good look at all the warm-up jerseys that the San Jose Sharks wore this season:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by San Jose Sharks (@sanjosesharks)

The NHL announced the full order of the 2021 Draft. The San Jose Sharks are scheduled to pick at No. 7, 71, 103, 121, 135, 156, 167, and 199. (NHL)

Congrats, Alexei!

Dear Sharks: 45 years ago today, the Bay Area's first NHL team – The – left town after 9 seasons in Oakland. Would love a retweet for my short video on that. Thanks! https://t.co/kI6ODmW8uR

— Mark Greczmiel (@sealshockeydoc) July 15, 2021

AROUND THE NHL…

Why the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks changed their Chicago Blackhawks-like logo. (The Athletic)

Jesper Wallstedt wants to be known for more than hockey. (TSN)

25 players who could be traded this off-season. (Sportsnet)

Pat Maroon admits to denting the Stanley Cup. (WTSP)

Gabriel Landeskog “disappointed” in contract talks with Avalanche. (NHL)

San Jose Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217396 Seattle Kraken UFA goaltender Chris Driedger unless he gets moved before the expansion draft.

Weber’s health and Canadiens’ list How the NHL’s latest signings, trades and buyouts impact the Kraken Shea Weber’s uncertain future has created questions about what the expansion draft Montreal Canadiens will do ahead of the expansion draft. The 35-year- old is owed $7.857 million over the next five years, and it appears to be the sort of dynamic the Kraken would look to avoid given Weber’s By Ryan S. Clark Jul 15, 2021 contract plus his health concerns. Exposing Weber knowing that the Kraken would balk at taking him hypothetically allows the Canadiens to

protect defensemen Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry. It is Perhaps you have noticed that the NHL has been a bit busy lately one fewer potential top-four defensive option at the expansion draft. But between buyouts, contract extensions, trades and players waiving no- there is always the possibility the Kraken could take goaltender Jake movement clauses. Allen and his team-friendly $2.875 million cap hit. Or it is possible they could go in another direction by taking potential top-six forward Jonathan Blame the Seattle Kraken. Front offices throughout the league are active Drouin, should he be available. because of the July 21 chaos event that is the expansion draft. Agents, executives and players are all preparing for an event that will significantly Penguins likely must decide between Carter and Kapanen alter the NHL landscape. More moves are expected to occur leading up A move for now? A move for later? What if it was a move for both? Re- to Saturday when teams must submit their protected lists, which will be signing Teddy Blueger to a two-year deal further underlines the made public Sunday. Pittsburgh Penguins’ approach going into the expansion draft and Then comes the waiting game to see which players will be making the beyond. Penguins GM Ron Hextall has said the club will elect to take the trek to the . 7-3-1 protection route. Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have NMCs and must be protected. Protecting them along with Bleuger, Jake Until then, let’s keep track of how all the latest moves will impact the Guentzel, Jared McCann and Bryan Rust accounts for six spots. So there Kraken. is a decision to be made between Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen. Carter has one year remaining at a cut-priced $2.636 million cap hit, Graves trade means Kraken likely to take a forward from Avalanche while Kapanen has one more year left on his deal worth $3.2 million. As it stands, Ryan Graves moving to the New Jersey Devils is one of the Where it gets complicated is the fact Malkin will be out for three months most notable moves leading up to the draft. The Avalanche knew there with an injury, which places a premium on centers. Protecting Carter was a chance they could part with Graves given they could only protect gives the Penguins an experienced No. 2 center who can fill in for Malkin. so many defensemen. Sending him to the Devils means that one of the But it comes at the risk of exposing a winger in Kapanen, who could be more significant top-four defensemen is gone for the Kraken. The Devils an attractive option for the Kraken. But would the Kraken also take a look can protect Graves, Damon Severson and Jonas Siegenthaler, while at Carter? Or would the Kraken’s interests lie with forwards Brandon exposing Will Butcher. There was always a belief that Butcher could be Tanev or Jason Zucker? It is what makes Bleuger re-signing significant. available and if so, it would be a chance for the Kraken to add a puck- He gives the Penguins a third-line center who could be a second-line moving defenseman with the aim of returning him to the status that led to center should an injury arise. And the threat of another injury down the him signing a three-year extension worth $3.733 million annually. Trading middle makes McCann, who can play center, another option the Graves means the Avs can take the 7-3-1 format, considering prospects Penguins can use in those situations. Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins are exempt and Erik Johnson, who Sabres’ Skinner waives no-move clause waived his no-move clause, would not be appealing to the Kraken because of his contract with two years left on his deal at $6 million Jeff Skinner waiving his NMC allows the Buffalo Sabres to keep one annually. The expectation is Colorado will protect Andre Burakovsky, more player in what appears to be a straightforward decision. Of course, Tyson Jost, Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Skinner played under Kraken GM Ron Francis when they were with the Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen. That means the Kraken could take J.T. Carolina Hurricanes. But one of Francis’ strengths is knowing the Kraken Compher, Joonas Donskoi or pending UFA Brandon Saad. Compher has possess the financial muscle that allows them to weaponize their cap two years remaining on his deal worth $3.5 million, while Donskoi has space. Skinner is owed $9 million annually over the next six seasons and two years remaining at $3.9 million annually. adding him would alter those plans. The Athletic’s John Vogl projects that bottom-six forwards and Zemgus Girgensons could be Stars’ Khudobin no longer an option available. It is also possible the Kraken look at adding a top-four The goaltending landscape looks a little different for the Kraken now that defenseman in Colin Miller or determining if prospect defenseman Will Ben Bishop has agreed to waive his no-move clause to allow the Dallas Borgen is a possibility. Veteran forward Kyle Okposo is another option, Stars to protect Anton Khudobin. Protecting Khudobin now takes one of but he is owed $6 million over the next two years and his production has the stronger options off the table for the Kraken and gives the Stars more declined over the last few seasons. security as another option alongside Jake Oettinger, who just completed Avs’ Graves could be headed to Kraken his first full NHL season. As for Bishop? He is currently rehabbing from a knee injury he sustained during the 2019-20 season that kept him out of Getting veteran defenseman Erik Johnson to waive his NMC solves at the entire 2020-21 campaign. It is possible that Bishop could be an least one set of questions for the Colorado Avalanche. They now can option for the Kraken. Taking Bishop, however, would come with the protect Samuel Girard, Cale Makar and Devon Toews should they use concerns of adding a goaltender with something of a murky future who the 7-3-1 protection format. That means they would expose Ryan Graves remains under contract for two more years at a $4.916 million cap hit. and risk getting nothing in return for a sizable top-four defenseman who performs in a variety of roles. Opting to protect eight skaters allows the Panthers re-sign Forsling and Duclair Avs to keep Graves. But then they must determine which forward they Buying out Keith Yandle, while re-signing Gustav Forsling to a three-year expose unless they worked out a side deal with the Kraken. extension, is an indication of how the Florida Panthers are trying to align Wild clear space to protect Dumba their defense for the future while guarding themselves ahead of the expansion draft. The expectation is the Panthers will protect Aaron Buying out both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter had several implications. It Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar and Forsling. That means the Kraken could takes two players off the board who had mandatory NMCs that had to be take Radko Gudas, Markus Nutivaara or Anton Stralman. The Panthers protected. Clearing those spaces allows the Wild to protect defenseman also re-signed forward Anthony Duclair to a three-year extension, which Matt Dumba, while deliberating who gets the final forward spot. Without takes away what would have been one of the premier top-six possibilities Dumba available, the Kraken lost a player they could have instantly in the expansion draft. Forwards Sam Bennett and Alexander Wennberg slotted into a top-four role. But they could still be in play for another are in need of new contracts. Bennett is an RFA who remains under defenseman in and his $2.75 million cap hit over the next team control, while Wennberg will be a UFA. The Panthers can still two years. The Kraken could also look at forward Victor Rask or pursue protect both forwards ahead of the draft with the idea they would need to goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen instead. work faster to sign Wennberg if they want to avoid him hitting the open market. It is also possible the Kraken could be tempted to take pending Keith trade could mean Barrie becomes a free agent Duncan Keith swapping the Chicago Blackhawks for the Edmonton Oilers is the main draw. But there are dynamics around the expansion draft. Trading for Keith further implies that could be heading to the open market now that the Oilers have Keith’s $5.538 million cap hit on the books. Letting Barrie go to free agency means the Oilers are in a position to protect , Darnell Nurse and Keith, who has an NMC. That would expose William Lagesson with the understanding they could look to re-sign Adam Larsson and Oscar Klefbom remains on injured reserve. It is possible the Kraken could look at claiming Larsson and signing him to a deal, which would take that option away from the Oilers in what stands to be an active offseason.

Blackhawks have a dilemma on defense

Adding Caleb Jones means the Blackhawks not only got younger on defense but they now have another dilemma when it comes to the expansion draft. Jones is another top-six defenseman who only costs $850,000 for one more year. But he joins a group that features Calvin de Haan, Connor Murphy, Riley Stillman and Nikita Zadorov as eligible options to be exposed or protected. The Athletic’s Scott Powers reported the Blackhawks did not acquire Jones so he could be bait in an attempt to land his brother, Seth Jones, in a trade. And the Blackhawks are expected to get a deal done for Zadorov in the near future. Going with a 7-3-1 format means the Blackhawks are going to expose two defensemen. Is it possible they speak with the Kraken about a side deal? Or maybe the Blackhawks only protect three defensemen and just react to the Kraken’s decision.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217397 St Louis Blues In general, Binnington didn’t seem to get the overall defensive support last season from his teammates that he had in his first two campaigns.

The most noticeable thing statistically about Binnington’s play last Blues overflowing with goalies, but could still draft one season was a falloff in handling high-danger shots. He had a save percentage of .816 against high-danger chances, which ranked 28th among NHL goalies with at least 20 games played according to Natural Stat Trick. Jim Thomas He ranked fourth in that category in 2019-20 at .865 and sixth during the

Stanley Cup season at .866. Midway through last season, the Blues put all their eggs in Jordan BLUES GOALIES Binnington’s basket — $36 million of them to be exact in a six-year contract. Veterans/Under Contract

It was quite the commitment by Blues ownership and management. Then Jordan Binnington, Ville Husso again, they don’t win a Stanley Cup two seasons ago without him. The Blues appear fully locked in with Binnington for at least the next three Veterans/Free Agents seasons, as evidenced by a full no-trade clause in all three. Unrestricted • Jon Gillies Things change a little over the final three years, when he has a modified Top Prospects/Under Contract no-trade: Binnington can submit a no-trade list of 18 teams prior to the 2024-25 season, a 14-team list prior to 2025-26, and a 10-team list prior Colten Ellis, Joel Hofer to the final season of his contract, 2026-27. TOP GOALIES/FREE AGENCY But that’s all down the road. What that means for this season is that it should be a quiet offseason at the goalie position. Tuukka Rask, Boston

Yes, backup goalie Ville Husso will be exposed in the Seattle expansion Philipp Grubauer, Colorado draft next week. And if the Kraken have a particular liking for Husso and Frederik Andersen, Toronto make him their Blues’ pick, then general manager Doug Armstrong will be on the hunt for a backup goalie. Chris Driedger, Florida

The Blues don’t have a ready-made backup in their system beyond James Reimer, Carolina Husso, at least not for this season. Joel Hofer and Colten Ellis are prized prospects, but need seasoning in the AHL. Jon Gillies doesn’t figure to Mike Smith, Edmonton be the answer — he’s a pending unrestricted free agent anyway. TOP GOALIES/DRAFT

And once-promising Evan Fitzpatrick has fallen behind all the others, and North American rankings also has an expiring contract. Name, Team, League/Program It shouldn’t matter, because the Kraken should have tons of more proven options to choose from in the expansion draft than Husso, including Sebastian Cossa, Edmonton, WHL former Blue Jake Allen. Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia, OHL Overall, the Blues are well-stocked in prospects at the position. Their goalie group also includes two recent draft picks who have yet to sign pro Tristan Lennox, Saginaw, OHL contracts: International rankings

• Will Cranley, a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft last October, will be Name, Team, Country/League back in junior hockey this season in the Hockey League. Jesper Wallstedt, Lulea, Sweden • Vadim Zherenko, a seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, will play in Finland’s Liiga. Aleksei Kolosov, Minsk, Russia

Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Blues select another goaltender Patrik Hamrla, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic at some point in the NHL draft July 23-24. Goaltenders seem to take (Sources • CapFriendly.com; NHL Central Scouting) longer to develop, and during Armstrong’s decade-long tenure, he usually adds at least one every draft. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.16.2021 Starting with the 2011 draft, when the Blues drafted Binnington and Niklas Lundstrom, the team has selected at least one goalie in eight of 10 drafts. They also took two goalies in the 2019 draft – Hofer and Zherenko – so that makes 10 goalies drafted in the past 10 years.

A couple of the innumerable mock drafts have the Blues taking a goalie with their first-round pick, but that seems a stretch given the team’s other needs. And, of course, there’s no guarantee the Blues will have a first- round pick on July 23, given Armstrong’s trading tendencies with first- rounders.

Jesper Wallstedt is considered the top goalie in this year’s draft, and is expected to be the first goalie ever from Sweden taken in the first round.

As for Binnington, he will be looking to rebound this coming season, just like the rest of the Blues. Binnington’s goals-against average and save percentage have slipped in each of the past two seasons from his breakout Stanley Cup season of 2018-19.

He went from a 1.89 GAA that season, to 2.56 in 2019-20, and 2.65 last season. His save percentage dropped from .927 in ’18-19, to .912 in ’19- 20, and .910 this past season.

Certainly not terrible numbers the past two seasons, but not elite ones either. 1217398 St Louis Blues HTTPS://T.CO/NFJ0V68FAK — CRAIG CUSTANCE (@CRAIGCUSTANCE) JULY 15, 2021

What is the probability that Armstrong is sitting on a trade for Tarasenko All of your Vladimir Tarasenko trade questions, last-minute expansion and waiting to announce it until after the expansion draft? – Kyle W. debate and offseason options: Blues mailbag I suppose anything is possible at this point. I’m thinking, however, about

the reasons he’d do that, and the only thing I can come up with is that an By Jeremy Rutherford Jul 16, 2021 interested team would want to wait until the expansion draft passes, and they’re able to protect the players they want to protect. So in that case, the Blues would protect Tarasenko and make the deal afterward. Maybe there’s an aspect of your question I’m missing. Feel free, anyone, to It’s been a solid stretch of Vladimir Tarasenko stories at The Athletic in expound on this in the comments section and I’ll touch on it later. the last two weeks. If you had to put a number on it, what percentage of Tarasenko’s 2021- I’m sure you’ve been keeping up with news of the star winger requesting 22 money will the Blues pay? – David L. a trade from the Blues. But just in case, here’s a recap: This all depends on what type of deal the Blues make. Is Tarasenko the Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko requests a trade, per sources: Why he only Blues player involved in the trade or is it a package? Meaning, if it’s wants out, possible destinations and more one-for-one, the Blues might be retaining as much as 50 percent of Vladimir Tarasenko trade packages: What the Rangers, Islanders, Tarasenko’s salary, but if Armstrong is also parting with players, Knights, Bruins and Flyers could offer the Blues prospects or draft picks, then the GM is probably picking up less on the tab. If I had to put a number on it, not knowing what kind of deal is What I’m hearing about the Blues: Latest on Vladimir Tarasenko trade coming, I’d guess the team may end up on the hook for 30-50 percent. options, Jaden Schwartz’s contract and more Do you know if Tarasenko has Calgary on his list? Do you know anything But now it’s your turn. What questions do you have about the Tarasenko about the Matthew Tkachuk to St. Louis rumors? – Athletica A. situation? I don’t believe that Calgary is on Tarasenko’s list. As far as Tkachuk, I Let’s get to the mailbag questions … can confirm that the Blues are interested in the St. Louisan. I believe they’ve expressed that interest to Calgary. I don’t think, however, that the Note: Submitted questions edited for clarity and style. Flames are giving a lot of consideration to trading Tkachuk this summer How far back does this go with Tarasenko and the Blues? I remember unless a team wows them with an offer. Things change in a hurry in this before the Stanley Cup run that his name came up as trade material. Has league, but in the conversations I’ve had around the league, moving this been going on longer? – David M. Tkachuk is a lot more realistic after the 2021-22 season.

I would say the summer of 2020, if not a little sooner. That’s when Would a package of Tarasenko, Vince Dunn and Klim Kostin be enough Tarasenko realized that his shoulder wasn’t feeling right, and any to land Tkachuk? – John B. concerns he had from the first two surgeries became a bigger issue at In my last story, I referenced a trade package that, according to a source, that time. Then fast-forward a few months and Ryan O’Reilly was named might be enough to pique Calgary’s interest, and you have nailed it. As I the Blues’ captain, which also didn’t sit well with Tarasenko. Things was told, the components would be Tarasenko, Dunn, and either a top continued to mount from that point on. prospect or a high draft pick going to the Flames for Tkachuk. I’d The pre-Cup speculation about trading Tarasenko was more about the consider Kostin a top prospect, so to me, that would qualify. Since team not playing well and needing to do something. and Calgary isn’t on Tarasenko’s list, some have speculated that a third team others were included in that speculation. I think Tarasenko was could help facilitate the deal, but keep in mind the Flames might prefer disappointed to see his name pop up, but I don’t think that’s where this all Tarasenko. started. He played well during the Cup run, and everyone was happy at How hard is it to write articles like the one on Tarasenko wanting out? Do that time. you ever struggle with what to write or if to write? Journalism was my If Tarasenko has a 10-team list and none of them want him for the value dream job, but as I look at it now, I wonder how conflicted it could get. – Doug Armstrong really wants, what are your thoughts on Tarasenko Todd P. accepting another team outside those 10? – Ryan D. I appreciate the question because it gives me a chance to explain. Some I don’t think Tarasenko is ready to budge yet, but he may have to at people have suggested this week that reporting about Tarasenko’s trade some point. Armstrong has been exploring the trade market for some request puts the Blues in a difficult spot. I get it. But as the old cliche time, and it’s been difficult to find a match because of Tarasenko’s injury goes, I’ve got a job to do. I’ve said this before but it’s worth repeating: history and his $7.5 million AAV. I mentioned in a recent article that GMs have to make trades that uproot families, but they have to do it several of the clubs on his list are up against the salary cap. because it’s their job. So it’s not conflicting because if I didn’t report what I knew, and someone else did, I wouldn’t have this job long. There are some teams, like Boston, who are on Tarasenko’s list and have the salary-cap room at the moment. But yeah, if Armstrong can’t Any chance the Blues expose either or Torey Krug instead find a deal with one of Tarasenko’s teams, then Tarasenko will have to of Dunn? – Terry T. reconsider his options. He knows how difficult it would be to come back No chance with Faulk and I don’t believe there’s one with Krug, either. after his reasons for the trade request went public. Faulk was terrific last year, and with Colton Parayko’s back issue, Faulk Do you think it is imperative that Armstrong unloads Tarasenko before may be one of the biggest untouchables on the team. You could make a the start of free agency? Even if he trades him for 75 cents on the dollar, case for exposing Krug over Dunn, whether it’s because you want Seattle it would give Armstrong peace of mind knowing what he has to work with to take Krug or you don’t think he’d be taken and that would allow you to before free agency. – Rhonda H. protect Dunn. But the question becomes: do the Blues have a legitimate replacement for Krug next season if he’s taken? If Armstrong had his way, he’d trade Tarasenko before the NHL trade freeze on Saturday afternoon. That would mean Armstrong found a deal Any news on Dunn? Is he being traded? Is he being that suits the team. He wouldn’t have to sweeten the pot for Seattle to protected/renegotiating a deal? – Dane C. take him. Perhaps the Blues would be able to protect another forward This is hard to answer so close to this weekend’s deadline for the (Ivan Barbashev?), unless they got a forward back in a Tarasenko deal protected list because anything could happen at any moment. My guess whom they’d need to protect. And then, yes, as you said: Armstrong is the Blues will either trade Dunn before Saturday or they’ll probably lose would know what kind of budget he’d be working with when the free- him. They could make a side deal with Seattle to steer the Kraken away agent market opens on July 28. from Dunn, but I believe they want to trade him and it wouldn’t make FROM @THEATHLETICNHL: sense to pay that freight and then turn around and trade him, unless Armstrong has a trade that can’t be consummated until after the draft. THE SUMMER TRADE BIG BOARD How much medical information does Seattle get access to? Oskar a pass on a guy like Landeskog because he’s 29, but if you’re not Sundqvist’s situation is the reason I ask. – Daniel G. improving this team, then you’re potentially going to pay Faulk, Krug, Schenn, Binnington, etc., to come up short for the next few years. Yes, the Kraken have had access to medical records for all players heading into the draft. I know there’s always a level of chaos within teams in flux due to an aging core or salary cap issues, but it seems the Blues have more chaos What percentage chance would you put on the Blues (1) re-signing than usual. I’m thinking of Tarasenko’s situation, the way Alex Jaden Schwartz? (2) re-signing Tyler Bozak? (3) re-signing Mike Pietrangelo’s negotiations played out and questions about the group’s Hoffman? (4) upgrading the top-four D-men before the start of the cohesion and whether players want to be here. Is this normal? – Kevin L. season? – Aaron R. I know what you’re saying, but it happens around the league. Just off the 60 percent top of my head, Minnesota, San Jose, Nashville, Chicago, Pittsburgh, 70 percent Toronto, Boston … they’ve all had questions about their core and salary- cap in recent years. I think it seems like a little more in St. Louis because 40 percent we’ve lived it every day.

80 percent How do you feel about the current construction of the team? For all the talent and high-priced players on the roster now, I don’t know how this Would Toronto’s Zach Hyman be a better player for the Blues to sign group fits together. – Bret C. instead of Schwartz? I know Hyman’s stats are inflated playing with Auston Matthews and company, but he seems like a more consistent I agree it’s concerning. The Blues have a lot of core players who haven’t player. – Robert P. performed well the past one and a half seasons. I wouldn’t argue with somebody who said the current makeup of the team can’t compete with Hyman would be a good fit for the Blues, and they are interested, but the top teams in the league. That said, I’m willing to hold judgement to here’s the problem: there could be a bidding war for him, including teams see Armstrong’s tweaks this summer, and how the core responds in a that might trade for his rights prior to free agency. So you might have to “normal” season. give up an asset just to be the first club to talk to him, and if you do sign him, he may want a maximum eight-year deal and cost more overall It’s clear that the trend in the NHL that’s proven successful is having big, dollars than Schwartz. He’s definitely worth paying attention to, but the heavy, long-reach defensemen like the Blues had when they won the Blues will have a lot of competition. Stanley Cup. Why do you think Armstrong went the complete opposite way with his recent decisions to bring in much smaller and less physical Do you think it’s realistic to picture Gabriel Landeskog with the Blues if guys such as Faulk and Krug? – Kim S. Tarasenko is traded? – Brendan H. I’m not defending Armstrong, but hear me out. You’re right, the Blues It’s possible. I wouldn’t put the odds very high because I think Colorado won the Cup, in part, because they had a lanky defense with long sticks. will re-sign Landeskog, and even if the Avalanche, he’s going to have a Opposing coaches have told me that. I believe it was a mistake by lot of teams interested, too. But the Blues are going to be one of those Armstrong to dig in his heels in preparation for the Pietrangelo clubs making a free-agent pitch if he hits the market, and you never negotiations and trade for Faulk. I get that Armstrong had to have a plan, know. but it set a bad tone. Pietrangelo should still be with the Blues — and Who are the top three realistic left wingers available that the Blues before you tweet me, there’s blame on both sides. should target? I would love to get Landeskog, but he is going to want six But when discussing what now looks like a complete overhaul to a years minimum and probably $7 million-plus per season. What are the smaller defense, it’s hard for me to fault Armstrong. He didn’t have odds the Blues go after Blake Coleman? What kind of offer do you think it control over what happened with Jay Bouwmeester; when he traded for will take? – Brendan S. Faulk, he didn’t know he’d be bringing in Krug, which was seen as a solid Excluding Taylor Hall, who appears to be re-signing in Boston, I would signing; and Colton Parayko being hurt didn’t help. So it’s not a great rank them in this order: Landeskog, Hyman, Coleman. With Coleman, I situation, but I’d argue that this was a series of things that unfolded over think the Blues would have interest, but he’s not the top-six player the time as opposed to some sort of blueprint. other two are. Coleman, 29, is a bottom-six guy, and he may want a few I know there are more pressing issues than worrying about the past, but years of term with a $3 million AAV. He would help bring an identity to was letting Pat Maroon walk for less than $1 million the worst post-Cup the Blues’ bottom six, but they need an impact left winger in the top six. move? – Ken V. Blues owner Tom Stillman said that the team was going to spend to the There were several reasons for the Blues to move on from Maroon: they cap this year. Do you anticipate we will see more free-agent signings or had salary-cap concerns, they wanted to give their young prospects more trades this offseason? – Dustin G. playing time, and though he helped them win the Cup, the “Big Rig” was The Blues have about $17 million in cap space, according to on the downside. You could say that Tampa Bay has been an amazing CapFriendly. If Landeskog wanted to come to St. Louis, that’s one free team the past two years, and that Maroon has been a fringe contributor, agent they’d sign. But based on history, Armstrong does most of his work and that he may not have had the same effect on the Blues. But the via trade because free agency drives up prices. There’s a reason the bottom line is, what he does works, and the Blues have missed it. Blues GM has yet to buy out a contract. HOW DID PAT MAROON WIN THREE STRAIGHT STANLEY With the Zach Parise/Ryan Suter buyout bombshell, any chance the CUPS?@JOESMITHTB AND I GATHERED RESPONSES FROM Blues kick the tires on Suter? – Aaron S. BERUBE, BINNINGTON, SCHENN, PIETRANGELO, CHASE, VITALE, "DOC" EMRICK, COOPER, MCDONAGH, YAWNEY AND MORE. Armstrong would have to give Suter some thought, but I don’t think it HTTPS://T.CO/IP5XWNXQCJ #STLBLUES #TBLIGHTNING could work unless they lost Dunn in the expansion draft or maybe traded Marco Scandella. I could see something like Krug, Suter, — JEREMY RUTHERFORD (@JPRUTHERFORD) JULY 9, 2021 Dunn/Scandella, Niko Mikkola and Jake Walman. I know you didn’t ask How hot are the seats of Berube and Armstrong? – Alexander W. about Parise, but for those wondering, I don’t really see a fit. It’s going to be a big year for both. Berube will be entering the final year BREAKING NEWS: #MNWILD BUYING OUT ZACH PARISE AND of his three-year contract and Armstrong has one more year on his four- RYAN SUTER: SOURCESHTTPS://T.CO/SCFIN7URSL year deal with a club option in 2022-23. I think both have received the — MICHAEL RUSSO (@RUSSOHOCKEY) JULY 13, 2021 benefit of the doubt because of the pandemic and last year’s injuries, but ownership continues spending to the cap and this team doesn’t show any Does the front office have any reservation about handing out more improvement next season, there will be a lot of questions. money and term to guys pushing 30 given they already have three contracts (Faulk, Krug and Brayden Schenn) that may look ugly sooner Will Jake Neighbours and Scott Perunovich get an opportunity to try to rather than later? – Bryan S. earn roster spots in training camp? – Connor S.

It’s kind of a Catch-22. Once Armstrong gave out a few of those contracts Yes, both players will be in training camp and have a chance to make the (including Jordan Binnington), he made his bed. He’s put the pressure on team. winning now before those players get into their mid-30s. So you can take Is everything all set this year for having Springfield as the AHL affiliate? – Christoph O.

Yes, Springfield is 100 percent up and ready to go for next season. The schedule should be announced soon.

Do the Blues use their No. 17 pick? – Jered B.

They need to use it because they can get a much-needed quality player in their system, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Armstrong will need to use it in a deal.

The latest amateur mock draft at The Athletic had goalie Jesper Wallstedt falling to the Blues, which seems unlikely. Do you have any other more realistic picks at No. 17? – Sam T.

I believe you’re referring to the mock draft that our staff participated in, and I chose Wallstedt. I don’t think the Blues will take a goalie — they need skaters — but Wallstedt is too good to pass up at that spot. But if the netminder is gone by the time they pick, defensemen Carson Lambos and Corson Ceulemans are players who could be available.

Offer sheets are considered taboo by NHL GMs, but there are some young stars available who are restricted free agents: Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen, Elias Pettersson, Andrei Svechnikov and even . Is there any chance Armstrong uses an offer sheet to get a young star or tie up a rival team’s cap space? – Aaron S.

All great players. Their teams aren’t letting them go, so there’s no chance Armstrong makes a play for them. Don’t forget that while you’re tying up that team’s cap, you’re also tying up your own cap until that team announces whether it’s going to match. They have a week, which wouldn’t be ideal for the Blues to wait and see.

What’s the impact of the new NHL TV deal on the salary cap? Will there be a steep change in coming years as a result? – Brett C.

It won’t impact next year’s salary cap because the league and the players will be playing catch up because of the pandemic, but Stillman recently told me that the combination of the Seattle expansion fee and the new TV contract will be much-welcomed revenue in the wake of the last one and a half years.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217399 Tampa Bay Lightning David Price celebrates one of the great moments in Rays history, the Game 7 defeat of the Red Sox in the 2008 American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field.

Did the Lightning, Rays just give Tampa Bay its greatest sports day Poignance, pomp and a dude named Price converged on a magical ever? Sunday night to give the area one of its greatest sports evenings.

For history and hysteria, can any single sports day in this community top The Bucs honored fullback/folk hero Mike Alstott (forced to retire the July 7, 2021? previous year due to a neck injury) at halftime of a nationally televised 20-10 triumph against the Seahawks, which improved Tampa Bay to 5-2.

Conveniently, Jeff Garcia finished his dissection of Seattle (27-for-36, By Joey Knight 310 yards) in plenty of time for he and his teammates to watch David Price and the Rays upstage him in Game 7 of the American League

Championship Series at Tropicana Field. As sure as the shaved ice from finds its way into local beer Indeed, many Bucs were watching on locker-room TVs as Price was mugs, our community is enjoying the most glorious sports era it has ever summoned with two out, the bases loaded, and his team up by two runs known. in the bottom of the eighth inning. The 23-year-old rookie left-hander Two Stanley Cups, a Super Bowl and a World Series berth never will struck out Sox all-star J.D. Drew with a 97-mph fastball to end the threat, occur in succession on our shores again — at least not in a dizzying then retired the side in the ninth to send Tampa Bay to its first World span of nine months and change. And considering the Rays’ record and Series. Bucs’ roster, this surreal wave we’re riding may not crash any time soon. 2. Jan. 26, 2003 But for deliberation’s sake, let’s narrow our time span from eras to hours In an image that has become iconic in the bay area, Bucs coach Jon and pose the following question: What is the best sports day this area Gruden and players celebrate after Keenan McCardell's touchdown at has experienced? the end of the second quarter of Tampa Bay's 48-21 rout of the Raiders Was it July 7, when the Lightning clinched the Cup at home hours after in Super Bowl 37. the Rays pulled off a pseudo-historic doubleheader sweep at Tropicana In an image that has become iconic in the bay area, Bucs coach Jon Field? Was it one of the Bucs’ two triumphant Super Bowl Sundays? Gruden and players celebrate after Keenan McCardell's touchdown at Does another area twin bill top the list? the end of the second quarter of Tampa Bay's 48-21 rout of the Raiders We dug — and dug and dug — into our past and came up with what we in Super Bowl 37. [ Times (2003) ] deem the five most viable contenders. You won’t find a single day Subtract a USF women’s basketball loss to Louisville at the old Sun featuring a win by the Bucs, Lightning and Rays; that trifecta never has Dome, and the area’s second-greatest sports day was bereft of a home occurred. game. No matter. 5. Aug. 11, 2020 Three time zones away in San Diego, the Bucs staged a Tampa-2 Lightning center Brayden Point (21) is embraced by teammates to defensive clinic (five interceptions, three returned for touchdowns) in a celebrate his game-winning goal during the fifth overtime of Game 1 of 48-21 rout of the Raiders in Super Bowl 37. With respect to the original the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against Columbus on Rowdies (a North American Soccer League title in 1975), the triumph Aug. 19, 2020. gave this community its first major sports title.

If this wasn’t quite the most exhilarating day in local sports history, it An old-fashioned street parade (remember those?) was held two days certainly was the longest. later in downtown Tampa.

It began with the Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets opening their 1. July 7, 2021 Eastern Conference first-round series with the fourth-longest playoff Lightning players celebrate upon winning the Stanley Cup after a 1-0 contest in NHL history. Six hours and 13 minutes after the first puck was victory against the Montreal Canadiens at Amalie Arena on July 7. dropped, Brayden Point brought things to a merciful end with a goal midway through the fifth overtime for a 3-2 Tampa Bay triumph. On any other afternoon, the Rays’ doubleheader sweep of the Indians — which included five pitchers teaming for a seven-inning no-hitter in Game The marathon would serve as an extended opening chapter for the 2 — would dominate the local sports news cycle. Lightning’s Stanley Cup run. Meantime at Fenway Park, the Rays were putting the finishing touches on an 8-2 romp of the Red Sox for their But on this day, it regressed from preposterous to prelude in a few hours. fourth consecutive win. That evening, across the water at Amalie Arena, the Lightning clinched 4. Feb. 7, 2021 the franchise’s third Stanley Cup (and second in a row) with a 1-0 victory against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5. The triumph set off a Bucs coach Bruce Arians, left, hugs his wife Christine as general raucous celebration inside and outside the arena, not to mention manager Jason Licht hoists the Lombardi Trophy after the Bucs' 31-9 arguably the most memorable press conference in local sports lore (see rout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. Kucherov, Nikita). 7. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.16.2021 Bucs coach Bruce Arians, left, hugs his wife Christine as general manager Jason Licht hoists the Lombardi Trophy after the Bucs' 31-9 rout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Had the pandemic not put a mild damper on Super Bowl 55 festivities (such as limited attendance), this night may rank higher.

As it was, game MVP Tom Brady and the Bucs completed the franchise’s mesmerizing one-year transformation with a 31-9 embarrassment of the Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium, making Tampa Bay the first NFL team to win a Super Bowl on its home turf.

Problem was, only 24,835 saw the game in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Not that social-distancing guidelines did much to stifle the raucous celebration along Dale Mabry Highway afterward, or that pleasant little boat parade three days later.

3. Oct. 19, 2008 1217400 Tampa Bay Lightning I know people worry about McDonagh’s contract going forward ($6.75 million AAV through 2025-26), but the Lightning are focused on winning as many championships as they can in the next few years while their core is in their primes. McDonagh was the team’s best defensemen in Breaking down the Lightning’s expansion protected list, who they might the playoffs — he was on my Conn Smythe ballot. lose and side deals to be made “We don’t win without that guy,” coach said. McDonagh, along with Cernak, plays the toughest minutes on the blue line in a shutdown role. Those guys are harder to replace than the forwards we By Joe Smith and Ryan S. Clark Jul 16, 2021 are talking about.

Cooper and BriseBois rave about McDonagh as much as Seattle Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said he’s talked several residents talk about their famous market. times with the Seattle Kraken brass over the past week, trying to work Would the Kraken take McDonagh if he was left unprotected? out a side deal ahead of Wednesday’s expansion draft. Clark: Possibly. It would depend upon how the Kraken feel about his cap The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are one of the more situation and if that is a number they are comfortable handling for a 32- fascinating teams to watch when it comes to their protection list because, year-old. If so, then, they would get someone who is an immediate top- well, they’ve got a lot of really, really good players that should be pairing defenseman who can serve in many roles and at minimum, is available for the league’s 32nd franchise. potentially wearing an ‘A’ on his sweater. They’re a team that badly needs to clear cap space, but they’re also Selecting McDonagh, however, would come with a catch. The Kraken bullish on trying to go for a three peat. know the Lightning have cap issues. So while getting a defenseman of Can you imagine being the Kraken and having Ondrej Palat, Alex Killorn that caliber has advantages, there is a chance to take more from the and Yanni Gourde to choose from? Or rookies Ross Colton and Cal Lightning in a side deal. All of the Lightning’s previous deals have left Foote? them hurting for draft picks in those early rounds over the next two years. So it is possible the Kraken could ask for a prospect in return as a way of The question is: Do the Kraken want more? “taxing” the Lightning for helping ease those financial burdens.

We’ll find out soon as each teams’ protection lists are due Saturday and Smith: If the Lightning go with that 8-1 list I suggested, who would be the revealed Sunday. top candidates the Kraken would look at?

“It’s possible we’ll be able to broker a deal before,” BriseBois told The Clark: At that point, it could come back to need. Top-six forwards are not Athletic. “It’s also very possible that we are going to submit our list and in great supply compared to other positions. Going after Gourde, Killorn they’re going to claim a good player.” or Palat would allow the Kraken to supplement that part of their lineup. But there is also something enticing about going after cheaper and According to league sources, the Kraken’s asking prices on side deals younger options like Colton and Foote. have been “exorbitant.” Gourde, Killorn or Palat are the three that appear to be in position to Like lower-bowl tickets at the Bell Centre for the Stanley Cup Final kind make an immediate impact at a position of need. Again, it comes back to of high. Like the cost of the Lightning’s Cup ring, the “most elaborate” the fact that the Kraken are doing the Lightning “a favor” by taking a one of all time. player that would help clear cap space. What is Tampa Bay willing to pay? Smith: If the Lightning would go the 7-3-1 approach, protecting Kucherov, The Lightning gave up prospect Nikita Gusev, a second-round pick and Stamkos, Point, Cirelli, Gourde, Palat, Killorn with Hedman, Cernak, fourth rounder for the Vegas Golden Knights to take the final year of Sergachev protected on the blue line, who would Seattle take then? Jason Garrison’s contract at the last expansion draft. Assuming there’s no side deal.

What players are Tampa Bay likely to protect? What are the Kraken Clark: Hmm. McDonagh would be an option because he gives you an looking for? I teamed up with our Kraken beat writer, Ryan Clark, to instant defenseman. But, at the same time, if there is not a leverage break it all down. situation, then, why not take Foote and hurt the Lightning by letting them figure out their cap problem elsewhere while taking a young player on a Smith: So Ryan, what are you hearing in terms of the price the Kraken cheap contract who could help them? There is no denying the Kraken are are asking for when it comes to side deals here? Even more than Vegas? going to get someone substantial from the Lightning in this hypothetical. Clark: Kraken GM Ron Francis knows teams are finding ways to But it does come back to maximizing what you can get knowing this preserve cap space while trying to keep their teams intact. It is why opportunity might not present itself again. people around the league keep saying the prices he is offering for side Smith: Did Tyler Johnson’s play in the postseason change any feeling on deals are high. As for whether or not it is more than Vegas, that comes how he’s viewed in terms of the Spokane native being attractive (even if back to how these two drafts are different. The Golden Knights were it comes with a sweetener)? dealing with executives who had not done an expansion draft before and in some cases, they may have tried to do too much. This time, the flat Clark: It’s hard to say what the climate forecasts with Johnson at the salary cap is a variable GMs cannot control. And because of that, they moment. He would give them another top-nine option. It’s just that there are left trying to find solutions with a team that has oceans of cap space are a few more questions with how he could perform compared to and can be particular about what they want. Other teams like the Arizona Gourde, Killorn or Palat. If he comes along in a side deal, yes, it is $5 Coyotes and the New Jersey Devils have copious space. But as one million annually over the next three years. But what if this becomes the agent said, the Kraken are “a unicorn” when it comes to their financial next - situation in which the Kraken muscle and how they can exercise that advantage. receive two players who could play vital roles in those formative years?

Smith: There’s a very good chance the Lightning just give the Kraken Smith: I asked former NHL GM Craig Button this question today on who their list and say, “Pick one,” and move on. the Kraken should take.

They could also move one of their veteran players and get something in “If I’m Seattle, I’m taking Palat,” Button said. “I think I can trade him for a return before losing them for nothing. boat’s ransom. If another team says, ‘You get Palat, we’ll give you this.’ That’s a guy I would want. I’m doing everything I can to get Ondrej Palat. My best guess is Tampa Bay will go with an eight-skater, one goalie Any team serious about winning would be after Palat. protection format. They’d keep Nikita Kucherov (full no-move), Steven Stamkos (full no-move), Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli. And they’d be “I love Killorn. Yanni Gourde is a really strong player. But I’d go with able to keep their top four defensemen in Victor Hedman (full no move), Palat.” , Erik Cernak and Ryan McDonagh. And, of course, All right, let’s cut to the chase. goalie . Let’s do our predictions on who the Kraken will take from Tampa? Clark: Pain. Some might think that it is a joke. But Tampa is going to lose someone and it will have an impact. Losing McDonagh comes at a cost. So would Gourde, Johnson, Killorn and Palat at a time when the Lightning must manage their money. The same can be said for losing prospects like Colton or Foote in that they are cheap and talented. You could even add Jan Rutta and his team-friendly $1.3 million cap hit to that list. Sure, the Lightning are going to keep their core together. But losing those players who supplement those contributions can prove costly.

Smith: If I were the Lightning, I’d just give Seattle my list and deal with it. It’s going to hurt to lose a quality player, but at least it’s only one. I wouldn’t trade significant assets to protect everyone, as Tampa Bay doesn’t have a first, second or fourth rounder at this year’s NHL Draft. They’ve traded several prospects over the years in their Cup quest.

I think the Kraken end up taking Gourde. He’s exactly the kind of player Francis would love — competitive as hell, smart, strong skater. Same with Palat, as Button suggests. But if I were Tampa Bay, and absolutely had to move a player like Palat or Killorn, I’d trade them and receive value in return as opposed to letting Seattle just take them for free.

Heck, if I were the Kraken, I’d pick Gourde, then try to sign his linemates Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow as UFAs July 28 and call it a day. What better way to start a team than with the Cup champs’ “Grind Line.”

If they go the cheaper route, snag Ross “The Boss” Colton. At least he’ll have his Cup day Friday in his hometown of Robbinsville, N.J. first.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217401 Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois teared up Monday, talking about the physical sacrifice his players made on the way to a championship. Victor Hedman tore his meniscus in March and played more than three months with the injury, and Ryan McDonagh and How can the Buccaneers win another Super Bowl? Study how the Barclay Goodrow played with broken hands down the stretch. Kucherov Lightning pulled off another Stanley Cup win pushed through a rib fracture, and Killorn broke his fibula blocking a shot, had a rod surgically inserted into his leg and tried to play that very week.

“That’s how you win a Stanley Cup,” an emotional BriseBois said. By Greg Auman Jul 15, 2021 "THAT'S HOW YOU WIN A STANLEY CUP."

JULIEN BRISEBOIS: HTTPS://T.CO/HOEBUPHO3U We’ve said it a lot already this year: It’s hard to repeat as champs. PIC.TWITTER.COM/47PKDIW74C But if the Buccaneers are looking for inspiration for how a team with so — TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (@TBLIGHTNING) JULY 13, 2021 much of its nucleus returning can win back-to-back titles, they don’t have to go way back to Tom Brady and the 2003-04 Patriots, the last NFL And when an injury is too much to overcome and a player is sidelined, team to pull it off. They need only look across town and see the Tampa both teams have seen how well a replacement can step in and shine. Bay Lightning celebrating their second Stanley Cup championship in nine When guard Alex Cappa fractured his leg in the playoff opener at months. Washington, Aaron Stinnie had the first three starts of his NFL career in the playoffs. Much the same way, when Killorn went down in the Stanley The camaraderie between the two teams is a cool and very real thing, Cup Final, Mathieu Joseph stepped in for the first time in nearly six seeing Nikita Kucherov with the Lombardi Trophy and coach Jon Cooper weeks and played in the final four games, getting two assists along the wearing a “Gronk” T-shirt at Monday’s boat parade. Right after the way. Lightning won for the first time last September, they had a box at Raymond James Stadium, bringing the Stanley Cup to a Bucs home Getting a key player back from injury for the final stretch after getting game. Steven Stamkos wore a No. 12 Brady jersey and Alex Killorn wore there largely without him? Kucherov’s impressive return, leading all NHL the 84 that belongs to fellow Harvard grad Cameron Brate. players in playoff scoring after missing the entire regular season, was the same kind of boost the Bucs got last season when defensive tackle Vita Success inspires more success, both within your own program and all Vea returned after missing more than three months with a fractured lower over the market. The Rays, seeking a return to the World Series and leg. more, are also a big part of this. And while the Bucs are well-equipped on their own to make a run at another boat parade, there certainly are Allow younger or lesser-known players to emerge and shine lessons they can learn from what the Lightning just did, knowing NHL repeats are rare as well. Even more so than the Bucs, the Lightning have a core group of veterans who have played together in Tampa for years, building up to the THE RUSSIANS KNOW HOW TO PARTY. @86KUCHEROV WITH THE sustained success they’re currently enjoying. And those familiar names LOMBARDI TROPHY (NO, HE DIDN’T THROW IT) carried the team as expected, with Andrei Vasilevskiy and Victor Hedman PIC.TWITTER.COM/AM5HZOWGST keeping opponents in check and Kucherov and Brayden Point scoring in bunches early in the playoffs. — JOE SMITH (@JOESMITHTB) JULY 12, 2021 But in the finals against Montreal, especially at the end, Tampa Bay’s Cherish the fans being back for this run goals came from unlikely clutch scorers stepping into the spotlight. The The biggest difference in the Lightning’s second run might have been in only goal in the clinching win came from rookie Ross Colton, a rare how their faithful supporters in Tampa were a major part of it — Tampa newcomer on this team, and their final five goals in the playoffs were Bay won its first title in a COVID-mandated bubble in Edmonton, far from scored by Colton, Pat Maroon, Goodrow, Blake Coleman and Tyler fans and family. Losing in Game 4 of the finals to Montreal, while Johnson. Of those five, only Coleman was a double-digit scorer in the disappointing, allowed the Lightning to win the Stanley Cup on home ice, regular season. savoring that moment in front of fans that had packed the same arena So perhaps that’s the case for the Bucs this year. They showed flashes two nights earlier just for a watch party. of that with Scotty Miller catching a huge touchdown just before halftime The atmosphere in Amalie Arena was electric, and well-deserved for a in Green Bay, and perhaps this year it’s the Bucs’ own Tyler Johnson Lightning team that seemed to build on the energy that grew each time with an unexpected playoff moment. Perhaps it’s a rookie like first-round the attendance restrictions were loosened in the postseason. Being at pass-rusher Joe Tryon taking some of the load off Pierre-Paul and home was an advantage again, as they won their final six home games, Shaquil Barrett, allowing them to play less and do more. clinching three of their four playoff series in Tampa. Lean on an underappreciated defense The Bucs will be much the same way. Their total attendance in all of the Both the Bucs and the Lightning have ridiculous scoring depth, with 2020 regular season was 101,383 (about 14,000 per game), and while Brady throwing touchdown passes to 10 different teammates in the that was among the highest in the NFL, the Bucs will have more than that regular season and seven of those again in the playoffs. That might be in their first two games of 2021. Brady and Rob Gronkowski don’t know enough to win a title in itself, but both teams also have unsung defenses what it feels like to have a capacity crowd cheering for them at Raymond that can carry more than their share down the stretch. James, but the entire season ahead is already sold out. The Lightning gave up one goal or less in 10 of their final 13 playoff wins, And while Tampa Bay had the unprecedented thrill of winning a Super with Vasilevskiy getting in all four clinching victories. The Bucs Bowl on their home field, the Bucs had to win three road playoff games already saw some of that model in the Super Bowl, taking a prolific — at Washington, at New Orleans, at Green Bay — to get there. If the Chiefs offense and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and holding them to upcoming season goes as expected, Tampa Bay will win the NFC South, nine points and no touchdowns. and that means true playoff home games, maybe even a bye, the well- worn path that Brady took to his Super Bowls with the Patriots. For the Bucs this fall, the defense might be the side more likely to take a big step forward, with a young secondary getting another year under its In New England, Brady was just 4-4 on the road in the playoffs, almost belt and the defensive front getting a full season with Vea healthy. getting as many wins in one season in Tampa. But at home, he’s 20-4 in Tampa Bay’s offensive stars are well known, but this could be a season his career, so if the Bucs can set him up that way, fans in Tampa will get where Vea, linebacker Devin White, safety Antoine Winfield and to pack the house with a real expectation of winning in January. cornerback Carlton Davis grab more of the spotlight. Inspire teammates with toughness and sacrifice As much as Brady gets the national headlines, he’ll need that defense to The Bucs knew this one already of course, with safety Jordan Whitehead be as strong if not better if the Bucs are to win another Super Bowl, tearing the labrum in his shoulder upending a Packers running back in potentially against the Chiefs again with a healthier offensive line to the NFC Championship Game, then playing through the injury in the protect Mahomes this time around. Super Bowl, much like Brady and Jason Pierre-Paul with their knees and Be motivated by the ‘last day of school’ mentality other injuries that required offseason surgery. As much as both teams were able to bring back from their first championship rosters, the Lightning were keenly aware in the Stanley Cup Final that they would not be as fortunate this offseason to keep the band together.

Cooper said it felt like the last day of school, a final chance to enjoy something special knowing some would be elsewhere next year, with inevitable losses to Seattle’s expansion draft and the economic reality of the salary cap. So even for players who know they have long careers in Tampa ahead of them, there was an urgency added to this playoff run: This is my last chance to win with some of these guys.

The Bucs pulled off some salary-cap wizardry to bring all 22 starters back for 2021, and while they’d like to do the same for 2022, it won’t be easy. Free agency will take some talents away, potentially even younger, still- emerging players, and with leaders in their 30s (and Brady at 44 in August), retirement may take a few of them after this season.

Knowing that, they can take a cue from the Lightning and use that realization as something to push for another amazing season. Last year’s Bucs had the drive to make the playoffs for the first time in their careers, in 13 years as a franchise, and replacing that motivation won’t be easy, but nobody has shown they can be driven to win multiple championships like Brady.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217402 Tampa Bay Lightning struck, of having one more Stanley Cup Final crowd in and around downtown.

When the Lightning beat the New York Islanders to reach the Stanley Tampa Bay’s tale of two titles: In 2021 Stanley Cup run, Lightning and Cup Final, this run was already considered a victory for the local community find what was missing in 2020 restaurateurs who spoke to The Athletic on the days surrounding Games 1 and 2.

David Mangione is the general manager of Hattricks, a hockey-themed By Sean Shapiro Jul 15, 2021 sports bar in Tampa, and said while he was able to have patrons during the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, this run has represented a major boom to

business that was missed. TAMPA, Fla. — Last September, as the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the “We are having a lot more exposure just to people who are downtown Stanley Cup in Edmonton, team owner Jeff Vinik was 2,800 miles away and come into the restaurant, people walking down the street and in Central Florida. wanting a quick bite or a quick beer,” Mangione said. “There are these He and his sons watched the Stanley Cup presentation from the couch in bonuses that we didn’t have last year, so it’s an exciting opportunity for Vinik’s TV room. They celebrated a bit. Calls were made. There was a us, and for all of the establishments downtown.” FaceTime speech made to the locker room. It was exciting, but it wasn’t Putting an exact financial impact on the Stanley Cup run to the local the same as being there. economy in 2021 is difficult at this point according to Rob Higgins, the The distance was felt by many with ties to the organization, as well as executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. The region is Lightning fans and businesses in the Tampa Bay area. They watched, still figuring out the losses and what was missed out on 2020, so year- some of them together, but the 2020 championship run was a television over-year numbers are wonky, and seeking an estimate or guestimation show more than an experience. on 2021 isn’t something anyone interviewed for this story was willing to do. It’s a reality that made the 2021 championship even sweeter for the team, its players and the region as a sell-out crowd counted down the “We hopefully can figure that out post-event and can look at some of the clock in a closeout game that capped a rare back-to-back Stanley Cup really indisputable factors over the next couple weeks after the Final,” victory. Higgins said. “Hotel visitation, airline flights and traffic, things like that. I think you can’t get a full (financial) picture right now.” For Vinik, there was another difference this year. He says he went into Game 5 of the Final without any assumptions. One thing that was unanimous, was the belief that the long-term impacts of Lightning making this run, combined with the other notable sports He knew his team was on the cusp of winning its second straight successes with the Buccaneers and Rays have helped the region better championship, even after a Game 4 loss in Montreal, but he had told position itself for better economic recovery in the long run. himself throughout the playoffs that any certainty of a repeat would have to wait until the final buzzer of a clinching game. Castor said the sports team’s success galvanizes a local community, while it also puts the region on a larger map and in front of a larger “Last year, from the second round on, I had a really good feeling, and I audience. The Super Bowl, where the Buccaneers became the first team think we rolled other teams easier,” Vinik said. “This year, I’d say it wasn’t to ever play and win in their home city, was the gold standard in this till the final round that I felt like it was to going to happen.” regard, but the Stanley Cup Final, Castor said, has also given the city a chance to “show off” as it’s been featured in spanning shots on national Vinik still had champagne ready and waiting in his suite for Game 5. broadcasts. When the series ended with a 1-0 Lightning victory, corks were popped and glasses were passed both within the owner’s suite and to fans sitting “Sports are the great equalizer. So I would say, as a community it’s nearby. something that every person in the community can rally around. And when you look at a city in the Sunshine State that is absolutely full of “It’s kind of a magical moment,” Vinik said. “We were thrilled to be able to rabid hockey fans — the effect that that sports can have. It places the witness this in front of our home fans and the community. And then we entire Tampa Bay area on the world stage,” Castor said. actually got to go onto the ice and enjoy the celebrations with the Cup.” And as a region, Tampa has thrived on using sports to raise its national This time, Vinik gave his congratulatory speech to the team in person. It profile, even when the local teams aren’t close to winning was quick, only about 45 seconds, before the celebrations continued championships. Since 2007, Tampa has hosted at least 16 major neutral- through the Lightning championship boat parade earlier this week. site sporting events, building a profile that includes several NCAA The stark contrast hasn’t been lost on Vinik. He recalled waiting on the championships. On the ice, Tampa hosted the NHL All-Star game in tarmac 10 months earlier for the Cup to arrive in Tampa from Edmonton. 2018 and the Frozen Four in 2012 and 2016, with plans to host the It’s also an important contrast for the Tampa Bay region, which rallied Frozen Four again in 2023. around the Lightning’s run that offered an emotional and financial lift after Add the hockey events to the Lightning success, and Tampa becomes the global hardships of 2020. the most southern place in the to potentially even get a Last Friday, members of the Lightning gathered with community seat at the table when debating the longitude and latitude of Hockeytown, members and some of Tampa’s elected officials for a photo with the USA. Stanley Cup. That debate isn’t important, but it is important to ask why Tampa found At that meeting, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor apologized to the players. success as a hockey hotbed in the American Southeast, a region Days earlier, her comments about how it wouldn’t be the worst thing if checkered with hockey struggles and failures. Tampa’s in-state neighbor, Tampa Bay lost Game 4 and could clinch at home in Game 5 went viral the Florida Panthers, are often at the butt of jokes about attendance, and became bulletin-board material in Montreal. while the Lightning ranked fifth in average attendance before the NHL was shuttered by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. “I told them that lesson learned. In the future when it came to predictions, I would stick to being the mayor and I would let them handle things on When Vinik bought the Lightning in 2010, the wheels were already in the ice,” Castor said. “It was funny though, I took so much grief for that. motion. The franchise had already won the Stanley Cup in 2004, but was But after they won, you got everybody behind me. … I didn’t get any lacking any other definition of sustained success. Even with the support until that last buzzer rang and then all of a sudden everybody’s championship, between 1992 and 2010 the Lightning won five total like, ‘yeah, we were thinking the same thing.'” playoff series. Since Vinik purchased the team the Lightning have won 17 series in 11 seasons, the team reached the conference finals or further While Castor apologized, she was simply speaking a truth that others in four times, before winning back-to-back championships in 2020 and Tampa were hoping for, whether they were willing to admit it or not. 2021.

Tampa’s Game 5 soldout crowd represented a valuation of close to $5 The championships come on the heels of the infamous 2019 first-round million for the Lightning according to sources, and local businesses felt sweep of Tampa at the hand of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That series the residual benefit, even with a threatening hurricane that never really loss, after the Lightning had won the Presidents’ Trophy, was a key moment for the franchise, Vinik said, and it was in the aftermath of that series where the Lightning avoided overreacting to what he considered a four-game anomaly.

“It was thoughtful deliberation. Why did we lose? Where could we be better? What piece are we missing?” Vinik said. “It was really crushing to lose those four games, but we took some comfort in the fact that Detroit in the mid-90s had similar heartbreak before they won two Cups in a row.”

One lesson that Vinik says he took from both Tampa’s loss to Columbus and the Red Wings of the late 90s, which won in 1997 and 1998, was that grit and toughness were still required and the Lightning had “be able to win ugly hockey games when needed.” It was also a moment that he reminded himself to trust Julien BriseBois, who added pieces like Blake Coleman and Pat Maroon to an already existing core.

It helped Tampa become just the second team in the salary-cap era to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, and put the Lightning into the conversation with the Chicago Blackhawks as one of the only dynasties since the cap was introduced.

Winning on its own can grow a fan base, but Castor points to the other more subtle community ties as the main reason the Lightning have really pushed the sport’s growth.

For starters, Vinik moved to Florida soon after buying the team. This isn’t a requirement for good ownership, but as one NHL executive put it, “it speaks volumes when you are willing to actually live in the community, and not just visit when your team is playing big games. That proximity certainly helps.”

The Lightning have also invested heavily in youth hockey initiatives in the area, while Vinik has also made a commitment to charitable causes throughout the community, donating $50,000 to a local community charity for each home game during the regular season and doubling it to $100,000 during the postseason.

“It’s easy as a community to support and root for the team already, but it’s already a bonus when someone like that is taking their own wealth and bringing it back to the community,” Castor said. “That charitable arm is huge, and that work is the real victory and the most important elements of this. His team winning Stanley Cups is just the cherry on top.”

When it comes to the business of the Lightning, Vinik is cautious when it comes to discussing the impacts of the pandemic. He’s quick to point out that an NHL franchise dealing with financial shortcomings shouldn’t register as an issue in a world where more than four million have died and hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs.

Vinik is, however, excited for the future of the franchise and a return to normalcy when it comes to sporting events, something he says he started to witness with the Stanley Cup playoffs and the eventual soldout crowd for Game 5 when Tampa clinched the Cup.

“There is pent-up demand from consumers and fans to go back to games, and no doubt that pent-up demand also relates to concerts,” Vinik said. “We are going to have a very booming event schedule for the next two to three years (at Amalie Arena) because of this. And as an owner, when it comes to gate receipts, it’s that type of trend that gives me a lot of hope as we try to move forward.”

“There are some consumers that came through this in quite good shape financially, and consumer savings is off the charts right now,” Vinik added. “So consumers are going to have money to spend for quite a period of time — that’s why I say two or three years. There’s been a lot of money spent on homes and pools and boats and things like that, so there’s going to be a shift toward services, restaurants, going to games and traveling abroad.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217403 Toronto Maple Leafs

Zach Hyman wants to stick with Maple Leafs but the offers are rolling in

By Kevin McGran Staff Reporter

At least three NHL teams have made solid offers for Zach Hyman’s services since the Maple Leafs granted the pending unrestricted free agent the right to talk with other teams, the Star has learned.

The Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are believed to be the front-runners in the Hyman sweepstakes with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings also making inquiries with agent Todd Reynolds.

The 29-year-old forward’s expressed wish is to remain a Maple Leaf and would offer the team a hometown discount so long as he could get a no- movement clause included in the new contract, opening up the opportunity of playing his entire career with Toronto.

Hyman is coming off a four-year deal that paid him an average annual salary of $2.25 million (U.S.)and had a modified no-trade clause in the final two seasons. He’s proven to be a reliable scorer and one of the league’s top forecheckers as well as a popular player among teammates.

It’s believed Hyman is looking for about $5 million a year over eight seasons to remain in Toronto. But now his camp is getting offers “north” of there, according to a source who was granted anonymity in order to speak freely about the situation.

It would appear that $5 million a year is a price Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas would be hard-pressed to match given the team’s current salary structure. The Leafs have about $9.3 million available, but need to sign at least three forwards, one defenceman and a goalie, with Frederik Andersen also on his way to free agency. That could also change if the Leafs expose and lose forward Alex Kerfoot and his $3.5-million cap hit to Seattle in the expansion draft on Wednesday.

If the Hyman camp finds a deal it wants before free agency strikes July 28, the Leafs could trade his rights and get an asset — perhaps a draft pick or a prospect — in return. But it’s a risky gambit that could walk Hyman right into signing elsewhere when the free-agent market officially opens.

Toronto Star LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217404 Toronto Maple Leafs

Leafs' Zach Hyman exit strategy taking shape with trade of his rights being explored

Lance Hornby

The Maple Leafs are determined to try and get something for Zach Hyman if the veteran forward is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Todd Reynolds, agent for the left winger, confirmed to the Toronto Sun on Thursday that he has permission from the club to explore a potential trade for Hyman’s rights prior to the opening of free agency on July 28.

If a deal elsewhere is found for the 29-year-old — and suitors are lining up — it would allow another team exclusive negotiating rights with Hyman prior to the start of the general market rush. The Leafs could get a player in return or perhaps something that improves their depleted draft stockpile.

After previous deals to add roster depth, the club is presently holding just three picks for the July 23-24 NHL entry draft, at 57th, 153rd and 185th.

It’s not a shock that Hyman’s rights are being dangled. With five solid NHL seasons on his resume — including first-line duty with all-stars Auston Matthews and — he could double his 2020-21 annual salary to between $5 million and $6 million US in a multi-year pact elsewhere. The Leafs, his hometown first choice, are currently too cap- strapped to compete when the UFA market opens

The Detroit Red Wings, near and dear to Hyman’s roots at the , have been speculated as a leading destination, though the Leafs would likely prefer Hyman end up out of the Atlantic Division, perhaps in Western Canada.

Also on Thursday, TSN’s Pierre Lebrun tweeted that the Leafs have not extended the same shopping permission to the representatives of UFA goaltender Frederik Andersen to look around before July 28.

While interest in Andersen is not anticipated to be as intense as for Hyman, it could mean the Leafs are looking at bringing him back, albeit at far less than Andersen hoped to get before his past season went downhill.

Also, the Leafs’ protected list of players for the Seattle expansion draft — either seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie or eight skaters and a goalie — is due Saturday. One of defencemen , Justin Holl or forward Alex Kerfoot are expected to be the Leaf taken, Kerfoot representing a potential cap saving of $3.5 million this season and next.

Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217405 Vegas Golden Knights

Afternoon Roundup: Trade Rumors, Buyouts and More Coming

By Dan Kingerski

It’s only mid-day, but it feels like a week’s worth of information packed into a morning of frantic buyouts, NHL trade chatter, rumors, and news. Welcome to one of the craziest weeks in NHL history as the Seattle Kraken expansion draft leads into the draft, leads into free agency in rapid-fire. And sitting above the fray but ready to pounce are the Vegas Golden Knights.

Truly, GM Kelly McCrimmon must be chuckling with the frantic moves and phone calls that are coming his way as teams effort to stash, hide and recoup assets for players.

The Roundup is a new daily feature at Vegas Hockey Now. It will be a cavalcade of the best news, rumors, and info–Not aggregated and re- written. That’s poor journalism. No, instead, we will link you to the proper sources and journalists, including the scoops and pros of the National Hockey Now network.

Share it to social media, please, and thanks.

NHL Trade Rumors, Buyouts & National Hockey Now network…

Vladimir Tarasenko. The All-Star winger with a thrice operated-on shoulder. He’s headed out of St. Louis, but where?

Philadelphia: It looks like Tarasenko put the Washington Capitals on his wish list. We knew that two days ago. Now it seems the Philadelphia Flyers are on the list, too.

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche and captain Gabriel Landeskog look like they are headed for a divorce court. Our Adrian Dater reports–the sides “are far apart.”

Florida: It was a busy day in the swamps. First, the Florida Panthers bought out defenseman Keith Yandle, who had two years left on an expensive contract.

Then, Florida used some savings to re-sign Anthony Duclair to a three- year, $9 million deal. That’s a long way from the last few offseasons when he was an afterthought. And they signed Gus Forsling to a deal. Big day for the Panthers.

Daily Faceoff: The Toronto Maple Leafs are goalie shopping. Yes, Frank Seravalli says Marc-Andre Fleury is on the list. Frederick Andersen appears to have priced himself out of Toronto–their one potential to watch is Darcy Kuemper….read on.

Sportsnet: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber was apparently hobbled through the playoffs. Imagine playing as well as he did on bad feet, ankles, and knees. Weber will miss this coming season and may not ever play again–WOW.

Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Penguins have a couple of needs. What about the free-agent defensemen like Ryan Suter, who suddenly on the market? What about Landeskog? Who fits?

NHL.com: Even teammates were surprised. Ben Bishop waived his NMC so the Dallas Stars could expose him to the Seattle Kraken.

The Buffalo Sabres also convinced Jeff Skinner to waive his NMC to be unprotected…but no one is worried.

The Tampa Bay Lightning did NOT ask Steven Stamkos to waive his NMC, so he will not be available to the Kraken.

You’re caught up, for now.

Vegas Hockey Now LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217406 Washington Capitals

Capitals release 6-game preseason schedule

BY J.J. REGAN

It may be hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, but it's already time to start thinking about hockey! The Capitals preseason schedule was released on Thursday with the slate kicking off on Sunday, Sept. 26.

The schedule consists of six games, with the Caps facing three teams in a home-and-home series. The schedule will open with Washington hosting the Boston Bruins who eliminated them from the 2021 postseason in the first round.

Here is the full schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 26 vs. Boston

Wednesday, Sept. 29 vs. New Jersey

Saturday, Oct. 2 at Philadelphia

Monday, Oct. 4 at New Jersey

Wednesday, Oct. 6 at Boston

Friday, Oct. 8 vs. Philadelphia

The schedule goes a bit deeper into October than in a normal season as the late 2021 season pushed the start of the 2021-22 season back into mid-October. The NHL still intends to play a full 82-game schedule, however, and the full schedule is expected to be released later in July.

Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217407 Washington Capitals Justin Schultz Michal Kempny

Nick Jensen Alex Ovechkin’s contract? Ryan Suter buzz?: What I’m hearing about the Capitals’ offseason Martin Fehervary

Trevor van Riemsdyk

By Tarik El-Bashir Jul 15, 2021 Malenstyn, in the meantime, figures to be in the mix for the 13th or 14th forward spot.

4. Is Ryan Suter a possibility on defense? It’s been a quiet couple of months for the Capitals as general manager Brian MacLellan and his staff have surveyed the landscape, discussed Friedman mentioned on his podcast this week that Washington could be their options and made tentative plans. one of a handful of teams interested in pursuing defenseman Ryan Suter, who was bought out by the Wild on Tuesday. Here’s what I think about But business is about to pick up — a lot — over the next couple of weeks that. The Caps like to add experienced players, particularly if they are with the expansion draft, entry draft and start of free agency set to unfold available at a bargain rate (see: Henrik Lundqvist and Zdeno Chara). But back-to-back-to-back. So buckle up. before you start penciling Suter into the next season’s lineup, take From injuries to expiring contracts, here’s some of what I’m hearing another look at earlier sections. The cap is tight and, as things stand, about the Caps’ offseason thus far: there are seven NHL defensemen under contract for next season, eight if you count Fehervary, whom MacLellan has described as ready to make 1. Waiting on the expansion draft the jump from the AHL to the big club. So a move — and potentially a significant one — likely would be needed to accommodate Suter. Most of the questions I’ve asked in recent weeks have elicited some form of “TBD” as an answer. Why? The Seattle expansion draft. What 5. Will Zdeno Chara return? MacLellan is able to do (or not do) will be influenced in large part by whom the Kraken select on July 21. If the league’s 32nd franchise plucks It’s unclear whether pending unrestricted free agent Chara is going to a player with a big contract, like, say Brenden Dillon and his $3.9 million return for a 24th NHL season. But I can say this: although the door has cap hit, that will create some maneuverability for MacLellan under a tight not been closed, as of earlier this week, it didn’t appear that there have salary cap. If the Kraken choose a player like, say, Vitek Vanecek or been substantive talks about a return. — both have cap hits smaller than $730,000 — MacLellan This makes sense, given Chara’s age (44), the team’s desire to get will have less wiggle room to operate and could be put in a position younger and the fact that Kempny is due to return and Fehervary is where he must offload a contract. To be clear, the Caps’ protected list is ready. not known; it’s not due to the league until Saturday.) 6. Will the Capitals attempt to re-sign Michael Raffl? Cap Friendly currently shows the Caps with 18 players under contract and roughly $9.5 million in cap space, and that’s before new contracts Coaches and management liked what Michael Raffl added after he was have been doled out to key free agents Alex Ovechkin and Ilya acquired from Philadelphia at the deadline in a deal that featured the Samsonov. Flyers retaining a portion of his salary. Whether the Caps attempt to re- sign the versatile 32-year-old forward will depend on several factors, It’s a puzzle, and MacLellan and his staff can’t start putting the pieces including available cap space after the expansion draft and Raffl’s ask. into place until the Kraken make their move. Raffl’s last contract, a two-year deal he inked in 2019, averaged $1.6 2. What’s up with the Alex Ovechkin contract negotiations? million per season.

Speaking of Ovechkin, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman says he can’t find 7. What’s the latest trade buzz on Evgeny Kuznetsov? anyone who doesn’t think Ovechkin’s contract is already “in the drawer.” Washington’s decision-makers were annoyed with Evgeny Kuznetsov at Well, neither can I. season’s end, and I was told earlier this offseason that the Caps would As you no doubt know by now, leaving Ovechkin unsigned for a few more listen to potential offers but needed to guard against making a move out days is a calculated move, as it will allow Washington to protect an of frustration. Given the lack of recent buzz, it’s hard not to wonder if the additional forward since the Caps’ longtime captain is not thought to be team’s stance on moving No. 92 has softened some over the past seven interested in finishing his career anywhere but Washington. (MacLellan weeks. and Co. employed a similar strategy with T.J. Oshie ahead of the Vegas 8. Coaching staff changes would be a surprise expansion draft.) The team has not announced any changes to ’s staff. At 3. Injury recovery updates this stage in the offseason — training camp is two months away — it The Caps were quite banged up by the end of the Boston series, with would be surprising if any moves were made. Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Oshie and Lars Eller limping to the 9. A Craig Anderson departure is likely finish line and Vanecek sidelined altogether. From what I’ve gathered, it doesn’t sound like any surgeries were required this offseason. So finally Among the first departures from last year’s roster was extra forward some good news on that front. Daniel Carr, who signed a one-year deal to return to Swiss team HC Lugano earlier this month. Don’t be surprised if No. 3 goalie Craig Also, the expectation is that veteran Michal Kempny and prospect Beck Anderson follows him out the door. Anderson, 40, is a soon-to-be Malenstyn, both of whom missed last season with Achilles tendon unrestricted free agent. injuries, are working out and will be good to go when training camp begins in September. 10. Expect more preparation for rookies

Where, exactly Kempny (and his $2.5 million cap hit) fit into a lineup that Because the Caps did not hold a development camp this summer, the already features Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Justin Schultz, Dillon, Nick plan is to tack a weeklong rookie camp onto the front end of training Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk — and has prospect Martin Fehervary camp. Prospects including Connor McMichael, Hendrix Lapierre and Alex knocking on the door — remains to be seen. Alexeyev, among other young players in the system, are expected to attend. Defensemen under contract next season The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 LEFT DEFENSE RIGHT DEFENSE

Dmitry Orlov

John Carlson

Brenden Dillon 1217408 Winnipeg Jets At 37 years old, there are signs that Giordano’s game is fading: Take Hailey Salvian’s assessment in Calgary, for example, that Chris Tanev and not Giordano was the Flames’ best defenceman this season. Salvian argues that Calgary’s protection list should prioritize Rasmus Andersson How Winnipeg could use the expansion draft to find its next defenceman and , with the third choice being about Giordano’s legacy versus Tanev’s current ability.

At the same time, the six-foot-one, left-shooting Giordano still scored at a By Murat Ates Jul 15, 2021 39-point pace this season. He still played top-four minutes and a big role on both special teams.

The Vegas Golden Knights made 14 trades the week of their expansion And he still provided positive results in terms of possession. draft, including four trades soon after the draft was over. In doing so, they If projecting a trade target for the Jets is about finding the perfect blend of set the foundation for four straight years of NHL success. Now, Seattle just enough cachet to be selected by Seattle, enough quality to be of will try to do the same and a team like Winnipeg should be aggressive in interest to the Jets, and enough question marks so as not to be an using the Kraken draft to fill its own needs on defence. instant must-keep for the Kraken, Giordano is a strong option. He would Seattle is looking at an extremely defence-heavy expansion draft, be a one-year stop-gap, giving Winnipeg more than just Josh Morrissey potentially loaded with former Norris Trophy winners like Mark Giordano, in terms of top-four left-handed veterans, and could move on in a year Brent Burns, and P.K. Subban along with prime-aged possession drivers when, presumably, Heinola is ready to start. like Brenden Dillon and Ryan Graves. It’s all blue sky thinking at this point but this is the type of low cost, high For those that like it old school, hitters like Nikita Zadorov and blockers quality, low consequences acquisition worth considering. like Calvin De Haan are available, too. Nick Leddy is being shopped and *I define possession impact as positive, neutral, or negative by using his consistent 40+ point production should be available. Young, analytical Evolving Hockey’s RAPM tool to summarize each player’s most recent darlings like Vince Dunn are seen as expendable, while even after its three seasons. Where a player’s impact on shot attempts and expected mid-week buyout of Ryan Suter, Minnesota won’t be able to get away goals is greater than one standard deviation above the mean, I classify with protecting 26-year-old Carson Soucy. impact as positive. When it is worse than one standard deviation below Meanwhile, the top-end forward talent projected to be available doesn’t the mean, I classify impact as negative. Everything between zero and come close. one standard deviation in either direction is classified as neutral. This is my way of ensuring that possession impacts are part of the discussion Sure, Tampa Bay is in an awkward spot, projected to lose someone like without overestimating how perfectly those impacts move from team to Yanni Gourde. In Winnipeg, there is consternation about losing Mason team — especially with defencemen. Appleton before he fully blooms into a middle-six power forward. Brent Burns But if you’re the Kraken, your route to a deep forward group is through pre-draft side deals or by making a run on defence and then wheeling Age: 36 and dealing afterwards. As Eric Duhatschek writes, Seattle’s expansion Contract: $8,000,000 (UFA 2025) draft moves could shake the NHL to its core. Usage: Top pair even strength, first unit power play, first unit penalty kill That’s where Winnipeg comes in. Production: Seven goals and 29 points in 56 games The Jets’ route towards a rebuilt defence can only come through three paths: drafting/development, free agency and trades. Possession impact: Neutral

The draft has yielded Ville Heinola, Logan Stanley and Dylan Samberg, There is a little bit of folly in considering Brent Burns for this exercise but, but it is unlikely that these three players will be entrusted with turning the as Ryan Clark writes, there is an outside chance San Jose makes him Jets back into a Cup contender this fall. available to the Kraken. (Kevin Kurz in San Jose is less inclined to think the Sharks let him go.) Free agency isn’t always kind to the Jets, although UFA signees Dylan DeMelo, Dmitry Kulikov and Nathan Beaulieu have all played substantial Let’s use Burns as a buyer-beware scenario. roles in recent years. Whereas Giordano comes with a one year cap hit of $6.75 million before Thus trades become Winnipeg’s most pressing play. becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2022, Burns carries an $8.0 million hit for four seasons. There is no amount of power-play dynamism And, while any defenceman acquired before Saturday trade freeze from Burns that could make that contract age well, especially given that immediately turns into a protection concern, that worry goes out the he tends to give up a little more than he creates at five-on-five. With so window as soon as the draft is over. In the days immediately following many options, whether via Seattle as a third party broker, free agency or the expansion draft, Seattle will try to turn excess defencemen into draft the traditional trade market, Winnipeg should be able to pick up a picks or proven forwards. defenceman without Burns’ combination of age, cost and term. Could the Jets solve their blue line issues by exploiting Seattle’s P.K. Subban projected wealth on defence? It’s difficult to project but let’s start with an assessment of who will be available — and who Seattle might be willing Age: 32 to deal. Contract: $9,000,000 (UFA 2022) A trio of former elites Usage: Second pair even strength, second unit power play, second unit Mark Giordano penalty kill

Age: 37 Production: Five goals and 19 points in 44 games

Contract: $6,750,000 (UFA 2022) Possession impact: Neutral

Usage: Top pair even strength, second unit power play, first unit penalty P.K. Subban is the third straight past-prime Norris Trophy winner on this kill list. His $9.0 million cap hit is cumbersome, although it should reduce his acquisition cost, while the big question is about just how much game Production: Nine goals and 26 points in 56 games Subban still brings to the table. Possession impact*: Positive There are analytical reasons that Subban’s -37 rating over two seasons There is a surprisingly strong case for Flames captain Mark Giordano to in New Jersey overstates the step back in his defensive game. His be made available to Seattle. It’s also easy to make a case for him as a contribution to shot quantity and quality are approximately average, player Winnipeg should pursue. according to Evolving Hockey, while a quick look at the .879 save percentage behind him suggests puck luck played a big role in his -37 He’s also available for a trade before the expansion draft, according to slide. Arthur Staple. The Islanders are prioritizing Manitoba native along with Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield, meaning there is a real risk The problem is that even an average top-four defenceman who scores at they lose Leddy to Seattle for nothing. a 35 point pace isn’t worth $9.0 million. From the Kraken’s perspective, a point-producing defenceman on an The Jets could accommodate his one year cap if they think he can play, affordable one year deal is worth considering — both to keep in Seattle with approximately $19 million in cap space and a signed roster of 14 and to peddle for forwards, high draft picks or other assets. Leddy might players (not including Bryan Little.) That said, it seems that better value be outmatched when playing the minutes of an outright number one could be found in other places. defenceman but perhaps a second-pairing, second unit power-play role Veterans for right here, right now could give him a winnable role.

Brenden Dillon For Winnipeg, the appeal is in the offence and the one year remaining on Leddy’s deal. Age: 30 Still, it’s not an ideal fit and probably only serves to remind us how good contract: $3,900,000 (UFA 2024) Pulock has been and how nice it would be to have a high-end Manitoban on the team. Usage: Second pair even strength, second unit penalty kill Nikita Zadorov Production: Two goals and 19 points in 56 games Age: 26 Possession impact: Positive Contract: RFA Brenden Dillon is quickly becoming a familiar face at The Athletic Winnipeg without ever playing for the local team. We’ve discussed Dylan Usage: Second pair even strength, second unit penalty kill DeMelo’s former partner as a trade target in 2020 and again as a UFA that same summer, but the Capitals picked Dillon up from San Jose and Production: One goal and eight points in 55 games then signed him to the $3.9 million contract he carries now. Possession impact: Neutral

So why would Washington let him go? If Chicago elects to protect Stillman over Nikita Zadorov, then Seattle’s According to Tarek El-Bashir, the Capitals’ protection list will likely options from Chicago come down to De Haan, Zadorov, forwards like consist of John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov and Justin Schultz, meaning Dillon Ryan Carpenter, and goaltender Malcolm Subban. — despite his quality results in a top-four, penalty-killing role — may be If so, then I could see the hard-hitting, 6-foot-6 Russian left-hander being available for the taking. a solid combination of appealing enough to pick and expendable enough If I’m Winnipeg, a 6-foot-4, left shooting defenceman who keeps a clean to deal. I believe the Jets were at least mildly interested in Zadorov’s defensive zone and is signed to a reasonable contract for three more services at the trade deadline this year, likely enticed by his size and seasons is highly intriguing. bruising on-ice demeanour.

But why would Seattle let him go? That one I can’t answer. Zadorov wouldn’t fix the Jets’ breakout issues or contribute to Winnipeg’s offence but he does keep a mostly clean defensive zone. He’s a Calvin De Haan (Mike Dinovo / USA Today) restricted free agent this summer and presumably wouldn’t cost much more than the $3.2 million he earned last season. Calvin de Haan Carson Soucy Age: 30 Age: 26 Contract: $4,550,000 (UFA 2022) contract: $2,750,000 (UFA 2023) Usage: Second pair even strength, second unit penalty kill Usage: Third pair even strength, third unit penalty kill Production: One goal and 10 points in 44 games Production: One goal and 17 points in 50 games Possession impact: Positive Possession impact: Neutral Chicago’s protection list on defence is a moving target. Even after the Blackhawks traded Duncan Keith to Edmonton for Caleb Jones earlier Minnesota tripped all over itself to protect all of Jared Spurgeon, Matt this week. If Jones slots behind Chicago’s top defenceman, Connor Dumba, and Jonas Brodin earlier this week, buying out the surprisingly Murphy, and Mark Lazerus is right about Chicago protecting Nikita still effective Ryan Suter along with Zach Parise. That the Wild were Zadorov, then perhaps the 6-foot-1 shot-blocker shakes loose. willing to create years of cap headaches in the name of moving on from a top-four defenceman like Suter could tell us an awful lot about Seattle’s Despite De Haan’s reputation as a defender, the first problem is that 23- price for expansion draft side deals: I think it’s exorbitant. year-old RFA defenceman Riley Stillman is probably much more enticing for Seattle to take. This makes the 26-year-old Carson Soucy the most appealing defenceman available from the Wild. At six-foot-five, 211 pounds, the The second? I’m not sure De Haan moves the needle for the Jets, even if rangy Soucy has generated an impressive amount of offence from the Seattle plucked him free from Chicago with the intention of moving him. Wild’s third pairing over the past two seasons while keeping a clean If I’m Seattle, I don’t think De Haan brings back enough as a trade chip to defensive zone in a sheltered role. Slotting him into a top-four job takes make the manoeuvre worth my while. more projection than a Giordano or Dillon but perhaps his lack of prime time experience makes him more expendable to Seattle. Nick Leddy Ryan Graves Age: 30 Age: 26 Contract: $5,500,000 (UFA 2022) Contract: $3,166,667 (UFA 2023) Usage: Top pair even strength, second unit power play, third unit penalty kill Usage: Second pair even strength, first unit penalty kill

Production: Two goals and 31 points in 56 games Production: Two goals and 15 points in 54 games

Possession impact: Negative Possession impact: Neutral, erring towards positive

Nick Leddy is famous for his point production in massive minutes for the Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Samuel Girard are the obvious protection New York Islanders, turning big opportunity into multiple 40+ point options in Colorado. Ryan Graves is good enough in a defence first, top- seasons, including a 45-point pace in 2021. four role that the Avalanche might consider protecting four forwards, four defencemen and a goaltender. Still, if you’re Colorado and have all of wheeling and dealing leads to draft picks, prospects or the impact those star defencemen plus Bowen Byram in the pipeline, maybe you’re forwards so sorely missing from the expansion draft, the Kraken are in a willing to protect seven forwards and three defencemen, letting Graves great position to turn an abundance of defencemen into strength go. throughout their lineup.

If you’re Seattle, a six-foot-five, 220-pound 26-year-old defenceman who The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 has a proven track record of covering for his more celebrated partners must be an awfully appealing target.

Graves earns $3.17 million for two more seasons, is among the NHL’s plus-minus leaders over the past two seasons and is in his prime. Maybe Seattle just takes him and keeps him, as appealing as he would be to a team like Winnipeg looking for those exact same qualities.

The next wave (if all goes well)

Vince Dunn

Age: 24

Contract: RFA

Usage: Third pair even strength, second unit power play

Production: Six goals and 20 points in 43 games

Possession impact: Positive

I’m at the point where I suspect Vince Dunn could be had for a song, despite top-flight possession impacts in a sheltered, third-pairing role. We’ve discussed the issue of “sheltering” a lot here in Winnipeg — the drop-off in quality of competition from the first two pairs to the third pairing can be quite substantive — and it comes with risk. For every Ben Chiarot or Jamie Oleksiak who succeeds in sheltered minutes before eventually finding his way into the top-four, there is a Tucker Poolman or Nathan Beaulieu who is brilliant on the third pair and exposed up top.

This is no discredit to any of the players named. It’s just to acknowledge the risk in taking any third-pairing defenceman — even one with great results like the Blues’ Dunn or the Jets’ Stanley — and assuming he’ll succeed higher up the lineup.

All of this to say: I think Dunn deserves that chance somewhere and I don’t think St. Louis is going to be that place. Seattle could take him and play him, or move him, or simply pass over him altogether and let the Blues keep shopping him. If the Jets were loaded with big, strong defencemen and a smaller, more highly skilled player were more of a rarity, Dunn could be the perfect gamble.

Jake Bean

Age: 23

Contract: RFA

Usage: Third pair even strength, second unit power play

Production: One goal and 12 points in 42 games

Possession impact: Neutral

As Sara Civian puts it: “An up-and-coming defenseman with high offensive upside, a few NHL playoff games and a under his belt? Not bad. Drafted by Francis? Even better.”

Jake Bean has been buried behind higher-profile defensive stars in Carolina (and rightfully so). At 23 years old, he’s less established but in a similar spot to Dunn — it’s time to see what he can do higher up the lineup.

I think he’s the kind of player Seattle takes and keeps. If not, then the high-flying Bean, who has spent the last two seasons alternating between destroying AHL competition and squeaking onto Carolina’s third pair, could be a player of note for the Jets.

It’s abundantly clear that projecting the expansion draft is a fool’s game. Knowing exactly which of these players Seattle will select and then predicting which ones the Kraken might deal is extremely difficult to do.

Assessing each individual defenceman and projecting him onto the Jets roster is another trick entirely.

But the 11 defencemen we’ve just discussed aren’t even the full complement of a defence-heavy expansion draft. While it may be difficult to project exactly which players the Kraken will take and which ones they will move, it seems clear to me that hoarding quality defencemen and moving them for assets is in Seattle’s best interest. Whether their 1217409 Vancouver Canucks “He will likely be our No. 1 in Abbotsford,” Johnson said. “I would be extremely excited — the community, the fans, the media — for everybody to see how this guy carries himself in the net.

Canucks top 10 prospects: Mike DiPietro primed by practice, but needs “He’s the hardest working player there is in practice, it shows up in the to play games, and we need to give him the opportunity I think to play 50-plus games this year.” After a COVID-induced career disruption, the 22-year-old top goaltending prospect should get every opportunity to do that in Abbotsford in 2021-22 MIKE DiPIETRO

(Prospect No. 3 in daily countdown.)

Patrick Johnston Age: 22.

Height: 6-0. Weight: 201 pounds.

To say Mike DiPietro’s season was unconventional is to put it mildly. Catches: Left. Position: Goalie.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and also straight-up management Draft year: 2017, third round. decisions, DiPietro, who sits at No. 3 on the 2021 edition of our annual Current team: Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). top 10 Vancouver Canucks prospects ranking, went more than 400 days between games. Outlook: Starting goaltender.

When life came to a crashing halt on March 13, 2020, DiPietro was DiPietro’s enthusiasm for work is almost legendary. At one point this nearing the end of a very strong debut season as a professional hockey season, he stayed on the ice so long after practice working on his skills player. He had backstopped the American Hockey League’s Utica that he essentially had to be ordered off the ice by goalie coach Ian Comets as the No.1 goalie, despite being a raw rookie. Clark.

He was becoming a factor in the Canucks’ long-term succession planning And his enthusiasm extends off the ice, too. in goal, something that they had hoped he would become. With Jacob Markstrom a pending unrestricted free agent, DiPietro’s ascent made it “You’re talking about community, he engages with the people around possible to ponder what the Canucks’ crease should look like in just a him. I haven’t seen a rookie player, period, whatever, goaltender, have season or two. an effect on his teammates the way he did his rookie season,” said Johnson. “His professionalism just made players play for him and I don’t Then the pandemic hit and much of the previous thinking was tossed expect that to change at any level that he goes through from here. sideways and upside down. “With him its not fake, it’s — you come across people that outwardly The team eventually did lose Markstrom to the Calgary Flames, brought present something and then behind a closed door (they’re different) — he in veteran Braden Holtby from Washington on a short-term deal and is as consistent as a day is long. The person he is, he is comfortable in ended up extending the emerging Thatcher Demko. his own skin and he just exudes that in every facet of his life.”

Ownership’s decision to tighten the purse strings in 2020-21 left DiPietro Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2021 in the lurch. Instead of signing a cheap veteran to serve as the Canucks’ taxi-squad goalie, allowing DiPietro to spend the season in Utica and work on his game, he was made the No. 3 netminder in Vancouver, where he practised plenty and learned a lot, but never got a chance to put his skills into play in an actual NHL game.

It wasn’t until late in the season that DiPietro finally landed back in Utica, as the Canucks navigated their way out of their COVID-19 outbreak, and got some playing time.

DiPietro admitted it was a hard year for him when he spoke with Postmedia in May, but still put a positive spin on the experience. He got plenty of practice time in Vancouver this past season before closing the season with a handful of starts.

“Coming back here, my game is completely, completely different. I made some really big strides in my game even looking at video this year,” he said.

And now DiPietro goes into 2021-22 needing to play, play, play. Realistically, he could be Demko’s backup in 2022-23, provided he takes all the steps forward this season. The Canucks believe he will do just that — and long-time observers of DiPietro say he very much should.

The way he handled himself through his long pause between games was no surprise to Ryan Johnson, the Canucks’ senior director of player development and general manager of the new Abbotsford Canucks.

“There’s no amount of adversity this guy can’t find his way through,” Johnson told Postmedia this week. “I talk about development and the importance of professionalism — it’s the way he works, the way he finds his way through difficult times. For him, even the small amount of games that we were able to get him in Utica, to get him playing, he finds a way to make the most of those.”

It’s possible Holtby may yet get scooped up in the NHL expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken next week. If that happens, perhaps the Canucks will ponder starting the year with DiPietro as the NHL backup, but listening to Johnson the preference is to give the Windsor, Ont., native a mountain of games in the AHL this coming season. 1217410 Vancouver Canucks

Canucks a 'front-runner' to sign Hyman, also interested in Schwartz: reports

With free agency looming, the Vancouver Canucks are said to be interested in a number of high-end free agents, even with little cap space

Patrick Johnston

The Vancouver Canucks don’t have much cap space and they still have to sign young stars Elias Pettersson and but they’re nonetheless making calls and hoping to land a big-name forward or two this summer in free agency.

Thursday they were linked to a couple forwards in their late 20s who would certainly help the team in the short term, but you still have to worry about the long-term cost.

According to a report from the Toronto Star, the Canucks are one of three teams said to be front-runners to sign pending unrestricted free agent winger Zach Hyman.

Pittsburgh, Boston, Florida and Detroit are also said to have expressed interest.

Great reporting by Kevin here. Frontrunners are EDM, CGY, VAN with PIT, BOS, FLA, DET also having interest. Hyman would stay in Toronto for $5Mx8 with a full NMC but has already gotten offers north of there. https://t.co/AKNreGgRpO

— J (@Account4hockey) July 15, 2021

They’re also interested in St. Louis Blues forward Jaden Schwartz, former Sportsnet 650 host Andrew Walker reported.

#Canucks are interested in signing UFA Jaden Schwartz, cup winner with #stlblues

— Andrew Walker (@AndrewWalker650) July 15, 2021

Hyman, 29, scored 15 goals in 43 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, while Schwartz, also 29, slumped to 8 goals in 40 games this past season.

Hyman’s cap hit in 2020-21 was $2,250,000, but will be looking for a big raise given his consistent play over the past few seasons. And yet he’s at an age where scoring tends to fall off. Given his hard-driving style of play, it’s hard to see how he could keep going forward as he has been and remain useful.

There’s a precedent here already, even setting aside the price to sign him in, in Antoine Roussel: a gritty forward who can help your middle six. But the Canucks overpaid him at the time and of course he suffered a serious knee injury at the end of his first season, a season that had been a solid one. The injury has had a clear impact on his play since, to the degree the Canucks may yet buy him out.

And need we really talk about what happened with Micheal Ferland? No one is raising the pre-existing injury warning flags with Hyman like they did with Ferland, but the judgment from this front office on free agents, both in general and of players of this ilk, has been to overvalue their value going forward.

The skilled Schwartz’s cap hit was $5,350,000 this past season. He’s been a solid depth scorer on a hard-nosed team for years, though he’s known more for his scoring talents than anything.

Like Hyman, he’ll likely command a solid number in free agency. So how the Canucks squeeze him in seems hard to fathom.

Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217411 Websites the worst of his career and a big reason his value has dropped. There should be a significant concern about whether he can still drive play.

3. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Capitals The Athletic / NHL Trade Big Board: Eichel, Jones, Tarasenko and … Likelihood of a trade: High Stamkos? 25 players who could be dealt Kuznetsov’s skill is obvious and he’s been able to transcend public

analysis because of it. He’s a gifted puck-carrier and playmaker and Craig Custance and Dom Luszczyszyn Jul 15, 2021 that’s allowed him to consistently outperform expectations. From an underlying numbers perspective, last year may have been his best ever with a 53 percent expected goals rate and a stunning 65 percent actual goals rate — both of which were built upon improved defense. That’s This NHL offseason went from 0-60 in warp speed. First, there was the generally been the biggest concern with his game and fixing that should long-ruminated Duncan Keith trade. Fine. That one was telegraphed. The go a long way in upping his value. His point pace may have fallen to 58 Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts? Now, we’re getting somewhere over a full season, but that looks to be a result of lessened ice time and and it’s only going to pick up from there. power play opportunity. If his defensive improvements are legit he can “There’s going to be a lot of activity,” predicted an Eastern Conference still be an asset and surpass his low projected value in a bigger role but executive on Wednesday. “I think there’s going to be a lot of upheaval age is also not on his side. Definitely a perplexing player. around the entire league.” 4. Sam Reinhart, Sabres The offseason is certainly in motion. It was already going to be a wild one Likelihood of a trade: High because we have an expansion draft. Now, mix in teams up against the cap, others trying to mitigate financial losses, some under pressure to It feels like we’ve been waiting a long time for a Reinhart breakout. But win and it’s all teed up for those on Team Chaos. this might just be who he is, a second-line player. He did look a little stronger down the stretch as a center and based on his comps there’s “Now, it’s really heating up,” said a Western Conference executive on still a 25 percent chance he becomes a bona fide top-line forward but Tuesday. “A lot of phone calls. A lot of balls in the air.” time is running out. Still, there’s legitimate upside here, especially in a With that, we roll out our 2021 summer edition of the Trade Big Board, locale that isn’t Buffalo. tweaked slightly because of how much we liked the format done by our 5. Pavel Buchnevich, Rangers baseball group. We’re breaking it up by position. We’re adding in trade probabilities, comparables and analytics with all the usual anonymous Likelihood of a trade: Low executive assessments still completely intact. Colleague Rick Carpiniello did a great job breaking down why it makes Let’s dive in: sense for the Rangers to consider trading Buchnevich. He’s a pending restricted free agent due for a raise and the Rangers have strong depth Forwards at right wing with Vitali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko on the path to earning 1. Jack Eichel, Sabres more ice time. is about to get way more expensive. So is Igor Shesterkin. They don’t have to deal Buchnevich now but at some point, Likelihood of a trade: High there’s going to be a tough decision to be made here. The Rangers better be sure the young guns can fill the void, though, because The door wasn’t even completely closed as Suter and Parise exited the Buchnevich is a stronger player than many give him credit for. A two-win Wild and people were quick to boost Minnesota to the top of the Eichel forward with 60-point upside is hard to replace. sweepstakes. It makes sense. Minnesota has needed a center forever. They have the young assets it might take to happen. Suddenly there’s 6. Tyler Bertuzzi, Red Wings cap space. The owner will spend, clearly. “This could be the clearance for them to pick up Eichel,” said one source on Tuesday afternoon shortly Likelihood of a trade: Medium after the Minnesota news broke. “They’re one of the few teams to have The sense one source had was that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is the resources.” open to trading Bertuzzi but wasn’t in a huge hurry to move him. There’s That said, there’s certainly some trepidation about acquiring Eichel. Yes, a belief outside Detroit that Bertuzzi has padded his numbers a bit by he’s a franchise center, but he didn’t have the strongest season; he playing a prominent role on a bad team and the result is that he might scored twice in 21 games while struggling to generate offence at five-on- eventually price himself into a tier more expensive than some think he’s five. The neck injury and the complications surrounding treatment is ultimately worth. His injuries are a concern too. “He’s hurt a lot,” said one certainly part of the equation, adding to the concern. One executive said talent evaluator. “He plays hard, a little reckless. Not a big body. There’s his team is completely out on Eichel in large part because of the risk a price point he’s at right now, anybody trading for him knows he has involved. (arbitration) rights.”

“If we made the trade and it doesn’t work out, you never recover,” he 7. , Coyotes said. “The franchise that wants to take that chance, all the power to them. Likelihood of a trade: Low It’s a franchise-killing risk. Or you look like a genius. One or the other.” Keller is 22 and his top comp is Claude Giroux, who scored 47 points in 2. Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues 81 games as a 22-year-old — which was his first NHL full season. Over Likelihood of a trade: High the next four seasons, Giroux was the most productive player in the league scoring 303 points over 289 games. If this were 2016, trading for Tarasenko would be a no-brainer. But there’s some high mileage. And a healthy contract to take on. And, as Keller is entering his fifth season and there’s some impatience with what Jeremy Rutherford reported, a list of acceptable trades in which he’d he’s shown so far. As the Giroux example shows, there’s time for him to accept a deal. In this piece, Rutherford highlighted the New York figure it out and although he currently projects as a regular top-six Rangers, New York Islanders, Vegas Golden Knights, Boston Bruins and forward, there is a lot of upside that can be fulfilled. The skill is there and Philadelphia Flyers as the top potential destinations. Each one of these while a career like Giroux’s isn’t set in stone, that it’s even a possibility factors drives down the expected return. It’s not entirely dissimilar to should give Arizona serious pause here. Taylor Hall at the deadline. “Keller plays so far on the perimeter but he’s talented,” said one exec. “A “Doug is going to have trouble moving him,” said one executive of Blues change of scenery could work. I think (Arizona) would trade anybody but GM Doug Armstrong. “That’s two more years. You don’t want to pay a (Jakob) Chychrun. big price for it.” 8. Jakub Voracek, Flyers That’s especially true if Tarasenko can’t recover from back-to-back Likelihood of a trade: Medium shoulder surgeries. After seven straight seasons above two points per 60, Tarasenko was at 1.46 last season while posting some ugly He’s still an excellent playmaker, one of the league’s best, but has been possession numbers. His minus-0.36 relative expected goals per 60 was in decline for a few years now and has the potential to fall off a cliff at any moment. Colleague Charlie O’Connor broke down those plusses and any sort of deal indicator. “That deal happened irrespective of Seth,” he minuses well here. The more interesting news from Philadelphia might be said. that the No. 13 pick appears to be very much in play, according to another story from Charlie. “I think we have to explore what we can do The Blackhawks may be the front-runner. Guys love playing in Chicago. with it,” Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said of that pick. The concern is whether or not the team is close to real playoff contention, something Jones will have to weigh. The Flyers have been connected to 9. Kevin Fiala, Wild Jones but shouldn’t be considered a front-runner as of right now.

Likelihood of a trade: Low The Stars are a bit of a wild card here. They’d have to move some money to make it happen but would consider it if there was a trade to be His future with the Wild may depend on what his next contract looks like. made that Columbus liked. Dallas might be a more realistic option as a Or just how aggressive GM Bill Guerin is in his search for a center. If Jones destination if he makes it to free agency. As for the return, Blue Guerin is big game hunting, it may take a player like Fiala to help make it Jackets GM Jarmo Keklainen wants to maximize this, especially happen. Let’s say the Wild acquire a player like Eichel and his big considering the talent that has left the organization in recent years. contract, there wouldn’t be the cap space to keep Fiala around long term anyway with Kirill Kaprizov up for a raise. “He doesn’t need draft picks. He wants young players. Centermen,” said one executive. “Anybody who is going to give up assets will want 10. Johnny Gaudreau, Flames permission to talk to him. (Kekalainen) is not in any rush.”

Likelihood of a trade: Low After a down season, it’s also fair to wonder how much Jones can The expectation from other teams is that Calgary wants to make a major realistically move the needle to push a team up a tier. He was widely change but nobody is quite sure exactly what that will ultimately look like. regarded as a top 10 defender going into the 2020-21 season but Is it Gaudreau? Sean Monahan? Matthew Tkachuk? “They’re caught in delivered uncharacteristically poor results that now leave his status as a the middle with those guys,” said one executive. “They’re having a top-pairing defender in question. There’s a chance he can get back to changing of the guard there.” Gaudreau is just two years removed from that level but his current comps aren’t flattering, featuring a lot of names finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting, but his value has fallen a fair bit whose reputations outweighed actual results. since. There’s a chance he gets back to that level, but it’s not the most 2. Nate Schmidt, Canucks likely outcome. Likelihood of a trade: High 11. Steven Stamkos, Lightning It hasn’t been a great fit between Schmidt and the Canucks. “They’re Likelihood of a trade: Low desperately trying to move Schmidt,” said one source. The problem with There was some smoke last summer about a possible Stamkos trade Schmidt is the same as many on this list: You’re not getting a ton of value and it would solve a lot of financial issues for the Lightning. Colleague because of an inflated contract. This won’t necessarily be an easy deal to Pierre LeBrun broke down the situation well here, acknowledging that it’s pull off for GM Jim Benning but his reputation as a character guy helps a sensitive one in Tampa. This is their captain. They’ve won back-to-back the cause. “He’s selfless. Doesn’t need to be on the PP,” said a source. Cups under his leadership. But his ice time continues to decline and “Unbelievable culture guy.” they’ve shown they can win without him. There are tough decisions on 3. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Coyotes the way for GM Julien BriseBois and that franchise has never shied away from making them. Likelihood of a trade: Medium

12. Jake DeBrusk, Bruins The Coyotes have more destination options than just Boston and Vancouver, as was the case last year, for Ekman-Larsson. That’s the Likelihood of a trade: Medium good news. The bad news: “Have you seen him play?” asked one DeBrusk’s name has been in the trade circuit for some time. Around the source. It hasn’t gone well for Ekman-Larsson in a while. “Maybe it’s his trade deadline, there were some casual conversations surrounding a situation,” suggested an executive. That’s a risky maybe in which to possible deal for Anthony Mantha and interest in him remains high place a bet. because of his age (24) and history of scoring in both the regular season Ekman-Larsson grades out as replacement level by GSVA with a limited and playoffs. But with the Taylor Hall addition and the cap squeeze that chance of performing above that level for the remaining six years on his would come with Hall staying in Boston, time might be running out on this deal. Given the cap hit and term left, Arizona should have to pay a front. He also had first-line upside to start his career, but his play has premium to unload his contract. dipped since. DeBrusk is young enough that he can still get back to that level but his most recent season was worrying. He played at a 0.5-win 4. Rasmus Ristolainen, Sabres pace. Likelihood of a trade: Medium 13. Brock Boeser, Canucks Ristolainen has plenty of experience playing difficult minutes, but not Likelihood of a trade: Low much success in them. For the first time in his career, his underlying numbers looked legitimately promising to start the year playing with Jake The Canucks have huge contract negotiations to do with RFAs Quinn McCabe. Is there hope for rehabilitation? The right role, fit and partner Hughes and Elias Pettersson this summer and cap space is at a real may be able to unlock some utility out of Ristolainen, but that’s a lot to premium in Vancouver. An inordinate amount of poor contracts on the ask for a player who is making $5.4 million this season. books on top of those two deals may not give the club the flexibility to pay Boeser, whose actual salary this season is $7.5 million heading into 5. Vince Dunn, Blues his arb year. “They’re open to moving Boeser,” said a source. “I like him and he’s a good kid. He can shoot the puck and he can score. He’s Likelihood of a trade: Medium injured a lot but I do like him.” When Pettersson was out, Boeser stepped Dunn was an analytics darling in the two seasons prior but struggled up. He should be a solid first-line talent for years to come with upside for immensely last season. He had negative actual and expected goal rates more. That would be a difficult piece to lose as a result of poor cap relative to teammates, primarily as a result of struggling to generate management. offense. There’s still potential for him to blossom into a legitimate top-four Defensemen option but last season wasn’t promising in that regard.

1. Seth Jones, Blue Jackets 6. Nick Leddy, Islanders

Likelihood of a trade: High Likelihood of a trade: Medium

One team said their expectation is that Jones’ preference is to play in Colleague Arthur Staple reported that multiple sources indicated that Chicago, Dallas or Florida, although those aren’t his only options. Leddy was being shopped. There are expansion implications, the Chicago has been mentioned most recently because of the Keith trade Islanders could use the cap space and they have a young defenseman in and while that clears up cap space to help make it happen, another Noah Dobson ready for an expanded role. That said, it thins out after source warned against reading too much into the Caleb Jones aspect as Dobson and moving Leddy (or losing him to Seattle) would create a hole Lou Lamoriello would immediately have to fill. 7. Marcus Pettersson, Penguins

Likelihood of a trade: Medium

There’s isn’t anything wrong with Pettersson. He’s a capable 25-year-old defenseman. But the Penguins like Pierre-Olivier Joseph and moving Pettersson could create space. They might also want to bulk up a little defensively. Another name to watch in Pittsburgh is Jason Zucker, who was acquired by the previous regime. A trade there would help create more financial flexibility.

8. Ryan Graves, Avalanche

Likelihood of a trade: High

(Update: Graves was traded to the New Jersey Devils for winger Mikhail Maltsev and a 2021 second-round pick.)

As he expressed to Peter Baugh in a recent conversation, this was a bit of an up and down season for Graves. There’s also a good chance he’s available for Seattle in the expansion draft, barring a side deal. And as LeBrun pointed out recently, the price is high (or in the case of one of his sources, “exorbitant”) to cut side deals with Kraken GM Ron Francis. So a trade to another team might be the best path forward here for the Avs.

Goalies

1. Darcy Kuemper, Coyotes

Likelihood of a trade: High

There are some execs who believe the mandate in Arizona is to cut a ton of salary, which presents rival GMs with some opportunity. In Kuemper, the Coyotes have a starting goalie with only one year left on his deal that people around the league like. Kuemper might be his best trade chip.

2. Chris Driedger negotiating rights, Panthers

Likelihood of a trade: High

The Panthers are getting calls on Driedger and for good reason. He has a .929 save percentage in 38 career games and the price tag to plug him in should be reasonable. LeBrun recently reported that it might take around $3.5 million per year to get a deal done but considering the price of goaltending around the league, that’s pretty reasonable. History suggests a fourth-round pick probably gets this done.

3. Joonas Korpisalo, Blue Jackets

Likelihood of a trade: High

The expectation is that the Blue Jackets will trade one of their two goalies — Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins. Both goalies are 27 and in the final year of their contract. Merzlikins has more upside but for teams on a budget or up against the cap, Korpisalo might be the better option although a team trading for Merzlikins wouldn’t have to protect him from Seattle and the expansion draft.

4. Braden Holtby, Canucks

Likelihood of a trade: Medium

The Canucks would do well to move this contract off the books with Thatcher Demko signed long term but that’s easier said than done. With cap space at a premium, teams aren’t eager to spend on a goalie who has gone consecutive seasons without posting a save percentage above .900.

4. Frederik Andersen negotiating rights, Maple Leafs

Likelihood of a trade: Medium

Andersen is another starting goalie who is likely to hit the free-agent market. His play has declined a bit over the last couple of years so that’s why early interest in his negotiating rights has been moderate. At 31 there should be something left here for a team looking for a reasonably priced veteran goalie. He’ll need a big bounce-back, though. Over the last two seasons, he has the 11th worst goals above expected rate.

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217412 Websites As a role model, Eklund stresses to his siblings the importance of setting goals and following through on them. And that is what those closest to Eklund see in him.

The Athletic / ‘I’m going to go No. 1’ — William Eklund’s drive to achieve Eklund himself said his “main goal” in life was reaching the NHL “from the his NHL dream boosted by his off-ice teammates first time I saw my dad play.”

The goal-setting didn’t end there.

By Joshua Kloke Jul 15, 2021 Take, for example, his reaction when Bob McKenzie’s midseason draft rankings on TSN came out in April. Eklund was having lunch with someone close to him who referenced Eklund being ranked seventh in a positive light. On Sunday afternoons in Stockholm, the local children, many of whom have yet to enter high school, wait eagerly by their door for a visit from a Eklund briefly looked up from his lunch and, mid-bite, simply stated: “I’m neighborhood teenager. going to go No. 1.”

William Eklund, the Djurgårdens IF up-and-coming star and likely top-five Eriksson said being the oldest sibling in his family made Eklund “very pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, will make his way door-to-door inviting ambitious from an early age and very eager to achieve goals and that children to play road hockey outside. has driven him.”

“Even if some of the kids don’t want to play, he drags them out,” his “Comparing William to a lot of those other talents that have (come) father, Christian Eklund, said. through Djurgårdens, in that perspective, I can see he’s been driven, motivated, goal-oriented and knows what to work on,” said Eriksson. And William Eklund brings a team of his own, with five younger siblings to join him. Coming up through Djurgårdens’ youth system, Eklund was hardly the sure-fire talent he is today. He was woefully undersized, often made poor Eklund is only 18 years old, but is already a natural leader, having spent decisions with the puck and simply wasn’t at the level of some of his so much of his life as the head of the pack in his household. He has one better peers in a competitive program. younger brother, 14-year-old Victor who also plays in Djurgårdens’ youth setup; three stepbrothers, aged 8, 6 and 2; and one stepsister, who is 14 He’s long been compared to teammate, friend and 2020 first-round pick years old. Alexander Holtz. While Eriksson saw Holtz “totally dominating” throughout his youth career, Eklund took longer than Holtz to develop Eklund will oversee the road hockey game, setting up teams and calling into the offensive weapon he is today. penalties if need be. To the local children, and more importantly, to his siblings, Eklund is not a supremely talented left winger who uses his “When I watched him as a young teenager, I thought, ‘He has a long way elusiveness, dynamic skating and high-end hockey IQ to become a to go,’” Christian said. “But he practiced so much. He knew the game so consistent offensive threat. well. He wasn’t the strongest, the best skater or had the best shot, but you could see the game. He always said he got that from street hockey. To the people who need him the most off the ice, he is their role model. Always scrimmaging with the kids.” And that job has helped him become the composed, dynamic offensive producer he is on the ice, too. At 17 he made his debut on Djurgårdens’ first team. He may have logged just two assists in 20 games playing fourth-line minutes, but this season, “He’s become so much more mature, with taking care of all the brothers,” his improvement was drastic: he scored 11 goals and 23 points in 40 Christian said. “It helped him when he started to play with the men’s team games and was named the SHL Rookie of the Year. because he had a more mature attitude and he came in with a good mature playing style, actually.” Whereas some teenagers might cower with the increased responsibility and attention that comes with playing with the men’s team, Christian said And it is because of his experience as the oldest sibling that he could his son was not fazed by the physicality and the ups and downs from handle becoming the face of an NHL team’s rebuild, and possibly one of game to game. the next great Swedish NHL stars. Christian and Eriksson have seen far too many young, talented players Joakim Eriksson is Djurgårdens IF general manager and also played invest too much of themselves in their performances and the result of alongside Christian for two seasons. Though he’s able to compare father every game, and can see negative emotional swings as a result. Working and son, he can’t find many similarities. toward personal development is one thing, but Christian had a long “They are very different,” he said enough career that he understands the importance of a healthy state of mind. Christian was a gritty, bottom-six player who loved getting in the face of his opponents. William is a gifted playmaker who demands the puck on “You can’t talk, eat, sleep, hockey, like people say you have to. Because his stick and is confident and calm enough, unleashing his high-end skill if want to have a long career, you have to learn to do other things just to to make high-risk plays in the offensive zone. get your mind out of hockey,” Christian said.

Whereas Eriksson described Christian as the life of the party in the When Eklund walks into his house after a game, his siblings will run to dressing room, always quick with a joke and a prank, William is more him, eager not to discuss the game itself, but whatever else is happening serious. He’s gained that persona, in part, by having responsibilities at home. many his age don’t always have. “It’s good not to just focus on hockey all the time,” Eklund said. Christian said there is a calmness, focus and self-sufficiency in his son’s “While maybe parents or fans, they want to talk about hockey all the attitude that he’s gained from having to take care of his younger siblings time,” Christian said. “That makes you tired of hockey sometimes.” every day. And it’s not perfunctory tasks, either. Christian and his wife often leave their 2-year-old son under the care of William, no matter He has had his fair share of trying circumstances that have hurt his what. hockey career at times. But he’s dealt with those challenges with the kind of steadfast resiliency not often found in teenagers. Difficulties don’t “If he shit his pants when we’re not home, William has had to take care of linger. him,” Christian said. Take the frustration that came from being cut from a Swedish U-17 team. William Eklund’s parents are divorced, and whenever he goes to either of Given how angry he was after initially receiving the news, Christian his parents’ homes, there is work that follows him: helping his siblings expected his son to be emotionally distraught for weeks afterward. with their homework, playing with them and, most importantly to Eklund, trying to be the kind of person they can emulate. His siblings constantly But the night they got the news, Christian awoke at 2 in the morning to come to him for advice, which he takes seriously. loud noises coming from his garage. He initially thought there was an intruder in the house and that the home was being broken into. He “Obviously when you’re the oldest brother, you know everybody is going rushed downstairs to find his son in the garage. to look up to you and see you as a role model,” Eklund said. “He was so mad, he’d gone there from his room and was shooting pucks in the middle of the night,” Christian said. “And then, the next day, he was done. He focused on his brothers.”

Willam was angry when he couldn’t play in the 2021 world juniors because of his COVID-19 diagnosis and the emergency appendectomy he suffered in January sidelined him for nearly three weeks. But his anger quickly subsided as he had figured out that his energy was better spent elsewhere.

“I thought I was going to have to sit with him for weeks. He was sad for a day, and then he said ‘I can’t do anything about it,’” Christian said. “He was so mature, the way he handled those two things. He’s always been like that.”

And moving forward, that maturity could help him make the jump to the NHL.

“There’s going to be times when you have injuries and have to work really hard, mentally, and be mentally tough,” Eklund said. “You have to focus on the next thing to get back playing again.”

Eklund said that while he will follow the directions of the NHL team that chooses him, he would be open to returning to the SHL for another year. It’s a mature stance from a player who understands that he needs to add some size and improve so that he can fulfill his next goal of being a top- six NHL forward.

If his last few seasons are any indication, he should be able to achieve that goal. Even if he wasn’t always regarded as a high-end prospect, he’s learned that the best way to deal with adversity is to focus on his siblings, not just hockey.

In doing so, he has progressed far more than many thought he would as an undersized forward. The comparisons to Holtz are starting to dissipate.

“Alexander is more dependent on the environment at the senior level,” Eriksson said. “He needs a good playmaker, he needs to be in an environment with players to set him up and he can finish. But William can do more on the ice by himself. These last 12, 18 months, William has caught up to Alex and almost gone past him.”

William Eklund’s life will soon change as he becomes, in all likelihood, one of the faces of a team’s rebuilding efforts. The pressure will increase as he begins his next job. But throughout, he will not forget the job he has in Sweden and his young siblings who will eagerly await him walking back through the door whenever he can.

“My job is to have a good influence on them,” said Eklund of his siblings, “and show them how life works.”

The Athletic LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217413 Websites Wild still undecided on expansion draft plan While Kaprizov's importance to the franchise cannot be understated,

especially at this time of transition, Guerin's got a few other pressing Sportsnet.ca / NHL Rumour Roundup: Landeskog 'disappointed' he issues that also need addressing at the moment -- like, oh, the impending hasn't re-signed with Avalanche yet expansion draft, for example. This week's big buyouts clear out two protection spots, putting Guerin in good position for skater protection. NHL's piping-hot rumour mill making for 'NBA-style off season' Goaltending, on the other hand... that's a tough one.

Frank Seravalli joined Tim & Friends to talk about the NHL rumour mill, Minnesota's smart signing of Cam Talbot last off-season paid off in a and touched on what the Maple Leafs could be looking to do on the huge way, with the veteran bouncing back and putting up his best goalie market. numbers since 2016-17. This season also saw the emergence of Kaapo Kahkonen, a strong 1B to Talbot's 1A. Both are expansion-eligible. Both

cannot be protected. And based on performance (in Talbot's case) and Emily Sadler July 15, 2021, 2:51 PM potential (in Kahkonen's), it would not be surprising to see Seattle scoop up whichever is left exposed.

Asked whether he would be making any side-deals with Seattle to protect To say the next week of the NHL off-season is a crucial one would be a both goalies, Guerin said he didn't know yet. gross understatement. With the deadline for teams to submit their protected lists this Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, and the Seattle expansion draft "Yeah, I'm not quite there yet. I don't know if we're gonna be making any taking place in six days, it's crunch time for teams to sort out their rosters. sort of deals. We could just be rolling the dice. We're gonna lose a player that we like, and the one thing I don't want to do is kind of overthink it and And that's not even addressing the free agency rumour mill ahead of the get myself into trouble and lose two players -- we could trade a player, new league year on July 28. and then we're definitely going to lose a player, so we'd be out two guys."

Here's a roundup of some of the big rumours and reports swirling around Guerin wasn't at the helm of the Wild when they made a side-deal with the NHL right now: Vegas that saw Minnesota send Alex Tuch to the Golden Knights so they'd select Erik Haula, protecting key young players like Matt Dumba. Landeskog 'disappointed' he hasn't re-signed with Avalanche yet But he can learn from that. It's tough to imagine the Colorado Avalanche without Gabriel Landeskog. "To be honest with you, we're still going through it," he said. "We're still The forward has been in Colorado for 10 years, and has served as taking a lot of phone calls and seeing what our options are." captain for nine. But with his contract expiring and the club needing to also sign star RFA defenceman Cale Makar and Vezina finalist Philipp Bill Guerin: Suter, Parise buyout decisions months in the making Grubauer among other off-season questions, the Swede is facing an uncertain hockey future for the first time in his NHL career. Where to next for Suter, Parise?

“I’ve always known that come September, October, I’m going to pull on One more Wild item, courtesy of Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on that Avs jersey,” he told The Athletic's Peter Baugh in a piece published Tuesday's edition of the 31 Thoughts podcast: Where might Ryan Suter Wednesday. and Zach Parise land? And might they wind up together once again?

In the article, Landeskog opened up to Baugh about his disappointment As Friedman indicated, there's widespread belief that Parise will be Long in having not already signed on the dotted line long ago. Island-bound. There was almost a deal in place to send him there last off-season, reuniting him with GM Lou Lamoriello. Suter has an “I can’t help but be honest with you that I’m a little bit disappointed that interesting connection there, too, with . Trotz coached Suter it’s gotten this far and it’s had to come to this point,” Landeskog, 28, said. for several years in Nashville. Interesting.

Per Baugh, talks have increased but "the sides are still far away from an As for the likelihood of Suter playing somewhere north of the border, it agreement, according to a league source." sounds like we can cross seven teams off his list of possible destinations:

Landeskog told Baugh, “We’ll see what happens. I’m still hopeful that we "I think a lot of people would be surprised if Suter ended up in Canada. can agree on something and come to terms, but if it was up to me, I He's an American guy, he's a Team USA guy, he's always played in the would have liked it to be done eight months ago, 10 months ago.” States," Friedman said. "A lot of people think Vegas, a lot of people think Colorado, I've had a few people think Washington -- that those would be Both sides have been clear they'd like to keep the relationship going, but the kind of places that he could potentially end up." the timeline now brings a little bit of doubt to the outside eye. Obviously, the elite, physical forward would have no shortage of suitors should he in Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2021 fact hit the open market.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that if Colorado doesn't sign Landeskog before the expansion draft, and leaves him exposed, Seattle gets an exclusive window to chat with him before any other club.

Guerin on Kaprizov contract: 'We'll get there'

With the buyout bombshell news in Minnesota comes not only a new era in the State of Hockey, but some new cap space with which to usher it in. Priority No. 1 has been, and still is, signing rookie phenom Kirill Kaprizov. The Calder winner is a 10.2(c) RFA, which means another team can't try to pry him away or force Minnesota's hand with an offer sheet. At 24, he can become an unrestricted free agent as early as the 2024 off-season, and that's got the pressure on GM Bill Guerin to lock up some term. Asked about the status of negotiations on that front during a interview on Wednesday, Guerin had this to say:

"He came in and had a big impact on us last year, it was great to see. We needed it, and we still need him going forward. We're just going through the process right now of negotiating a contract. Me and his agent, we talk on a regular basis and some days we get somewhere, some days we don't. But these things take time, and we've just got to continue to work through it. We'll get there someday. It might not be tomorrow, but we've got time."

Wild GM Guerin confident they'll be able to lock up Kirill Kaprizov 1217414 Websites Are you seriously considering trading the ninth pick of the draft? We're looking at everything. We're keeping all of our options open. We

meet every day and I go through with our hockey-ops group what's on Sportsnet.ca / Q&A: Canucks' Jim Benning on the expansion draft, busy the docket for that day, the conversations that we're having, and we off-season discuss things and then try to figure out what's best for our organization.

After reports that both the team and player may be looking for a trade, can you bring us up to date on the Nate Schmidt situation? Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning. There is no Nate Schmidt situation. Teams call us about our players all the time and sometimes that gets out there. But he hasn’t asked to be moved or anything like that. VANCOUVER – In his lifetime in hockey, Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning can’t remember another week with as many So you expect him back with the Canucks next season? agenda items and ongoing discussions as this one. We listen to teams whenever they ask about our players. You don’t rule Already in the first post-Stanley Cup buyout window, National Hockey anything out, and if I think there’s a way to improve our team, I’ll consider League teams are jockeying ahead of Saturday’s roster freeze for the it. But he hasn’t asked to be traded. Seattle Kraken expansion draft next Wednesday. The entry draft starts two days later, followed by the opening of free agency on July 28. 31 Thoughts: The Podcast

The Canucks are trying to use the expansion draft as leverage to add a Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman talk to a lot of people around the hockey good player from a team with protection issues, but so far nobody is world, and then they tell listeners all about what they’ve heard and what selling. they think about it.

With the salary cap staying flat at $81.5 million USD and not many assets A buyout of seemed semi-automatic because, regardless he can afford to trade, Benning will find it difficult to fulfill his pledge after of his serious legal issues, he far underperformed his contract last last season to be “aggressive” in upgrading Vancouver’s speed, skill and season, you need cap space and his age makes a buyout pretty depth. Still, the roster will look different a couple of weeks from now. painless. But nothing has happened since the buyout window opened last week. Should we assume you won’t be making one? In a short interview on Wednesday – halfway through his hectic week – Benning told Sportsnet that pressure is still building on teams to make That's too early to say. We have until the 27th (with this window). And their best deals before the roster freeze. The GM predicted activity then if players go to arbitration, there’s a second window. So it’s too early between the expansion and entry drafts, didn’t rule out a Canucks buyout to say. despite the absence of one so far, said Elias Pettersson’s injury recovery Other than the massive buyouts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise in is “on track” and revealed the team would like to add a Russian player to Minnesota, it has been pretty quiet across the NHL. Are teams waiting for ease the transition of rookie Vasily Podkolzin to Vancouver next season. expansion clarity? And, Benning insisted, “there is no Nate Schmidt situation.” I think that's what all the teams are thinking right now: Let's get through (Editor's note: This interview has been edited slightly for brevity and the expansion draft. And I expect, after the Seattle expansion team is clarity.) named, next Thursday is going to be a busy day going into the draft. Sportsnet: What is this week like from a management standpoint? Elias Pettersson posted a video of himself shooting pucks and said his Jim Benning: The expansion draft has added another wrinkle. I think injured wrist “felt really good.” Is his recovery on track? teams, this week they're trying to figure out what the protection lists are We had a conversation with him at the end of the year (and) even the going to look like and... if they're looking at other things trade-wise, games he played this year, he needs to continue to work hard and get they're looking to maybe move money or moving a player out to try to stronger and keep developing. We're expecting him to come in and have recover some sort of an asset. There's a bunch of things going on. Once a big year for us next year. Everything is on track. He's going through the the expansion draft is over and Seattle's got their team picked, then I rehab and should be ready for training camp. think the next stage is teams are looking at trades to make their teams better and, going into the (entry) draft, maybe trying to acquire picks. And Canucks needed to find positions for Sedins to be impactful and to learn then the following week, we have unrestricted free agency in a flat-cap world. So there's a lot of things going on all at once here. What about Vasily Podkolzin? In a normal summer, he’d have come from Russia for a development camp. When will he be in Vancouver to How different is it from when the Vegas Golden Knights joined the league acclimate and get ready for training camp? in 2017? He's planning on coming here at the beginning of August to start working When Vegas joined the league and we went through that expansion out and getting ready for the season. That's his plan. We’re going to sign process, there wasn't the same issues that we're dealing with now. some guys and have good depth this season and... like any other player, he’s going to have to come in and have a good camp. But everything I've What happened to the great asset re-allocation some were predicting seen from him... I believe that he can be part of our group next year. before the Seattle draft? Are you surprised there haven’t been more trades? Would you like to acquire another Russian player to make Podkolzin feel more comfortable and give him a teammate to speak to in his first Everybody understands you're going to lose a player, right? Some teams language? that have a lot of depth, they know they're going to lose a player and in a flat-cap world, they may be okay with that because they've got to sign We've talked about that and we're looking at that. I think it would help... other players. And then there's the teams that maybe only have one real having another Russian player on the team. So, we're looking at that and good player to lose that want to move that player to get some sort of an seeing if there's a fit that works either through trades or free agency. We asset back. But these types of things seem to happen around a deadline may look to do something like that. and I guess the deadline is Friday, Saturday morning. I still think there could be some things that happen, but it might not happen until the Daniel and , of course, had each other. And now you have deadline hits. them in hockey operations. We understand they’ve been coming in early and staying late. How has that dynamic been so far? What's the best-case scenario for the Canucks at the Expansion Draft? It's been a real enjoyable experience for, I think, our hockey-ops group so Even being aggressive, how difficult will it be to improve the Canucks far. They're humble guys, they want to do the work, they're learning a lot. given your lack of cap space and expendable assets? We're keeping them involved with the daily discussions we have. They're part of our hockey-ops group trying to figure everything out. We'll see how that plays out in the next couple of weeks. We've put a lot of work in here and we'll see how it all plays out. I can't answer that How much pressure do you feel during these hectic summer weeks to question now. get the team turned back in the right direction so that you start next season much better than the last one? I believe in our core group. We didn't have Petey for three months and we got off to a bad start. I'm not going to make excuses; it wasn't a good year. Our guys weren't happy with the season we had. They're all going to be in top shape when they come back. I'm going to do what I can do to make the team better and make it harder to make the team so we have a competitive training camp. I think we're all looking forward to getting off to a good start and having a good year next year.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217415 Websites 8. Mason McTavish, C, (OHL): Between his stint playing in Switzerland and a nice sampling at the U18, showed a complete game and the ability to play effectively at centre.

Sportsnet.ca / Sportsnet’s 2021 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: Final 9. Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan (NCAA): Has the confidence, Edition the willingness and the skill to do anything out there. Will need to add weight and strength to his 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame.

Round 1 draft order Sam Cosentino July 14, 2021, 12:51 PM 1. Buffalo Sabres

2. Seattle Kraken With the draft just around the corner, it was time for a refreshed set of rankings. 3. Anaheim Ducks

More work has been put in on a number of fronts to try and have at least 4. New Jersey Devils a little certainty in what should be as random a draft as I’ve seen in my 5. Columbus Blue Jackets time covering it. Having said that, we do know a few things. 6. Detroit Red Wings First, Seattle GM Ron Francis holds the keys and should be able to impact this draft. He may not be able to work the same magic that 7. San Jose Sharks George McPhee was able to exact in 2017 with Vegas, but plenty of options and cap space should give Francis ample room to maneuver. 8. Los Angeles Kings The idea might be to acquire as many draft picks as possible and not just 9. Vancouver Canucks for 2021, but beyond that as well. Vegas was able to pick up two additional first round picks in the 2017 draft and ended up with 12 picks 10. Ottawa Senators total. 11. Chicago Blackhawks Next, we know this draft is top-heavy with defencemen. University of Michigan product Owen Power leads the way, in a group that includes 12. Calgary Flames Swede Simon Edvinsson, American Luke Hughes and Canadian Brandt 13. Philadelphia Flyers Clarke. In terms of the strength of this class, we may have to extend our window of judgement by an additional year based on the fact that, at 14. Dallas Stars best, some players in this class have missed out on at least a half 15. New York Rangers season, some playoffs and some international play. Despite extended off-season training, game and practice play has been limited and that 16. St. Louis Blues typically provides the best developmental path. 17. Winnipeg Jets Finally, just as we see every year, players will unexpectedly emerge from this draft class to become NHL stars, regardless of where they are 18. Nashville Predators selected. Look no further than the 2021 Stanley Cup Champion Tampa 19. Edmonton Oilers Bay Lightning, who featured the likes of Nikita Kucherov (58th overall in 2011), Brayden Point (79th overall in 2014), Anthony Cirelli (72nd overall 20. Boston Bruins in 2015), Ondrej Palat (208th overall in 2011) and an undrafted Tyler Johnson. 21. Minnesota Wild

Here’s our final draft rankings. Expect a mock draft immediately following 22. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals) the expansion draft on July 21st. 23. Florida Panthers 1. Owen Power, D, University of Michigan (NCAA): His place at the top of 24. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto Maple Leafs) the rankings was cemented after his performance at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. 25. Minnesota Wild (from Pittsburgh Penguins)

Top NHL prospect Owen Power says he is leaning towards going back to 26. Carolina Hurricanes school 27. Colorado Avalanche 2. Matthew Beniers, C, University of Michigan (NCAA): He is the safest pick in the class. A Dylan Larkin-type that a team will want to keep 28. New Jersey Devils (from New York Islanders) forever. 29. Vegas Golden Knights 3. Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda Jr. (SWE): Should be able to handle 30. Montreal Canadiens top-pairing workload in the NHL and has some offensive upside, too. 31. Columbus Blue Jackets (from Tampa Bay Lightning) 4. Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): An average showing at the U18 notwithstanding, Guenther is still a scorer with a big Note: The forfeited their pick as a consequence of league shot who is often on the right side of the puck. violating the NHL Combine Testing policy during 2019-20 season

5. William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (SWE): He scored 11 goals and 23 10. Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL): Has been points in 40 games playing with Djurgarden in Sweden’s top professional groomed by NHL people at home (his dad is former NHLer Mike league – those numbers for a first-year draft eligible player in the SHL Sillinger), in the WHL (where he played 52 games in Medicine Hat) right are good for fifth all-time. on through to his time with Marty Murray in the USHL this season.

6. Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP: Injury issues are well behind him. He 11. Matthew Coronato, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL): An absolute bulldog displays the confidence, skating and puck-handling talents of his brothers who hunts pucks and knows exactly what to do with them afterwards. Jack and Quinn. Scored 48 goals in 51 games with the Steel this season, and added nine more in eight playoff games. Remaining Time -1:10 12. Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP: There is precedence for players who Luke Hughes would love to play with his brother Jack on the Devils missed significant time during their draft year to still be taken high (see 7. Brandt Clarke, D, Barrie Colts (OHL): Should be able to run a power Alex Galchenyuk, Morgan Rielly). Lucius played just 25 games this play at the next level. As smart, poised and patient as he is, he could still season. stand to play more consistently with pace. 13. Fabian Lysell, RW, Frolunda Jr. (SWE): Most polarizing player in the draft. Played 26 games in Sweden’s top league this season and registered just three points, but dominated against his own age group.

14. Brennan Othman, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL): A mini growth spurt along with an improvement in skating, led to a great U18. Scored 16 points in 34 games on loan to EHC Olten in Switzerland this season.

15. Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea (SHL): Technically sound goalie with a nice dose of athleticism. Character of an NHL veteran.

16. Isak Rosen, LW, Leksand (SHL): Hands and feet work quickly and effectively, especially off the rush. Possesses a powerful stride.

17. Sebastian Cossa, G, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): Plenty of personal adversity has not affected his on-ice performance. He’s got size, too, standing 6-foot-6, 211 pounds.

18. Fedor Svechkov, C, Togliatti (RUS): Solid, steady, two-way player whose game may get overlooked because it lacks a dynamic element.

19. Carson Lambos, D, Winnipeg Ice (WHL): Had plenty of looks in his 16-year-old season and then got a little taste of the pro life in Finland with JYP this season. Looks to have fully recovered from an ablation procedure.

20. Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat Jr (FIN): Shifty, speedy shooter with a penchant for striking from anywhere.

21. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, St. Petersburg (KHL): Shifty playmaker who can also score. Competes hard and plays with pace.

22. Xavier Bourgault, C, (QMJHL): An excellent finisher whose brain works best in the offensive zone. As good a shooter as he is, he’s an underrated playmaker, too.

23. Daniil Chayka, D, (OHL): Has been a winner at every level for a variety of teams internationally and domestically. Spent this season playing back in Russia on loan, with stints in the KHL, VHL and MHL.

24. Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL): Tried to replace Alexis Lafreniere with Rimouski before coming to the realization he could carve out his own niche. Led the Oceanic with 29 points in 27 games.

25. Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL): Hockey has been the foundation for a player whose family has moved frequently in his youth. Committed to University of Wisconsin for next season.

26. Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga): Production has never been equal to his work rate, and despite being a young phenom before his draft year, he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Managed three points in 35 games this season playing in Finland’s top pro league.

27. Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea (SWE): Plays a prototypical north- south game. NHL bloodlines always an asset (father Bert played with Canucks, Oilers and Rangers) even more in uncertain times.

28. Zachary Dean, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL): Old school traits in that he has great outside speed and a bulldog determination to get to and stay in front of the net.

29. Francesco Pinelli, C, (OHL): There’s plenty to like in this versatile forward whose best-suited to play centre.

30. Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL): Might be the sleeper pick of Round 1. He didn’t play for more than 14 months and then was able to do everything Canada asked of him at the U18s.

31. Zachary L'Heureux, LW, (QMJHL): A lack of discipline resulted in multiple suspensions, and that posed questions about an unpredictable character. Needs structure and a solid leadership sidecar.

32. Sasha Pastujov, RW, USNTDP: Circus references aside (his parents used to work for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey), he showed remarkable consistency against a variety of competition all season.

Sportsnet.ca LOADED: 07.16.2021 1217416 Websites options through free agency alone, and most of those options look much more encouraging than a player like Keith.

Even lower-tier players like Jordie Benn (age 33, coming off a $2-million TSN.CA / Keith trade a reminder that timing is everything dollar per-year contract) and Alec Martinez (age 33, coming off a $4- million dollar per-year contract) offer intriguing alternatives, and likely at a Moving first in any market tends to carry higher risks and higher rewards, lower risk. as the Edmonton Oilers found out this week in adding the veteran blueliner, Travis Yost writes. Signing one or more of these players may have caused another series of moves to become compliant for the expansion draft, but it also would have likely accomplished the most important thing – adding value to the lineup and improving the roster. And if nothing else, the added presence By Travis Yost of players like Yandle and Suter readily available in free agency should have depressed the trade price of a player like Keith.

On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers acquired veteran defenceman Duncan Hockey is a lot like everything else. Timing is everything. If Keith does Keith from the Chicago Blackhawks. To land the 37-year-old blueliner not pan out as Edmonton anticipates, the cadence of how the Oilers’ off- and three-time Stanley Cup champion, the Oilers had to part ways with season moves played out will be scrutinized in even finer detail. prospect Caleb Jones and a conditional third-round pick (2022). TSN.CA LOADED: 07.16.2021 The move was, in one word, curious. Keith may have one of the most impressive resumes of any active player, but there are serious performance concerns now late in his playing career.

General manager Ken Holland defended the move, citing Keith’s experience and leadership. It’s clear the Edmonton front office not only thinks Keith will bolster the team’s top four, but that he’ll be a positive impact on the Oilers’ star forwards next season.

Perhaps Keith will rebound – there’s no arguing he was playing on a rapidly deteriorating Blackhawks team that offered very little by way of support and structure, and his skating ability alone should fit in with an Oilers lineup that wants to play fast.

But a lot has changed in 48 hours. The Minnesota Wild, one day after the Keith trade, opted to buy out veteran defenceman Ryan Suter. The Florida Panthers followed suit on Thursday, buying out Keith Yandle.

Let’s circle back to a quote Holland gave after the Keith trade to The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman, with specific attention to the price paid by the Oilers organization:

“What, do you want me to get him for free? You want a lesser price? You want Caleb Jones? You don’t want the draft pick? You want them to retain 50 per cent? Which would you like me to do? Do you want me to get them to retain money? Or do you think I paid too high a price with Caleb Jones and a third-round pick?”

It’s impossible for outsiders to know what the real trade market is yielding, and to that end, Holland is correct. But now those bearish on a Keith trade must consider a second question: Did being a first mover in this market cost the Oilers?

Moving first in any market tends to carry higher rewards and higher risks. One of the things you are considering when engineering a trade is alternatives and opportunity costs.

At the time of the trade, we can reasonably assume the Oilers preferred the combination of acquiring Keith and taking care of some of the expansion draft math they are working against in lieu of signing free- agent defenders looking for term – Alexander Edler and Dougie Hamilton at the top of that list.

But now you add players like Suter and Yandle to the free agency pool, which increases the available supply of talent for general managers to tap into.

Perhaps the Oilers don’t see a fit for players like Suter or Yandle. But consider the available supply of veteran defenders (age 30+, left shot, looking for shorter-term deals) in free agency relative to the player they acquired in Keith – and consider their respective production in recent years:

Holland is trying to build a Stanley Cup contender. Due to salary cap limitations (including a flat cap), the Oilers – like many teams – have reduced flexibility in terms of what they can do. On top of that, the organization is trying to figure out the right structure for which players to protect in the upcoming expansion draft.

On the other hand, there are a remarkable number of veteran defenders who are still contributing in a very positive manner, with Suter being at the top of that list. If the Oilers organization thought a veteran blueliner who can still play was the answer to what ails them, there were several