Offseason NHL News
- Thread starter cshea
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Ha! Good point, I forgot Zadorov was in Vancouver this year. I still think of Lindholm and Zadorov as Flames.
So Florida has lost another defenceman with Montour signing with Seattle. I think that is a major loss.
David Perron to the Sens. Too bad the Wings weren't able to keep him. He was solid for them the last two years.
View: https://twitter.com/Senators/status/1807820613936984146
View: https://twitter.com/Senators/status/1807820613936984146
He has quietly had a very good career. 350 goals and 900 points are still possible.
In the midst of Free Agency Frenzy, the NHL slides out a press release stating that they've reinstated Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville and Al McIsaac.
View: https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1807868189847511538
View: https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1807868189847511538
Was pretty clear from how they handled the whole thing that they didn’t want him back. His production was heavily weighted toward the power play, I think they saw him as turning into a power play sniper and declining in creating opportunities 5x5.
I get all that but they took a hardline stance with their franchise icon. Yes, Stamkos is older, but the MO in Tampa is basically everyone gets a long term extension. Even the depth guys like Paul and Hagel. They are reportedly wrapping up Hedman’s extension now, he’s a year younger than Stamkos.
Torey Krug may miss the entire season if his pre-arthritic ankle requires surgery. What a disastrous signing for the Blues.
This is an absolute disgrace.
Oilers are hiring Stan Bowman as General Manager,
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1816103112941117511
Oilers are hiring Stan Bowman as General Manager,
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1816103112941117511
Flyers extend Konecny - 8 years, 8.75 AAV. Extension takes effect after this season.
30+ goals in each of the last 2 seasons. Seems like a slight overpay but he seems to have broken out under Torts.
https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-sign-forward-travis-konecny-to-an-eight-year-extension
30+ goals in each of the last 2 seasons. Seems like a slight overpay but he seems to have broken out under Torts.
https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-sign-forward-travis-konecny-to-an-eight-year-extension
Eric Staal signed a one-day contract with the Canes and retired.
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40682234/eric-staal-inks-1-day-deal-hurricanes-retires-nhl
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40682234/eric-staal-inks-1-day-deal-hurricanes-retires-nhl
Missed this, but Sportsnet quietly separated from Jeff Marek after the draft. I did find it odd at the time that the last 32 Thoughts, the free agency preview, was Friedman going solo but I chalked it up to the crunch between the draft and free agency and their traveling between Vegas and Toronto.
Not a ton of details but his firing might have been related to a gambling investigation. Apparently the NHL caught wind that Marek was revealing to a friend draft picks ahead of the picks being announced. Not a ton more info other than anecdotes that Marek actually doesn't gamble and has voiced concerns over gambling ad reads for his show.
Kinda bizarre story.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673003/2024/08/01/jeff-marek-sportsnet-nhl-draft-removed/?source=emp_shared_article
Not a ton of details but his firing might have been related to a gambling investigation. Apparently the NHL caught wind that Marek was revealing to a friend draft picks ahead of the picks being announced. Not a ton more info other than anecdotes that Marek actually doesn't gamble and has voiced concerns over gambling ad reads for his show.
Kinda bizarre story.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673003/2024/08/01/jeff-marek-sportsnet-nhl-draft-removed/?source=emp_shared_article
Couple tidbits in the last 24 hours:
-lol Blues. They put offer sheets on Philip Broberg (2x$4.85M) and Dylan Holloway (2x$2.29). Not matching nets the Oilers a second (Broberg) and/or a third (Holloway).
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1823368394210431179?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
-Leafs named Auston Matthews captain, with Tavares’ blessing.
View: https://twitter.com/darrendreger/status/1823131242553905294?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
-lol Blues. They put offer sheets on Philip Broberg (2x$4.85M) and Dylan Holloway (2x$2.29). Not matching nets the Oilers a second (Broberg) and/or a third (Holloway).
View: https://twitter.com/friedgehnic/status/1823368394210431179?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
-Leafs named Auston Matthews captain, with Tavares’ blessing.
View: https://twitter.com/darrendreger/status/1823131242553905294?s=46&t=QgPlur015YjYmVsNzWFFfg
I think they also made a draft pick trade with Pittsburgh to get themselves the compensation they would have to send over if the offer sheets were signed.
View: https://twitter.com/penguins/status/1823351551273967991
Here is something (not sure where else to put it) the video description is interesting
View: https://youtu.be/Ueea4F70HHw?feature=shared
Ordinarily I wouldn't put up a recording in this kind of weak quality but when I learned of the historic significance of this game I realized an exception had to be made. On September 21, 1969 the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues played a preseason game in Ottawa. With seven minutes left in the first period, a major stick-swinging fight broke out between Boston's Ted Green and St. Louis's Wayne Maki that resulted with Green suffering a serious head injury that required five hours of emergency surgery that night. Maki was suspended for 30 days and Green for 13 by NHL President Clarence Campbell. The brutalness of the fight and Green's head injury was a key factor in the eventual push for mandatory helmets in the NHL. Maki ultimately died of brain cancer in 1974.
-Over the years an urban legend has arisen that the NHL ordered all footage of the fight destroyed because of its gruesomeness but in fact, the game, being a preseason one, was not televised in either Boston or St. Louis. The only game broadcast was on KMOX radio in St. Louis by the Blues announcing team of Dan Kelly and Gus Kyle. This recording is of that broadcast but a cautionary note. The game was recorded by a hockey fan in Dallas (the same person taped a number of minor league hockey games that I also have in my possession from the same time-frame) and as a result the KMOX signal is very weak. The fight erupts at 3:10 into the recording and I boosted the audio as best I could for that part so you can make out how Kelly describes the initial brawl. The audio does improve a bit as the game goes along. Because I am not aware of any other recording of this KMOX broadcast existing, I have decided that for the sake of history it should be posted here.
-Over the years an urban legend has arisen that the NHL ordered all footage of the fight destroyed because of its gruesomeness but in fact, the game, being a preseason one, was not televised in either Boston or St. Louis. The only game broadcast was on KMOX radio in St. Louis by the Blues announcing team of Dan Kelly and Gus Kyle. This recording is of that broadcast but a cautionary note. The game was recorded by a hockey fan in Dallas (the same person taped a number of minor league hockey games that I also have in my possession from the same time-frame) and as a result the KMOX signal is very weak. The fight erupts at 3:10 into the recording and I boosted the audio as best I could for that part so you can make out how Kelly describes the initial brawl. The audio does improve a bit as the game goes along. Because I am not aware of any other recording of this KMOX broadcast existing, I have decided that for the sake of history it should be posted here.
Laine and a 2026 2nd to MTL for Jordan Harris
View: https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1825621614136012874
Reasonable gamble by Montreal. They take back the full $8.7 million contract but it's only 2 years. At the very least they pick up a 2nd to eat the contract and the upside is Laine returns to some form.
Elsewhere the Oilers traded Ceci to the Sharks and also acquired Vasily Podkolzin from Vancouver. Clock is ticking on the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway.
Finally, Preds prospect Yaroslav Askarov has requested a trade. He's probably the top goalie prospect, was the 11th overall pick in 2021. Been in the AHL the past 2 years but doesn't want to go back and his path to the NHL in Nasvhille is seemingly blocked by the Saros extension.
View: https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1825621614136012874
Reasonable gamble by Montreal. They take back the full $8.7 million contract but it's only 2 years. At the very least they pick up a 2nd to eat the contract and the upside is Laine returns to some form.
Elsewhere the Oilers traded Ceci to the Sharks and also acquired Vasily Podkolzin from Vancouver. Clock is ticking on the offer sheets to Broberg and Holloway.
Finally, Preds prospect Yaroslav Askarov has requested a trade. He's probably the top goalie prospect, was the 11th overall pick in 2021. Been in the AHL the past 2 years but doesn't want to go back and his path to the NHL in Nasvhille is seemingly blocked by the Saros extension.
I think the Ceci trade plus Kane on LTIR gives them room to match both offers. They will need to move someone else at some point unless Kane pulls a Stone.
Friedman broke some of this down on a pod last week but he was hearing Kane is going to get surgery but it’s not season ending so they couldn’t necessarily Stone him though they could do it now to get compliant and figure it out if/when Kane is ready to return.
Another issue is the 2-year term for the offer sheets. They are working on the Draisaitl extension which will start next season and he’s obviously getting a raise. Then there’s the qualifying offer and arbitration impacts to deal with.
If I was Edmonton I’d collect the picks and walk away from both.
The Oilers aren't matching the Broberg and Holloway offer sheets, per Friedman.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1825868643839721581
I think it's the right call. The Broberg one is particularly insane, $4.58 AAV for a kid who has been on the AHL shuttle the past 3 seasons. Friedman's pod last week said Broberg's ask from Edmonton was $1.8 million and the Blues nearly tripled it. Holloway is insane too but not as bad for his role.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1825868643839721581
I think it's the right call. The Broberg one is particularly insane, $4.58 AAV for a kid who has been on the AHL shuttle the past 3 seasons. Friedman's pod last week said Broberg's ask from Edmonton was $1.8 million and the Blues nearly tripled it. Holloway is insane too but not as bad for his role.
Pittsburgh acquiring Rutger McGroarty from Winnipeg. Winnipeg's 2022 1st round pick, 14th overall, who asked for a trade.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1826651306356080895
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1826651306356080895
The return is Brayden Yager, Pittsburgh's 1st round pick, 14th overall, from 2023.
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1826657768583168193
View: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1826657768583168193
I refuse to believe these names weren't made up by a video game AI. Rutger McGroarty sounds like an NPC in a gritty detective game.
Draisaitl extension in Edmonton is done. 8 x $14 million AAV.
View: https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1830976637984481481
View: https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1830976637984481481
I mean, a half as good player is still a 55-65 point player.
Yes that’s absolutely worth 7 million a year in the current NHL.
Especially since the Bruins just signed Elias Lindholm to a $7.75 million AAV deal and his career points per game comes out to a 55 point average over an 82 game season, and nobody thinks that it’s a bad deal.
Player salaries are going up and will continue to go up. The league and union negotiated a flat cap as part of the CBA to help get through the pandemic and economic aftermath. This season is the first post-flat cap year and included significant growth in the cap. When the cap goes up, player salaries go up. Draisaitl's contract is 15.9% against the current cap but that will decrease as the cap rises again next year when the extension actually kicks in. When McDavid signed his current deal, it was 15.7% of the salary cap. When he signs his new deal next summer, it's probably going to be $15-$16 million AAV.
Krug having ankle surgery, done for the year: https://nesn.com/2024/09/former-bruins-fan-favorite-to-miss-entire-2024-25-season/amp/
Which is a dumb comparison because (1) total revenue is much different between the leagues, (2) there are much more hockey players on a team than basketball players, and (3) one basketball player can have a much more outsized impact on a game than one hockey player given even the best forward will only be out there for ~1/3 of the game.
I would love to see more dialogue on the Swayman contract negotiation. Maybe I’m a Sway fanboy, but I absolutely love the kid.
I’m no expert, but with the Ullmark trade, doesn’t Sway have a shit ton of leverage here? Especially with how much the city/fanbase adores him? Also, the lack of a true backup plan…
I believe they traded Ullmark because there was genuine goodwill between the two sides despite the pain the arbitration experience caused Swayman. That said, I am concerned the rumored 8yr offer in the 6’s may have insulted him further. The he hasn’t shown it over a full season arguments don’t carry much water for me. His playoff performance and widely reported competitive mentality/personality are all I need.
In conclusion, the club better pay him (8 for 8.5-9.5 imo) or I am going to be pissed. We have an above average team today and Jeremy will make the Bruins fun to watch for many years to come.
I’m no expert, but with the Ullmark trade, doesn’t Sway have a shit ton of leverage here? Especially with how much the city/fanbase adores him? Also, the lack of a true backup plan…
I believe they traded Ullmark because there was genuine goodwill between the two sides despite the pain the arbitration experience caused Swayman. That said, I am concerned the rumored 8yr offer in the 6’s may have insulted him further. The he hasn’t shown it over a full season arguments don’t carry much water for me. His playoff performance and widely reported competitive mentality/personality are all I need.
In conclusion, the club better pay him (8 for 8.5-9.5 imo) or I am going to be pissed. We have an above average team today and Jeremy will make the Bruins fun to watch for many years to come.
This front office under Sweeney never leaks anything to the media. They never have since he’s taken over, so we aren’t going to know how much dialogue that there is or isn’t.
And I disagree with Swayman having all of the leverage, he’s a restricted free agent? What’s he going to do? Sit out the year? Go play in Russia? Good luck with that.
Wouid it be unheard of for him to play on a 1yr deal like some guys in the NBA do?
Spending $10M per year on a goalie for the next 8 send reasonable as the cap goes up, but I can see why they are hesitant. Spending premium dollars on a goalie is never prudent.
Yup just look at Carey Price. Signed his megadeal in the summer of 2017 and never was the same player.