NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread
- Thread starter Absolut Kaz
- Start date
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Jonathan Y
Well-Known Member
No idea whos going to end up on the lightning given the cap situation but man I love the few picks we had
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Ranking the NHL's top pending UFAs Ranking the NHL's top pending UFAs
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The Vancouver Canucks have placed forward Jake Virtanen on unconditional waivers to proceed with a buyout, general manager Jim Benning confirmed Sunday.
In mid-May, a woman sued Virtanen, claiming he sexually assaulted her in 2017. The Canucks placed him on leave less than three weeks after she first made the allegations. The soon-to-be 25-year-old did not play a game after April 29.
The team would have owed Virtanen $3.4 million in total salary at a $2.55-million cap hit next season, according to CapFriendly. Vancouver signed him through 2021-22.
The Canucks have about $21 million in cap space after reportedly taking on $7.26 million of Oliver Ekman-Larsson's $8.25-million cap hit in Friday's blockbuster trade with the Arizona Coyotes. However, Vancouver still needs to sign franchise cornerstones Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes to new deals, and the club has a slew of additional pending free agents, including newcomer Conor Garland.
Virtanen spent his first six seasons with the Canucks, who drafted him sixth overall in 2014.
In mid-May, a woman sued Virtanen, claiming he sexually assaulted her in 2017. The Canucks placed him on leave less than three weeks after she first made the allegations. The soon-to-be 25-year-old did not play a game after April 29.
The team would have owed Virtanen $3.4 million in total salary at a $2.55-million cap hit next season, according to CapFriendly. Vancouver signed him through 2021-22.
The Canucks have about $21 million in cap space after reportedly taking on $7.26 million of Oliver Ekman-Larsson's $8.25-million cap hit in Friday's blockbuster trade with the Arizona Coyotes. However, Vancouver still needs to sign franchise cornerstones Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes to new deals, and the club has a slew of additional pending free agents, including newcomer Conor Garland.
Virtanen spent his first six seasons with the Canucks, who drafted him sixth overall in 2014.
BjorgenFjorgen
Well-Known Member
Bergevin, come get your man.
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
Haha,
To be honest .. what came to my mind, at least they were kinda upfront with that. Bet there were like 10 other GMs just waiting to pick that guy in a much later round. These guys value talent over almost everything. Its worse in the NFL though, but i dont see any scenario where this guy would have gone undrafted.
First thing I thought too. Maybe they can get Voynov out of the KHL while they're at it.
Can DeShaun Watson skate? Maybe add him too.
Last edited:
BazookaTooth
Well-Known Member
Big Ben and Ray Lewis while you are at it
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson is calling it a career after 14 NHL seasons, reports NHL Network's Craig Morgan.
Hjalmarsson, 34, has been with the Coyotes for the last four campaigns. He previously spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played a vital role on the club's Stanley Cup-winning teams last decade. Hjalmarsson was one of seven players to be part of all three victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
The Swedish defenseman was one of the league's top defensive defensemen for more than a decade.
Since the beginning of the 2008-09 campaign, Hjalmarsson ranks second among all defensemen with 75.23 blocked shots per 60 minutes and 13th with 15.12 takeaways per 60 minutes.
The Blackhawks drafted Hjalmarsson 108th overall in 2005. In 821 career games, he scored 25 goals and added 147 assists. He also won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Hjalmarsson, 34, has been with the Coyotes for the last four campaigns. He previously spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played a vital role on the club's Stanley Cup-winning teams last decade. Hjalmarsson was one of seven players to be part of all three victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
The Swedish defenseman was one of the league's top defensive defensemen for more than a decade.
Since the beginning of the 2008-09 campaign, Hjalmarsson ranks second among all defensemen with 75.23 blocked shots per 60 minutes and 13th with 15.12 takeaways per 60 minutes.
The Blackhawks drafted Hjalmarsson 108th overall in 2005. In 821 career games, he scored 25 goals and added 147 assists. He also won a silver medal with Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
It is going to be a real free-agency frenzy this year!
www.sportsnet.ca
Big week for potential Jack Eichel trade, free agency predictions
Why this is a big week for a potential Jack Eichel trade that his representatives still expect to happen, how an interesting goalie market is taking shape, plus some predictions for free agency and trade destinations.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
4 NHL signings we'd love to see
A few marquee NHL pending unrestricted free agents appear likely to re-sign with their current clubs or have already done so. But several impact players may still opt for a change of scenery.
While Alex Ovechkin isn't expected to hit the market and Taylor Hall has already chosen not to explore it again, it would be compelling to see a quartet of other pending UFAs do just that.
These may not be the most likely scenarios, but that doesn't mean we can't still hope they'll happen. Here are four signings we'd love to see when NHL free agency opens Wednesday:
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty
The Seattle Kraken should nab Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Dougie Hamilton for several reasons.
The league's newest squad chose not to make any huge splashes in the expansion draft, passing on the likes of Carey Price and Vladimir Tarasenko for more affordable options. As a result, Seattle has nearly $31 million in cap space, and Hamilton is a franchise cornerstone defenseman who only turned 28 last month.
The Kraken did reportedly commit to inking steady blue-liners Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak, but Hamilton is a bonafide No. 1 rearguard who can anchor a power play and a defensive unit in general. The club could also use a right-handed shot like Hamilton for their top pairing since Mark Giordano, Carson Soucy, Vince Dunn, and Oleksiak are all lefties. Larsson should be in the team's top four, but Hamilton would be a major upgrade.
Seattle should swoop in and sign Hamilton - the move would more than solidify the Kraken blue line for years to come, and the NHL's 32nd team could justify the cost by having more than enough financial wiggle room.
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Would it be fun to watch Gabriel Landeskog continue to produce with the Colorado Avalanche on arguably the NHL's best line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? Sure. But it would be more interesting to answer the question, "How good would the Swedish winger be on an entirely different squad?"
How about a brand-new outfit that laid part of its foundation in last week's expansion draft and - even after signing Hamilton - would still have a bunch of money to spend on more core players that could carry the club for years? Landeskog would give Seattle a combination of playmaking ability, physicality, two-way prowess, and the leadership qualities that earned him the "C" with Colorado.
Considering how poorly negotiations between Landeskog and the Avalanche have apparently gone, it wouldn't be surprising to see him leave. The St. Louis Blues were reportedly ready to push hard for him, but they're less likely to do so now after acquiring Pavel Buchnevich.
Colorado has around $20 million in cap space after re-signing Cale Makar, but the team still has to take care of Philipp Grubauer, who's coming off a career year in goal. The Avs might be able to bring both big-ticket pending UFAs back, but it remains to be seen whether Landeskog wants to return given how "disappointed" he said he's been with the negotiations. The 28-year-old may have a better chance at the Stanley Cup with Colorado, but the two parties don't seem to be seeing eye-to-eye at the moment.
Joining the Kraken would allow Landeskog to silence critics who say he can't excel away from the two aforementioned superstars, and few other organizations have the flexibility to pay him what he may feel he deserves.
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Speaking of the Avs, their No. 1 netminder, Grubauer, is on the verge of becoming the top free-agent goalie available. However, it remains unclear whether he'll re-sign or test the market. The logical scenario involves Colorado inking the Vezina Trophy finalist to a long-term deal while pulling off the cap gymnastics required to keep the goalkeeper and Landeskog with enough room left to fill out the roster.
Only the Avalanche can give Grubauer a max-length eight-year deal, and they're still a perennial Stanley Cup favorite despite their repeated playoff failures. But if the franchise can't get a deal done, no team needs the German puck-stopper more than the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers' goaltending was atrocious last season, as no side allowed more goals in 2021. The club's two primary netminders - Carter Hart and Brian Elliott - posted the NHL's worst and second-worst goals saved above expected rates at minus-24.45 and minus-20.5, respectively, according to Evolving Hockey. The squad in front of Grubauer helped inflate his stellar numbers, but he'd still be a massive upgrade.
Hart remains Philadelphia's goalie of the future, but the soon-to-be 23-year-old was awful in his third campaign, and Elliott is a 36-year-old pending UFA. Signing Grubauer wouldn't sit well with Hart - who's a pending RFA himself - but the Flyers are in dire need of some stability in the crease until Hart's ready to retake the reins.
Grubauer may not settle for less than a long-term pact after his big year, but if he's willing to take a higher salary for fewer seasons, maybe he could be convinced. Colorado could then pursue a younger, cheaper puck-stopper like the vastly underrated Linus Ullmark in free agency. It may not be the most likely outcome, but it would be a fun one.
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Ryan Suter is an absolute workhorse on the back end. So, it's no surprise that he has his share of suitors, with at least five teams reportedly showing interest.
The Boston Bruins are apparently among the clubs in that quintet, and that's hardly shocking, either. Boston played with a depleted defense corps in 2021 following Torey Krug's and Zdeno Chara's departures, and then the unit lost Jeremy Lauzon in the expansion draft last week.
Suter will be 37 in January, and while he'll probably take a pay cut after the Minnesota Wild bought out his contract, he likely won't settle for what he deems below market value. But on a short-term, relatively team-friendly contract, he'd provide a major boost to the Bruins' blue line. It would also take some pressure off Charlie McAvoy and solidify Boston's top four.
The defenseman's point production declined this past campaign, but his underlying numbers were favorable - particularly on offense - and he's still capable of logging heavy minutes. There are risks involved, but the potential benefits and the fact that it would fill a big hole make this a no-brainer for the Bruins.
(Salary source: CapFriendly)
A few marquee NHL pending unrestricted free agents appear likely to re-sign with their current clubs or have already done so. But several impact players may still opt for a change of scenery.
While Alex Ovechkin isn't expected to hit the market and Taylor Hall has already chosen not to explore it again, it would be compelling to see a quartet of other pending UFAs do just that.
These may not be the most likely scenarios, but that doesn't mean we can't still hope they'll happen. Here are four signings we'd love to see when NHL free agency opens Wednesday:
Kraken ensnare Hamilton
The Seattle Kraken should nab Carolina Hurricanes star defenseman Dougie Hamilton for several reasons.
The league's newest squad chose not to make any huge splashes in the expansion draft, passing on the likes of Carey Price and Vladimir Tarasenko for more affordable options. As a result, Seattle has nearly $31 million in cap space, and Hamilton is a franchise cornerstone defenseman who only turned 28 last month.
The Kraken did reportedly commit to inking steady blue-liners Adam Larsson and Jamie Oleksiak, but Hamilton is a bonafide No. 1 rearguard who can anchor a power play and a defensive unit in general. The club could also use a right-handed shot like Hamilton for their top pairing since Mark Giordano, Carson Soucy, Vince Dunn, and Oleksiak are all lefties. Larsson should be in the team's top four, but Hamilton would be a major upgrade.
Seattle should swoop in and sign Hamilton - the move would more than solidify the Kraken blue line for years to come, and the NHL's 32nd team could justify the cost by having more than enough financial wiggle room.
Kraken land Landeskog
Would it be fun to watch Gabriel Landeskog continue to produce with the Colorado Avalanche on arguably the NHL's best line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? Sure. But it would be more interesting to answer the question, "How good would the Swedish winger be on an entirely different squad?"
How about a brand-new outfit that laid part of its foundation in last week's expansion draft and - even after signing Hamilton - would still have a bunch of money to spend on more core players that could carry the club for years? Landeskog would give Seattle a combination of playmaking ability, physicality, two-way prowess, and the leadership qualities that earned him the "C" with Colorado.
Considering how poorly negotiations between Landeskog and the Avalanche have apparently gone, it wouldn't be surprising to see him leave. The St. Louis Blues were reportedly ready to push hard for him, but they're less likely to do so now after acquiring Pavel Buchnevich.
Colorado has around $20 million in cap space after re-signing Cale Makar, but the team still has to take care of Philipp Grubauer, who's coming off a career year in goal. The Avs might be able to bring both big-ticket pending UFAs back, but it remains to be seen whether Landeskog wants to return given how "disappointed" he said he's been with the negotiations. The 28-year-old may have a better chance at the Stanley Cup with Colorado, but the two parties don't seem to be seeing eye-to-eye at the moment.
Joining the Kraken would allow Landeskog to silence critics who say he can't excel away from the two aforementioned superstars, and few other organizations have the flexibility to pay him what he may feel he deserves.
Flyers fetch Grubauer
Speaking of the Avs, their No. 1 netminder, Grubauer, is on the verge of becoming the top free-agent goalie available. However, it remains unclear whether he'll re-sign or test the market. The logical scenario involves Colorado inking the Vezina Trophy finalist to a long-term deal while pulling off the cap gymnastics required to keep the goalkeeper and Landeskog with enough room left to fill out the roster.
Only the Avalanche can give Grubauer a max-length eight-year deal, and they're still a perennial Stanley Cup favorite despite their repeated playoff failures. But if the franchise can't get a deal done, no team needs the German puck-stopper more than the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers' goaltending was atrocious last season, as no side allowed more goals in 2021. The club's two primary netminders - Carter Hart and Brian Elliott - posted the NHL's worst and second-worst goals saved above expected rates at minus-24.45 and minus-20.5, respectively, according to Evolving Hockey. The squad in front of Grubauer helped inflate his stellar numbers, but he'd still be a massive upgrade.
Hart remains Philadelphia's goalie of the future, but the soon-to-be 23-year-old was awful in his third campaign, and Elliott is a 36-year-old pending UFA. Signing Grubauer wouldn't sit well with Hart - who's a pending RFA himself - but the Flyers are in dire need of some stability in the crease until Hart's ready to retake the reins.
Grubauer may not settle for less than a long-term pact after his big year, but if he's willing to take a higher salary for fewer seasons, maybe he could be convinced. Colorado could then pursue a younger, cheaper puck-stopper like the vastly underrated Linus Ullmark in free agency. It may not be the most likely outcome, but it would be a fun one.
Bruins snag Suter
Ryan Suter is an absolute workhorse on the back end. So, it's no surprise that he has his share of suitors, with at least five teams reportedly showing interest.
The Boston Bruins are apparently among the clubs in that quintet, and that's hardly shocking, either. Boston played with a depleted defense corps in 2021 following Torey Krug's and Zdeno Chara's departures, and then the unit lost Jeremy Lauzon in the expansion draft last week.
Suter will be 37 in January, and while he'll probably take a pay cut after the Minnesota Wild bought out his contract, he likely won't settle for what he deems below market value. But on a short-term, relatively team-friendly contract, he'd provide a major boost to the Bruins' blue line. It would also take some pressure off Charlie McAvoy and solidify Boston's top four.
The defenseman's point production declined this past campaign, but his underlying numbers were favorable - particularly on offense - and he's still capable of logging heavy minutes. There are risks involved, but the potential benefits and the fact that it would fill a big hole make this a no-brainer for the Bruins.
(Salary source: CapFriendly)
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Jack Eichel's representatives believe the Buffalo Sabres will trade their captain soon.
"Our expectation is that Jack is going to be traded in the near future, and all of our discussions have been centered around that issue," agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Eichel's status was a hot topic at last weekend's draft, but a trade never materialized. The Sabres instead dealt two other core pieces, sending Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers and Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers. They also drafted top prospect Owen Power with the first overall pick.
Fish and Donatelli confirmed that Eichel is skating but wouldn't clarify if the 24-year-old needs neck surgery. Eichel reportedly wants a disc replacement, but the Sabres won't sign off on the procedure - a clear point of contention during the player's end-of-year press conference.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams hasn't shut the door on Eichel returning to Buffalo for the 2021-22 season.
"I would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp," Adams said after the draft, according to The Buffalo News.
Eichel missed the final two months of the season because of his neck issue. He finished the year with an underwhelming two goals and 16 assists in 21 games but is still bound to attract plenty of suitors on the trade market.
Since being drafted second overall in 2015, Eichel's recorded 355 points in 375 games. He has five years remaining on his contract at $10 million per season, and his no-movement clause kicks in after the upcoming campaign.
"Our expectation is that Jack is going to be traded in the near future, and all of our discussions have been centered around that issue," agents Peter Fish and Peter Donatelli told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Eichel's status was a hot topic at last weekend's draft, but a trade never materialized. The Sabres instead dealt two other core pieces, sending Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers and Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers. They also drafted top prospect Owen Power with the first overall pick.
Fish and Donatelli confirmed that Eichel is skating but wouldn't clarify if the 24-year-old needs neck surgery. Eichel reportedly wants a disc replacement, but the Sabres won't sign off on the procedure - a clear point of contention during the player's end-of-year press conference.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams hasn't shut the door on Eichel returning to Buffalo for the 2021-22 season.
"I would have no problem at all if Jack Eichel is on our team when we start training camp," Adams said after the draft, according to The Buffalo News.
Eichel missed the final two months of the season because of his neck issue. He finished the year with an underwhelming two goals and 16 assists in 21 games but is still bound to attract plenty of suitors on the trade market.
Since being drafted second overall in 2015, Eichel's recorded 355 points in 375 games. He has five years remaining on his contract at $10 million per season, and his no-movement clause kicks in after the upcoming campaign.
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
In case you haven't been keeping track at home...
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
Hollywood
Well-Known Member
The Florida Panthers have signed restricted free-agent forward Sam Bennett to a four-year contract, the team announced Monday.
Bennett's new deal carries an average annual value of $4.4 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Florida acquired Bennett last season from the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick and forward prospect Emil Heineman. Bennett took off with the Panthers, registering 15 points in 10 regular-season games after posting only 12 across 38 contests with the Flames.
"Sam's impact on our club this past season was seen immediately, injecting physicality, skill, and energy into our lineup," said Florida general manager Bill Zito. "We are thrilled to have him in our Panthers lineup and look forward to what he can bring to our offense in the upcoming 2021-22 season."
The Panthers have approximately $7 million in cap space after signing Bennett, according to CapFriendly. Florida also needs to sign newly acquired restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart before the season begins.
Bennett's previous pact paid him $2.55 million per season. He signed a pair of bridge deals with the Flames after his entry-level contract, struggling to carve out a role with the franchise that drafted him fourth overall in 2014.
The 25-year-old has 155 points in 412 NHL games.
Bennett's new deal carries an average annual value of $4.4 million, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Florida acquired Bennett last season from the Calgary Flames for a second-round pick and forward prospect Emil Heineman. Bennett took off with the Panthers, registering 15 points in 10 regular-season games after posting only 12 across 38 contests with the Flames.
"Sam's impact on our club this past season was seen immediately, injecting physicality, skill, and energy into our lineup," said Florida general manager Bill Zito. "We are thrilled to have him in our Panthers lineup and look forward to what he can bring to our offense in the upcoming 2021-22 season."
The Panthers have approximately $7 million in cap space after signing Bennett, according to CapFriendly. Florida also needs to sign newly acquired restricted free-agent forward Sam Reinhart before the season begins.
Bennett's previous pact paid him $2.55 million per season. He signed a pair of bridge deals with the Flames after his entry-level contract, struggling to carve out a role with the franchise that drafted him fourth overall in 2014.
The 25-year-old has 155 points in 412 NHL games.