The SC finals are in the rearview and the longest season in NHL history is put to bed.
The NHL Awards are handed out on Thursday night and the draft begins Friday night at the Sphere in Vegas.
The off-season is expected to be a busy one with the first salary cap increase since COVID. The players association opted to leave salaries as is instead of accepting a pay cut during the COVID season(s) and to do that they basically borrowed against future earnings, which suppressed the cap at the current levels.
Anyway, lot of activity could happen between now, the draft and free agency. Several big names rumored to be on the trading block.
Trevor Zegras (MTL and NYR among those named as "interested")
Martin Necas
Patrik Laine
Linus Ullmark (just traded to OTT)
Nikolaj Ehlers
Maybe Mitch Marner and more and then there is buyouts, FA, etc.
Here is the Ullmark trade FWIW:
TRADE ALERT: The #Sens have acquired G Linus Ullmark from @NHLBruins in exchange for (Boston’s original) ’24 first-round draft pick (no. 25 overall), C Mark Kastelic and G Joonas Korpisalo. As part of the transaction, the #Sens will retain 25% of Korpisalo’s remaining salary.… pic.twitter.com/0xRMxi8wZS
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) June 24, 2024
Yeah, I always prefer that. He's been in NA, he plays in the USHL. Much easier to scout.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
The Hockey Writers
@TheHockeyWriter
The Washington Capitals have acquired Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights for the 82nd overall pick in 2024 and a 2025 3rd-round pick.
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are crushing their picks. I like Bednarik and Eiserman.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
Part of it is projection, he's not a flashy player, but does everything well, so I say his floor is bottom 6 player, PK, physical, great D, shot blocking, but if he develops it doesn't take much to see him in the top 6.
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In comment 16545497 pjcas18 said:
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are crushing their picks. I like Bednarik and Eiserman.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
Part of it is projection, he's not a flashy player, but does everything well, so I say his floor is bottom 6 player, PK, physical, great D, shot blocking, but if he develops it doesn't take much to see him in the top 6.
Sounds like a Pageau replacement
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In comment 16545503 JayBinQueens said:
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In comment 16545497 pjcas18 said:
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are crushing their picks. I like Bednarik and Eiserman.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
Part of it is projection, he's not a flashy player, but does everything well, so I say his floor is bottom 6 player, PK, physical, great D, shot blocking, but if he develops it doesn't take much to see him in the top 6.
Sounds like a Pageau replacement
good comp. eventually. I think he's going to BU or BC which is perfect for him.
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In comment 16545505 pjcas18 said:
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In comment 16545503 JayBinQueens said:
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In comment 16545497 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
are crushing their picks. I like Bednarik and Eiserman.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
Part of it is projection, he's not a flashy player, but does everything well, so I say his floor is bottom 6 player, PK, physical, great D, shot blocking, but if he develops it doesn't take much to see him in the top 6.
Sounds like a Pageau replacement
good comp. eventually. I think he's going to BU or BC which is perfect for him.
Sounds similar to Danny Nelson last year. Bednarik and Cole will be college teammates.
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In comment 16545510 JayBinQueens said:
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In comment 16545505 pjcas18 said:
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In comment 16545503 JayBinQueens said:
Quote:
In comment 16545497 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
are crushing their picks. I like Bednarik and Eiserman.
picking off the USNDTP glue guys.
What type of upside does Bednarik have
Part of it is projection, he's not a flashy player, but does everything well, so I say his floor is bottom 6 player, PK, physical, great D, shot blocking, but if he develops it doesn't take much to see him in the top 6.
Sounds like a Pageau replacement
good comp. eventually. I think he's going to BU or BC which is perfect for him.
Sounds similar to Danny Nelson last year. Bednarik and Cole will be college teammates.
Another good comp. I think Nelson has a little more edge to his game, but similar players - a lot of the USNTDP play this style.
Josh Yohe
@JoshYohe_PGH
Whether you like the Kevin Hayes move or not, important to note that he was rumored to play a role in Cutter Gauthier refusing to play in Philly. Hayes denies. But still funny and maybe will add some spice to Penguins-Flyers rivalry, which has gone stale the past few years.
1:07 PM · Jun 29, 2024
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Josh Yohe
@JoshYohe_PGH
Whether you like the Kevin Hayes move or not, important to note that he was rumored to play a role in Cutter Gauthier refusing to play in Philly. Hayes denies. But still funny and maybe will add some spice to Penguins-Flyers rivalry, which has gone stale the past few years.
1:07 PM · Jun 29, 2024
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1,509
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You didn't hear this? Pj, I'm shocked lol.
Torts defending Hayes - ( New Window )
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if true. Hayes is one of the few US players I'm not a fan of, I hate that he's been blessed with such size but plays soft as charmin.
Josh Yohe
@JoshYohe_PGH
Whether you like the Kevin Hayes move or not, important to note that he was rumored to play a role in Cutter Gauthier refusing to play in Philly. Hayes denies. But still funny and maybe will add some spice to Penguins-Flyers rivalry, which has gone stale the past few years.
1:07 PM · Jun 29, 2024
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1,509
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You didn't hear this? Pj, I'm shocked lol.
Torts defending Hayes - ( New Window )
oh yeah, it looks familiar now, I think someone on here shared it.
Silayev: 6'7, 207
Yegorov: 6'5, 187
Pikkarainen: 6'3, 198
Traff: 6'3, 216
The broadcast crew commented on it a few times. If I hear the phrase "big rig" again it will be too soon.
Someone (Granato?) estimated two thirds of the draftees were over 6' 3"
And Holtz!
Sounds like Schmid and Holtz for Paul Cotter and a pick
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Akira Schmid going from NJD to LVG
And Holtz!
Sounds like Schmid and Holtz for Paul Cotter and a pick
yeah that's it - a 2025 3rd.
JAG - bottom 6 player, will hit, block shots, interchangeable, probably sticks if he has a min contract otherwise I wouldn't be shocked if he gets cut (not too familiar with the bottom of NJD roster)
Not sure, but I don't think he was active at all for LVG in the playoffs.
Not sure why/how they threw Holtz in to this trade unless they're looking to clear cap (is Holtz an RFA?)
I know I saw a kid from a MN high school picked earlier, but I'm not sure this happens too often anymore.
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Around the league better than I do especially out west. Give me the breakdown on Cotter.
JAG - bottom 6 player, will hit, block shots, interchangeable, probably sticks if he has a min contract otherwise I wouldn't be shocked if he gets cut (not too familiar with the bottom of NJD roster)
Not sure, but I don't think he was active at all for LVG in the playoffs.
Not sure why/how they threw Holtz in to this trade unless they're looking to clear cap (is Holtz an RFA?)
No Holtz has another year left on his ELC. This trade makes no sense whatsoever. They save next to nothing on the cap. Not saying Holtz headlines a deal any more but he was a good guy to combine with other assets in a big trade. I get his star has fallen in the organization but come on he's trade for a 4th line JAG??
I know I saw a kid from a MN high school picked earlier, but I'm not sure this happens too often anymore.
Sorry, Saint Sebastians is not public. It's $58 grand a year to go to. lol.
But the crunch is coming in 2025-26, when Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller are due new contracts that could amount to a sum of at least $26M. For reference, the trio will eat a combined $11.9M this season.
Kind of a big gulp, don’t you think?
5. The gulp may be even larger than you imagine with The Post having been told that Shesterkin’s camp is aiming for a contract under which the goaltender would start with 14 percent of the cap, which would equate to a netminding record of $12.9M under an expected $92M cap for 2025-26.
The cap hit would remain at $12.9M through the contract while the percentage would decline as the cap is expected to increase. But that number seems untenable on a deal that would likely be seven or eight years and take Shesterkin — who has had two very uneven regular seasons following his 2021-22 Vezina — to age 36 or 37.
In fact, I’d suggest it would be untenable for the Rangers, GM Chris Drury and the hierarchy to enter the season with Shesterkin as a pending free agent. This is something that needs to get done before the season. If the goaltender’s camp is not amenable to that, the Rangers will have to investigate trade opportunities. ...
link - ( New Window )
@HabsOnReddit
“CHI tried to get into that 4th spot, offering next year’s unprotected 1st+, CBJ didn’t do it. PHI also tried, couldn’t do it. That was about Demidov. Everybody knew MTL was gonna take Demidov 5th & if you wanted to get him, you had to beat them [to it].”
- Elliotte Friedman
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In comment 16545562 Stu11 said:
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Around the league better than I do especially out west. Give me the breakdown on Cotter.
JAG - bottom 6 player, will hit, block shots, interchangeable, probably sticks if he has a min contract otherwise I wouldn't be shocked if he gets cut (not too familiar with the bottom of NJD roster)
Not sure, but I don't think he was active at all for LVG in the playoffs.
Not sure why/how they threw Holtz in to this trade unless they're looking to clear cap (is Holtz an RFA?)
No Holtz has another year left on his ELC. This trade makes no sense whatsoever. They save next to nothing on the cap. Not saying Holtz headlines a deal any more but he was a good guy to combine with other assets in a big trade. I get his star has fallen in the organization but come on he's trade for a 4th line JAG??
For what it's worth, ESPN is giving the devils a higher grade for this trade than VGK.
Tampa Bay Lightning
@TBLightning
Latest addition coming to Tampa! ⚡️
We have acquired forward Jake Guentzel from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
I think they get Guentzel done before FA.
I think they get Guentzel done before FA.
34 years old but 3 healthy years in a row.
malkin at 36 got 4x6.1m 2 years ago. he'd been older and more injured but not sure there's a better comp than that. got to think stamkos will do a lot better than that. cap about 10% higher.
I think this explains the TBL Sergachev trade - an effort to clear space for Guentzel especially once Stamkos talks broke off.
Elliotte was all over this.
@EdmontonOilers
The #Oilers have placed goaltender Jack Campbell on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.
im hoping theres a way isles can clear $ for marchessault. played for roy in minors and would be a pretty good fit for what isles need. if they can move pageau or palmieri i think that's enough money.
Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
#nhljets have also placed D Nate Schmidt on unconditional waivers today for purposes of a buyout.
12:10 PM · Jun 30, 2024
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Frank Seravalli
@frank_seravalli
#nhljets have also placed D Nate Schmidt on unconditional waivers today for purposes of a buyout.
12:10 PM · Jun 30, 2024
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23.5K
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the FA class is probably why there wasnt much action at draft. teams would probably rather sign guys for free before trading assets for guys who need extensions any way.
could be an interesting trade market once free agents start coming off the board.
PLD went pre-draft as did Mangiapane - both to WAS.
Only one I did not see reported yet was Boqvist.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Buyout waivers today: Adam Boqvist (Columbus), Jack Campbell (Edmonton), Nate Schmidt (Winnipeg)
@BenPopeCST
Sounds like Taylor Raddysh will NOT receive a qualifying offer from the Blackhawks. Deadline for those is today at 4pm CT.
@Sportsnet
Max Domi and the Maple Leafs are closing in on a contract extension, as per @FriedgeHNIC
. 👀
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing talks between the Maple Leafs and Max Domi intensified over the last 24 hours…we should see something at four years, just under $4M AAV
Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
Sources say there is no change to the NHL rights of the Canadian world junior players charged with sexual assault.
That means Dillon Dubé (CGY), Carter Hart (PHI), Michael McLeod (NJ) and Cal Foote (NJ) will become UFA's if not tendered a qualifying offer by 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.