Blackhawks re-sign Brent Seabrook, 10 NHL rookies to watch besides McDavid and Eichel and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.
Chicago Blackhawks re-sign Brent Seabrook to an eight-year deal.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: The Blackhawks last night re-signed defenseman Brent Seabrook to an eight-year, $55-million contract extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Seabrook’s new deal (which takes effect in 2016-17) is about three-to-four years longer than I expected, but the cap hit ($6.875 million) is around the $7 million annually that I recently predicted he would receive. That the Blackhawks re-signed Seabrook shouldn’t be surprising. Next to Duncan Keith, he’s their best defenseman (I consider him their best all-around defenseman, as he plays a more physical style than Keith), a key part of their core and among the reasons they’ve won three Stanley Cups in six years.
While his cap hit doesn’t shock me, the length of the deal is an eyebrow raiser. The deal takes Seabrook up to age 39, which could make his new deal burdensome in its later years when his performance inevitably declines. It’ll also push the ‘Hawks cap payroll for 2016-17 to over $65 million. Fortunately for the ‘Hawks, that should leave sufficient space to re-sign RFAs Marcus Kruger, Andrew Shaw and perhaps Jeremy Morin.
NBC SPORTS: Speaking of the Blackhawks, they also released defenseman Jan Hejda from his professional tryout contract.
STLTODAY.COM: The Blues need a better performance this season from their top defense pairing of Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester.
USA TODAY: Arizona Coyotes winger Max Domi, Calgary Flames center Sam Bennett and Detroit Red Wings pivot Dylan Larkin are among Kevin Allen’s list of 10 NHL rookies not named Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel you should keep an eye on this season.
THE DETROIT NEWS: As his playing career winds down, veteran Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary faces the cold reality of struggling to nail down a roster spot.
THE GUARDIAN (PEI): Battery and third-degree theft charges have been dropped against former NHL player and Charlottetown native David Ling.
THE TAMPA TRIBUNE: Veteran NHL goalie Ray Emery is battling for a backup job with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Baseball great Yogi Berra, who recently passed away at the age of 90, loved hockey and was a big fan of the New Jersey Devils.
Never doubted the Hawks would resign Seabrook.
Ray Emery was released from his PTO today so he’s no longer battling to make the Lighting
No slight to Kevin Allen, he’s 1 of the best in the business but when was the last time Detroit introduced a 19 year old rookie on to their NHL roster?
Factor in Detroit already has 15 forwards that require waivers to be sent down, although Datsyuk provides some short term relief & Fransen is an injury waiting to happen but the inn’s to full baring significant injuries or trades.