A look at several clubs with work still to do this summer and an update on Nail Yakupov in your NHL rumor mill.
SOME TEAMS STILL HAVE WORK TO DO THIS SUMMER
Re-signing Johnny Gaudreau is among the Calgary Flames’ summer priorities.
CBS SPORTS: Chris Peters listed the Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche as teams that still have work to do this summer to address some roster issues.
The Flames still have to re-sign RFAs Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, who are in line for substantial raises over their recent entry-level contracts, perhaps comparable to Nashville’s Filip Forsberg’s six-year, $36-million contract. Aside from potentially attempting to trade defenseman Dennis Wideman, re-signing those two are the Flames’ priority.
The Lightning, meanwhile, have only $8.5 million in salary cap space, with RFAs Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Nesterov to re-sign. Of these, the priority is Kucherov, whose new salary could eat up most of that cap space. GM Steve Yzerman has already admitted he’ll have to clear some cap space to re-sign the trio, which could put goalie Ben Bishop or forwards Valtteri Filppula or Ryan Callahan on alert.
Despite the Rangers recent swap of center Derek Brassard to Ottawa for Mika Zibanejad, they still have to re-sign RFA forward Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes, plus find a suitable replacement for departed puck-moving defenseman Keith Yandle. They’ve been linked to St. Louis’ Kevin Shattenkirk and Colorado’s Tyson Barrie in the rumor mill.
Speaking of the Avalanche and Barrie, the clock is ticking on getting a long-term deal done before his arbitration hearing on July 29.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nice roundup by Peters. Gaudreau and Monahan will get lucrative long-term deals, probably in the same neighborhood as Forsberg’s deal. Moving Wideman’s contract ($5.25 million cap hit, no-movement clause) won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. However, they could be forced to either pick up part of that cap hit or take back a bad contract in return.
Kucherov will likely get around $6.5 million annually on a long-term contract. Given the lack of a decent trade market for Bishop, Callahan, Filppula or Braydon Coburn could be shopped, provided their respective no-trade clauses aren’t much of a hindrance. The Rangers recent swap of Brassard for Zibanejad also shed around $2.3 million in cap space, which could be put toward adding a puck-moving defenseman this summer.
LATEST ON YAKUPOV
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jonathan Willis reports it’s becoming clear Oilers winger Nail Yakupov has low trade value, citing rejected rumors linking him to Florida Panthers defenseman Alex Petrovic and former New Jersey Devils blueliner Eric Gelinas, who was subsequently dealt to the Colorado Avalanche. While Yakupov’s on-ice struggles haven’t helped his trade value, Willis citesnext year’s expansion draft as a factor, as any team acquiring Yakupov must either protect him in the draft or risk losing him for nothing. Another is the Oilers aren’t dealing from a position of strength.
Re Yakopov and the Oilers – a lot of “ifs” there reminds me of the old “if your uncle had different equipment he’d be your aunt” which used to be used frequently when responding to “ifs.”
George, that’s all that’s left with Yakupov because what he currently is – a defensively inept forward with weak offensive production – is not worth discussing.
After 250 NHL games, the ship has likely sailed on Yakupov ever becoming an elite scoring forward or even a productive scoring forward.
If he wants to make himself useful, he needs to adapt his game to fit a specific role, something akin to what a veteran player like Grabner for instance did later in his career.
If his ego can’t handle that then he needs to bag his bags off to the KHL where he may still have some residual status from being drafted 1st overall int he NHL.
I might be the only one but I still think he can turn into a 25 goal – 50 point winger. Play him with McJesus for a year and let him build some confidence.
If he is so inept, why the concern that the expansion team will take him? Yakupov isn’t as bad as you make him out to be. He is on a horrible team. A team with no leverage in trades. A team that still has an abundance of young talented forwards that when dealing with other teams for a D, the other team will ask for the other guys like RNH, Eberle and Draistle. Yak can very easily be a Hoffman type player. Knocking the guys ego is hardly deserved. Through all the turmoil he has been through in Edmonton he quietly has gone about his job. I’m sure he isn’t happy with the outcome so far either. Yet he hardly comes by to me as a guy whose ego is getting in the way of his development. Yakupov desperately needs a change of scenery at this point. However the yard he currently is in seems to be getting an face lift. The landscaping is looking quite nice and I’m thinking Yak will have a pretty solid upcoming season resulting in the rise of his trade value.
Of coarse I’m thinking all Edmonton players will have much better season’s as I think the team will be much better and well it wouldn’t take much to improve them. They have been so bad that I can see huge leaps in their production and they still could be bad lol.
Yet I am thinking Edmonton is going to push for the playoffs and if that comes about the difference from being a bottom feeder to a playoff bubble team will be tremendous on their rosters stats.
Being a 1st overall is an indictment of either the Oilers scouting staff or the so-called “management” at the time. Given the relative status of their F and D complements at the time, they SHOULD have been picking a D such as Rielly (5th), Lindholm (6th), Dumba (7th), Trouba (9th), Ceci (15) or Maata (23rd) – any one of which would have gone towards solidifying their shaky D a lot sooner. And IF they really wanted a F how did they (and a slew of others that year) drop Forsberg – a C – to 11? I know, I know, hindsight is 10 cents a pound, but the Oilers have a history of making the wrong picks during their spasm of # 1s, starting with the year they took Hall – a LW – over Seguin – a C. They painted themselves into the corner they now find themselves in and it’s going to a longer haul getting out than that faced by the Leafs. In my humble opinion before the “senile old fool” epithets start rolling in.
Hey Dino, No I’m with you too. For the last little while I was thinking I was watching a different league cause I seem to have a far different view on players abilities than the norm here.
yeah George O, It seemed to me Edmonton felt they could always take the concensus #1 pick and if they end up with too many they could then trade one or two for the pieces needed. The rest of the league is now seeing the fault in that line of thinking. I think Edmonton was thinking they would have to move their best of the bunch, they were likely thinking they could move the guy not panning out.
OOPS
I’m with Jeff and Dino also I think he can be a 20 goal scorer in the nhl he’s had a tough go with getting bumped around the lineup in edm
Yeah and I continue to suck at typing my thoughts. I meant “I believe Edmonton was thinking they *wouldn’t* have to move the best of their bunch”
Dino, Jeff:
I agree that if they play him with McDavid his stats will improve. In fact, we’ve already seen that. I remember after 15 games together last season everyone was talking about how he’s finally catching his stride and proving his critics wrong and all this sort of stuff.
The problem is that as soon as they took McDavid away, poof went the production. If they were smart, they would have moved him already. On the subject of ‘ifs’ as they relate to Edmonton, I’d refer you back to George’s comments.
Big Bear, just stay out of it. You have zero credibility here. If he was a Leaf player, you’d be railing against him and everybody knows it. You can’t pass off your act for a genuine opinion.
Funny how angry Dan gets when his opinion isn’t felt the same way by others. Have a good day dan
I dont think Yakupov really cares. You’re right Dan he has the KHL waiting and would get good money there. ( if they are still paying players )
Kid has awesome skills and yes playing with McDavid would help him. It would help anyone.
He reminds me of a lot of the Russian players with skills who just cant figure out what it takes to be successful in the NHL. Zherdev and Zvitov come to mind.
His value is so low right now I read somewhere that all he is worth is a 3rd rd pick.
If he is trade I’d look at a GM with a questionable track record ( Benning, Bergeron etc. ) and see what type of deal I could swindle out of them.
Good luck to Edmonton and Yak. Gonna need it.
Well, I will stand firmly in the other camp on Yak.
IMO he will never be a top 6 forward, and he will not play with McDavid. Why the heck would you do that? The Oil will be trying to win games not rehab a player who has been given ample opportunity to play. Why hamper your best player and top line with a guy with zero hockey sense. They have been trying to teach him for 4 years, nuthin. It is obvious when you watch him live.
He is either unwilling or unable to add value in a bottom 6 checking role and is too small and expensive to play the physical energy role. Fill that with someone bigger and cheaper.
Good kid, works hard, just doesn’t get it. As they say “you can’t fix ……..”
Take a pick and move on.
Agree with you wholeheartedly! I posted a similar sentiment regarding Bernier a few days ago and was surprised at the amount of people still claiming Bernier had value. Spector’s comments regarding Yakupov’s performance are spot on! I am a true believer that performance dictates value. I also think Edmonton should trade him and accept whatever they get in return. Ridding yourself of underperforming personnel is never a bad investment.
I too do not believe he should be put on McDavid’s wing. he can be on RNH’s wing or Driastle’s. I just think Edmonton will just be better over all. All their players will have improved stats. That Yakupov although shouldn’t of been pick first in the draft he still has the ability to contribute.
I agree with the thought that Yak will not become the player that Edmonton thought they drafted. After this much time in the league, on a team that hasn’t had that much trouble scoring goals he should have found some success.
Putting Yak on McDavid’s will not fool any intelligent person. Most will realize that it is McDavid making Yak better, not any great improvement by Yak.
I think that if he wants to stay in the NHL he need to change his mindset, approach, and expectations. He may be able to have a respectable career as a 3rd line forward if he can change to that type of role.
Agree with that Jeff. Higher tide will lift all boats.
The Oil will take a jump this year, new attitude in that room coming up. Some consistency with the coaching staff as well. The good thing about the Oil is they have 3 centers with skill, he will play with one of them. Or they will just cut bait before the season starts.
As Mark Spector wrote a while back on SNet, the scouts voted 9-1 to take Murray and not Yak, and were over ruled by ??? that part we don’t know. Murray was finally healthy last year and looks like a he will be a very good D-man.
Your right about a new attitude with the oilers Ray IMO they will be battling for a playoff spot this yr and lucic mcdavid line will be really good
Not sure about the playoffs for the Oil but think they move up the standings considerably. Still need another year or 2 for that D to grow up. Also Klefbom infection/skin graft still seems a little scary and wasn’t coming around in June. Haven’t heard an update on that. Really good young player they will miss if this does not take. Can’t see the injury bug continuing to hit them a hard as it has over the last few years. They are due for a healthy year?
I’m telling you he is a perfect fit in Pittsburgh and mike Sullivan’s system. Malkin can mentor this kid who has an amazing motor, speed and skill just needs a change of scenery…that’s all like Schultz, like Hagelin, like Trevor Daley…look how bad defensively Justin Schultz was for Edmonton over all his time with the Penguins including playoffs + 7…
25 speed, skill (what the Penguins work from) wont take a ton to get him….I hope Jim Rutherford sees the fit..can you imagine Malkin. Brian Rust and Nail Yakupov on a line that’s speed.
Pittsburgh is as good a place as any to send him, especially for Yak.
They won’t offer the Oil much for him. The rumor of a 3rd round pick is likely accurate.
Shultz is still barely an NHL defender. Look for what he signed for.
If even 1 GM thought he was all that he would have received better than depth D-Man money considering the shortage of quality out there.
Just play him with McDavid till the trade deadline and move him for whatever you can get, rather simple really.
Yes but a player like McDavid can’t be wasted playing with a “yak”.
I think bishop will end up in Dallas and one of their goalies plus a pick or prospect will end up on a team with cap space
Are you convinced Tampa’s Back is good enough to be a starter? I am not quite there yet myself.
Sorry *Back up
I think he can be and I also think tb does too after signing him to that contract
That seems to be the likely scenario. I think his addition to Dallas would certainly tip the balance of power in the West. Dallas really needs goaltending!
How about Carolina. I know they signed ward up. Yet could there be a fit there as the season’s progress?
Canes still have Eddie Lack of Talent as their backup. As for Bishop to Dallas that would require the Stars to find a sucker to take Niemi or Kari Letsemin and their 5 million dollar salary, good luck with that Jimmy Nill.
MAF a better fit in Dallas / cheaper and signed for a couple years. Bishop UFA after this years will want $7 million and up that’s a lot….
MAF has won Two cups…and make no mistake without Fluery being outstanding from October to January when the Penguins were a mess…we don’t make the playoffs over 30 wins .920 save % until he got hurt.
Yes MAF would be a good fit too, and yes he had a good year but has been shaky in the playoffs since he won the Cup in ’09. He didn’t start in ’16 playoffs except for one occasion. Dallas needs a goalie that will provide consistency in a playoff run. They are ready to win it all, but need a goalie.
Agreed Ray but Schultz as you say average NHL defender fits in Pittsburgh….so will Nail Yakupov change of scenery playing and practicing with Malkin,Crosby, Letang, Hagelin and Kessel and company should help…this kid can play..
His salary isnt much…
Pittsburgh seems to have mastered the reclamation projects in hockey haven’t they? This could be a good idea.
Sounds like kreider 4 yrs 4.6 per fair deal for player and team IMO
Yep. 4 year $18.5 mil – good signing. That’s what Hoffman and his agent should be looking at in Ottawa IF he indeed wants to remain there as he says.
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@AshleyroweWKBW
BREAKING: I have learned Sabres Forward Evander Kane has been arrested by Buffalo Police. No further details at this time. @WKBW
Maybe some jail time will smarten this boy up!
If Byfuglien throwing his track suit in the shower didn’t work than nothing will!
Lol, nice one.
Maybe he’ll have some more shower related mishaps in his future 🙂
LOL
Sounds like misdemeanours no jail time for that I wouldn’t think
So no jail time and it’s fine? Get a grip on reality, man. Kane is bad news, always has been. Sabres made a terrible mistake trading for him and now they’re putting their impressionable youth at risk
I was responding to Lenny saying maybe jail time would smarten him nothing about whether right or wrong
Him up*
Evander Kane has apparently been arrested for an incident that occurred in a bar at the NHL Draft last month. He is facing non-criminal harassment charges. “Police say Kane turned himself in this AM. Charged w/ 4 counts of non-criminal harassment and 1 count of criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.”
Sabres should boot him to the curb.
Exactly Dan39
Problem is, if 4 different teams kept taking a chance with Avery and Cooke (different problems I know – but cruds to say the least), then someone will take a chance on Kane.
Hope Chiarelli trades Benoit Pouliot for Evander Kane.
athletes today are so atupid…especially NBA/NFL guys always getting in trouble… sad
NHL guys usually pretty responsible….overall
The thing is…if Evander actually gave a s$&t, had respect for his team mates, coaches and obviously fans. He would be a very good hockey player. It can go two ways here….1, he takes responsibility and apologises for his actions or 2, he plays the Evander card, gets a slap on the rist and its back to the same old EK. Prrsonally, i would cut this kid loose before he poisons any of these kids in that locker room. But, i know its easier said than done. Ship him out to Van….god knows how well that team is heading
Kane is going to regret this in 10 years or less. Had a bright future in the NHL and is just giving it all away.
You kind of can’t look away. will he smarten up? will he go to jail? Drugs? rehab?
On a separate note, we have a bit of controversy of our own at spectors, will the real big bear please stand up?
Expensive; but you could buy him out.
For all you guys who thought Kane for Fowler was a fair trade, well now you know why Murray wants future draft picks, it’s just better to make your own selections then dealing with other teams mistakes.
Good point alforducks and Anaheim has a history of great drafting
Agreed on Fowler for Kane possible deal…need more going to Anaheim….alfordducks…
Agreed, and I posted in favour of that deal thinking maybe two proven winners like Getzlaf and Perry would help. If that deal were ever made Buffalo would certainly have to eat some salary as well.
Oiler’s GM and scouting staff wanted to draft Ryan Murray. Ownership was behind the Yakupov selection. I agree that he’s not as bad as most people feel he is. He put up points on Letestu’s line which is something Hall and Eberle could not. Yak skates fast and has a great one timer but he plays like he’s being chased by bees, he’s everywhere. I truly believe that if he gets the right linemates he’s good for 20-25 goals. Hopefully he gets some decent time on McDavid’s line.
Sounds like he needs Ritalin based on people’s assessment of him on this site.?