NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2020
The latest on the Bruins, Blackhawks, Leafs and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
THE SCORE: Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney is willing to let Zdeno Chara take his time to reach a decision for the 2020-21 season. He said he’s been in regular contact with the 43-year-old defenseman and his agent. Chara is an unrestricted free agent who’s spent the past 14 seasons with the Bruins.
Zdeno Chara has yet to reach a decision on next season (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chara’s agent recently said his client is drawing interest from multiple teams. For now, there’s no indication the long-time Bruins captain is planning to leave Boston. The uncertainty over what next season will look like could be a factor in his decision not to rush into signing a new contract.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Uncertainty over the status of Brent Seabrook, Andrew Shaw and Zack Smith is affecting the Blackhawks’ salary-cap flexibility. The trio missed the 2020 playoffs because of injuries and there’s some question whether they’ll be medically cleared to play next season. They could be placed on long-term injury reserve to start the season, which would allow the Blackhawks to address their goaltending and other roster issues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks have around $5 million in cap space with center Dylan Strome to re-sign. Seabrook, Shaw and Smith take up roughly $14 million.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t anticipate making any more significant offseason moves for the 2020-21 season. Dubas has added Joe Thornton, TJ Brodie, Wayne Simmonds, Aaron Dell, Zach Bogosian, Jimmy Vesey, Travis Boyd and Joey Anderson. He also brought back Jason Spezza. He doesn’t anticipate having to move out salary to re-sign restricted free agents Ilya Mikheyev, Travis Dermott and Anderson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly indicates the Leafs have $1.469 million in salary-cap space. Dubas could bury some salary in the minors.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche forward Tyson Jost elected to sign his one-year qualifying offer worth over $874K.
Pending league call, it will be a two-year, one-way deal for Christian Fischer, per league source. https://t.co/pXmNLc6XtZ
— Craig Morgan (@CraigSMorgan) October 18, 2020
Question, as I’m to lazy to research. LTIR can only be used after the season starts? Meaning you must be cap compliant before the season starts? Therefore the LTIR only helpful after being cap compliance to start the season.
Just looking at Toronto cap space on Cap Friendly. Note of interest for Seattle Kraken, it appears Toronto will use the 7 3 format; they only have 7 forwards under contract next season, all else r ufa’s.
Defence has 6 – Muzzin, Brodie both NMC; Rielly will be the third one protected.
That leaves, Holl, Sandin, Dermott
Sandin needs to play 42 games to be eligible for the expansion draft.
For now it would be between Holl and Dermott going to Seattle.
Sandin is exempt. Leafs r in great shape for the next 2 years even if/when they win the cup this year. Excellent cap mgmt even with the 2m overpay on marner.
Sandin is exempt. Leafs r in great shape for the next 2 years even if/when they win the cup this year. Excellent cap mgmt even with the 2m overpay on marner.
So wendel, you think Marner is only $2m overpaid? I don’t know I like to see the numbers on that take…. for instance his age being still under 25, I would guess he would still be able to put up or flirt with/coming close to couple 100 point seasons… so we’re looking for someone under 25 consistently at least an 80 point player, power-play runs through them, can play on a PK…and has that thing only a few players can and will do with the puck. It’ll be interesting to see how many players are like that or close to him in that way and just how much they make. I’m too lazy to look it up but I’m sure there’s at least a few.