NHL Rumor Mill – November 25, 2020
Recent Avalanche and Blues speculation in today’s NHL rumor mill.
NHL.COM: Brett Amadon wondered whether the Colorado Avalanche can re-sign pending free agents such as captain Gabriel Landeskog, Brandon Saad, Cale Makar and Philipp Grubauer before next season.
Can the Colorado Avalanche afford to re-sign Brandon Saad? (NHL Images)
Landeskog, Saad and Grubauer are due to become unrestricted free agents next summer. Makar becomes a restricted free agent without arbitration rights. General manager Joe Sakic said he’s started a dialogue with his captain. Amadon notes the Avs have leverage with Makar, but the futures of Saad and Grubauer are less clear.
Regarding Grubauer, Amadon pointed to injuries and inconsistency affecting the 29-year-old goaltender’s performance since his acquisition from the Washington Capitals in 2018. He was also outplayed last season by rookie Pavel Francouz.
NBC SPORTS: Adam Gretz recently wondered if there’s a way the Avalanche can re-sign Saad or if he is merely a one-year rental player. He considers the 28-year-old winger a reliable two-way top-six forward who’ll net 20 goals and around 50 points each season.
With five other players (Landeskog, Grubauer, Ian Cole, Matt Calvert and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare) also due to become UFAs, Gretz notes the Avs’ salary-cap space will disappear quickly. He speculates it could cost between $5 million and $5.5 million annually to keep Saad, especially if they let some other players go. However, Landeskog and the goaltending situation will likely be the Avs’ priority heading into next summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As per Cap Friendly, the Avalanche have $55.1 million invested in 12 players for 2021-22. Landeskog could cost around $7 million annually. Makar could get a bridge deal but he’ll still be in line for a significant raise, perhaps up to $5 million annually if Sakic decides to play hardball. The 35-year-old Bellemare probably won’t be back. Cole and Calvert could be affordable re-signings though the Avs could consider younger, cost-effective options.
There could be room to keep Saad if he proves a good fit. He’s earning $6 million annually on his current deal and could be reluctant to accept less than that approaching UFA eligibility for the first time. His status will become clearer once the regular season ends.
Grubauer’s situation could be interesting. Sakic said he’s happy with his current goalie tandem so I doubt he intends to make any changes there heading into this season. However, if Grubauer’s outplayed by Francouz again, Sakic could anoint him as his full-time starter by the season’s end. He could then seek an experienced backup next summer who’ll fit more easily within the Avalanche’s ’21-’22 budget.
NBC SPORTS: Gretz also believes the St. Louis Blues have some big decisions to make regarding winger Jaden Schwartz and goaltender Jordan Binnington. Both players are eligible for UFA status next summer.
Gretz suggests the Blues know what it could cost to re-sign Schwartz because they have an identical player in center Brayden Schenn, who they signed to an eight-year, $52 million extension. The decision, however, could come down to whether they want to invest that much in another player closing in on his 30th birthday.
Binnington could be a big question mark. He’s had a series of highs (winning the Stanley Cup in 2019), lows (the 2020 playoffs) and a little bit of in-between (the 2019-20 regular season). Nevertheless, Gretz considers him a solid starting NHL goalie.
The Blues have $55 million invested in their payroll for ’21-’22, but that will shrink once RFA defenseman Vince Dunn is signed before the start of this season. If it costs $6.5 million annually to sign Schwartz and if Dunn costs $3 million, they’ll have $16 million left for seven spots. That includes Binnington, who could get a deal comparable to what Matt Murray and Jacob Markstrom received ($6 million to $6.5 million annually) this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I suspect the Blues will do all they can to re-sign Schwartz. It could take $6.5 million annually to keep him but the length of the deal could be a sticking point. He could seek seven years while management could prefer four or five.
Unless Binnington’s performance goes downhill this season I doubt they’ll let him walk. Having traded Jake Allen, with no suitable replacements within their system and perhaps a lack of suitable options via next summer’s UFA market, they could have little choice but to sign him for perhaps around $6 million annually.
Regarding Blues:
Although a RFA, I am interested in the Robert Thomas contract for next summer as well (Sanford and Barbashev too)
The following year, a huge decision on a big contract for Parayko!
Hi Iowa Prince
Re CP
I think it would be best if you let Leafs or Pens take him off of your hands in a couple of years….. you know…. just to make things easier Cap-wise for Army
Call it a selfless gesture on my part
Always willing to help out
The quandary with Sackic and Avs is not only upcoming “re-signs” …. but their value/term setting up space and effective value/term when Mac K re-ups.
He can be re-upped as early as 1/7/22 and the next contract (starting 23/24 when he will have just turned 28) ; based on $7 M proposed for Landeskog (starting when he [Landeskog] is just shy of 29) ….. that could lead to an 8 * $12.5 M (or more ??) hit for Mac K
Avs have an excellent and promising roster ; but could (in a couple of years) be scrambling cap wise
Av’s still have some good prospects coming up. How long before Timmons and Byram become regulars on D? Johnson has 3 years left, could they look to trade him next year? Will be a balancing act of working in guys on entry level deals while moving on from older, expensive players
Hi Slick62
If Johnson didn’t have an NMC ; it would be wise to expose him to Kraken
Great talent in the system
Pengy. Agree. He has modified ntc/nmc. If need be, a buyout of last 2 years will be a 4m savings, while adding 2 years of 2m cap hit per. Never really know what future holds. Just read Biy hum career over. Eye injury. Isles will now have his 6m per going to ltir. Should have no problem licking up Barzal now.
Dang auto correct. Boychuk finished.
Locking up**
Forgot about that injury. That was nasty.
nevinsrip, nailed that one. Kudos to him for breaking that story.
Sergachev got a bridge deal. 4.8 per. Been waiting on Tampa. More to come?
Thanks Shoreorpark. One of the few times that info has leaked out of LL’s Secret Police.
I have a question for anyone who can answer this.
Since Boychuck retired, he gives up his last 2 years of salary. Is there any rule preventing the Isles from hiring him at the same salary as he gave up as an assistant coach or something?
In other words, paying him the same money to retire?
Is there a rule against this?
Now to get rid of Ladd.
Has to be nevinsrip?
Is he actually retiring or will he be placed on LTIR like Savard was with BOS. He was never going to play again, but was still on LTIR.
Seems like that would apply in this case.
The article I read used the word retire.
Cap friendly lists him under LTIR.
Hi Rich
He is proverbially “retiring” , but will remain an NHL player reaping his Sal from the insurance company
If he actually formally retires He’d be giving up not only Sal but his Signing bonus for next year ($2.75 M)
I can’t fathom that he’d want to give that up just to be placed in a consulting/admin roll at much less
Yes he used the generic “retire: as he will never play again. But actually he will be on LTIR for 2 more years.
Just liberal usage of the word “retire”
Boychuk still might be traded