Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 17, 2024
A look at some of the notable players in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market and more in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
REINHART, GUENTZEL, STAMKOS AMONG THIS SUMMER’S NOTABLE UFA CLASS
SPORTSNET: Luke Fox recently listed the latest rumors and reports regarding the top players in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.
Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart (NHL Images).
Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart tops this list. He is due for a significant raise over his average annual value of $6.5 million. With the 28-year-old Reinhart poised to score 50 goals this season, the Panthers intend to take a serious run at extending his contract.
The lack of a state tax gives the Panthers a chance at re-signing Reinhart if he accepts a little less than teammates Aleksander Barkov ($10 million) and Matthew Tkachuk ($9.5 million). He’ll draw lots of interest if he goes to market but he “absolutely” wants to stay put.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think the two sides will get it done. Discussions have reportedly been ongoing between the Panthers and the Reinhart camp. I can see him getting $8.5 million annually on a long-term deal.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel will be in high demand if he tests the market on July 1. Fox suggested Patrik Laine’s contract ($8.7 million AAV) would be a suitable comparable for the 29-year-old Guentzel with the Hurricanes or another team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes could re-sign Guentzel if he becomes a good fit and wants to stay. With a projected $30.7 million in cap space for next season and 13 roster players under contract, there’s room to keep him. That could mean letting Teuvo Teravainen depart via free agency or trading restricted free-agent winger Martin Necas.
Elias Lindholm’s low production since joining the Vancouver Canucks and their recent re-signing of Elias Pettersson suggests Lindholm is a pure rental player this season. Fox noted that the 28-year-old two-way center’s stock is in decline but a strong performance in the postseason should bolster his value.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was linked to the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers before the Canucks acquired him from the Calgary Flames. He’s seeing third-line center duty in Vancouver right now but there could be teams willing to bet that his performance will rebound in a top-six role.
The Vegas Golden Knights have several high-profile UFAs and can’t afford to keep them all. However, there’s mutual interest between Vegas management and defenseman Noah Hanifin regarding an extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could mean bidding farewell to 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault. There haven’t been any contract talks between management and the 33-year-old winger.
Speaking of Marchessault, he said that the value of his next contract is motivating his performance this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchessault is making an AAV of $5 million as he finishes a six-year contract. Given his age, he likely won’t get any offers over four years but he could seek around $7 million annually on a three or four-year deal. He seems destined to hit the open market.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos raised eyebrows last September when he voiced his disappointment over the lack of contract extension talks last summer. He might have to accept a pay cut if he hopes to finish his career with the only team he’s played for in his 16-year NHL career. The Lightning have over $75 million invested in next season’s payroll.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 34-year-old Bolts captain is earning an AAV of $8.5 million, considered below market value when he signed his current deal in 2016. He could accept another pay cut but could draw the line at anything under $6 million annually.
Matt Duchene has improved his stock this season with the Dallas Stars. The 33-year-old center could have more suitors this time around.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Duchene was bought out by the Nashville Predators last summer as a cost-cutting measure after his production dropped from 86 points in 2022-23 to 56 points last season. Signed to a one-year, $3 million contract by the Stars, he has 58 points in 67 games. He’ll be receiving buyout payments for the next five seasons so perhaps he’d be willing to sign a three-year deal with the Stars for around $4 million annually.
Defenseman Brett Pesce could price himself away from the Carolina Hurricanes, who have several other players on expiring contracts. Fox believes the Toronto Maple Leafs could be among the suitors if the 29-year-old Pesce goes to market on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce’s current AAV is $4.025 million. It could cost the Leafs (or anyone else) over $6 million annually to sign him.
Great names on that list! I can t get over how few top 6 centers seem to be available! Anyone have a list of probable names that fit that need?
Stamkos doesnt play C anymore
Peace would look good on bruins. If hanafin resigns with Vegas
You know who i typed before dam autocorrect 🥸
Too late, you won’t get him now….
Peace be with you, Pesce goes to Detroit if the Canes let him walk! 😁
I can see Vancouver going after Pesce instead of resigning Myers or Zadorov
Vegas are right up at the Cap they have $9M to spend and need to replace 7 UFA player’s
before they look at going after UFA d/man Noah Hanifin @ $7.M …❓
they also will lose top 6 forward
Jonathan Marchessault & Antony Mantha & Chandler Stephenson from there 3rd line….🤔
In the file “here We Go Again” the Senators have reached – again – 3 straight wins but, unlike the last winning streak – which reached four in a 7-2-1 run – this one ends today against Carolina.
From here to the end every player used will be under the microscope of Staios who, unlike Dorion, owes nothing to anyone on the current roster.
And I think it should be obvious to even the most casual of fans that the team’s biggest needs start in goal, followed by systematic changes to the 3rd and 4th lines with focus on acknowledged “team” players with “character” in order to improve, not only the scoring ability on both lines., but “team chemistry” as well. One similar type to fit somewhere in the 3-6 D slots would also help.
With the new cap at $87.5 mil and the team committed to these 15 players
8F – Stutzle, Tkachuk, Giroux, Batherson, Joseph, Greig, Kastelic, Ostapchuk – 5D – Chabot, Chychrun, Zub, Sanderson, Bernard-Docker – 2G – Korpisalo, Forsberg
Staios will have $21,190,593 with which to sign 8 – starting with RFAs Pinto, Kelly, Katchouk, Brannstrom. Pinto, of course, will get the biggest chunk by far and, unless the others are moved in deals, they will get minimal increases.
Based upon what has transpired so far in their careers, Staios clearly can’t count on Norris ever being available at C for a full season, but at this point, at least, he has to be pencilled in at C on the 1st line so that their “projected” lines – IF he can make the changes to increase the productivity of his 3rd and 4th lines – look like this
Tkachuk – Norris – Batherson
Stutzle – Pinto – Giroux
Joseph – Greig – ?
? – ? – ?
Chabot – Zub
Chychrun – Bernard-Docker
Sanderson – ?
? – ?
? (Hamonic?)
Some of the F question marks MIGHT again be filled by Kelly at RW, Ostapchuk and Kastelic at C, Katchouk at LW, Brannstrom at LD – unless Staios can somehow acquire better options through trade or off the UFA heap, OR nether Guenette (RD_ nor Kleven (LD) prove they belong at training camp.
In goal is where Staios will really earn his stripes because he simply can’t start another season with Korpisalo and Forsberg as the tandem – and Sogaard obviously ready for prime time..
should read “Sogaard obviously NOT ready for prime time.
(sigh) … above should also read
“Based upon what has transpired so far in their careers, Staios clearly can’t count on Norris ever being available at C for a full season, nor Chabot at LD. But at this point, at least, Norris has to be pencilled in at C on the 1st line, while the same for Chabot at 1st pairing LD so that their “projected” lines – IF he can make the changes to increase the productivity of his 3rd and 4th lines – look like this”
as usual, a very succinct analysis.
Pinto – keep
Kelly – can go.
Brannstrom – can go
katchouk – can go
Hamonic – can go
Stuck with our goalies sadly. Fix em, shore up the right side of the defense. Another year of “learning” the forwards will be better. Need a legit coach. There are many names out there. Trust one and hire them. Rebuild the 3rd and fourth lines with some experience players who are hungry and want to push for ice time.
In the next CBA, I wonder if the PA would accept fewer years on max contracts – say, five or six years – in exchange for hitting UFA a year or two earlier? They wouldn’t get quite as good long-term security but they’d be better able to obtain market value more frequently as the cap rises, have more flexibility and gain control over where they play earlier in their career.
Also would like to point out Lindholm is 29 and will turn a third of the way through next season