NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 6, 2024
Fourteen players file for salary arbitration, the latest on Valeri Nichushkin and Evan Bouchard, the Oilers make a cost-cutting trade with the Sabres, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHLPA.COM: Carolina Hurricanes winger Martin Necas and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren highlight the 14 players filing for salary arbitration by the 5 pm ET deadline on July 5.
Other notables include Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser, New York Islanders winger Oliver Wahlstrom, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko, Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno, and Hurricanes center Jack Drury.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).
The deadline for club-elected arbitration is 5 pm ET on July 6. Salary arbitration hearings will be held from July 20 to Aug. 4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Players and teams usually file for arbitration to set a deadline to complete contract negotiations rather than have them drag on through the summer. Most cases are settled before the scheduled arbitration hearings. Nevertheless, a handful could go before an arbitrator.
Necas is the most talented player on this list. He’s been the subject of trade speculation for weeks because he’s reportedly unhappy with his role on the Hurricanes.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Evan Rawal cited TSN’s Chris Johnston reporting the Avalanche aren’t trading Valeri Nichushkin while he’s in stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. They’re hoping to rehabilitate the player and the person.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rawal cited a report last month claiming the Chicago Blackhawks kicked around the idea of making a trade for Nichushkin before rejecting the notion.
Players in the assistance program, like Nichushkin and Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine, can be traded. However, any clubs interested in these players would likely prefer to wait until they have emerged from the program to speak with them.
THE SCORE: cited The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman reporting the Edmonton Oilers and Evan Bouchard are unlikely to start contract extension talks this summer. The 24-year-old defenseman is due to become a restricted free agent next July. His current annual cap hit is $3.9 million.
Oilers management is focused on extension talks with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. Meanwhile, Bouchard wants to build on his strong 2023-24 performance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard’s performance this season could double his money on his next contract. Another strong effort like last season’s could fetch him even more.
Draisaitl is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July and McDavid in July 2026. McDavid can’t sign an extension until next July but the two sides can discuss the framework of a deal.
EDMONTON JOURNAL/THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Oilers traded center Ryan McLeod and minor league winger Tyler Tullio to the Buffalo Sabres for prospect center Matthew Savoie.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a cost-cutting move by the Oilers, who were sitting $2.5 million over the $88 million salary cap. Moving McLeod’s $2.1 million provides considerable cap relief. The Journal also noted the 24-year-old center lost out in the numbers game after the Oilers signed Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. McLeod should be a solid addition as the Sabres’ third-line center.
Savoie, 20, was chosen ninth overall by the Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft. A promising center, he’s been hampered by injuries over the past two seasons but still has the potential to blossom as an NHL star.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: Speaking of the Sabres, they signed Henri Jokiharju to a one-year, $3.1 million contract. The 25-year-old defenseman was a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed winger Eeli Tolvanen to a two-year, $6.95 million contract. The average annual value is $3.475 million.
SPORTSNET: The Winnipeg Jets are reportedly working on a trade to acquire defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the Carolina Hurricanes.
DAILY FACEOFF: James van Riemsdyk, Ryan Suter and Max Pacioretty remain the most notable players in the unrestricted free-agent market.
Be interesting to see if any team offers a contract to Van Riemsdyk, Suter and Pacioretty. Based solely on their most recent production, I’d guess the just-turned 35 t/o 6″ 3″ 210 lb LW Van Riemsdyk will be the first to get a deal somewhere. He played in 71 games for Boston this past season and produced 11g 27a 38 pts and was a +7, adding 1g 4a in 11 playoff games.
At this stage of his career he’d probably be glad to sign at the same $1 mil cap hit he got in Boston and would be a good veteran presence on an otherwise mainly young team.
No one is certainly going to overpay for any of them. Speaking of which, here’s The Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz’s July 2 take on the Biggest Overpays From 2024 UFA Frenzy
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10126900-the-5-biggest-overpays-from-2024-nhl-free-agency
On the other side of the coin, here are Carol Schram’s (of The Hockey News) biggest bargains out of free agency
https://thehockeynews.com/news/which-signings-could-be-the-biggest-bargains-of-2024-nhl-free-agency
JVR would be a good player on a younger team because of his valuable experience! Never very fleet of foot he still is great in the paint on the PP,tipping in pucks or in a bumper position! Only played sparingly on Boston s PP last year !
Re; Oilers Buffalo Sabres Trade,
Ryan McLeod & Tyler Tullio for local boy from
St Albert Matt Savoie,
We knew this was coming after signing Henrique to be the 3rd ine centre. The Oil are still Over in cap Space by $354,000, and need a total of $2.M to sign Hollaway & Broberg for $1.M each
To move only 1 player it would have to be
RD/man Cody Ceci $3.2M who will be a UFA,
Or
LW, Evander Kane who has 2 more years @$5.12.M
With 8 NHL d/men on the roster, it look like
RD, Troy Stecher $775,000 gos back down to Bako, and it could be RD/man Ceci being Moved…❓
To get the cap space needed, As we seen with Ottawa there is a shortage of RD/men at the trade deadline….
This would give us the Money needed to re-sign
Both Broberg and Hollaway and clear the Cap Space of $354,000……..⁉️
Willie w
The options are a plenty . As the roster sits right now , assuming only a Cody ceci trade , I chose to Chicago for a 2026 5th for the gm mode . With that move alone they would have the space to sign Broberg and Holloway and start the season cap compliant with Kane on the roster , instead of ltir which is key to build cap space for the deadline .
Kane hasn’t had surgery yet so I’m assuming he could be moved to ltir now or at any point , but I don’t think they want to go that way . They also know or have an idea on the length of recovery for Kane which is a huge piece of info , hip and hernia injuries seeking second opinions . They could also move Kane to ltir and keep ceci to open season as is if they choose .
That’s assuming Chicago would want any part of Ceci.
Better put Kane on LTIR, no one is trading for that cancer unless they are desperate!
This from an injury report site
“Kane has been dealing with a hip issue but there has not yet been a decision on whether or not he’ll need surgery, Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 Edmonton reports.”
With $5,125,000 for 2 more seasons, during which he’ll turn 34, the LTIR might be their best option to get something tangible out of that situation.
Craig
Agreed, the Oilers do have a couple of choices
in trades with both these players to get it all done before the season starts Or if Kane is moved at some point to ltir. 3 choices?
There are a number of teams that could use Cody Ceci as a 2nd par d/man, I also think they could get a 2nd pick for him,….❓
In saying that, what is a Top 6 Winger worth like an Evander Kane……..❓❓
Right Now The Oil have LW Jeff Skinner & RW
Viktor Arvidsson to add to the 2nd line with Leon
at Centre and a good 3rd line thats set after the UFA Signings….
i dont see them playing Evander Kane $5.12M to play 3rd line🤔
Hey SR…what has Kane done since he has come to Edmonton? Been good in the community and no reports of being a problem in the dressing room. Hope everyone continually judges you on past actions especially questionable ones, you are likely perfect though. There is no denying a healthy Evander Kane will be a force in playoffs next year! If Oilers have to trade Kane next year for cap reasons, so be it, but he needs to be healthy and be traded having value as a power forward.
I doubt Ceci would get a 2nd round pick from anyone.
Agreed George , but he can easily be moved . Serviceable rd at 3.25 expiring contract . I just chose Chicago as an example .
Kane it really depends on the timeline , but if they can’t be sure he’s out for the season , I’d like to see them keep him on the roster to accrue cap space . Don’t have to trade ceci either , if they are in fact willing to go straight to ltir for Kane . Maybe he can come back in time for game 1 a la stone . But as they sit they they have options to be cap compliant. With Broberg and Holloway signed .
Can you l aging Kane hanging around on LTIR, good luck!
I agree there, Craig, that Ceci can easily be moved – a $3,250,000 cap hit for one season, combined with the fact he is a mobile RD – among the hardest to find available of all positions – and still only 30 years old will entice someone.
But the return can’t be expected to be anything of immediate use to the Oilers. The best way to look at such a move is as a cap dump to free up space.