NHL Rumor Mill – September 16, 2024
The top remaining unsigned restricted free agents plus the latest speculation on Mikko Rantanen, Nikolaj Ehlers and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
DAILY FACEOFF: Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and winger Lucas Raymond, New Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer, Winnipeg Jets center Cole Perfetti and Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley top Steven Ellis’ list of the notable remaining unsigned restricted free agents.
Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve singled out those RFAs as they’ve featured prominently in the rumor mill throughout the offseason. They’ll face heightened scrutiny as training camps open around the NHL.
Most could be signed to new contracts this week. A few could miss the start of camp if negotiations remain stalled.
THE DENVER POST: Mikko Rantanen’s contract extension is among Corey Masisak’s 10 questions facing the Colorado Avalanche as training camp begins this week.
Rantanen, 27, is entering the final season of his six-year contract with its $9.25 million average annual value. He’s in line for a considerable raise on his next deal.
Masisak wonders if extension discussions between the Rantanen camp and Avalanche management will continue as the season begins, will there be an artificial deadline, or will they get it out of the way early in training camp.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen is an important part of the Avalanche roster and a big reason why they’ve been a Cup contender (and a champion) over the past five years. He’ll be among the biggest names in next summer’s unrestricted free-agent market if he and the Avs don’t agree to a new deal by July 1. His contract situation will be closely watched during this season.
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance asked Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff about a contract extension for Nikolaj Ehlers. The 28-year-old winger is eligible for UFA status next July after he completes his six-year deal with an AAV of $6 million.
Ehlers was the subject of trade speculation during the offseason, especially near the 2024 NHL Draft in late June. Cheveldayoff said he’s taking a “wait-and-see” approach, suggesting it could be addressed at the end of the season or sooner.
630 CHED’s Bob Stauffer writes that he fully expects the Edmonton Oilers to be in the market for a second-pairing right defenseman, preferably with a little term remaining on his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have just over $945K in cap space for the coming season. However, they could get some cap relief by placing Evander Kane and his $5.125 million cap hit on long-term injury reserve following his upcoming sports hernia surgery. However, they must be cap-compliant once he returns to action later this season.
Stauffer didn’t elaborate on which blueliner he believes the Oilers could pursue. Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments section. Keep in mind the Oilers’ cap constraints and their need for a right-shot rearguard.
Camps open in 2 days and among the 11 RFAs 5 are, as you point out Lyle, clearly significant team components. The rest defy logic as to what the hold-up could possibly entail.
SIGNIFICANT COMPONENTS
G Jeremy Swayman of Boston, which has $8,630,667 in cap reserve with 22 of 23 signed and their # 1 goalie apparently seeking something well north of $9 mil. Who blinks first?
LD Thomas Harley of Dallas who are 3 short of a full 23-man roster with $6,243,759 in cap space, almost all of which – if not more – is likely being demanded by the big D-man who just completed a 79gp season with 15g 32a 47 pts and a +28. Could Dallas be one of those teams needing to make a deal to free up sufficient space to flesh out their roster, or do they go with 2 short of 23 after signing Harley? They don’t have an LTIR to utilize.
RW Lucas Raymond and RD Moritz Seider of Detroit which, despite having $17,646,194 in cap space, are also 3 short of 23 and are clearly having trouble getting Raymond and Seider to agree to amounts within that total. Which also probably explains why another mundane RFA, RW Jonatan Berggren. coming of an ELC of $925,000 and a season of 12gp with 2g 4a 6 pts, has yet to be signed. Clearly, what Raymond and Seider are demanding adds up to more than what they’d have left over to sign Berggren.
Winnipeg, according to Puckpedia, has $5,776,309 in cap space and a full complement of 23 on the main roster and Cole Perfetti still to sign. The 5′ 11′ 185 lb left-shooting F this past season played in 71 games with 19g 19a 38 pts and a +13 and has career totals of 140 games played with 29g 46a 75 pts and is a cumulative +24, coming off an ELC of $894,167. Once he is signed, a player will need to be optioned to make room, so that would make the available cap space closer to $6.8 mil – but surely he and his agent can’t be looking at anything approaching that!
These 6 simply make no sense as to the continuing impasse:
New Jersey, with 21 of 23 signed, has $4,976,103 left in their cap but it would seem F Dawson Mercer, who just completed an 82gp season with 20g 13a 33 pts thinks he is worth that much, or perhaps just enough that it would prevent the Devils from bringing someone up to get to the 23-man limit – despite the fact his stats also showed a glaring minus 28.
Buffalo, with 22 of 23 and $8,449,484 in cap space, has only C Peyton Krebs to re-up, he of a just completed 80gp season and all of 4g 13a 17 pts and a +2. Obviously, they have plenty of cap space to sign this guy but the fact they haven’t yet indicates Krebs is seeking something significantly more than they’re offering. He is one who could be sitting well into the season.
Los Angeles is shown with a full 23-man roster and only $1,321,666 in cap space with 6′ 2″ 210 lb RW Arthur Kaliyev still to sign after playing 51 games this past season with 7g 8a 15 pts and coming off an ELC of $894,167. They’re probably offering no increase at all, wanting him to re-up at that level, perhaps on a 1-year “show me” deal. He, too, could still be unsigned well into the start of the season – or requesting a trade.
Nashville ($1,495,801 in cap space with 21 of 23 on the main roster has C Philip Tomasino still unsigned coming off a 41 game season with 7g 13a 20 pts and an expired ELC of $863,334. Obviously not enough to re-up him and flesh out the roster with a call-up. Another team maybe trading someone to free up cap space?
Calgary, sitting on $19,974,166 in cap space and, according to Puckpedia, a full complement of 23, has only LD Ilya Solovyov to re-up. This is a hard one to figure considering the huge cap space and Solovyov, coming off an ELC of $898,333, having just 10 NHL games under his belt (0g 3a 3 pts) and in no position to dicker.
Thomas Harley should sign a 1 year deal or bridge to wait for Benn to be off the books next summer
Detroit did sign Berggren – 1 yr @ $825k
Yeah, just saw that at Puckpedia Iago – so, now, with 21 of 23 they have $16,823,194 with which to re-up Raymond & Seider.
Makes you wonder which of the two possible scenarios apply here:
1) both are demanding amounts that, combined, go well over what they have left;
or
2) both are asking for different amounts/term but one is seeking something that wouldn’t leave enough to satisfy the other.
I believe Kaliyev has already asked for a trade. LA is trying to comply but, both sides are being quiet on that front.
I would like to see a Robertson (plus?) for Kaliyev trade!
Knies -Matthews – Marner
Pacioretty – Domi – Nylander
Cowan – Tavares – Kaliyev
Holmberg – Kampf – Jarnkrok
Reaves – Minten – Grebyonkin – Alex Nylander
@Allen Why would Toronto give more for Kaliyev? Robertson`s stock is trending up and Kaliyev`s is dropping like a rock. Kaliyev is bigger but seems to be lazier and that doesn`t fit Berube`s style. While Robertson is small, he is aggressive. So a no thank you on a 1 for 1 deal let alone giving more to get less
For what it’s worth, Dawson Mercer hasn’t missed a single game during his 3 year elc with the Devils, I wonder if pride will force his hand in not wanting to miss the start of the 24-25 regular season.
Good point PajaDa (and welcome aboard – don ‘t recall seeing your nick before).
Mercer, while certainly durable, has had a weird sort of 3-year beginning to his career.
In his rookie year of 2021-22 he popped 17g added 25a for42 pts but also registered a minus 25.
In his 2nd season he appeared to have become an excellent two-way player when he scored 27g 29a 56 pts and turned his defensive game around to the tune of a +22.
Then, this past season, he appeared to take a step back with 20g, a real drop in assists with 13 for 33 pts, and another glaring minus stat – 26.
Any insight as to the cause of the reversal?
George, not sure how much it had to do with Mercer himself, or that they lost 2 veteran D in the off season, and then Hamilton to season ending injury.
Not saying they should have kept the more expensive veterans at their ticket and age, but starting 3 really young d-men and playing them plenty of minutes will cause mistakes that end up in the back of your net. Just how it works.
Methinks that is why they went out and got Pesce and Dillon. Hamilton will be back.
I think the Devils and Mercer will have a much better year.
Mercer went as the team went. His +/- is indicative of the team’s overall success and failures. His lack of production last year was mainly because he didn’t play as much with Hischier or Hughes and spent a lot of time on the 3rd line.
The signing of Labanc on a PTO should get him moving!
Heh … the old galvanizer ploy. Same with Addison in Ottawa at RD to light a fire under Bernard-Docker methinks.
I think Mikko should come in @ around 12M AAV. Can’t be more than Nate. That’s a considerable raise. Hope he is ready to go this year with a better defensive effort! The guy is a beast to defend against. I have seen him play in person, he is an absolute handful to contend with. The only criticism I have is he needs to play better defensively and quit complaining about calls he is not getting. Both him and Nate need to stop refereeing. GO AVS!!
Lyle, I’m sure Edmonton isn’t the only team looking for a quality RD – with term. That side appears to be THE most difficult for teams to flesh out their D-corps judging by its repeated mention in here over the past few months.
Scanning through the various rosters I can’t see where one team has a good enough surplus of RD to feel comfortable enough in putting forth one in trade. Not one.
The most prominent of RDs among UFAs still looking for a contract, or at least a p.t.o., are Tony DeAngelo 28 y/o (who likely comes with too much baggage); John Klingberg 31 y/o; Justin Schultz 33 y/o and Kevin Shattenkirk 35 y/o.
Teams are always seeing who is available etc, Oil are no different. Pick up a guy on waivers maybe, but not sure why.
They have 5 RD with NHL experience. My personal pecking order:
1 – Bouchard
2 – Stecher
3/4 – Brown/Emberson – Depends on opponent.
5 – Carrick
If they can swing a good deal for a legit 2nd pair guy, they will, but like you I am skeptical it happens anytime soon. Stecher is an NHL player, but doesn’t seem like a 2nd pairing guy on a cup winning team. 3rd pair all day.
Guessing it will be addressed at TDL when they have space and a clear understanding of their needs.
Whether or not it happens, Ray (for a legit 2nd pairing) would also depend upon what was being offered. A tried and true 2nd pairing RD with term won’t come cheap.
Re Boston Bruins
training camp starts in 2 days in boston…
and its still Crickets regarding goaltender Jeremy Swayman…i wonder if its going to be a 1 year dealto get him into camp…?
Re Oilers;
They wont do anything with the 2nd pairing RD position untill Jan, Feb time when Evander kane is back, they have 3-4 RD men all fighting for 2 spots on the team right now,
and if they if bring in a PTO d/man RD like Justin Shultz..?
Ww
No way Sweeney gives Swayman a 1 yr. Not even if swayman said league minimum. He would be ufa never will happen. I bet it will be bridge deal in 7s
Mrbruin
No its Swayman in 2 years time,
RFA 2024/25
RFA 2025/26
Then he is a UFA in 2026
He may push for a 1 year deal now? so he gets to camp, then take them to arbatration in 2025 for an other 1 year deal so he becomes a UFA and gets paid…
Especaly with the NYR goaltender who is a UFA at the end of the season and wanting
$10-12M…….⁉️
W w
My apologies it is 2 years. Still bruins won’t do a 1 yr and now way he makes 10 mil either
I am not too concerned about the Bruins and Swayman getting it done. Swayman’s Agent was also Johnny Gaudreau’s agent, and he was with the Gaudreau family these past two weeks. They put Sway’s contract on hold probably till this week. I am sure he will be in camp by Friday.
Hope your right
Sidney Crosby signs two years extension.
8.7 million per season. The superstition remains intact.
Who cares…he created this mess as a consultant to the GMs,,,ok sign Leturnover, sign Malkin get me Karlsson…not to worry Batman will give them a fruit overall in the next year or so
Too bad. Would’ve been a really interesting trade deadline if he didn’t extend and Pens where out of playoff race.
Training camp is about competition and chemistry .
And the Detroit Red Wings re-sign Lucas Raymond to an 8 year $64,600,000 deal for an AAV of $8,075,000 great deal for Raymond and Detrot. And now just Mo Seider which should happen at most anytime.
Good deal … finally – lol. Now they have 22 of 23 signed with $8,748,194 left with which to sign Seider.
@George O
Yup it’s an amazing deal for both parties.
I think that Mo Seider will get either 8 x $8,500,000 or 8 x $8,600,000 I guess it’s possible that he could get the Larkin deal of 8 x $8,700,000 if Yzerman is generous.