NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2023

by | Jul 2, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 2, 2023

Islanders re-sign Ilya Sorokin to a long-term extension, Rangers sign Jonathan Quick, Panthers trade Anthony Duclair to the Sharks, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: You can see my listing of notable NHL signings and trades during the opening hours of free agency on July 1 by following this link. The following is a compilation of those that occurred later in the day or in the evening.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders signed goaltender Ilya Sorokin to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.25 million.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A smart move by the Isles to get their starting goalie under a long-term extension. In just three NHL seasons, the 27-year-old Sorokin has established himself among the league’s top netminders. It’s also a reasonable AAV that could become a bargain over the long term if he maintains his caliber of play over that period, especially as the salary cap rises in the coming years.

Speaking of goaltenders, the New York Rangers signed Jonathan Quick to a one-year, $825K contract with a maximum of $100K in performance bonuses.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quick is no longer the elite goalie of a decade ago when he was backstopping the Los Angeles Kings to two Stanley Cups in three years. Nevertheless, the 37-year-old could be a reliable 20-25 game backup for starter Igor Shesterkin, who could also benefit from Quick’s experience.

TSN: The Florida Panthers traded winger Anthony Duclair to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Steven Lorentz and a fifth-round pick in 2025.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Panthers to free up salary cap space. There’s speculation they could be making an addition via the free-agent market. We’ll find out if that’s the case soon enough.

The 27-year-old Duclair has reached or exceeded 20 goals and 40 points three times in his nine NHL seasons but was limited to just nine points in 20 games in 2022-23 by a torn Achilles tendon. He carries an AAV of $3 million for 2023-24 and will be a UFA next summer.

Duclair should provide a boost to the Sharks offense but might not fit into the rebuilding club’s long-term plans. Don’t be surprised if they shop him near the 2024 trade deadline.

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year, $4.15 million deal.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings inked defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to a one-year, $4.125 million contract.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Garnet Hathaway to a two-year, $4.75 million contract.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils acquired defenseman Colin Miller from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche inked defenseman Bo Byram to a two-year contract with an AAV of $3.85 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a bridge deal for Byram, who was completing his entry-level contract and lacked arbitration rights. The talented 22-year-old blueliner has been limited by injuries to 72 games over the past two seasons.

TSN: The Arizona Coyotes signed forward Alex Kerfoot to a two-year, $7 million contract.

SPORTSNET: The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Alex Lyon to a two-year, $1.8 million deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Bertuzzi and  Vladimir Tarasenko are among the notable players still available in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market.

Others include Max Domi, Patrick Kane, Matt Dumba and Jonathan Toews.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Don’t expect Kane or Toews to be signing new contracts right away. Kane is recovering from hip resurfacing that could sideline him for at least four months while Toews is mulling whether to return to action or retire.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Fantilli won’t be returning to the University of Michigan, signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 18-year-old center was chosen third overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL Draft.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is asking the club’s fans to be patient with David Reinbacher before judging his performance. Some Canadiens fans were upset over the Habs’ selection of the 18-year-old Austrian defenseman with the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, so much so that several of them sent hateful messages to Reinbacher on social media.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s one thing to disagree with a team’s first-round selection during the draft. It’s another to attack the player on his social media account. People who do this are cowards who get off on saying things to people through social media that they wouldn’t dare say to their faces. You’re not the type of fan your favorite team wants or needs.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 23, 2023

by | Jun 23, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – June 23, 2023

The latest on the Flames and Panthers plus updates on Blake Wheeler and Jordan Staal in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON LINDHOLM, BACKLUND, TOFFOLI AND HANIFIN

TSN: Chris Johnston brought up to date on the latest involving Flames stars Elias Lindholm, Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli and Noah Hanifin. They’re a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

Johnston said there have been contract extension discussions between the Flames and Lindholm’s camp and it’s believed more talks are planned. He thinks the 28-year-old center is open to staying in Calgary depending on the contract. However, there’s no indication one way or the other.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In today’s Morning Coffee Headlines I cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli indicating the general consensus around the league has Lindholm leaning toward leaving. We’ll find out soon enough which way he’ll go as his decision will determine whether the Flames attempt to trade him.

Calgary Flames forward Tyler Toffoli (NHL Images).

Backlund isn’t going to sign on July 1 because he wants to see how things play out. It sounds like the Flames are at least open to exploring Toffoli’s value in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston subsequently reported that it sounds like Toffoli would welcome a trade. It’s believed he’s keeping an open mind and isn’t approaching this with a desired destination.

Hanifin has informed the Flames he’s not interested in a contract extension. He’s another who could be traded.

SPORTSNET: Pat Steinberg cites multiple sources reiterating how important it is for the Flames not to rush into trading those players if those moves have to be done. He believes they’ll have to target high draft picks, top prospects and young NHL players if these deals come to pass.

Steinberg also believes how Flames general manager Craig Conroy approaches this situation with those four will determine the fates of others. They include defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev, who are also eligible next summer for UFA status.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steinberg thinks Conroy will want to take his time to evaluate the trade market to ensure he gets good returns for those players, suggesting it could stretch well into the summer. Nevertheless, we can’t discount the possibility that he gets an enticing offer for at least one of them during the upcoming NHL Draft.

UPDATE ON WHEELER

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the agent for Blake Wheeler is working closely with Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to find some way to move him along. It could be via a buyout, a trade, or a deal to another club that buys him out.

A decision will have to be made soon as the buyout window closes next Friday at 5 pm ET. One way or another, Wheeler will not be playing for the Jets next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wheeler has a year left on his contract with a five-team no-trade list, a no-movement clause that prevents his demotion to the minors and a cap hit of $8.25 million. The Jets would prefer a trade that clears his full cap hit from their books but that might be difficult to find for a 36-year-old winger with that contract.

PANTHERS HOPE TO UPGRADE THEIR BLUELINE

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Florida Panthers will try to bolster their defense core with blueliners Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour expected to miss at least the start of next season recovering from offseason surgeries.

LeBrun noted that some teams have expressed an interest in Anthony Duclair. The Panthers don’t want to trade the 27-year-old winger, who’s signed through next season with an affordable $3 million cap hit. However, they might have to in order to land a top-four defenseman. LeBrun suggested keeping Calgary’s Noah Hanifin in mind.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli also reported on this topic earlier in the week. He speculated the Panthers could also look toward this summer’s free-agent market toward a defenseman who’s fallen on some hard times to take an affordable short-term contract. Seravalli suggested Matt Dumba, Oliver Ekman-Larsson or John Klingberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps the Panthers employ both options. They could trade Duclair for someone like Hanifin and sign one of those veteran rearguards to a one or two-year deal at a cost-effective rate.

HURRICANES REACH IMPASSE WITH JORDAN STAAL

TSN: Darren Dreger reports contract talks between the Carolina Hurricanes and team captain Jordan Staal have reached an impasse. Staal, 35, is due to become a UFA on July 1.

Dreger said the Staal camp has provided the Hurricanes with a number of options. However, they need team owner Tom Dundon to move from his position.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dundon has proven to be inflexible in contract negotiations with his players. The only reason Sebastian Aho got his current contract was that the Montreal Canadiens attempted to sign him away with an offer sheet in 2019. It’ll be interesting to see how this situation with Staal unfolds.










NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2023

by | Jun 14, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – June 14, 2023

A look ahead at the offseason for the Golden Knights and Panthers plus the latest on the Red Wings in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS AND PANTHERS

ESPN.COM: Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark examined the key offseason factors facing the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers following the completion of the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (NHL Images).

Clark wonders about what becomes of Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill and forward Ivan Barbashev. Both are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1. Forward Brett Howden, who skated on Vegas’ second line in the postseason, is a restricted free agent.

Barbashev indicated he wants to return to Vegas. The Golden Knights offered Hill a new contract but he wanted to wait until the end of the season to have those discussions. If they re-sign Hill, they’ll have three goalies under contract for next season in Robin Lehner and Logan Thompson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cap Friendly indicates the Golden Knights have over $3.4 million in projected cap space with 20 active roster players under contract for 2023-24.

Trading Lehner and his $5 million average annual value through 2024-25 and re-signing Hill would address their goalie issue. However, that’s likely a tough sell given Lehner missed this season recovering from hip surgery as well as his personal ongoing financial problems.

Buying out Lehner is an option provided he is medically cleared during the upcoming buyout period of June 15 to June 30. It would provide the Golden Knights with $4.25 million in savings for 2023-24. They’d face a $2.25 million cap hit in 2024-25 followed by $1.75 million in each of the final two seasons. With the salary cap projected to rise substantially starting in 2024-25, they could afford to carry that buyout.

Shilton believes the Panthers need a small refresh. Noting that Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour had strong performances this season, she speculates they could get contract extensions soon than later.

They’ll also have to determine how to balance the goalie tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight. She also thinks that they need defensive help citing the lack of experienced blueliners beyond Montour, Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling signed for next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have over $10.2 million in projected cap room with 16 active roster players under contract for next season. That should provide some room to make some depth additions to the defense corps.

They could get more if they tried to move Knight and his $4.5 million cap hit through 2025-26. He left the club in February to join the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

However, they were quite keen on Knight as an heir apparent to Bobrovsky, whose $10 million AAV through 2025-26 and full no-movement clause ensures he’s not going anywhere.

I think the Panthers will stick with Knight and give him an opportunity to get his career back on track. That will mean looking elsewhere if they wish to free up cap room for other additions this summer.

LATEST ON THE RED WINGS

MLIVE.COM: Ansar Khan suggested 10 right-shot defensemen that could be free-agent targets for the Detroit Red Wings. Boston’s Connor Clifton, Minnesota’s Matt Dumba and Florida’s Radko Gudas topped his list.

Ottawa’s Travis Hamonic, Toronto’s Justin Holl, and Colorado’s Erik Johnson were also on Khan’s list, followed by Minnesota’s John Klingberg, the New York Islanders Scott Mayfield, Toronto’s Luke Schenn and Anaheim’s Kevin Shattenkirk.

Khan doubts the Wild will have the cap space to sign Dumba. Hamonic appears to want to stay in Ottawa while Schenn would like to remain in Toronto. The Ducks are thin on defense and could re-sign Shattenkirk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Khan noted that the Red Wings need blueline help for their second power-play unit. Klingberg might be able to help them in that regard if, as Khan points out, the salary and terms are right.










NHL Rumor Mill – May 3, 2023

by | May 3, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – May 3, 2023

Could the Bruins shop Linus Ullmark? Will the Rangers trade one of their young forwards? What’s the latest on the Red Wings and Senators? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

COULD ULLMARK BECOME A TRADE CANDIDATE?

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Jimmy Murphy cites a former NHL executive claiming the Bruins entertained trade talks for Linus Ullmark but elected to retain the 29-year-old goaltender.

Ullmark went on to become the favorite to win this Vezina Trophy this season after going 40-6-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. However, the executive felt he could be traded this offseason.

The Bruins have limited salary-cap space for 2023-24. Ullmark is signed through 2024-25 with a $5 million average annual value. Despite his struggles in the Bruins’ opening-round elimination by the Florida Panthers, his regular-season performance ensures he’ll have value in the trade market.

Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (NHL Images).

Murphy wondered if the Bruins would consider icing a goalie tandem of Jeremy Swayman and promising Brandon Bussi next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has only 14 active roster players under contract for 2023-24. Cap Friendly shows the Bruins with a projected $10.5 million in cap space but that doesn’t appear to take into account their $4.5 million in performance bonus overages.

Sweeney will have to shed some salary to ice a 23-man roster next season. Trading Ullmark, however, won’t be easy. His no-movement clause for this season reverts on July 1 to a 16-team no-trade list for 2023-24. A number of clubs also have salary-cap constraints.

COULD THE RANGERS TRADE A YOUNG PLAYER?

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks observed the Rangers might need to restructure their roster following their first-round elimination by the New Jersey Devils. He believes they still need a line with “a lockdown mentality and match-up capability,” noting they also lack a true checking-line center.

The Rangers also have limited cap room to work with this summer and limited maneuverability with their no-move veterans. That could lead to them perhaps moving a young player such as defenseman K’Andre Miller or a forward like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko or Filip Chytil.

Brooks’ colleague Mollie Walker believes the Rangers must also address their need for scoring at right wing with Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane likely departing via free agency. She thinks they must free up some cap space to do this.

Walker considers Miller too valuable to part with but the 21-year-old Lafreniere might be a trade option. The 2020 first-overall pick is a natural left winger but the Rangers’ depth at that position has him struggling to play on his off-wing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers general manager Chris Drury could consider another trade option to free up cap room to add a right winger. Perhaps he’ll shop checking-line forward Barclay Goodrow. He could then give the Kid Line of Chytil, Lafreniere and Kakko another go next season.

It’s difficult to believe Drury could trade Lafreniere. Then again, he wasn’t the general manager who drafted him. Despite his struggles, the youngster would garner plenty of interest in the trade market.

Lafreniere is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract and should be an affordable bridge-deal signing. The Rangers aren’t getting any cap relief by trading him as they would with players signed through next season like Chytil ($4.4 million) or Kakko ($2.1 million).

I’ll be shocked if the Rangers trade Miller. He’s only going to improve and is too valuable to their blueline now and down the road.

WHAT WILL THE RED WINGS DO THIS SUMMER?

MLIVE.COM: In a recent mailbag segment, Ansar Khan was asked if the Detroit Red Wings would take a run at acquiring Alex DeBrincat if the Ottawa Senators were to shop the RFA winger.

Khan believes they have to assets to do it if the Senators are willing to trade DeBrincat within the division. However, he wondered if the 5’7”, 165-pounder is the type of scorer they want when they seeking more pushback and being harder to play against. He also noted it would cost $$9 million to qualify DeBrincat’s rights.

Another reader asked Khan if the Red Wings could acquire Kyle Connor. He believes prying the 26-year-old winger away from the Winnipeg Jets is a bigger long shot than acquiring DeBrincat.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With over $30 million in cap space, five picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft and a deep pool of prospects, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has the trade capital to make a significant addition or two to his roster for next season.

DeBrincat would address their need for more scoring but they’d have to look elsewhere to add more size and toughness to their roster. As for the Jets, they could shake things up this summer but Connor is under a long-term contract and I doubt he’ll be part of any changes they make.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen recently reported the Red Wings will look for a goalie in this summer’s thin free-agent market. They’ll also shop for a right-shot defenseman.

Free-agent goalie options could include Los Angeles’ Joonas Korpisalo, Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry, Vegas’ Adin Hill, the New York Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov and perhaps bringing back Alex Nedeljkovic.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Korpisalo is the best of the bunch if they’re seeking a potential starter. That’s assuming the Kings don’t re-sign him. Hill or Varlamov would be good options if they prefer a backup for starter Ville Husso.

Defense free agents include Minnesota’s Matt Dumba and John Klingberg, Boston’s Connor Clifton, Floridas’ Radko Gudas, the Islanders’ Scott Mayfield, New Jersey’s Damon Severson, Ottawa’s Travis Hamonic, and Anaheim’s Kevin Shattenkirk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dumba’s stock dropped over the past two seasons. The same goes for Klingberg and Severson. Maybe they can regain their form with a change of scenery. Gudas would add that snarl to the lineup that they’re seeking. Mayfield would be a solid shutdown addition.

POTENTIAL GOALIE OPTIONS FOR THE SENATORS

SPORTSNET: Wayne Scanlan recently listed seven pending UFA goaltenders and offered his assessment of them as options for the Ottawa Senators next season.

Scanlan would pass on Jonathan Quick given his age (37) and two sub-par seasons. Other notables include Pittsburgh’s Tristan Jarry, Carolina’s Frederik Andersen or Antti Raanta, Vegas’ Adin Hill, the Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov and Los Angeles’ Joonas Korpisalo.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersen and Raanta are solid, reliable netminders when they’re healthy. Their respective injury histories should be a red flag. Jarry’s inconsistency likely means the Penguins will part ways with him. Maybe he finds stability with a change of scenery.

Korpisalo might be a better option if the Senators seek a starter. Varlamov or Hill would be a solid backup choice.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2023

by | Apr 17, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 17, 2023

The opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs begins tonight. Check out the latest on the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron, the Golden Knights’ Jack Eichel, the Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

POSTSEASON HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs kicks off tonight with the Florida Panthers facing off against the Bruins in Boston, the New York Islanders traveling to Carolina to meet the Hurricanes, the Minnesota Wild squaring off against the Stars in Dallas, and the Los Angeles Kings journeying to Edmonton to face the Oilers.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery acknowledged it’s possible captain Patrice Bergeron could miss Game 1 against the Panthers tonight. Bergeron suffered an upper-body injury during the last game of the regular season and has missed practices for precautionary reasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best for the Bruins not to rush Bergeron into the lineup and worsen his condition. They’ve got sufficient depth to skate without him until he’s ready to return later in this series.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel is looking forward to playing in his first playoff series in his eight-year NHL career. He spent six seasons with the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Golden Knights last season.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eichel was in a difficult situation during his tenure with the Sabres given the haphazard way the club was managed and coached during those years. He miss over half of last season recovering from neck surgery before debuting with a struggling Golden Knights club and ended up playing through a wrist injury that hampered his performance.

TSN: A day after declaring himself good to go, Nikolaj Ehlers (upper-body injury) missed Sunday’s practice with his Winnipeg Jets teammates. He skated prior to practice but he’s listed as day-to-day.

CBS SPORTS: Minnesota Wild defenseman John Klingberg’s availability for tonight’s game against the Stars is unclear due to a lower-body injury. He skipped practice yesterday after suffering the injury during practice on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Klingberg played most of his NHL career with the Stars before departing for the Anaheim Ducks last summer as a free agent. He was acquired by the Wild at the trade deadline.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov will miss Game 1 tonight against the Hurricanes with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day and will be replaced tonight by Samuel Bolduc.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland anticipates sidelined defensemen Cale Makar and Josh Manson will return for their upcoming series with the Seattle Kraken. Manson took part in the optional skate on Sunday.

IN OTHER NEWS…

WGR 550: Buffalo Sabres captain Kyle Okposo hasn’t made any plans yet regarding his future after 16 NHL seasons. The 35-year-old forward is an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He indicated if he does continue his career he would like to do so with the Sabres.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Okposo had 11 goals and 17 assists in 75 games this season as a bottom-six forward. He’s coming off a seven-year, $42 million contract and won’t get anything like that again if he intends to continue playing in the NHL.

With over $19 million in cap space and 20 roster regulars under contract for 2023-24, the Sabres have the cap space to bring him back if they wish on an affordable short-term deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks defenseman Markus Nutivaara was sidelined for the entire season by a potentially career-ending hip injury. He suffered the injury prior to the 2021-22 season while with the Florida Panthers. He underwent surgery and has been recovering ever since.

Nutivaara, 28, signed with the Sharks last summer as a UFA and played some preseason games but the injury still nagged him and he was unable to fully heal, remaining on long-term injury reserve for the season. He’s played 275 games over six seasons with the Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals winger Carl Hagelin still hopes to resume his NHL career following an eye injury and four hip procedures in 12 months that sidelined him for the entire 2022-23 season. The 34-year-old winger is an unrestricted free agent in July.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predators signed forward Michael McCarron to a one-year, $775K contract extension.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Detroit Red Wings have shaken up the coaching staff of their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids after the club missed the Calder Cup playoffs for the second straight year. Head coach Ben Simon, assistants Matt MacDonald and Todd Krygier and goalie development coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson will not have their contracts renewed for next season.










Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 5, 2023

by | Mar 5, 2023

Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – March 5, 2023

The trade deadline may be over but the fallout remains. Here’s a look at some moves that didn’t happen plus a look ahead for the Canadiens and Blue Jackets in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

WHAT DIDN’T GO DOWN AT THE TRADE DEADLINE?

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Edmonton Oilers made a “legitimate pitch” to the San Jose Sharks for Timo Meier prior to his getting traded to the New Jersey Devils. Their intent was to bring him in and work out his contract situation after the season but they wanted him for the playoffs.

Friedman also believes the Calgary Flames looked into acquiring Meier but they were more interested in signing him to a contract extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meier is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer who is also a year away from unrestricted free agent eligibility. His current cap hit is $6 million but he’s earning $10 million in actual salary, which is what it’ll cost to qualify his rights. The Devils haven’t yet re-signed Meier which suggests they’ll worry about dealing with that in the offseason.

Philadelphia Flyers center Kevin Hayes (NHL Images).

Friedman reports the Toronto Maple Leafs inquired about Mattias Ekholm prior to his getting traded to the Oilers by the Nashville Predators. They also looked into San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. However, he thinks the math didn’t work for the Leafs in terms of salary retention.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perhaps the Leafs revisit their interest in Karlsson during the offseason. However, they’ll still have a difficult time making the math work there unless it’s a three-team deal with the Sharks retaining half of Karlsson’s $11.5 million annual cap hit through 2026-27.

Jeff Marek mentioned the Philadelphia Flyers had some conversations with the Columbus Blue Jackets about Kevin Hayes. However, it sounds like any big move the Flyers have planned will take place around the June 2023 draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marek indicated that the players such as Hayes and Ivan Provorov have term remaining on their contracts which made them difficult to move at the trade deadline.

Speaking of the Oilers, Marek believes they had internal conversations about bringing in rugged forward Zack MacEwen from the Philadelphia Flyers. He was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He also reported the Sharks looked at winger Jordan Greenway before the Minnesota Wild shipped him to the Buffalo Sabres.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kate Shefte cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting there was speculation the Kraken was keeping an eye on John Klingberg before the trade deadline. They were also said to be entertaining offers on Carson Soucy and Will Borgen but both remained in Seattle.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Kraken general manager Ron Francis was eyeballing Klingberg before the deadline he can sign him this summer as an unrestricted free agent. That’s assuming he doesn’t re-sign pending UFA Soucy or trades restricted free agent Borgen in the offseason.

LATEST ON THE CANADIENS AND BLUE JACKETS

THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu speculated that the Montreal Canadiens could attempt to trade Joel Edmundson during the offseason if the 29-year-old defenseman can remain healthy over the remainder of this season. Failing that, they could try to move him during next season’s trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens GM Kent Hughes will likely listen to offers on Edmundson in the offseason. Much will depend upon the blueliner’s health over the remainder of this season.

Aaron Portzline believes the Columbus Blue Jackets will be shopping for blueline depth this summer. He pointed out that GM Jarmo Kekalainen attempted to acquire Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes before he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators.

The Jackets acquired a conditional first-round pick from the Los Angeles Kings as part of the return for Joonas Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov. It could be used before the draft to acquire immediate roster help, or they could plunge into the free-agent market this summer.