With the 2017-18 NHL season now underway, it has been a busy week across the league. Here are the top stories from the opening week of the season.
Jagr To Flames: It took until the season started but Jaromir Jagr will indeed suit up in the NHL this season after signing a one-year contract with Calgary. He did have to take a sizable pay cut on this contract though as he’s only guaranteed $1MM with another $1MM in potential bonuses, well below the $5.5MM he received in salary and bonuses with the Panthers last season. He’s not quite in game shape yet but should make his debut with the Flames sometime this week.
Hossa, Lupul Eligible For LTIR: Although the league decided it wanted to take a closer look at the placements of Marian Hossa (Blackhawks) and Joffrey Lupul (Maple Leafs) on long-term injury reserve, they ruled that both Hossa and Lupul are eligible to be put there and both teams wasted little time doing so. Hossa was ruled out for the season back in June due to a skin disorder while Lupul failed his physical last month at the outset of Toronto’s training camp.
Eight For Eichel: The Sabres decided not to wait to see how Jack Eichel fared in the final year of his entry-level contract as instead, they inked him to an eight-year, $80MM extension that will commence in 2018-19. The deal will tie the 2015 second overall selection for the fifth highest cap hit in the league when it kicks in and will keep their franchise player with the team for the better part of the next decade. It also likely sets the floor for contract extensions for 2016 top picks Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs) and Patrik Laine (Jets) one year from now.
More Long-Term Extensions: Eichel was hardly the only player to sign a long-term extension last week. Anaheim defenseman Josh Manson signed a four-year, $16.4MM pact (and got to announce his own contract in the process), Panthers blueliner Mike Matheson somewhat surprisingly signed for eight years and $39MM, while Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers inked a seven-year, $42MM deal on the heels of a 64-point season. All three of those deals will also begin in the 2018-19 season.
Turris Talks Not Going Well? After it had been suggested earlier in the week that progress was being made for Ottawa center Kyle Turris to remain with the team long-term, TSN’s Darren Dreger made some waves when he stated that a trade seems likely. The hold-up here appears to be term; while Turris is eager to sign a seven or eight-year contract, the Sens don’t appear to be as willing to make that commitment just yet. Given the high demand and the short supply of quality centers on the open market each summer, there’s a good chance that Turris could land a deal of that length from someone but if he wants to stay in Ottawa, it appears he might have to take a shorter-termed contract.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.