While there are plenty of impact restricted free agents still needing to sign, it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2020 crop. Among those slated to become RFAs is Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot. GM Pierre Dorion acknowledged to Sportsnet’s Wayne Scanlan that there have been discussions about a new deal for the blueliner although he didn’t want to get into any specifics. Chabot had a stellar sophomore season, collecting 55 points in 70 games while seeing his average ice time go up by nearly seven minutes a night. He’ll undoubtedly be keeping an eye on the current RFA market for blueliners (headlined by Zach Werenski, Charlie McAvoy, and Ivan Provorov) as the asking price could very well come in higher than what they get.
Elsewhere in the East:
- While the Sabres are currently sitting over the salary cap, don’t expect them to be making a move anytime soon. In an appearance on WGR 550 (audio link), GM Jason Botterill indicated that the team doesn’t need to make a trade to get back into cap compliance. Instead, it appears that their plan is to demote a veteran player or two to the minors, freeing up $1.075MM per player in the process while Botterill also brought up LTIR as a possible avenue. The team currently is in the middle of their second buyout window but it appears that they won’t be taking advantage of it.
- It doesn’t appear as if the Penguins plan to try to sign recently-acquired winger Alex Galchenyuk to an extension right away. Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that at this point, the team is content to let him play out the season and then make a decision about whether or not to re-sign him next summer or let him walk in unrestricted free agency. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his deal that carries a $4.9MM AAV but has dipped below the 20-goal mark in three straight seasons now so it’s understandable that they will want to take a wait-and-see approach with their new forward.
It will be a disaster deal by JR if he doesn’t or isn’t able to resign Galchenuyk. One year of AG and a prospect for Kessel would be complete failure.
If they overpay or overterm a bad or mediocre player it would be even worse
It almost sounds like somebody in the Pens’ analytics cubicles has determined that Galchenyuk is already trending downward, based on being misused in Montreal & having an almost calamitous season in AZ. One would expect that GMJR & company would be able to see the real AG by about game 41 or so and be able to make the right decision for the organization. This, of course, means: “Dear Alex – play your butt off, because your next contract depends on it!”
Numbers lie – how can you compare a players stats when changing teams?
Galchenyuk has a chance to bolster his numbers playing along side Crosby and Malkin. The Coyotes has no one.
He should be able to increase his output easily by 20pts.
Numbers and cents are just as important as production now. Even if he has the same numbers as last year (19g 22A 41PT) they would be able to trade him at the TDL pretty easy. I don’t even know why this article would even state “letting him walk away”?
It doesn’t make sense!
Jack Johnson and Branden Tanev contracts don’t help … same with Horny extension.
They should either resign Galchenyuk now or trade him now. Why move Rust (who is signed for 3 more years) or Bjugstad (2 more) only to lose Galchenyuk next year, too?
Rust can’t get it done – he hasn’t been the same player since his injuries.
He’s had a ton of opportunities playing on the Pens 1st and 2nd line – at best he’s a 20 goal scorer.
I don’t see Galchenyuk fitting in with Pittsburgh , it will be Montreal -Deja vous, he is overrated in the extreme, rather keep Rust, and Bjugstad as you stated Josh.