Brandon Saad has yet to even don a Colorado Avalanche jersey in practice nevertheless in game action, but the veteran winger already knows that he would like a long-term stay. Saad was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last month with just one year remaining on his current contract, a six-year, $36MM pact signed back in 2015. Having played in just nine postseason games since 2017, Saad is clearly happy to be back with a legitimate contender. Add in that he has been traded three times now in the past five years and it is no surprise that he would like to stay put in Colorado beyond this season. Saad told NHL. com’s “NHL@TheRink” Podcast that as much:
We haven’t had any discussions, I think it’s a bit early, especially with not really knowing what’s going on with the season and all that, but for me, thinking about it, Colorado has always been in my top because I want to win again. So to be in a great spot like that, on a great team, and then you hear wonders about the city, so really, it seems like a great place where I want to play for a long time. I’m looking forward to getting the season going because we have a hell of a team out there in Denver.
- One of Saad’s former Chicago teammates, Brent Seabrook, is a player who many Blackhawks fans have wished was a former Chicago player himself over the past few years. Seabrook, 35, has seen his play in all three zones fall off considerably over the past few years, culminating in an injury-shortened and almost completely ineffective 2020-21 campaign. To make matters worse, Seabrook still has four years and $27.5MM remaining on what has become one of the more notorious contracts in the NHL. While many have speculated and perhaps hoped that Seabrook may retire, he tells The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that he is not considering anything less than continuing his playing career to the best of his abilities. After several difficult years, on and off the ice, Seabrook tells LeBrun that he is feeling physically and mentally healthy and overall “rejuvenated”. Perhaps the Chicago mainstay can return to form this season and make the most of the remaining years of his contract.
- While he continues to seek a permanent contract somewhere, Vladimir Sobotka has signed another month-long contract. While Sobotka played with SC Rapperswil-Jona of the Swiss NLA last month, he has landed in a more familiar spot and hopes to earn a longer stay this time around. Czech source Hokej.cz reports that Sobotka has signed a temporary contract with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga. Sobotka came up through the program as a prospect and returned to the team during the 2012-13 lockout, making this a homecoming of sorts. While Sobokta made a minimal impact for the Buffalo Sabres this past season, he played in 69 games the year prior and is just a few years removed from a 31-point campaign with the St. Louis Blues. His experience and pedigree should earn him an extended stay with Praha, unless he opts to sign elsewhere.
It’s sad that people despise Seabrook. Not his fault on the contract, we’d all have taken it. It just easier to boo Seabrook than it is to boo Bowman, because Bowman never takes the ice.
True but would be a great team gesture to agree to restructure it
You can’t restructure deals in the NHL which is why you see so many horrible dead contracts teams are stuck with and/or trade. Seabrook is a warrior and deserves more respect for what he did for this team. Can’t fault him one bit for taking that contract…you can blame Bowman for giving him that deal though knowing all the wear and tear he had. I hope he can come back and be effective this year