There was no doubt that veteran defenseman Ryan Suter was going to be a hot commodity on the free agent market after being bought out by the Minnesota Wild. While fair for the Wild to be hesitant about paying the 36-year-old over $7.5MM for four more seasons, especially with cap and Expansion Draft concerns compounding the issue, Suter’s buyout is not an indictment on his play. Suter showed some decline this season, seeing a 13-year low in time on ice and points per game. However, those marks were still impressive at 22:11 per night and an 82-game pace of 28 points. Add in his invaluable experience and leadership and Suter is one of the more valuable names available on the open market.
Two teams who just recently battled in the postseason, the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, are back at it off the ice, as The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa reports that the clubs are competing for Suter’s services. Boston has been looking for a competent top-pair defenseman who can skate with Charlie McAvoy for several years and that weakness was further exposed this season with the departure of Zdeno Chara. The Islanders just traded away the veteran leader of their defense and a top-four left-hander as well in Nick Leddy. Both contenders could use Suter in a major way and each seem like attractive landing spots for the veteran.
Surprisingly, both teams can engage in a bidding war for Suter as well. The Bruins were under the salary cap this season right up until acquiring Taylor Hall at the trade deadline. Even after re-signing Hall, the Bruins still have their two largest contracts – that of David Krejci and Tuukka Rask – coming off the books this summer. Both could re-sign, but neither at the full amount, leaving more than enough space to add Suter at his asking price. Meanwhile, the Islanders have gone from cap crisis to comfortable flexibility in no time, with Leddy, Andrew Ladd, and Jordan Eberle all out the door, leaving behind newfound space.
While New York and Boston may be in the lead in the race for Suter, Shinzawa notes that they are not alone. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are also considered to be contenders for the veteran, each looking to replace a recent departure on the left side, Ryan Graves and Jamie Oleksiak respectively. There are certainly other team in the mix as well. Where Suter ultimately lands could be a domino that impact the rest of the free agent blue line market.
Avs can’t afford to add veteran salaries at this time.
We’re gonna find out just how attractive it is playing fir Islanders now
Mm. I’ve thought Suter would look good in a Bruins uniform this season, but Boston can’t get STUPID over it: they’ve got Krejci, Rask, Reilly, Ritchie and Kuraly to sign (or if they don’t sign any of them, to replace), and if they bring in that lot for $15 million I’d be happy. Suter’s worth $2. He’s not worth more than that.
I wouldn’t lose any sleep if they didn’t resign Ritchie or Kuraly they still have a few good young players that could move into the line up full time plus they could trade DeBrusk
Ritchie’s a good player with a good bit of upside; losing him would bite, and you’re not going to find a replacement for a guy who scored on a 22 goal pace in Providence. Kuraly … grrr, he’s been a favorite of mine, but he’s also a 4th liner who regressed hard this year, and if he’s decided not to play hungry any more, there are guys in Providence who can.