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Big Hype Prospects: Benak, Demidov, Barlow, Eliasson

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The hockey world has one final hurdle to get through before the hustle-and-bustle of the regular season – presently shrouded by the start of the college football and NFL seasons. To cut through that cloud, we’ll once again borrow the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors and break down some of the prospects getting attention heading into the 2024-25 season.

Four Big Hype Prospects

F Adam Benak, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
2024 USHL Preseason: 6 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP

The USHL Pre-Season was bound to be headlined by Youngstown Phantoms tender Adam Benak – a starring Czech prospect and client of prolific NHL agent Allan Walsh. He brings a wealth of experience, most notably scoring eight points in eight games at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and 24 points in 26 games with the Czech U18 team through friendlies and tourney play.  But even knowing that precedent, his start in the USHL has been shocking. Benak got the primary assist on the first goal of Youngstown’s pre-season – and while it was his only point of game one, he managed five points (1 G, 4 A) in Youngstown’s second pre-season game. Granted it was against a Green Bay lineup clearly not at full strength, but Benak nonetheless played at a step above everyone else, showing power in his strides and confidence on the puck. He worked best with winger Jack Hextall – Youngstown’s starring tender from the 2008 birth year. Hextall is still adjusting to junior-level physicality, but thrived in the tempo and space that Benak was able to create. His next game will be Youngstown’s season opener on September 18th, but Benak’s ability to control possession shined through in his pre-season action. There’s no telling how high on 2025 Draft boards the undersized, but highly-skilled centerman could climb if he carries that momentum into the regular season.

F Ivan Demidov, SKA (KHL)
2024 KHL Regular Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 TP

The start of the KHL season has brought the first look at Ivan Demidov, now the Montreal Canadiens’ newest top prospect. He’s served that title well, making SKA’s KHL roster with dominant pre-season performances, and – perhaps more impressively – admirably filling a third-line role through the year’s first two games. SKA has gained notoriety for how they’ve deploy their star teenagers over the last few years, though it seems Demidov is playing above that ire through the early going. There’s no denying Demidov’s prowess. He’s dominant on the puck, showing control at top speeds and using his body to defend possession while driving the net. He’ll be near the top of the shortlist when it comes to exciting prospects to follow this season – especially if he continues earning routine ice time in SKA’s lineup.

F Colby Barlow, OHL
2023 OHL Regular Season (Owen Sound): 50 GP, 40 G, 18 A, 58 TP

Early year speculation has Colby Barlow as near-certainly bound for a trade away from the Owen Sound Attack. Where he’s headed hasn’t yet come clear, but it seems the Winnipeg Jets first-round pick will have a chance to join a stronger roster after scoring six fewer goals and 15 fewer assists last season, compared to the 2022-23 season. He still managed a 40-goal season, speaking to his assured scoring and offering intriguing upside for the winners of Barlow’s trade sweepstakes. Pre-season trades led other top NHL prospects like Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie to bountiful seasons last year, with both players turning pro this summer. Now, it could be the precedent to a big year for Barlow, hopefully providing momentum into his transition into Winnipeg’s pro flanks.

D Gabriel Eliasson, OHL
2023 J20 Nationell Regular Season: 36 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP

Gabriel Eliasson is hard to ignore. Literally – he’s 6-foot-7, 216-pounds. But he caught scouts attention for more than just his size – also flashing impressively fluid skating, strong puck control, and – above all else – an old-school style of headhunting. Eliasson seemed to study at the Jacob Trouba school of hitting-defensemen, earning a total of 200 penalty minutes through 65 total games last season, split between league and international play. He’s a high upside bet – with the size and control to play high levels, but lacking poise. Still, the Ottawa Senators were willing to gamble on Eliasson early, taking him 39th-overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Now, reports claim that Eliasson is headed to the OHL, rather than making his expected move to the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the Big Ten’s University of Michigan. Eliasson was selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the most recent CHL Import Draft, though additional info suggests he could be traded when Import trades open on September 25th. Fans will have to wait in anticipation for that move, though the thought of Eliasson in the OHL is certainly an interesting one. His reckless abandon would have been well-matched in Cedar Rapids, while the OHL could better encourage the fluid play-driving that makes his skillset so unique. While Eliasson may not be a star at the heights of his peers on this list, his unique frame and heavy hitting will make him an exciting name to follow – whether it be in the OHL or USHL.

Summer Synopsis: Minnesota Wild

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The Minnesota Wild had a far tamer summer than some of their peers around the league – ultimately relying on strong decision-making in the draft and free agency to help round out their lineup, rather than overturning major positions. That could bode well for a team anticipating the return of Jared Spurgeon, and seeing more and more progress out top youngsters like Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi. Hard-hitting depth signings have bolstered those options – effectively placing the faith in Minnesota’s returning stars to carry the team over the 12-point deficit that held them out of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Draft

1-12: D Zeev Buium, Denver (NCHC, NCAA)
2-45: F Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert (WHL)
4-122: D Aron Kiviharju, HIFK (Liiga)
5-140: D Sebastian Soini, Ilves (Liiga)
5-142: G Chase Wutzke, Red Deer (WHL)
6-174: D Stevie Leskovar, Mississauga (OHL)

Minnesota has quietly built one of the best prospect pools in the NHL over the last few years, making up for a lack of much pick value with lucrative drafting. That sentiment reached a peak this year, with the Wild landing a littany of falling talents. That started with Zeev Buium, who held a claim as the top defender of college hockey’s National Championship last year, using his superb puck-control to drive play and open chances for the Pioneers. Buium was an expected top-10 name, but the Wild jumped when they saw him fall out, trading two picks to the Philadelphia Flyers to move up to the 12-spot.

Their hot day continued when the Wild landed Ryder Ritchie in the second round, and Aron Kiviharju in the fourth round. Both players held first-round acclaim at one point this season. Ritchie – a high-IQ winger with tireless drive and special teams upside – seemed a typical casualty of eager drafting. But the first-round precedent was much more emphatically zapped away from Kivihajru when he went down in November with an ACL injury. The injury limited the standout Finnish defender – once considered in a conversation with Macklin Celebrini and Ivan Demidov – to just seven games and two points last season. He returned to the ice in April, and even managed light work at the NHL Draft Combine, but that wasn’t enough to reassure teams of his upside. Still, Kiviharju has 28 games of Liiga experience to his name at just 18 years old – and could emerge as one of the 2024 Draft’s biggest steals if he returns to his prior glory.

Minnesota backed two high-value picks with a trio of safe bets. Sebastian Soini is far from the most refined defender, but has shown a strong ability to square up to, and beat, opponents when defending the rush. He has a long reach, heavy frame, and hard passing – keeping him effective on his own side of the red line. Wutzke stands as Minnesota’s perennial goalie-pick, after managing a .904 save percentage in 36 games with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. Wutzke boasts plenty of athleticism and speed, but needs to continue honing his ability to square up to pucks and stop on a spot. The list of role-based picks ends with Leskovar, who made a name for himself as a mean defender this year. He posted just 12 points through 61 games this year, but added 113 penalty minutes – taking pleasure in using his six-foot-three, 200-pound frame to dominate the gritty areas of the ice. While his profile doesn’t scream upside, Leskovar could prove yet another lucrative Minnesota prospect, with a size and the physical edge that seem well-matched for the pros.

UFA Signings

F Ben Jones (two-years, $1.6MM)*
F Brendan Gaunce (two-years, $1.6MM)*
F Reese Johnson (one-year, $775K)*
F Travis Boyd (one-year, $775K)*
F Yakov Trenin (four years, $14MM)
D Jacob Middleton (extended to four years, $17.4MM)
D Cameron Crotty (one-year, $775K)*
D Joseph Cecconi (one-year, $775K)*
G Troy Grosenick (one-year, $775K)*

* denotes two-way

Minnesota’s off-season was spent rebuilding the depths of the AHL Iowa Wild, who lost a long list of young, upside-bets to other minor league deals this season. Rather than mimic the youth, Minnesota opted to sign a litany of proven veterans – adding 614 games worth of NHL experience through just the additions of Gaunce, Johnson, and Boyd. All three played NHL games last season – and Boyd even managed double-digit goals and 34 points as recently as 2022-23. But their two-way deals suggest that Minnesota is looking more for top-line minor-leaguers capable of being impactful call-ups, rather than everyday lineup pieces.

That’s largely thanks to the addition of Yakov Trenin, who rounds out a Wild bottom-six that didn’t see much change this summer. Trenin became a polarizing player last season, after failing to carry his production to the Colorado Avalanche, despite the team giving up Jeremy Hanzel and a third-round pick in a Trade Deadline swap for the winger. But Trenin did bring his hard-nosed physicality, ultimately ranking fourth among Avalanche forwards with an average of 10.89 hits-per-game. Even better, Trenin carried that physicality through 16 games in Colorado, while only managing one penalty. He’s formerly a 17-goal scorer, twice netting 24 points on a season, but Trenin’s mean streak is what makes him stand out. That’s a factor that’s been missing from the Wild bottom-six since the departure of Brandon Duhaime and aging of Marcus Foligno. Trenin should bring that in droves – while holding onto a fairly manageable $3.5MM cap hit.

The Wild also proved diligent with the extension of defender Jacob Middleton, who will now stick around for four more years after his current deal expires next summer. Middleton proudly planted his feet on Minnesota’s second pairing this season, netting seven goals and 25 points while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time each game. While his upside has been debated, this deal sets up the 28-year-old, former seventh-round pick for a hardy career as a second-pair option.

Trade Acquisitions

F Graeme Clarke (acquired from New Jersey)
F Jakub Lauko (acquired from Boston)

Minnesota made a pair of trades in June, first acquiring forward Jakub Lauko when Boston opted to trade up in the fourth-round – moving from 122 to 110. But it’s Minnesota stands as the early winner of the deal after using the later selection on defender Aron Kiviharju. Lauko is fine supplementary material as well, having scored 10 points in 60 games last season – his first full year in the NHL. He’s a heavy-framed centerman who’s worked his way up to the top flight with diligent two-way play and consistent physicality. Those are the pieces Minnesota feels their missing – if their UFA signings are any indication. Lauko won’t be one to jump off the page this season, but he will stand as a legitimate option for the Wild’s fourth-line center role – likely entering competition with new additions Boyd, Gaunce, and Johnson.

Meanwhile, Clarke will begin fighting his way to the NHL lineup in a new setting, after moving to Minnesota in a one-for-one swap with Adam Beckman. He climbed the mountain with the New Jersey Devils last year, being awarded the first three games of his NHL career after posting 25 goals and 49 points in 67 AHL games. He went scoreless in his NHL appearances but made a few good plays and looked capable of keeping up with opponents. Clarke, still just 23, has managed 149 points through 218 career AHL games – speaking promise to his long-term upside.

RFA Re-Signings

F Graeme Clarke (one-year, $800K)*
F Adam Raska (one-year, $775K)*
F Sammy Walker (one-year, $775K)*
D Declan Chisholm (one-year, $1MM)
D Brock Faber (eight years, $68MM)

* denotes two-way

Minnesota quickly re-signed Clarke, adding him to the quartet of depth pieces ensured with one-year, two-way deals. He’ll join Raska and Walker in competition for the final pieces of Minnesota’s lineup, though it’d be Raska who stands as the early favorite, having already played five games with the Wild last year. He didn’t score in the outings – not helped by his meager AHL production of seven points in 49 games – but Raska did stand as the heavy-frame, gritty piece Minnesota needed. The addition of Trenin could make Raska’s role a bit more obsolete, especially if he can’t boost his scoring, which could pave way for the higher-skilled options of Clarke or Walker. The latter also appeared in four games with the Wild last year, and also went without a point, though he did manage a much more substantial 45 points in 70 AHL games.

But while the depth forwards vie for spots, it seems Declan Chisholm has locked in his lineup role – earning a one-way deal after scoring eight points in 29 games with Minnesota last season. He was a mid-year waiver claim, and will now, at the least, fill the seventh-defender role vacated by Dakota Mermis.

All of the previous RFA signings pale in comparison to the lofty extension of RFA Brock Faber, who will become a wealthy man when his entry-level deal expires next summer, after opting to go the long-term route on an extension. Faber was simply phenomenal last season, stepping up as Minnesota’s unrivaled top defender after captain Jared Spurgeon went down with a season-ending injury. Faber played in all 82 games of his rookie season, scoring eight goals and 47 points and dominating both sides of possession. He was a favorite for the Calder Trophy, but ultimately placed second behind Central Division competitor Connor Bedard. Still, Faber seems bound for a long pro career, after averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time in just his first season.

Departures

F Servac Petrovsky (unsigned draft pick, invited to Utah’s Rookie Camp)
F Jujhar Khaira (Tampa Bay, one-year, $775K)*
F Jake Lucchini (Nashville, two years, $775K)*
F Nick Swaney (Chicago Wolves, AHL, one-year, $775K)*
F Steven Fogarty (retirement)
F Turner Elson (unsigned, unrestricted free agent)
F Adam Beckman (traded to New Jersey)
F Vinni Lettieri (traded to Boston)
D Alex Goligoski (retirement)
D Dakota Mermis (Toronto, one-year, $775K)*
D Will Butcher (signed with Barys Astana, KHL)
G Zane McIntyre (signed with Straubing, DEL)

* denotes two-way

As aforementioned, Minnesota turned over much of their minor league depth this season. Many of those options took lateral steps – including Khaira, Lucchini, and Mermis, who will all re-enter the race of top-line minor-leaguers fighting for an NHL spot. Mermis stands as a particularly-interesting option, moving to a Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line in the midst of a major overhaul. The 30-year-old defender worked his way into the first NHL role of his career last season, initially being recalled as the seventh-defender but ultimately slotting into a third-pair role in 47 games. He scored eight points in those appearances, while managing his responsibilities in all three zones. Toronto is experiencing some confusion around signee Jani Hakanpaa – though a major depth role could open up on the left-hand side, should Hakanpaa opt not to join the Leafs.

Will Butcher is another exciting departure, making the move to Russia after finding little success in the NHL. Butcher scored 44 points in 81 games as a rookie in 2017-18, but has seen a hit in scoring every year since, ultimately falling to a routine AHL role through the last two seasons. That proved insufficient for the former fifth-round pick, who has now joined Barys for the first two games of the KHL season, recording one assist.

Salary Cap Outlook

Minnesota is entering training camp tightly bound by the salary cap. They carry just $756.4K in open space, per PuckPedia – not even enough to afford a league-minimum deal. But the Wild have all of the pieces of their lineup locked up, with no remaining RFAs – effectively shifting their focus from buying new additions to finding ways to pad their cap space for any necessary moves once the season starts.

Key Questions

How Will The Defense Shape Up? The ace up Minnesota’s sleeve for the last few years has been the unrelenting tandem of Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. The two complimented each other beautifully, effectively controlling play on both ends of the ice any time they’re out there. But Spurgeon missed all but 16 games last season, pushing Minnesota into a bit of a scramble for effective right-handed defenders. Luckily, Faber emerged as a star – taking on the bulk of Spurgeon’s role while Zach Bogosian and Mermis offered secondary support. Spurgeon is expected to be ready to go for next season and will certainly boost the defense, though how his role is balanced against Faber – and if the two can work with Brodin and Middleton to form another formidable blue-line – will be the chief focus of Wild fans as games roll around.

Which Star Will Emerge? Minnesota doesn’t boast the superstar talents of a team like Toronto or Edmonton, but they’ve quietly found major contributors through the likes of Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek. All three took a big step forward last year – with Kaprizov rivaling his career-highs with 46 goals and 96 points; and both Boldy and Eriksson Ek setting career-highs with 69 and 64 points respectively. The trio provide confident momentum at every forward position, and could  each continue their climbs next year, backed by a healthy blue-line and rounded-out offense. Kaprizov seems a certain bet to rival the 100-point ceiling again, though both Boldy and Eriksson Ek are sleeper candidates to join him on that flight. Boldy in specific seems to be settling into more-and-more of an impact role, even scoring 20 points across the last 18 games of the season. While the depth scoring of Minnesota’s offense may prove a concern, the trio of stars leading the pack all seem destine for a big year.

Who’s On First – Or, In Net? The Wild seemed to be headed for a quiet and amicable split with future Hall-of-Fame goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. His contract was due this summer, and while he’s spent three hardy years in Minnesota, the 2023-24 campaign marked the first time since the dead-puck era – 2005-06 to be exact – that Fleury posted a sub-.900 save percentage. Minnesota has the effective Filip Gustavsson and top prospect Jesper Wallstedt waiting for a more concrete shot at the starting role – which made it all the more confusing when the Wild granted Fleury’s request for a farewell tour, signing him to a one-year, $2.5MM contract. Fleury ceded the lion’s share of starts last season – with Gustavsson playing in 45 games and posting an .899 – while Wallstedt posted a .910 in 45 AHL games. That seems to be the split Minnesota is headed for again this season, though how Gustavsson is able to control more starts – and how Wallstedt is able to overcome legendary competition for the backup spot – could go a long way towards determining the Wild’s odds at success.

Summer Synopsis: Los Angeles Kings

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It wasn’t that long ago that the Los Angeles Kings were a team that appeared to be on the cusp of breaking through, they were entering win-now mode and had just acquired Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Wild. General manager Rob Blake had steered the team through a tough rebuild and managed to keep several veterans from the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup-winning teams in the fray. This year the mood around the team feels quite different after a third straight first-round exit at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. It also feels that many of the Kings’ moves this summer were panic moves that show a lack of direction going forward.

Draft

1-26: F Liam Greentree, Windsor (OHL)
2-57: G Carter George,  Owen Sound (OHL)
6-164: D Jared Woolley, London (OHL)
7-198: F James Reeder, Dubuque (USHL)

The Kings dropped back in the draft from 21st to 26th and selected Windsor Spitfires right winger Greentree. The 6’2”, 214-pound forward is a left shot on the right wing and is a creatively gifted skater with an incredible ability to move the puck while he is in motion and traffic. He is extremely slippery and has a good mind for the game, particularly in the offensive zone where he is calm and clever with the puck on his stick.

Thunder Bay, Ontario native Carter George was the Kings’ second-round pick after spending two seasons with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL. George led the league with four shutouts last season and was selected to the OHL First All-Rookie Team and the Third All-Star Team. His numbers in the OHL weren’t great with a .907 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average, however, goaltenders tend to have skewed numbers due to the high-scoring nature of the league. George has good lateral movement and keeps good angles, but he is undersized and could stand to work on his rebound control. He will likely be a project for Los Angeles and could take five to seven years to reach the NHL.

The Kings had to wait until the sixth round to pick again and chose bruising 6’5” defender Woolley from the London Knights of the OHL. Woolley split last season between London and the St. Thomas Stars of the GOJHL. The Port Hope, Ontario native steadily improved as the season went on and finished by playing four games in the Memorial Cup. Woolley is a physical presence in the defensive zone, both at his blue line and around the net. He is also solid with the puck on his stick, showing patience with the puck at the offensive blue line and starting plays with a good first pass.

Finally, Los Angeles selected James Reeder in the seventh round. The Glenview, Illinois native is set to play in the NCAA at the University of Denver this season and will likely spend all four years of his eligibility there. The two-way forward is dynamic with the puck and isn’t afraid to drive to the net to make a play happen. He plays with a quick pace and can get to open space with relative ease using his speed and hockey sense to create room for himself in the offensive zone. He is a bit undersized but should flourish in Denver over the next few seasons.

Trade Acquisitions

D Kyle Burroughs (San Jose)
F Tanner Jeannot (Tampa Bay)
G Darcy Kuemper (Washington)

The Kings are counting on bounce-back seasons from a couple of trade acquisitions that were brought in this summer. Kuemper struggled with the Washington Capitals after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado. He was brought in on a five-year $26.25MM contract but posted a very pedestrian 35-40-10 record in Washington with a .902 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. Los Angeles hasn’t had solid goaltending during the previous few seasons and is hoping Kuemper can regain his previous form to help the team get over the hump.

Jeannot is another player who will be hoping for better results in a new environment as he underwhelmed in Tampa Bay after being acquired for five draft picks and Callan Foote at the 2023 NHL trade deadline. The Estevan, Saskatchewan native had just seven goals and seven assists in 55 games last season and lost the scoring touch that made him so valuable the season prior. He took a ton of penalties last season and will have to clean that up if he hopes to be a good contributor on the third line.

UFA Signings

D Joel Edmundson (four-year, $15.4MM)
F Warren Foegele (three-year, $10.5MM)
F Glenn Gawdin (two-year, $1.55MM)*
D Caleb Jones (one-year, $775K)*
F Jeff Malott (two-year, $1.55MM)*
C Jason Studnicka (one-year, $775K)*
D Reilly Walsh (one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles signed Edmundson to a four-year contract, which was a massive gamble for a 31-year-old whose body appears to be breaking down the later he gets in his career. Edmundson does give the Kings a big body and should help in the defensive zone come playoff time as he can clear the front of the net and battle in the corners. However, he does have significant warts to his game as he doesn’t do much when the puck is on his stick and he gives up a ton of scoring chances when he is on the ice. The contract could become an albatross for Los Angeles if Edmundson can’t stay healthy.

The Kings signed Foegele away from Edmonton to add depth to their forward group. The contract is a gamble given that Foegele played fourth-line minutes last year with the Oilers. The upside to Blake’s gamble is that Foegele can skate and is good on the forecheck, and he is good at creating scoring opportunities for his linemates despite the limited playing time. He managed 41 points in 82 games last year, which suggests he could become a more prominent offensive contributor in the future.

RFA Re-Signings

F Quinton Byfield (five-year, $31.25MM)
F Samuel Fagemo (one-year, $775K)*
F Joe Hicketts (one-year, $775K)*
F Andre Lee (one-year, $775K)*
D Jordan Spence (two-year, $3MM)
C Akil Thomas (two-year, $1.55MM)*
F Alex Turcotte (three-year, $2.325MM)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles took care of one of their most important players when they locked Byfield into a five-year extension. The second overall pick in 2020 had a breakout season last year, registering 20 goals and 35 assists in 80 games. Byfield hadn’t shown much at the NHL level before last year and took a huge jump forward turning into a two-way center who will most likely fill a middle-six role for the Kings next year. Byfield’s playmaking reached new levels last season, and his 46 takeaways suggest that his defensive game is trending upward as well. At $6.25MM per season, Los Angeles is gambling that the 22-year-old is only scratching the surface, and they will likely be proven right over the next few seasons.

The Kings signed Spence to a two-year extension after the 23-year-old found some offensive success for the first time in three NHL seasons. Spence averaged 14:26 in ice time last season and was sheltered in a favorable role. His underlying numbers were quite good, demonstrating that the young rearguard is solid at generating offensive opportunities while making good defensive choices. Spence’s emergence likely influenced the Kings’ decision to move on from Matt Roy.

Departures

F Viktor Arvidsson (Edmonton, two-year, $8MM)
D Kevin Connauton (Utah, two-year, $1.55MM)*
G Aaron Dell (unsigned free agent)
F Pierre-Luc Dubois (traded to Washington)
F Carl Grundstrom (traded to San Jose)
F Hayden Hodgson (Ottawa, one-year, $775K)*
G Jacob Ingham (unsigned free agent)
C Blake Lizotte (Pittsburgh, two-year, $3.7MM)
F Mikhail Maltsev (signed in KHL)
D Matt Roy (Washington, six-year, $34.5MM)
D Steven Santini (Tampa Bay, one-year, $775K)*
G Cam Talbot (Detroit, two-year, $5MM)
F T.J. Tynan (Colorado, one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Los Angeles let go of a lot of forward depth this summer as Arvidsson, Lizotte, Dubois, and Grundstrom have moved on. The effects of those departures could be felt this season, particularly if Jeannot doesn’t re-capture his game and if some of the Kings’ younger pieces are unable to take the next step.

The Dubois trade was one of necessity for the Kings as his contract had become an albatross after just a single season. Getting out of it was likely the right move for Los Angeles long term, even if it does cost them some depth scoring this season. Dubois didn’t fit in Los Angeles for some reason, he opted far too often to pass away the puck, rather than carrying it to the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities for teammates. Dubois could still work out in Washington, but if his game resembles that of what we saw last year, the Capitals could end up regretting the trade to acquire him.

Arvidsson was a valuable offensive contributor for the Kings but didn’t offer much last season as he was injured for a great deal of it. The Kings certainly missed his scoring and weren’t able to replace it this summer.

Carl Grundstrom was never much of a scorer but did contribute a decent amount for the little that he played. He also offered the Kings a physical presence, but that part of his game should be replaced adequately by Jeannot.

Lizotte is a low-maintenance player that the Kings opted to move on from. On paper, his departure doesn’t seem like a huge loss, but it could quietly be a blow to the Kings’ depth up front. Lizotte was a good forechecker, who could kill penalties and play with pace, something Los Angeles could use if they run into the Oilers again in the playoffs. The 26-year-old didn’t have a great offensive season last year but is just a year removed from a 34-point campaign and is an underrated passer.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Kings figure to enter training camp with just over $1.3MM in salary cap space and could potentially add a veteran player before the start of the regular season. Blake might also opt to keep the space open to make an in-season move to try and improve his club. Long term the Kings don’t have any pressing issues as most of their younger players are now signed to long-term deals. However, improvement in the future might become challenging as the Kings have several long-term contracts that aren’t exactly desirable and might be hard to move on from if the team wants to make significant additions.

Key Questions

Is The Team Better? The Kings shifted a lot of the furniture this offseason, tinkering on the edges of the lineup while maintaining most of their core players. But did it make them better? The answer will lie in the on-ice results but at the moment it’s hard to say whether shifting things around has made the group stronger. The Kings have run into the Oilers for three straight seasons and will likely face a similar opponent in the playoffs once again, and this year Blake focused on players who can help come playoff time, but it remains to be seen if that strategy will work.

What Will The Goaltending Look Like? Los Angeles is banking on Kuemper returning to form and if he does their goaltending should be a lot better. But will he get back to the goaltender he was a few years ago? The answer is very unclear, and the Kings don’t have a great plan B if Kuemper falters. Los Angeles could try and take a swing on another trade if Kuemper’s game isn’t where they need it to be, but they would be unlikely to move on from Kuemper’s cap hit in that scenario which would make a trade very difficult.

How Will The Defence Be?  The Kings opted to let Roy go to free agency which won’t impact the top pairing of Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty. However, it will move Spence onto the second pairing after he spent last season being sheltered. For the Kings’ third pairing, veteran Edmundson will likely line up alongside Brandt Clarke. Overall, it’s hard to say whether that defensive setup is better than last year’s lineup, but the Kings will be hoping it is if they want to take the next step.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Summer Synopsis: Florida Panthers

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The Florida Panthers achieved the ultimate goal earlier this year by winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in team history. Like most champions in the salary cap era, the Panthers have their work cut out for them regarding filling out their depth options for the upcoming campaign. The team has done well in keeping most of their core talent together but the negative externalities of the team’s run of success have created some holes further down the lineup.

Draft

2-58: C Linus Eriksson, Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)
3-97: D Matvei Shuravin, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
4-129: C Simon Zether, Rögle BK (SHL)
6-169: C Stepan Gorbunov, Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)
6-193: F Hunter St. Martin, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
7-201: G Denis Gabdrakhmanov, Tyumenski Legion (MHL)

It was always going to be difficult for Florida to make any noise during the draft due to their lack of draft capital. The organization swung some trades to acquire additional capital but only came away with one player projected to make an impact.

Eriksson is a legitimate NHL prospect after securing a solid season last year with Djurgårdens IF. The young center scored three goals and 11 points in 29 regular season contests and showed a knack for being a physical presence in all three zones. He was a star on the international stage last season scoring seven goals and 22 points in 22 international contests while playing for Sweden’s U18 squad.

Zether is the only other draft pick from the Panthers this summer that could become a fixture in Florida’s future lineup. Zether managed 42 games in the Swedish Hockey League last year while securing four assists. Rögle also kept him around for the playoffs with the team eventually losing in the Finals.

UFA Signings

D Adam Boqvist (one-year, $775K)*
F Jesper Boqvist (one-year, $775K)*
G Chris Driedger (one-year, $795K)
F MacKenzie Entwistle (one-year, $775K)*
F A.J. Greer (two-years, $1.7MM)
D Jaycob Megna (one-year, $775K)*
F Tomas Nosek (one-year, $775K)*
D Nate Schmidt (one-year, $800K)

* denotes a two-way contract

Most of Florida’s available cap space went to Sam Reinhart and his new eight-year, $69 MM contract. The team took a similar approach to last summer to find buy-low bargains on the open market.

The organization hopes that (Adam) Boqvist and Schmidt become a buy-low bargain as the Panthers require help on their blue line. The former is not far removed from being a top defensive prospect but has seen his career hampered by injuries up to this point. He recently scored five goals and 24 points in 46 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022-23 NHL season but the team cut him loose after only posting one goal and 10 points in 39 games last year.

Schmidt will probably have a longer leash than Boqvist on the back end due to his lengthy experience and he could even sneak into the team’s top four. Schmidt is a trustworthy defenseman as evidenced by his 50.6% career CorsiFor% and he should be a seamless fit in Florida’s playstyle.

RFA Re-Signings

F Anton Lundell (six-years, $30MM)

Lundell has been a terrific middle-six option for the Panthers since his rookie campaign three years ago. He’s already collected 216 games in Florida with 43 goals and 112 points. He gives the Panthers another offensive player who can carry responsibility in all situations. The young Finnish forward was a major tool in the Panthers capturing their first Stanley Cup earlier this year with three goals and 17 points in 24 postseason contests.

Departures

D Lucas Carlsson (San Jose, two-year, $1.6MM)
F Nick Cousins (Ottawa, one-year, $800K)
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto, four-year, $14MM)
D Casey Fitzgerald (NY Rangers, two-year, $1.55MM)*
G Magnus Hellberg (Dallas, one-year, $775K)*
F Ryan Lomberg (Calgary, two-year, $4MM)
D Brandon Montour (Seattle, seven-year, $50MM)
F Kevin Stenlund (Utah, two-year, $4MM)
G Anthony Stolarz (Toronto, two-year, $5MM)
F Vladimir Tarasenko (Detroit, two-year, $9.5MM)

*denotes a two-way contract

It was going to be next to impossible for Florida to keep around all their depth from last season and the team lost quite a bit this summer. The most concerning losses will be Montour and Ekman-Larsson on the blue line as the two combined for 17 goals and 65 points in 146 regular season games. The team still has Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad left to carry the load but the Panthers will need major improvements from other members of their defensive core to replicate that success.

The trio of Cousins, Lomberg, and Stenlund were not game-breakers in their own right but their presence will be missed. That group of forwards gave Florida a certain level of grit last year making them irritating to play against. The team should be able to replicate their tenacity throughout the season and at the trade deadline but it seems like an edge they’re missing headed into this year.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Panthers have a similar situation to last year with only $766K in cap space heading into the regular season. The team will continue to accrue cap space throughout the regular season and should be able to upgrade their roster once the trade deadline rolls around. The team’s core is still intact meaning they won’t need to add any high-level talent via trade this year so they are in a good position to be competitive again. Nex summer could be dramatic as Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Carter Verhaeghe are expected to reach unrestricted free agency.

Key Questions

Where Will The Physicality Come From? Florida was one of the most physical teams last year with 12 players recording more than 100 hits on the year. Four of those players left via free agency meaning the Panthers will need to supplant the missing toughness. It has become a part of their team identity and a tool for their success. Megna is the only addition from this offseason that could reach 100 hits throughout an entire regular season but this already feels like something the team will need to address at the trade deadline.

What Is The Plan For Spencer Knight? It was not long ago when Knight was one of the most exciting goaltending prospects in the league. He achieved an impressive run during the 2021-22 campaign leading the Panthers to extend him on a three-year, $13.5MM contract. Sergei Bobrovsky took back the reins in a turn of events that eventually led to Knight spending the entirety of last year with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He played well with the Checkers earning a 25-14-5 record in 45 games with a .905 SV% and is projected to play backup for Bobrovsky this season. Still, Knight’s $4.5MM salary is one of the highest in the league for a backup netminder and the cap-strapped Panthers may look to move on from him if they get a reasonable offer.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Notes On Connor McDavid’s Next Contract

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The Edmonton Oilers got a major piece of work done earlier this week by signing forward Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $112MM contract to keep him in Alberta through his age-37 season. They will have to visit a similar situation in a year with captain Connor McDavid as he will be eligible to sign an extension with the Oilers on July 1, 2025.

McDavid may very well break Alex Ovechkin’s record of $124MM total salary on his next deal as the expectation is that he will become the highest-paid player in the league at the very least. The salary cap for the 2025-26 NHL season is expected to land around $92MM which would theoretically allow Edmonton to pay McDavid a maximum of $18.4MM a season. McDavid would only have to receive $15.5MM a year over an eight-year term to match Ovechkin’s record.

It doesn’t sound like McDavid is interested in receiving the maximum 20% of the total cap as he avoided that salary during his last negotiations with the Oilers. On his most recent episode of the ’32 Thoughts’ podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said, “The story I always heard about Connor McDavid’s last negotiation, Jeff Jackson is now the President of the Oilers, he was the agent at the time, and, you know, one of the things they said was, the maximum any player can be paid at the cap is 20% and at the time, they said, we’re not going to ask for 20% and the Oilers are like, ‘Oh, Thank God.’ And because if he would have asked for 20% they would have paid it. But McDavid wasn’t interested in that“.

McDavid’s desire to win likely plays a part in his avoiding a record-setting salary up to this point. If the former sought the max salary, the Oilers would only have around 65% of their cap space left to put together a competitive team around McDavid and Draisaitl.

As much fun as it would be to see McDavid become an unrestricted free agent in two years, there is no reason to doubt his commitment to Edmonton. All signs are pointing to the Oilers extending McDavid as quickly as they can, especially after making such a strong commitment to Draisaitl. He won’t come cheap though as McDavid will likely become the highest-paid player of all time on his next contract.

Possible Comparables For Dawson Mercer’s Contract

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One of the more prominent remaining free agents is Devils forward Dawson Mercer.  While he’s coming off a down season, he has had enough success over his first three NHL seasons that New Jersey would likely want to work out a long-term deal with them.  Whether they can afford to, however, might be a different story.

The 22-year-old had the lowest output of his career last season but still managed 20 goals and 13 assists while playing all 82 games for the third straight year.  But with a 42-point effort in his rookie season and a 56-point showing in his sophomore campaign, there’s enough of a track record for a long-term deal to potentially make sense.

Looking at some potential comparables, one of their division rivals has a couple of them in Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny (his current deal, not the extension he just signed).  Both were post-entry-level pacts, checking in at $5MM and $5.5MM respectively.  Mercer’s numbers are better than Farabee’s so it’s likely to come in above that while Mercer’s best year was better than Konecny’s at that point.  If we use cap percentages (to reflect the increase in the salary cap at that time), the range of the two deals moves to between $5.333MM and $5.94MM.

Other possible comparable players in that range are Florida’s Anton Lundell ($5MM signed this year) and Nick Schmaltz ($5.875MM).  Notably, none of those contracts were for the maximum eight years either; three were six-year agreements while Schmaltz was the exception at seven seasons.  At this point, something in the high-$5MM area might be the right fit on a six-year deal for Mercer, one that would buy out two years of UFA eligibility.  Going longer (adding on more UFA years) would only push that price tag higher.

But even affording the six-year contract would appear to be a challenge at first glance.  At the moment, the team projects to have $4.976MM in cap space for the upcoming season, per PuckPedia, with a projected 22-player roster.  They could increase that wiggle room by not carrying a full-sized roster but that leaves them vulnerable to injuries.

It’s also worth mentioning that they have more than $5MM in potential performance bonuses for Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes so they may want to leave themselves some wiggle room to absorb some of those – if earned – on the 2024-25 cap instead of rolling them over to their 2025-26 cap.  Additionally, they will almost certainly want to leave themselves some room for in-season movement.

Put it all together and a long-term contract simply isn’t doable, not without moving someone of consequence off their current roster.  And while something like that isn’t impossible, a lot of teams are now tight to the cap ceiling so it’s not as easy as it was six weeks ago to move money; let’s face it, it wasn’t all that easy then either.

That squarely pushes the contract needle in the bridge direction for Mercer.  A two-year agreement would only cover one arbitration-eligible season but should check in around the $3.5MM per season mark, one that would leave GM Tom Fitzgerald at least $1MM in flexibility heading into the fall.  That’s not a lot – especially if there’s an early injury – but that would still have them in reasonable shape.  With him being four years away from UFA eligibility, something in the three-to-five-year range would be a bit riskier so it’s less likely to be one of those lengths.

While it might sound simple enough in theory, this is the type of contractual situation that can drag out.  If Mercer’s camp wants to hold out for the possibility of a long-term agreement, they’ll need to wait to see if something happens in terms of roster movement over the next six weeks or so.  And if both sides are resigned to a short-term agreement, Mercer could simply opt to wait until closer to camp to see if there’s an injury that gives him a bit more leverage and perhaps gives him a chance at a bit more money.  Neither of those scenarios are any reason for concern, that’s just sometimes how things play out with players coming off entry-level deals if they’re not signed at this point.

Despite the down year, Mercer is quite likely to be viewed as a key piece of New Jersey’s plans for the foreseeable future.  But with how their roster looks, it seems unlikely that they’ll be able to give him the type of contract commensurate with a core player.  Barring a change, that contract will have to come after they get through a bridge deal first.

Flyers Notes: Johansen, Kolosov, Znarok

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While the Flyers were hoping to get some confirmation on the Ryan Johansen situation in the near future, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that it may take until closer to the start of the regular season before they get a resolution on that front.  Philadelphia has run the veteran through termination waivers citing a breach of contract, one that his representation intends to grieve citing Johansen’s hip injury.  However, the actual termination has not yet taken place, meaning his $4MM cap charge remains on their books in full.  At the moment, the team would need to dip into LTIR, per PuckPedia, an outcome that wouldn’t be necessary if the Flyers are indeed able to get Johansen’s deal off their books entirely.

More from Philadelphia:

  • Also from Kurz, a team source notes that Alexei Kolosov’s situation remains “in limbo” after a late-August meeting between the club and the goaltender’s representatives. His situation has been well-documented with Kolosov’s desire being to play in the KHL this season on loan, something that the Flyers don’t want to do.  While Calvin Petersen (pending waiver clearance in the preseason) will be at AHL Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia’s preference is to have Kolosov developing down there as their third-stringer with the potential to see NHL action at some point in the season.  We’ll find out in the coming weeks which side gets their way.
  • While not announced by the team, they have hired long-time international coach Oleg Znarok as their European Player Development and Scouting Consultant, according to their hockey personnel page. The 61-year-old coached in Latvia and Russia for the better part of two decades, including multiple stints at the World Championship and the Olympics.  Out of coaching since late 2022, it appears that Znarok has given up on going back behind a bench and will now serve as an advisor to a Philadelphia team that is getting Matvei Michkov this season while having Ivan Fedotov for an entire year after he got his feet wet in the NHL late in 2023-24.

Chase De Leo Expected To Sign In KHL

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September 7: De Leo has officially signed with Barys Astana, per a team announcement.  He receives a one-year deal.

August 24: After spending the last two full seasons in the minors, it appears that UFA forward Chase De Leo is opting to try his hand overseas.  Sport-Express’ Ivan Bohun reports that De Leo is expected to sign a one-year contract with Barys Astana of the KHL.

The 28-year-old has been a quality producer in the AHL for the past nine seasons, including 2023-24 when he put up 15 goals and 33 assists in 52 games with San Diego, good for third on Anaheim’s farm team in scoring despite missing 20 games.  However, despite the solid production, none of those games missed were due to an NHL opportunity but rather an injury.

For his career, De Leo has 135 goals and 214 assists in 494 AHL appearances.  But that level of production hasn’t yielded much of an opportunity at the top level.  While he has seen NHL action in five seasons (most recently in 2021-22 with New Jersey), his total number of NHL contests is only seven where he wasn’t able to hit the scoresheet.

De Leo has been subject to the AHL veteran rule for the past three seasons, a restriction that often makes it difficult for older players to find another opportunity at that level.  Whether that’s the reason for De Leo’s expected signing with Astana or whether he just wants to try another league, it appears his time in North America is coming to an end for the time being.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Nashville Predators

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office.  Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those that don’t often see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2024-25 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia.  We begin with a look at the Central Division; next up is Nashville.

Nashville Predators

Current Cap Hit: $84,904,199 (under the $88MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Luke Evangelista (one year, $797.5K)

Evangelista’s first full NHL campaign was a good one as he notched 39 points after putting up 15 points in 24 games in 2022-23.  That isn’t a statistical profile that suggests a long-term agreement will be forthcoming but if he can have a similar offensive showing this season, Evangelista could approach the $3MM mark on a bridge agreement.

Signed Through 2024-25, Non-Entry-Level

D Dante Fabbro ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Gustav Nyquist ($3.15MM, UFA)

Nyquist came to Nashville in the middle of a down season which hurt his market last summer.  However, his first full season with the Preds was his best as he set new career bests in assists (52) and points (75).  A repeat showing could give him a shot at a fair-sized raise, albeit on a short-term deal as he’ll be 36 when the 2025-26 season kicks off.

Fabbro has shown flashes of being a key secondary piece on Nashville’s back end in the past but has settled into more of a depth role in recent years.  That said, he’s still just 26 and as a right-shot player, he should still command a fair bit of interest next summer in free agency.  Even if he stays in the role he’s had lately, he should push past the $3MM mark on his next contract.

Signed Through 2025-26

F Mark Jankowski ($800K, UFA)
D Jeremy Lauzon ($2MM, UFA)
F Michael McCarron ($900K, UFA)
D Luke Schenn ($2.75MM, UFA)
F Cole Smith ($1MM, UFA)
F Colton Sissons ($2.857MM, UFA)
D Spencer Stastney ($825K, RFA)
G Scott Wedgewood ($1.5MM, UFA)

Sissons’ seven-year contract drew some ire at the time for someone whose role was somewhat limited at the time but it has held up relatively well in most of those seasons.  He has provided enough secondary scoring to give them some value on that front while being a key defensive player.  He should land another multi-year deal above $3MM if that holds up the next two years.  Smith has emerged as a viable fourth-line physical winger over the last two seasons.  Those players tend to do well on the open market still so if he can push past the double-digit goal mark, he could double his price tag in 2026.  McCarron and Jankowski have been depth players throughout their careers and are likely to see their future contracts check in relatively close to the league minimum.

Schenn had a resurgent season in 2022-23, moving him from someone making around the minimum salary to someone making nearly four times that much.  He had a limited role with the Preds last season; it’s fair to suggest they were expecting him to cover more than 15 minutes a night.  Continuing with that level of ice time could land him back near the minimum in 2026.

Lauzon was counted on to play a bigger role last season, ranking fourth among Nashville blueliners in ATOI while leading the NHL in hits by 60 over the next closest player.  Two more years like that would give him a strong market heading to free agency where doubling his current price tag could be doable.  Stastney split last season between Nashville and AHL Milwaukee and might be in a similar role this season.  He’ll need to crack the lineup full-time before having a shot at passing the $1MM mark.

Wedgewood had a good run as the backup in Dallas which allowed him to get a 50% raise on this deal with Nashville.  Barring injury, he won’t be counted on to play as many games as a top-level backup and if that winds up being the case, that will prevent him from getting closer to the top backup money ($3MM or more) that many netminders have received in recent years.

Signed Through 2026-27

D Alexandre Carrier ($3.75MM, UFA)
F Thomas Novak ($3.5MM, UFA)
F Ryan O’Reilly ($4.5MM, UFA)

The decision to sign O’Reilly as their top center last summer was a bit of a curious one considering that he hadn’t been in that role for several years and the fact he was coming off his lowest point-per-game rate since he was a teenager.  However, he showed that he still had a high level of offense in his game while continuing to be an above-average player at the faceoff dot and a strong defender.  Even if there’s a bit of a dip in his production given some of the extra firepower brought in this summer, this is still a good price tag if O’Reilly ultimately settles in as more of a second liner.  There may be some concern for the final year of the deal when he’s 36 but right now, this has worked out quite well for the Preds.

Novak was a feel-good story in 2022-23, putting up 43 points in 51 games after being recalled from the minors.  He showed last year that the performance wasn’t just a mirage, surpassing the 40-point mark again, earning himself this new deal in the process.  As long as Novak continues to stay around the 40-point range, Nashville will get at least a reasonable return on this contract.

Carrier bounced back well after a rough 2022-23 season, spending a lot of time in Nashville’s top four which gave him some leverage heading to the open market.  He opted not to test it, instead accepting a 50% increase in his cap hit, not a bad outcome for someone who only became a regular NHL player in 2021-22.

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Snapshots: Laine, Lankinen, CBA Talks

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While Patrik Laine was eventually traded to Montreal, it appears as if that wasn’t the originally planned destination for the winger.  La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported earlier this week that the Wild had been in discussions to acquire the 26-year-old with GM Bill Guerin acknowledging to him that he thought he had a chance to get Laine.  However, Guerin indicated that Laine didn’t want to go to Minnesota which implies that the Wild were one of the teams on his partial no-trade list.  Considering his $8.7MM cap hit and Minnesota’s particularly tight cap situation, it would have been interesting to see how Guerin was going to make it work in terms of fitting in Laine’s contract on their books.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • While the Canucks have been linked to veteran goaltender Kevin Lankinen on the tryout front as they look to get some insurance for training camp, Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston relays that the veteran’s intention is to secure a full contract offer and not go the PTO route. The 29-year-old has been a backup for the last four seasons, posting a respectable 3.05 GAA with a .905 SV% over stints with Chicago and Nashville but with so few teams needing goalie depth at the moment, a guaranteed deal at this point will be hard to come by for Lankinen.
  • Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that there have not yet been any major discussions pertaining to the next CBA, noting it’s still a bit early to get into those talks. The current agreement is set to expire following the 2025-26 season.  This will be Walsh’s first CBA that he works on after taking over for Don Fehr back in 2023.  While it was recently noted that there is an uptick in signing bonus money for 2026-27 as insurance against a possible work stoppage, Walsh indicated that it shouldn’t be construed as a sign of possible concern.

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