Several restricted free agents have signed new deals in recent days as they ensured they’d be ready for the start of training camp. However, that might not be the case for Jets forward Cole Perfetti. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on the latest Insider Trading segment that there is still a significant gap to bridge between the two sides in contract discussions. Perfetti is coming off a season that saw him score 19 goals and 19 assists in 71 games but also saw him spend time as a healthy scratch, including in the playoffs. This is a fairly obvious case for a bridge contract but even those can sometimes take a little longer to hammer out and this might be one of those cases.
Elsewhere out West:
- After a surprise showing last season that saw the Canucks sit atop the Pacific Division, some wondered if they’d look to work out an extension with head coach Rick Tocchet. However, GM Patrik Allvin told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre that with the team holding a club option on his contract for 2025-26, it’s too early to begin those talks just yet, noting they’ll get into those discussions when the time is right for both sides. Vancouver has a 70-35-13 record under Tocchet so far, good for a .648 points percentage.
- With the Flames embarking on a rebuild, some veterans have already been moved out while others might want out at some point. Don’t expect that to be the case for defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, however, as the blueliner told reporters including Josh Clipperton of the Canadian Press that he believes in the city and the team and has no desire to leave Calgary. Weegar was acquired as part of the Matthew Tkachuk trade and quickly signed an eight-year, $50MM contract extension with a franchise that was trying to contend at the time. Now, it appears he’ll be a key veteran to lean on during their rebuilding process.
- Stars prospect Angus MacDonell has been drafted for the second time in as many years. After Dallas selected the 19-year-old in the sixth round last year, the NLL’s Buffalo Bandits announced (Twitter link) that they selected MacDonell in the fourth round of their draft on Sunday. On top of recording 62 points in 61 games last season with OHL Mississauga, he also put up 29 points in 30 games in the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League, helping to earn this most recent selection. Dallas has until June 1st to sign MacDonell to an entry-level deal and if one doesn’t materialize, he at least might have a fallback plan.
Flames should keep Weeger. He’s their best all-around defenseman and captain material.
I agree, plus, I just recently purchased his jersey.
That is a good reason too. I went through a spell for years when I purchased a jersey with a name on it. It seemed like whenever I did that, the player would get traded within a year, like clockwork. It started with Vernon way back when. Then I didn’t buy a jersey for awhile…then Phaneuf was my fav (bought all kinds of #3 stuff), then won an Iggy jersey, he was gone within a year later. Bennett was my fav up and comer (gone in months), then Tchucky…all wasted jerseys (for cheering fav players).
I am gun shy now. My wife just bought a Wolf jersey, but I don’t even touch it really lol.
Good call brucenewton!!