With many players now extension-eligible as of today, it will be interesting to see if any come to terms on a new deal in the coming days. In the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculates that the Oilers might want to take a run at starting talks with defenseman Ty Emberson in the near future. Acquired in the Cody Ceci trade over the summer, the 24-year-old has settled into a steady third-pairing role, logging just under 15 minutes a night while recording 48 blocks, 53 hits, and five assists in 35 appearances so far.
Making $950K this season, Emberson’s qualifying offer would be just under $1MM if he qualifies for RFA status but he needs to play in 15 more games for that to happen. Otherwise, he’d be a Group Six unrestricted free agent. With the role he has, he should be able to add a bit to that qualifier but it shouldn’t be an exorbitant cost for the Oilers to absorb if they can get something done.
Elsewhere in the Pacific Division:
- Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic took to the ice today as he continues to try to work his way back from a back injury, relays Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News (Twitter link). The 37-year-old has yet to play this season because of the injury, one that he was hoping he’d only miss a few weeks with originally. Vlasic’s playing time has dropped to that of a third-pairing player in recent years after being an anchor of their defense corps for more than a decade. He still has one year left on his contract after this one at a $7MM AAV.
- Kraken prospect Tyson Jugnauth will soon get a second stint in the NCAA. The defenseman revealed on his Instagram page that he has committed to Michigan State University for next season. Jugnauth, a fourth-round pick in 2022, spent a year and a half at the University of Wisconsin before moving to WHL Portland in December 2023. The 20-year-old has been quite productive this season, tallying six goals and 40 assists in just 33 games for the Winterhawks but he has decided that it’s not time to turn pro just yet. Seattle has until August 15, 2026 to sign Jugnauth as his transfer to the WHL didn’t change his original signing timeline.
Vlasic better have Doug Wilson in his will.