Late Thursday, the Hurricanes raised some eyebrows when they signed winger Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45MM contract extension after just one professional season. It was reported at the time that the deal carries some salary deferrals; PuckPedia relays (Twitter link) that a total of $15.9MM in signing bonus money over five seasons in the agreement is deferred to July 1st, 2034, the day after the deal expires. In doing so, the cap hit goes from $5.625MM per season to $5.117MM. As part of the contract, Blake also gets a 10-team no-trade clause starting in July 2031 that will remain in place until 15 days before the 2034 trade deadline. Given that the other years of the deal cover RFA-eligible seasons, he wasn’t eligible for trade protection in those campaigns.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
- Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now speculates that the Red Wings might not be done with moves on the back end this summer. They added Jacob Bernard-Docker and re-signed William Lagesson but with the tendency to carry eight defensemen under GM Steve Yzerman, a bit more depth would be useful so that they don’t necessarily have to bring up a youngster from AHL Grand Rapids at the first sign of injury. Alternatively, they could stand to benefit from trying to upgrade their current top six, a group that largely struggled last season and has pretty much been untouched over the offseason.
- Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov has signed a tryout deal with Dynamo Moscow, the KHL team announced. The winger was a second-round pick last month, going 42nd overall after putting up 20 goals in 43 games at the MHL level. A big winger standing six-foot-six, Prokhorov is certainly a project player for New York and will need a few more years back home whether he’s able to crack the KHL roster this season or not.
Eric Tulsky has made more the one Irresponsible move in the short time he has been the Canes GM. And, Still hasn’t addressed the goaltending.
Tulsky is doing a very good job, as anyone following the Canes even in a cursory vein recognizes.
With the Jackson Blake 8 year extension, the Canes are setting themselves up for a long period of dealing with low numbers of UFAs from the current roster.
And increasing cap space.
After next season, they will have UFA Andersen, then other UFA slots in veteran depth only.
After 2026-2027, just Martinook, Staal, Ghostisbehere, and Chatfield UFA, and expect at least 3 of them to extend.
If Freddy is done after this season, I hope they have another #1 goalie in mind, unless Kochetcov really blossoms in dependability next season. Kooch is 26, so it is getting to be time to mature.
And, he will be UFA in summer of 2027.
But, along with many other teams who have failed to obtain improvement in net in the last year, which goalie has ET failed to hire in the last year who would take #1 away from Freddy?
“…which AVAILABLE goalie…?”
That Blake deal is risky.
Carter Hart
The Red Wings adding a depth defenseman? Shocker.
Redwings need a top 4 D man, not another hack.
Seriously, who the hell is Jackson Blake to get max term at $5.6 AND eventual trade protections?
They are banking on his continued development and to be fair he’s done nothing but succeed at every level of hockey. He had a really nice rookie season and my guess is blake more than Carolina is going to regret this contract. Obviously there is risk for Carolina and I won’t lie it’s a really strange deal for so few professional seasons but if I had to bet I think Blake in 4 years is a consistent 70 point forward
A LOT of kids look real solid in junior. The majority of them don’t make it.
Jon Singleton and Scott Kingery say it’s a good deal.
The moneypucking blogger agrees.
He’s a fine hockey player to watch, as anyone watching can see. The deferred salary is more trade protection than anything else.
Well, there is a risk in ALL contracts, with injury being the greatest.
He dominated college hockey, after junior. He has played well everywhere he plays. It’s not just a 120 point overage season in the QMJHL. The kid is legit. I still find it an odd contract. He’s only going to get better though.
Red Wings have mediocre defenseman in spades. Yzerman should add Marc-Edouard Vlasic to the mix.
Well, this might be how it starts out. F3&4 have a lot to prove/improve. There is a lot of upside that has not appeared yet. Next trades will depend upon how they handle themselves. Its now be drivers or riders, “Bussy” is looking in the mirror to see which he has aboard the 2025-26 bus.
F:
1: James van Riemsdyk-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond
2: Alex DeBrincat-Marco Kasper-Patrick Kane
3: Elmer Soderblom-J.T. Compher-Jonatan Berggren
4: Michael Rasmussen-Andrew Copp-Mason Appleton
D:
Simon Edvinsson -Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Jacob Bernard-Docker
Albert Johansson – Justin Holl
G
John Gibson-Cam Talbot
This is still a lineup that will struggle to score at a pace to keep up w/ the Floridas, Tampas, and Torontos. Granted, their power play cant be worse than last year (right?).
Gibson-Talbot is an upgrade over Talbot-Lyon. Defense is still a major issue (ASP should be on Opening Night roster but this front office always gives the veteran the first crack).
I don’t see a playoff team here unless they get off to absurdly fast start like they did 2 seasons ago and give them some margin for error in Feb-March. JBD as a second pairing D-man is just asking for problems.
Their playoff odds will hinge on Kasper & Soderblom taking a massive leaps forward. If they can get 85-95 pts between those two (a huge ask) then it’s possible they squeeze out a wild card.
Also need Rasmussen to play 70 games which I feel like he’ll never do. And if they can get a combined 50-60 pts from Copp/Compher that’s a win.
Trying to be optimistic — but I still feel like this roster is not much better (if not worse) than Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo, or Montreal. And any type of lengthy injury to Lucas, Alex, Dylan, Mo, or Gibby will risk chaos.
I see Motte has disappeared from roster and mention anywhere. Wonder where he is today?
Agree with Virgil’s assessment. Particularly that there are F3 & F4 players that need to step up quite a bit.
My sense is that Debrincat Casper and Kane have and will continue to develop some real cohesiveness if all remain healthy. They seemed to be a good mix late last season. Kasper is advancing his game nicely within that line and they may become the sniper line needed. Hope upon hope.