While the Stars have been trying to find a way to keep pending UFA center Mikael Granlund in the fold, he will be testing the open market today, mentions Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic (Twitter link). The 33-year-old had his second straight year of at least 60 points last season, notching 22 goals and 44 assists across 83 games between San Jose and Dallas while adding 10 points in 18 playoff contests. Granlund is now the best center option in a market that has dwindled sharply in recent weeks, setting him up for a multi-year deal at a price tag above the $5MM he made in each of the last four years.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Despite non-tendering him yesterday, the Maple Leafs have interest in retaining center Pontus Holmberg, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger (Twitter link). He would have been owed a qualifying offer of around $866K but that would have carried arbitration rights, something Toronto didn’t want to risk. Holmberg had 19 points in 68 games last season and will have interest on the open market while the Maple Leafs will be looking to keep their depth contracts low to increase their flexibility to upgrade other areas of the roster.
- Now eligible to sign a contract extension, Jets forward Cole Perfetti will have new representation doing so. Murat Ates of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that the 23-year-old is now being repped by CAA after previously being with KO Sports. Perfetti is coming off a career year after putting up 18 goals and 32 assists last season. He has one year remaining on his bridge deal which carries a cap charge of $3.25MM AAV. Perfetti will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next summer.
- While the Penguins are known to be willing to move out some of their veterans, that doesn’t mean they won’t be quiet in free agency as well. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period notes (Twitter link) that Pittsburgh is expected to pursue some depth veterans in free agency today to fill out their roster. GM Kyle Dubas is a known proponent of having plenty of depth options to also help fortify their farm team so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add some veterans even while being open to moving others.
- The Blue Jackets are still in talks with pending UFA forward Justin Danforth in the hopes of getting something done before the open market opens up, relays Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 32-year-old has been a versatile depth player for Columbus for the last four seasons and is coming off a campaign that saw him record 21 points in 61 games while taking 661 faceoffs, winning just under half of them.
Task A, B and C for Dubas is eating half his AAV and finding a taker for Erik Karlsson.
Rust and Rakell can be kept until the deadline if the offers aren’t good enough.
Allen resigning might open up a market for Ned.