With new contracts handed out in recent days to Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe, some attention has shifted to Canadiens blueliner Lane Hutson. While he still has one year left on his entry-level contract, the belief is that there is mutual interest in getting something done before the season begins. In a recent appearance on Daily Faceoff’s The Sheet (video link), David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the blueliner appears to be willing to leave a bit of money on the table, similar to what several of his teammates did in an effort to give themselves a chance to continue to add down the road. However, that discount might be capped at a few hundred thousand per season on a long-term pact. With both Hughes and LaCombe checking in at $9MM, it stands to reason that Hutson could very well land close to that number on his next deal as well, whether that comes now, in-season, or next summer.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- Senators defenseman Nick Jensen told reporters including Sportsnet’s Alex Adams (Twitter link) that he will suit up in Saturday’s preseason finale against Montreal. The 35-year-old underwent offseason hip surgery and at the time, it looked unlikely that he’d be back for the start of the regular season. However, his recovery has been ahead of schedule and now he’ll get a chance to get a game in to see if he’ll be ready for opening night. Jensen played a big role for Ottawa last season, averaging over 20 minutes a game while chipping in with 21 points in 71 outings, many of which were played through injury.
- Still with the Senators, after recalling eight players back on Tuesday who had already been cut, the team announced (Twitter link) that all eight – Tyler Boucher, Hunter Shepard, Jorian Donovan, Oskar Pettersson, Xavier Bourgault, Tomas Hamara, Keean Washkurak, and Scott Harrington, have been sent back to AHL Belleville.
- The league announced that the Department of Player Safety has fined Panthers winger A.J. Greer $2,213.54, the maximum allowable in the CBA, for a roughing incident on Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel. Thursday’s affair between the two sides was particularly chippy with the two teams combining for 186 penalty minutes, a dozen of which went to Greer on the play.
AJ Greer should have been suspended several games as well as his blindside attack on Brandon Hagel was completely unacceptable and unjustified as even former players like Ryan Malone, Pat Maroon & such called out Greer as “weak” and “not hockey” for his actions against Hagel. Greer is a bonafide punk in every sense of the word as there is nothing to respect about his talentless game.
I respect his Stanley cup champion ring
He and his friend Gadgetville should play in a garage league but Maurice likes bum and yes the Panthers will continue to trive since the league permits tugs to rule the ice.
Waah waah waah.
I said it before and I will say it again. Brandon Schmagel has a glass jaw.
Sad part is Lightning TV gets people like @feel the teardrops all worked up and into their feelings.
I would assume Hutson easily cracks the 10m mark given what his older and less productive comparables received.
Hutson doesn’t need to do anything now. If he just repeats his numbers from last year, he will have far more leverage than he has at this point. If he improves on those numbers, that will put him into Makar’s ballpark.
…or if his numbers dip after the arrival of Dobson and the Canadiens miss the playoffs???
I would take that risk, considering that it’s probably in the 10-20% range.
The hubris of Panther fans. No whining here about the hit on Hagel. It just became crystal clear in the response that the lightning are retooled, as they were in their cup years to respond.
Greer did look like a kitty kat dodging challengers…and what is funny, is you lost Londell as well.
All that running around is fun and good when you have the horses to back it up and win. Panthers will be lucky to make the playoffs this year.
There is only so much non sense you can play with before it gets shoved back down your throat.
Lets see how much fun it is when you guys see Reinhart and Forsling getting run again tonight and every night. Smart players on Florida hate what Greer did, and like all hubris, it will all land in your lap soon.
Yay! You won a preseason game as proof that your team is retooled? Enjoy your victory and book it that we will end your season once again in April.
That balloon is still filled with hubris gas….still flying high.
I doubt you guys make the playoffs. The bully has been put back into his place.
Panther fans are turning into Boston Red Sox fans. Didnt win anything forever, but once you did, you become the experts.
Live by the sword, die by the sword….
As a Miami Dolphins / Marlins / Heat / Panthers fan.. this headline triggers tf outta me lol GRIER IS THE DOLPHINS GM.. GREER PLAYS FOR THE PANTHERS lol