Mammoth Recall Scott Perunovich And Kevin Connauton
With Olli Maatta still taking part in the Olympics, the Mammoth have brought up some extra defensive depth for practice. The team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled defensemen Scott Perunovich and Kevin Connauton from AHL Tucson.
Perunovich is in his first season with Utah after signing a one-year, two-way deal with them back in free agency. A veteran of 108 career NHL appearances, he has yet to make one this season as he has played exclusively with the Roadrunners, his first extended AHL run since 2022-23. The 27-year-old has been quite productive in Tucson, notching three goals and 27 assists in 43 games to lead all team blueliners in scoring.
As for Connauton, he has 360 career NHL outings under his belt but none since the 2021-22 campaign. The 35-year-old is in the second and final season of his two-way deal and has suited up in 23 games with the Roadrunners this season where he has two assists. At this point, it seems likely that both he and Perunovich’s time with the big club will be short-lived with Utah’s back end fully healthy coming out of the break.
With the recalls, Utah’s active roster now sits at 22 players, one shy of the maximum. It’s worth noting that the team has moved Maatta and winger Clayton Keller to non-roster status, so it’s possible that another player will be brought up for practice purposes over the next couple of days.
Atlantic Notes: Tuch, Kulikov, Nosek, Zacha
While Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen called extending pending UFA winger Alex Tuch a top priority after being named to the position, it doesn’t appear progress is being made on that front. In a recent appearance on DFO Live (video link), The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that while the sides remain communicative, they aren’t getting any closer to getting a deal in place. The 29-year-old is in the middle of another strong season, as he has posted 22 goals and 26 assists in 56 games so far. At this point, it’s likely that he’ll more than double his current $4.75MM AAV based on comparable wingers to sign extensions in recent months. But even if Kekalainen isn’t willing to pay that price tag just yet, it’s unlikely that he’d turn around and move Tuch before the March 6th trade deadline with Buffalo in the playoff picture as they look to reach the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic:
- The Panthers welcomed a pair of veterans back to practice today. Team reporter Jameson Olive noted (Twitter links) that defenseman Dmitry Kulikov and center Tomas Nosek both took part in today’s skate in non-contact jerseys. Kulikov suffered an upper-body injury in the second game of the season and has been out since then. The initial recovery period was expected to be between five and six months so Kulikov may be a little while yet before returning. As for Nosek, he has yet to play this season due to a knee injury. Both players are currently on LTIR and would give the Panthers some depth upgrades for the stretch run once they’re able to return.
- Bruins center Pavel Zacha took part in practice today in a regular (contact) jersey, relays Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). The 28-year-old has been working his way back from a concussion and was initially expected to be able to play for the Czechs at the Olympics. Instead, recovery has been slower than expected, causing him to withdraw, and he was in a non-contact sweater as practices resumed this week but this is a step in the right direction. Zacha had 11 points last month before being injured and sits fourth in Boston scoring with 37 points in 54 games this season.
Mikko Rantanen To Miss Bronze Medal Game Due To Injury
A handful of key NHL players have been sidelined with an injury at the 2026 Olympics. Another player has been added to that list as Lejionat’s Jaakko Pertilla reported that Finnish winger Mikko Rantanen was scratched for the Bronze Medal Game against Slovakia due to a lower-body injury.
Rantanen was a full participant in Saturday’s semi-final matchup against Canada. He scored the opening goal of the game and logged 16:09 of ice time in 25 shifts. The 29-year-old came into today’s game as Finland’s leading scorer with two goals and four assists in five games with an ATOI of 18:14.
Of course, this is significant news for Rantanen’s NHL team as well as the veteran is the leading scorer for the Stars this season. In 54 games, he has 20 goals and 49 assists while averaging more than 20 minutes a night of playing time. Any absence from NHL games would be significant.
To that end, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the injury occurred in the third period on Saturday and is not considered to be season-ending. He’s expected to be evaluated when he returns to Dallas to determine the exact severity and how much time he could miss.
Taking Rantanen’s spot on Finland’s top line is Oliver Kapanen, who has been scratched for three games and dressed as the 13th forward without seeing the ice in the other two. Meanwhile, Eeli Tolvanen will return to the lineup after being healthy-scratched versus Canada.
Flames Activate Blake Coleman And John Beecher Off IR
The Flames will welcome back a pair of forwards when their schedule resumes on Thursday against San Jose. Per the NHL’s Media Site, Calgary has activated Blake Coleman and John Beecher off injured reserve.
Coleman has been out of the lineup since early January when he suffered an upper-body injury against Boston. The 34-year-old has played in 44 games this season, picking up 13 goals and eight assists while averaging 17 minutes per night of playing time.
Of course, Coleman is known more for his physicality and two-way game. He’s averaging 2.5 hits per game, his highest mark since the 2019-20 season while he’s averaging more than two minutes per night of shorthanded playing time, second among Calgary forwards.
As a result, Coleman has been a highly speculated trade candidate in recent months, especially since he’s not a pure rental. He has one season left after this one on a contract that carries a cap hit of $4.9MM. Being able to get back in the lineup and show that he’s healthy will only bolster his value before the March 6th trade deadline.
Beecher, meanwhile, is also returning from an upper-body injury from more than a month ago, sustained against Nashville. Claimed off waivers from Boston back in mid-November, the 24-year-old has two assists in 19 games with the Flames in 9:38 per contest of playing time. He’ll likely return to his fourth-line spot coming out of the break.
For the time being, Calgary is now at the maximum of 23 players on its active roster. However, winger Jonathan Huberdeau is currently on that active roster but won’t return this season due to hip surgery. Accordingly, he’s a safe bet to move to injured reserve whenever the Flames need to open up a roster spot.
Snapshots: McMann, Chytil, Jets
Maple Leafs winger Bobby McMann is the middle of a career year and appears to be poised to cash in on his next contract. While Toronto would like to re-sign him, talks don’t appear to be going well as The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported on a Leafs Morning Take appearance (video link) that there has been no progression in those discussions. The 29-year-old is on a very affordable $1.35MM price tag which could fit in on most contender’s cap structures which is part of the reason Toronto is believed to be seeking a first-round pick for his services. If the two sides can’t work out an extension over the next couple of weeks, we’ll find out if his contract is valuable enough to net the Maple Leafs the return they seek.
More from around the NHL:
- Filip Chytil’s tough luck this season continues. After missing time before the break with more migraine headaches, he returned to practice on Tuesday. However, Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province notes that the center took a puck to the face in a mini-game at practice on Wednesday, causing him to exit early and go for imaging. Chytil has been limited to just a dozen games this season and has a long, documented history with concussions (or concussion-like symptoms). Now, it looks like he could be out of the Canucks’ lineup for a while once again.
- Jets defenseman Neal Pionk could return to the lineup on their upcoming three-game road trip, relays Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press (Twitter link). The veteran has missed a little more than a month with a lower-body injury. Pionk has had at least 32 points in six straight years but will be hard-pressed to get there this season as he has just eight in 40 outings. Meanwhile, it appears blueliner Haydn Fleury is a little further away from returning. Head coach Scott Arniel noted that while Fleury is progressing in his recovery from an upper-body injury, he still needs time to build his conditioning back up.
Two Prospects Receive 20-Game Suspensions In AHL
A pair of NHL prospects will be waiting quite a while before they can play their next game. Earlier this week, the AHL announced that Rockford goalie Stanislav Berezhnoy and Coachella Valley forward David Goyette have received 20-game suspensions for violating the terms of the AHL/PHPA Performance Enhancing Substance Program. The program essentially replicates the NHL’s penalties for violations, meaning that this is a first-time offence for both players. They will be ineligible for recall to the NHL while serving their bans.
Berezhnoy is in his first season in North America after the Blackhawks signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract last summer. The 22-year-old has played in 15 games so far this season for the IceHogs, largely serving as Drew Commesso’s backup. Berezhnoy has a 5-9-1 record with a 3.18 GAA and a .888 SV% in those outings. He received a brief NHL recall in January when Chicago’s starting tandem was unavailable but didn’t see any game action.
As for Goyette, he’s in the second season of his entry-level deal. Drafted in the second round (61st overall) by the Kraken back in 2022, the 21-year-old was a productive scorer in junior but that has yet to translate to the pros. Goyette had 282 points in three OHL seasons (spanning 197 games) but had 18 points in 54 outings with the Firebirds last season and has just 10 in 47 appearances in 2025-26. He hasn’t seen any NHL action so far in his career.
Both players will be able to return before the playoffs. Berezhnoy is eligible to return on April 11th while Goyette can play one day sooner. At that point, there will be just over a week left in the AHL season and if either team is still fighting for a playoff spot since then, it could be risky to put them in after being off for so long.
Central Notes: Stanley, Holloway, Dickinson
Jets defenseman Logan Stanley told Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press that contract extension talks are likely to resume over the next few days. The blueliner is a pending unrestricted free agent and is in the middle of a career season. He already has nine goals and 18 points, both personal bests, while his 16:33 ATOI would also be a new benchmark if it holds up the rest of the season. Stanley made it clear that he would love to stay in Winnipeg but having said that, if a deal isn’t reached by the March 6th trade deadline, it’s likely that he’ll be on the move instead. The 27-year-old is on a very affordable $1.25MM contract which will only help generate interest should the Jets opt to put him on the market.
Elsewhere in the Central:
- Blues winger Dylan Holloway is expected to return to the lineup next Thursday, relays Lou Korac of The Hockey News. The 24-year-old returned to game action a little more than a month ago from a high ankle sprain that cost him 15 games. However, the return was rushed and he ultimately sat the next eight leading into the break. After a breakout performance last season that saw him pick up a career-high 26 goals and 63 points, Holloway has been limited to eight goals and nine assists in 34 games this year. Heading for restricted free agency with arbitration eligibility this summer, he’ll be looking for a strong performance down the stretch, even with St. Louis well out of the playoff picture.
- Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson left practice today due to illness, notes Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). He’s likely to be one of Chicago’s more prominent trade chips heading into the trade deadline a couple of weeks from now. Dickinson only has 13 points in 43 games but his defensive reputation should help garner some interest from teams looking for bottom-six depth, especially if the Blackhawks retain part of his $4.25MM cap charge.
Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at bubble teams in recent days, we now shift the focus to teams currently in a playoff spot. Next up are the Canadiens.
After an unexpected playoff appearance last season, expectations were a little higher heading into this season in Montreal. So far, they’ve lived up to them as they’re well ahead of their standings pace from a year ago, giving them a bit of a leg up in a very tight Atlantic Division. But with the team still taking a longer-term view, they might not be inclined to take a big swing just yet. Instead, they could shop for some help around the margins and look to make their next significant move in the offseason.
Record
32-17-8, 2nd in the Atlantic Division (83% playoff probability, per MoneyPuck)
Deadline Status
Buyers with an eye on the longer-term
Deadline Cap Space
$1.49MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, NJD 4th, MTL 6th, CAR 7th, MTL 7th
2027: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
Trade Chips
This is an odd situation where arguably their worst contract is also their biggest trade chip. Patrik Laine is in the final season of his contract with an $8.7MM cap charge. He also hasn’t played since mid-October due to an abdominal injury although he’s expected to be activated after the Olympic break. A high-end scoring threat earlier in his career, he has done okay on that front in Montreal with 20 goals in 57 games over parts of two seasons but on the surface, it appears he’s lost his spot in the lineup. It will take full retention and perhaps taking a contract back to move him but if GM Kent Hughes wants to add to his roster, he needs to free up some cap space first and that means getting at least some of Laine’s contract off the books.
The Canadiens have really cut the playing time for both Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble as of late. Xhekaj has played below 10 minutes in 12 of his last 18 games while Struble has been below that mark in six of his last 10 outings. It’s fair to suggest they’re starting to fall out of favor. However, they’re still just 25 and 24, respectively, with cap hits below $1.5MM apiece; Xhekaj is a pending restricted free agent while Struble has another year on his deal. A rebuilding team could potentially have a spot to give them a bigger opportunity, especially if they have a defender to spare that head coach Martin St. Louis might trust more.
On the prospect side of things, NHL readiness is an attribute that’s always sought after at the trade deadline. Defenseman Adam Engstrom fits that bill. He is within striking distance of the point-per-game mark in the minors and held his own in a pair of stints with Montreal this season, spanning 11 appearances overall. He’s probably ready for a longer look at the top level and considering he has another year left on his entry-level contract, the 22-year-old should be garnering some attention on the trade front.
Up front, Joshua Roy is in the final season of his entry-level pact and has seen some NHL time in all three of his professional campaigns. However, given Montreal’s depth up front and in the system, it seems unlikely that he’s a long-term fit on the roster. Roy is waiver-eligible next season so there are teams that might want to get a look at him beforehand. Owen Beck is having a tough year in the minors but has some NHL-ready attributes as a center with a high floor which should be appealing to some teams. Jared Davidson got his first NHL look earlier this season and has a profile of being an energetic fourth liner down the road; again, the Canadiens’ forward depth could make him expendable as well.
Team Needs
1) Top-Line Winger: Let’s use one of their reported wants to start this section off. With Juraj Slafkovsky anchoring the second line, there’s an opening on the top trio with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. It’s clearly not going to be Laine filling that spot. Zachary Bolduc, Alexandre Texier, and Kirby Dach have all seen time up there with varying degrees of success and Alex Newhook could land there when he comes back from his ankle injury. But none of those players are optimal fits for a number one line at this point of their respective careers. This would be a bigger swing
2) Improved Goal Prevention: The Canadiens are 23rd in the league terms of goals allowed with a penalty kill that ranks 25th. Given the limited goaltending options out there, it’s unlikely they’ll make a move on that front and will hope for more consistency from Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes. But they can certainly try to upgrade on Xhekaj and Struble for that sixth defenseman spot while adding another defensive forward (they picked up Phillip Danault to help on that front earlier this season) could help get them closer to the middle of the pack defensively which would help their late-season push to hold onto a playoff spot.
Photo courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: Vegas Golden Knights
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at bubble teams in recent days, we now shift the focus to teams currently in a playoff spot. Next up are the Golden Knights.
Heading into the season, Vegas was viewed as one of the two contenders in the Pacific Division. But while they hit the break with the division lead, it has been a bit of a bumpy road so far. They’ve been hit quite hard by the injury bug, helping lead to a pair of five-game losing streaks (and an overall losing record) with an offensive and defensive output that’s closer to the middle of the pack than the NHL’s best. Nonetheless, with a quality veteran core group and a management team that’s willing to take some swings (including one to add a defenseman last month), it’s quite clear that they’ll be aiming high on the trade front over the next few weeks.
Record
27-16-14, 1st in the Pacific (93.2% playoff probability, per MoneyPuck)
Deadline Status
Buyers
Deadline Cap Space
$4.653MM on deadline day (all LTIR space), 0/3 retention slots used, 50/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: VGK 2nd, VGK 3rd, VGK 5th, VGK 6th, VGK 7th
2027: VGK 2nd, SJ 3rd, VGK 4th, VGK 5th, VGK 6th, VGK 7th
Trade Chips
Being a team that’s likely to be buying, it’s quite possible that there won’t be any more players moved off the NHL roster. But one player who could be worth keeping an eye on is goaltender Akira Schmid. Adin Hill is back from his long-term injury and Carter Hart is due back sometime after the break as well. While Hart has struggled this season, the extra year on his deal suggests that he’s viewed as a part of the picture beyond 2025-26. Schmid, meanwhile, is a pending RFA due a sizable raise in the midst of a good showing this season that has seen him post a 2.53 GAA and a .895 SV% in 29 games. With a lot of teams believed to be looking around for goaltending options and an affordable contract at $875K, Schmid should generate some strong interest.
A lot of their current cap space is inflated by LTIR placements for William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb. Once they return, they’ll be much closer to a money-in, money-out situation. Accordingly, defenseman Jeremy Lauzon could be a casualty. His $2MM price tag isn’t particularly prohibitive but if they need a money balancer or simply need to spend less on the third pairing, he’s another NHL piece who could be in play. On an expiring contract, he’d have some standalone interest if they need to clear his salary.
As a result of trading away a lot of draft picks and prospects, the Golden Knights don’t have a particularly deep system to further deal from. But one player who would garner some inquiries is winger Trevor Connelly. Injuries have limited the 2024 first-rounder to just 17 games in his first full professional campaign but he has done relatively well when healthy and is still viewed as carrying NHL upside. Braeden Bowman has spent the bulk of the year in Vegas and is establishing himself as a full-timer so he’s someone they won’t necessarily be looking to move but will receive inquiries on. Kai Uchacz recently made his NHL debut and is the type of secondary piece that could be moved in a trade to add a depth piece to the roster as well.
One of the more intriguing wild cards for Vegas this deadline is winger Alexander Holtz. The seventh-overall pick in 2020, he has not lived up to that billing with both New Jersey and now Vegas; he has been in and out of the lineup this season with limited results. On the other hand, he just turned 24 a few weeks ago and has another cheap year on his contract after this one with an AAV that will be below the minimum salary next season. The demand probably won’t be too high but it’s possible that a rebuilding team or two might want to take a look at him and would accept him instead of an equivalent draft pick or prospect in a deal.
Team Needs
1) Contract Space: The Golden Knights are the only team in the NHL with the maximum of 50 active contracts. San Jose was in a tight spot earlier this year and had to take a draft pick downgrade to clear a slot. If GM Kelly McCrimmon wants to add a piece or two, they will need to open up some contract space first, either by including a player in a trade or moving someone else out elsewhere.
2) Improve Depth Scoring: Assuming that Andersson is the key move on the back end, their next need to fill is probably up front. Their top six has been productive this season with all players having at least 16 goals and 41 points. But the output drops off quickly after that. No other forward has 10 goals yet while Bowman is the only one with 20 points (and he’s just at 20). Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad have underwhelmed, in particular, while Karlsson’s injury has limited him to just 14 games so far. A player who could play on the third line to start but move into the top six when needed would give their attack a nice boost. That, and Karlsson’s possible return closer to the playoffs, could be enough of an improvement to their scoring to get them back near the top of the league in that department.
Photo courtesy of Brett Holmes-Imagn Images.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Tampa Bay Lightning
Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those who don’t often see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2025-26 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia. We’re currently covering the Atlantic Division, next up are the Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Current Cap Hit: $96,287,774 (over the $95.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Dominic James (two years, $910K)
Potential Bonuses
James: $102.5K
James declined to sign with Chicago and instead opted to go to free agency to get a better shot at NHL playing time. It took a bit of time but he has been up for most of the season, albeit in a bottom-six role. He should be able to get some of his games played bonus, an amount that might roll over to next year’s cap given Tampa’s cap situation. If James can stay in this role through next season, doubling this price tag could be doable.
Signed Through 2025-26, Non-Entry-Level
F Oliver Bjorkstrand ($5.4MM, UFA)
D Declan Carlile ($775K, UFA)
F Curtis Douglas ($775K, UFA)
D Darren Raddysh ($975K, UFA)
Bjorkstrand was the big pickup up front at the deadline last season with the fact he had an extra year left on his deal justifying a high price tag in terms of what they paid to get him. Back in the summer, a price tag in the $7MM range seemed feasible but he has been quieter than expected this season. That could lower the cost a bit on a longer-term deal but he also might be a candidate to take a one-year pact somewhere in the hopes of bolstering his value. That market could be fairly lucrative given how thinned out the UFA market has gotten so even with his struggles, he’s still heading for a raise. Douglas has played sparingly this season and while his NHL price will go up thanks to the increase in minimum salary, it’d be surprising if he received a one-way deal.
Raddysh has become one of the most interesting players in the upcoming UFA class. He quietly put up 30-plus points in back-to-back seasons which already made him a bargain at this price tag but this year, he’s hovering around 22 minutes and a point per game. Oh, and he’s a right-shot player too, the side always in maximum demand. The price tag for defensemen who can produce at a point per game can jump close to the $10MM per season range. It’s not feasible to think that Raddysh is going to land there given his smaller track record but something in the $6MM range could very well be doable. That’s still quite a jump for someone who was still trying to become a full-time regular just a few years ago.
Carlile is getting his first taste of extended NHL action and is holding his own in a limited role. He’s probably not going to jump too far past the $850K minimum salary but a one-way deal is a realistic goal to strive for.
Signed Through 2026-27
D Charle-Edouard D’Astous ($775K in 2025-26, $875K in 2026-27, UFA)
F Zemgus Girgensons ($850K, UFA)
F Gage Goncalves ($1.2MM, UFA)
F Pontus Holmberg ($1.55MM, UFA)
G Jonas Johansson ($1.25MM, UFA)
F Nikita Kucherov ($9.5MM, UFA)
D Emil Martinsen Lilleberg ($800K, RFA)
Even as one of the top-paid wingers in the league when this contract first started, Kucherov has been a bargain for the Lightning. Even if he agrees to keep taking a bit below market value, market value has jumped with the sharper increases to the salary cap. On the other hand, he’ll be entering his age-34 contract when this deal begins. A short-term deal could push the AAV into the $13MM or more range unless he wants to leave a lot of money on the table. I explored what a longer-term deal could look like in an effort to keep the price tag a little lower in a mailbag; if Tampa Bay wants to go six years, they could get an AAV more around the $10MM to $10.5MM range if all went well.
Holmberg has fit in nicely in his first season with Tampa Bay after being non-tendered by Toronto to avoid arbitration. The fact he can play center (even though he hasn’t much with the Lightning) will help his market value. If he can stay in a third-line role next season, doubling this price tag could be doable.
Goncalves has given Tampa Bay a bit of offense from the bottom six which is good but players like him often become non-tender candidates with teams wanting to keep their depth spots a little cheaper. With arbitration rights putting him in a spot to likely push for more than $2MM per season, Goncalves could be another in this trend. Girgensons had a tough first year in Tampa Bay but has been better this season, moving onto the third line. Still, at this stage of his career, teams will likely view him as a low-cost fourth liner. A small raise should be doable unless he wants to leave money on the table again to play for a contender.
Lilleberg has been a nice depth pickup after Arizona gave up his draft rights and a contract below the minimum next season (even after being boosted to reflect the new minimum salary) is a nice bonus. Value-wise, he’s a player who could seemingly land around the $1.5MM to $2MM mark but like Goncalves, his arbitration eligibility could work against him should he be unsigned by the end of June 2027. D’Astous has also been a nice find in free agency and quickly went from a player earmarked for AHL Syracuse to someone who has seen time in the top four. Even his in-season extension looks like a team-friendly one. If he stays as a top-four piece, a jump to the $3MM range could be realistic.
Johansson has been a below-average netminder throughout his career but with the Lightning having a high-end starter, they’ve opted for a low-cost second-string option. If he’s content with the role he has, another short-term deal around this price point is doable for him.
Signed Through 2027-28
D Maxwell Crozier ($775K, UFA)
G Andrei Vasilevskiy ($9.5MM, UFA)
Crozier is a full-time NHL player for the first time this season and understandably has had a limited role when he has been in the lineup. But a seventh defender at the league minimum for a few years is still reasonable value. The goal for Crozier will be to work his way into a full-time lineup spot which will need to happen for him to comfortably eclipse the $1MM mark on his next contract.
After a rough 2023-24 season by his standards, Vasilevskiy has bounced back to Vezina-level form and is providing a good return on this price tag. Like Kucherov, he’ll be heading into his age-34 contract and a long-term pact is going to be needed to keep this price tag down a bit. He’s someone who could aim to pass Igor Shesterkin’s $11.5MM AAV although if it’s a longer-term agreement, it could check in closer to where it is now.
