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Evening Notes: Red Wings, Bouchard, Obvintsev

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Max Bultman of The Athletic believes that the length of the Detroit Red Wings contract negotiations with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider may have cost the Red Wings some money in the long run. Raymond and Seider remain unsigned as training camps are quickly approaching and Bultman believes that comparable contract extensions signed this summer may have only increased the asking price for both unsigned Red Wings.

Bultman cites Brock Faber’s eight-year, $8.5 million AAV contract as a potential floor for Seider’s new deal and adds that he believes both players will sign new deals before training camp and that should ease any tensions that might exist. However, Bultman does note that having two young core pieces unsigned this late in the summer might not be great for team morale.

In other evening notes:

  • Jim Matheson of The Edmonton Journal tweeted that he believes Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard could get a $10MM AAV on his next deal with the Oilers. The 24-year-old is set to count just $3.9MM against the cap next season in the second year of a two-year deal and is coming off a year in which he registered 18 goals and 64 assists in 81 games. The 10th overall pick in 2018 has matured into one of the most prolific puck-movers in the NHL in just five seasons and has not only produced in the regular season but has been elite in the playoffs as well with 13 goals and 45 assists in 53 career playoff games. If Bouchard does indeed get an AAV at that rate, it will make for a tight salary cap for the Oilers who will also have to consider a Connor McDavid extension.
  • Steven Ellis of Leafs Nation wonders if the Toronto Maple Leafs might have drafted a hidden gem in goaltender Timofei Obvintsev. The Maple Leafs selected the 6’4” Russian 157th overall in this year’s NHL entry draft and it may have been a shrewd move given that NHL teams hold Russian players’ rights indefinitely and goaltenders tend to develop slower. The 19-year-old hasn’t seen a ton of action the last two seasons, dressing in just 28 games, but scouts are raving about his quick hands and ability to direct pucks with his blocker out of harm’s way. As Ellis points out, Obvintsev is likely years away from being NHL-ready, but the team can be patient with him and give him time to develop his game.

Filip Zadina Signs In Switzerland

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Former Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Filip Zadina has reportedly signed a deal with Swiss club HC Davos (as per HC Davos X account). The signing ends Zadina’s time in the NHL for now, as inconsistency and inflated expectations have plagued the former sixth-overall pick. It was reported last week that Zadina would sign a PTO with an NHL team, however, his agent poured cold water over those rumors.

Zadina was never able to live up to the expectations of being drafted so high and eventually asked for a fresh start to try and get his career on the rails. Detroit mutually terminated his contract in July 2023 which allowed the 24-year-old to sign with the San Jose Sharks last summer and start with a clean slate. With the Sharks, Zadina posted a career-high 13 goals to go with 10 assists in 72 games, but his overall game wasn’t strong enough to warrant a NHL contract this summer.

Zadina likely could have received an NHL offer through a professional tryout, particularly with some of the teams lacking forward depth, however, he has opted for more certainty and a guarantee in Switzerland. His signing effectively pauses his time in the NHL and could allow him to regain the offensive touch the made him a high draft pick. Davos has historically been a powerhouse in the National League with 31 titles but has struggled as of late finishing sixth last year in the regular season and getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.

Former Oilers Goaltender Mikko Koskinen Officially Retires

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Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen officially retired from his playing career last week (as per Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat). There were whispers earlier in the year that he would hang up his skates, but it has been made official. The 36-year-old began his career as a second-round pick of the New York Islanders in 2009 and played just four NHL games with the organization, playing mostly overseas before eventually signing as a free agent with the Oilers in May of 2018.

He was okay in his first full NHL season, dressing in 55 games and posting a 25-21-6 record with a .906 save percentage. This prompted then Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli to sign the Finnish netminder to a three-year $13.5MM contract extension.

The first year of the deal went well for both sides as Koskinen posted a .917 save percentage in 38 games and looked like a legitimate NHL netminder. However, after the success of the 2019-20 season, the wheels came off of Koskinen’s game and he became a lightning rod for criticism over the following two seasons.

In his final months in the NHL, Koskinen didn’t see much action with Edmonton as Mike Smith took over the net, largely out of necessity as Koskinen couldn’t find his game. Koskinen saw three games of playoff action in 2022, going 0-2 with a .897 save percentage and a 4.02 goals-against average. This was the last NHL action he would see.

In June 2022, Koskinen signed in Switzerland with HC Lugano where he would finish out the final two years of his professional playing career before deciding to begin a new career as a player agent. He officially registered as a player agent in Finland in July and will be reportedly based in Helsinki.

All things considered, Koskinen had a very successful playing career. His NHL numbers were certainly average, however, he posted elite numbers internationally, representing his native Finland on multiple occasions and his KHL numbers were terrific during his five professional seasons in Russia.

Summer Synopsis: Edmonton Oilers

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The Edmonton Oilers were a win away from capturing the franchise’s sixth Stanley Cup and first, since 1990 but fell to the Florida Panthers in seven games. The team shook off previous playoff disappointments to win the Western Conference but fell short of the ultimate goal. This summer the team has made a pile of personnel changes, replacing general manager Ken Holland with former Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman. The new management group wasted little time overhauling the roster and dealt with a very unorthodox roster situation last month with two offer sheets that saw them lose two young players for draft picks. It appears that Edmonton’s roster is still very much under construction, and they do have some flexibility heading into training camp.

Draft

1-32: C Sam O’Reilly, London (OHL)
2-64: G Eemil Vinni,  JoKP (Mestis)
5-160: LW Connor Clattenburg, Flint (OHL)
6-183: D Albin Sundin, Frölunda HC (SHL)
6-192: C Dalyn Wakely, North Bay (OHL)
7-196: C William Nicholl, London (OHL)
7-218: DBauer Berry, Muskegon (USHL)

The Oilers have one of the worst farm systems in the NHL and used the 2024 draft to try and replenish their many needs in the prospect pipeline. The Oilers moved into the first round and grabbed O’Reilly from the OHL’s London Knights. Edmonton was higher on the two-way center than most scouts but should end up with a player who can help them upfront. O’Reilly isn’t the quickest center, but he is elusive and has good offensive instincts that should allow him to create chances for linemates.

The Oilers selected a goaltender late in the second round, taking Vinni with the 64th selection. Many scouts had the Finnish goaltender as the most athletic netminder in the draft and the most complete. Edmonton has struggled to draft and develop goaltenders in the past but might have the goalie of the future in Vinni. The 18-year-old moves well, has good rebound control, and is a good size at 6’3” and 187 pounds.

The Oilers didn’t have another pick until the fifth round and they used it to select Clattenburg out of the OHL. The Arnprior, Ontario native won’t contribute much offensively but has no fear on the ice and is a big disruptor in the offensive zone. Some scouts believe that Edmonton reached when selecting Clattenburg, but the Oilers really don’t have another player like him in their organization.

Sundin is a two-way defenseman who will need to improve his skating if he hopes to become an NHL defenseman. He isn’t afraid to get physical and has good defensive instincts, controlling his gaps effectively and using his reach to break up plays in the defensive zone.

Trade Acquisitions

D Ty Emberson (San Jose)
D Paul Fischer (St. Louis)
F Vasily Podkolzin (Vancouver)
C Matthew Savoie (Buffalo)

Edmonton acquired Savoie from the Buffalo Sabres in a trade that was highly praised from an Edmonton perspective. Savoie was drafted ninth overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft and is an intriguing offensive prospect. His dynamic skating should allow him to flourish with the Oilers, particularly if he gets time on the power play, a place where he has excelled at every level. The 20-year-old is equal parts shooter and passer and can create offense in transition and with his playmaking. The knock on Savoie is his size as he stands just 5’9” tall. However, he doesn’t play like a smaller player and isn’t afraid to get into the dirty areas of the ice.

Podkolzin was acquired as a Dylan Holloway replacement and offers many of the same traits as Savoie (albeit at a lower skill level). The 23-year-old is a former tenth overall pick in 2019 and is also a speedy winger, with skill, who isn’t afraid to get physical. Despite his obvious talent, Podkolzin hasn’t been able to put it all together at the NHL level and has just four goals and five assists in 58 NHL games over the last two seasons. He is very much a project but should get an opportunity in Edmonton’s top nine given his offensive pedigree.

Emberson was brought over in the Cody Ceci trade and is a downgrade from the veteran defenseman despite offering a similar skillset. Emberson is a stay-at-home defenseman who won’t offer much offensively or jump in on the rush very often. He is a decent skater and can skate the puck out of trouble in the defensive zone, but his passing isn’t great and he tends to keep it simple rather than stretching out for breakout passes or moving the puck through traffic. He should be able to play in Edmonton’s bottom pairing this season.

UFA Signings

F Viktor Arvidsson (two-year, $8MM)
F Connor Brown (one-year, $1MM)
D Josh Brown (three-year, $3MM)
G Collin Delia (one-year, $775K)*
C Adam Henrique (two-year, $6MM)
F Mattias Janmark (three-year, $4.35MM)
F Corey Perry (one-year, $1.15MM)
G Calvin Pickard (two-year, $2MM)
F Jeff Skinner (one-year, $3MM)
D Troy Stecher (two-year, $1.575MM)

* denotes a two-way contract

Much of Edmonton’s work in free agency was to re-sign veteran players that they’d brought into the lineup over the past year. The Oilers brought back Connor Brown, Henrique, Janmark, Perry, Pickard and Stecher while adding low-risk options Skinner and Arvidsson to improve their forward group.

Skinner will be very interesting to keep an eye on this season as he has been a 40-goal scorer multiple times during his career and will have an opportunity to play with very high-end linemates in Edmonton. Skinner had just 24 goals last year but topped 30 goals in the two years before that and should have enough left in the tank to top 30 goals once again next season. Skinner has never played in NHL playoff games, holding the distinction of playing 1006 NHL games without a playoff appearance, but should finally break that drought this season with the Oilers.

The 31-year-old Arvidsson is a strong candidate for a bounce-back year having played just 18 games last season due to injury. The Oilers took a calculated risk in signing the two-time 30-goal scorer to a two-year deal but will be rewarded if he can stay healthy. Arvidsson had 15 points in 18 games last season and was fantastic the year prior, dressing in 77 games while registering 26 goals and 33 assists. Arvidsson is still a terrific skater which should translate well to Edmonton’s style of play, and he is a good shooter that can make plays with the puck on his stick. He should do well with the Oilers.

RFA Re-Signings

D Cam Dineen (two-year, $1.55MM)*
F James Hamblin (two-year, $1.55MM)*
D Noel Hoefenmayer (one-year, $775K)*
C Raphael Lavoie (one-year, $775K)*

* denotes a two-way contract

Edmonton had several restricted free agents to deal with this summer before receiving multiple offer sheets from the St. Louis Blues. Outside of the players they lost to the Blues, Edmonton was quiet on the RFA market, signing their remaining players to two-way contracts.

The most notable of the group is center Lavoie who had another strong season in the AHL last year. Lavoie is probably ready for the NHL, but given the Oilers’ forward depth, he might not receive an opportunity. Lavoie has great size and can skate, but his work in the defensive zone continues to hold him back from being a regular NHL contributor. If he can clean that up, he should get a long look at the NHL in the not-too-distant future.

Departures

D Philip Broberg (St. Louis, two-year, $9.16MM)
G Jack Campbell (Detroit, one-year, $775K)
F Sam Carrick (New York, three-year, $3MM)
D Vincent Desharnais (Vancouver, two-year, $4MM)
F Adam Erne (unsigned free agent)
G Ryan Fanti (Syracuse, signed AHL contract)
F Warren Foegele (Los Angeles, three-year, $10.5MM)
F Sam Gagner (unsigned free agent)
C Seth Griffith (Bakersfield, signed AHL contract)
F Dylan Holloway (St. Louis, two-year, $4,580,914)
F Brad Malone (retired)
F Greg McKegg (unsigned free agent)
F Ryan McLeod (traded to Buffalo)
D Markus Niemelainen (unsigned free agent)
F Carter Savoie (signed with TPS in the Finnish Liiga)

* denotes a two-way contract

Edmonton played the long game with Holloway and Broberg and it ultimately led to both players receiving offer sheets, and while it certainly stings to lose both players, it shouldn’t be an earth-shattering loss in the short term. Broberg had yet to establish himself as an everyday NHLer in Edmonton and Holloway was very much a fourth liner going into next season.

Beyond those two, Edmonton didn’t lose much talent this offseason. McLeod will hurt their depth up front a little bit, but Edmonton did a nice job filling out their forward ranks with other transactions.

Getting Jack Campbell’s contract off the books was an absolute must, and while it stings to pay a player for six more seasons not to play for your team, the short-term savings will allow the Oilers to bring in more depth during their competitive window. Campbell had become unplayable in Edmonton and needed a fresh start elsewhere, which Edmonton granted him when they facilitated his buyout.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Oilers will enter the season with roughly $945K in salary cap space but could see that number increase if Evander Kane is sidelined to start the season. Edmonton has room to make a move in season and could look to add a free agent or bring in a veteran on a PTO. The Oilers have a glaring hole on their second defensive pairing and will need to get creative to fill it. Long term, Edmonton’s salary cap situation is murky as they will have to sign their biggest stars (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard) to long-term extensions over the next two years.

Key Questions

Will Draisaitl Re-sign? The Oilers are exactly ten months away from seeing Draisaitl walk out the door for nothing in free agency. While it’s rare for players of his skill level to hit the open market, it’s not unheard of. Edmonton finally showed they can win in the playoffs and build a team around Draisaitl and McDavid, they’ve done it with both stars on bargain deals, particularly Draisaitl who is counting just $8.5MM against the salary cap next season. It seems likely he will re-sign in Edmonton; however, it is not a foregone conclusion, and it could get interesting if he doesn’t sign before the start of the season.

Can The Team Find Another Gear? It’s not often that teams lose in the Stanley Cup Finals and return the following season but look no further than the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers to see that it is possible. Florida lost in the 2023 final and returned this past year to win it all, can Edmonton do the same? On paper, the Oilers look better upfront, and weaker defensively, how that will balance out remains to be seen, but they are certainly capable of making another run. Especially if McDavid and Draisaitl are firing on all cylinders.

How Will The New Additions Fit In?  Edmonton shuffled a lot of the furniture around in their forward group and will have to figure out a way to fit in two new top-six forwards without disturbing the existing chemistry. Arvidsson and Skinner are both veterans who have changed teams before and should be able to find their role in the new environment. However, nothing is guaranteed and there is always a risk when turning things over. On the backend is where Edmonton could feel some pain points, the losses of Ceci and Broberg aren’t insurmountable, but not having adequate replacements could become an issue as the season drags on.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Evening Notes: Oilers, Ullmark, Silovs

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Jim Parsons of The Hockey News believes that the Edmonton Oilers should be looking for a defensive defenseman to pair with Darnell Nurse. Parson notes that the Oilers have been linked to several offensive defensemen but believes that Edmonton should be on the hunt for a two-way defenseman who can log high-leverage minutes and be a steady presence in the Oilers’ top four.

It’s hard to find fault in Parsons’ logic as a defenseman with that skill set would likely pair better with Nurse and allow him a better opportunity to maximize his abilities rather than trying to chase the game and make up for defensive lapses from a partner that shouldn’t be a top-four defenseman. The issue for Edmonton will be finding the assets and cap space to acquire such a player as no one that meets those criteria is available in free agency.

In other evening notes:

  • Shawn Simpson of The Coming In Hot podcast believes that Ottawa Senators netminder Linus Ullmark will sign a contract that is similar in dollars to that of Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros but shorter in term. Saros recently signed an eight-year deal with Nashville with an AAV of $7.74MM and Simpson believes that Ullmark will carry a similar cap hit, but a shorter term in the range of six years. Ullmark’s play in recent seasons would certainly warrant a contract of that nature, and it would show Senators fans that the team is serious about building a perennial contender in Ottawa. On the other side of things, Ullmark is 31, and a six-year extension would carry him until he is 38 years old.
  • Vancouver Canucks goaltender Artūrs Šilovs has been left off Latvia’s roster for this weekend’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The MVP of the 2023 IIHF World Championship was ready to start the tournament but was apparently overworked and the Latvian Hockey Federation’s medical staff opted to pull him from competition to avoid a serious injury (as per a translation from Satiar Shah of Sportsnet). It’s hard to read too much into the situation due to the translation, but it appears he is healthy enough to play, but is resting as a precaution.

Carolina Hurricanes Name Three AHL Coaches

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The Carolina Hurricanes have announced the hiring of two AHL assistant coaches who will be behind the bench of the Chicago Wolves this fall as well as a new video coach. Dan Price and Spiros Anastas will join recently hired head coach Cam Abbott to form the coaching staff for the Hurricanes AHL affiliate, while John Stanier will round out the staff as the team’s video coach.

Price has been the head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals for the past seven seasons and has worked previously as an assistant with the club. Before joining the Royals, Price worked as an assistant coach for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans as well as the Chilliwack Bruins.

Anastas has an expansive international coaching resume having been a head coach for China, Greece, Serbia, Estonia and South Korea in various international competitions. In North America the Toronto, Ontario native has coached in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast and South Carolina Stingrays as well as in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) with the University of Lethbridge. Anastas also has a Calder Cup championship in his trophy case, having won the title with the Grand Rapids Griffins as an assistant coach in 2013.

Stanier began his career as a video scout in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers before eventually being hired by the Ontario Hockey League’s Ottawa 67’s in September 2022. However, the Carp, Ontario’s time at home was short-lived as he will join Chicago after serving as a video coach in Ottawa for just two seasons.

Red Wings Sign Austin Watson To PTO

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The Detroit Red Wings have reportedly signed forward Austin Watson to a professional tryout (as per Watson’s agency WD Sports & Entertainment). This will be the second fall in a row that Watson has to enter training camp on a PTO after the 32-year-old turned last year’s PTO into a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth $776,665.

Watson dressed in 33 regular season games with Tampa Bay last year, registering 85 hits and 93 PIM to go along with two goals and two assists. Despite hanging onto an NHL job, Watson averaged a career-low 7:16 of ice time per game and didn’t see any action during the playoffs.

The long-time enforcer has managed to hang onto an NHL career despite his lack of offense and poor possession numbers but might be on his last opportunity in this tryout with the Red Wings. If Watson can secure an NHL role this year, it will likely be similar to last season where he was scratched more often than not and didn’t play much when he was in the lineup.

Should the 2010 first-round pick (18th overall) sign with Detroit, it will be his fourth NHL stop after playing 515 career NHL games with the Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay. Watson has 60 goals and 58 assists over 10 NHL seasons, with his best season coming in 2017-18 with the Predators when he posted 14 goals and five assists in 76 games.

Penguins Notes: Robertson, O’Connor, Line Combinations

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Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now writes about a potential link between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson. It’s not the first time rumors have surfaced about a potential Robertson to Pittsburgh trade, as Kingerski wrote back in May that the Penguins, specifically general manager Kyle Dubas, should target the undersized Maple Leafs forward. However, Robertson remains a Maple Leaf despite asking for a trade in June, and the Penguins have just under $900K in available cap space. While a move seems unlikely at this point, it should be noted that the Penguins have 15 forwards on their active roster and could likely bury an additional $1.7MM in the minors.

Kingerski writes that the Penguins could offer sheet Robertson for below $2.29MM, and the cost would only be a third-rounder, but the Maple Leafs would likely match that number and shut the door on the Robertson-to-Pittsburgh talk. It appears that the Penguins’ best option, should they want to acquire Robertson, would be to make a hockey trade using a roster player with value and perhaps a draft pick to try and pry the 22-year-old loose.

In other Penguins notes:

  • Kingerski also wrote about the Penguins’ lack of a winger for superstar Sidney Crosby. The Penguins have spent the summer trying to find someone to play with Crosby after trading Jake Guentzel at the trade deadline, and with the summer coming to an end, Kingerski believes that Drew O’Connor is likely the Penguins’ best option for the first-line left winger role. O’Connor finished last season playing with Crosby and showed glimpses during that time. The 25-year-old finished the year with 16 goals and 17 assists in 79 games, including seven goals and five assists in the final 19 games when he played alongside Crosby.
  • The Penguins acquisition of young forward Rutger McGroarty has changed the potential makeup of their forward lines (according to Dan Kingerski). The Penguins boast as many as 19 potential NHL forwards, including newly acquired Kevin Hayes, Cody Glass, and Anthony Beauvillier, and it could make for an interesting training camp in the Steel City. McGroarty could get a look alongside Sidney Crosby on the first line, but he could also slide into a third-line role alongside Hayes and Beauvillier. It isn’t even clear which side of the ice McGroarty will play on, but one clear thing is that his presence in Pittsburgh makes things very interesting when it comes to the Penguins’ forward ranks.

Evening Notes: Islanders, Ducks, Wild

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Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News wonders if the New York Islanders would benefit from bringing in a player like Filip Zadina before training camp. The Islanders badly needed a top-six forward this summer but didn’t have the cap space or assets to make a move towards improving their forward group. Zadina has been linked to the Buffalo Sabres and has potential interest from a handful of other teams. He is also reportedly close to signing with an NHL team.

The 24-year-old hasn’t been able to live up to his draft status as a sixth overall pick and will now join his third NHL team in just seven seasons. The Pardubice, Czech Republic native, scored a career-high 13 goals last season and tallied 23 points in 72 games with the San Jose Sharks. But, despite being on the worst team in the NHL, he failed to play more than third- and fourth-line minutes and given the current state of his game, it’s unlikely he would help out the Islanders’ top six forwards. However, he could carve out a depth role in their bottom six.

In other evening notes:

  • The Anaheim Ducks announced that they’ve partnered with A Parent Media Co. Inc. to stream all of their regional games this season free of charge. The games will be available on the soon-to-launch Victory+, allowing Ducks fans in the Los Angeles regional market to watch Ducks games for free. The app for Victory+ will be available for fans outside the Ducks’ television region as well, but the games will not be free. However, the app will allow fans in other parts of the country to view the extra content that the team produces outside of their games.
  • Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin spoke with KFAN FM 100.3 today and discussed the upcoming season, where his expectations are for the Wild to make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup. Guerin has had to navigate some very rocky waters the past couple of summers regarding the salary cap, as the Wild have had to account for $14.74MM in dead cap space for two years due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. However, he has managed to keep the team competitive and believes that if his current group stays healthy, they will be in the mix come playoff time. Minnesota didn’t make many changes this summer and will count on many internal improvements from young players if they hope to improve on the disappointment of missing the playoffs last season.

Panthers Likely To Keep Aaron Ekblad This Season

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Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News believes that Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will remain with the team until the end of the season regardless of how his contract situation plays out. Ekblad’s name has appeared in trade rumors dating back to June before the Panthers won the Stanley Cup and the rumors have continued through the summer. Ekblad has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.5MM and can block trades to 12 teams thanks to a partial no-trade clause.

The former first-overall pick is entering his 11th season with the Panthers and has been a steady presence since joining the team. While on the surface it seems odd that Florida wouldn’t be discussing an extension with their top defenseman, they have several key free agents next summer and have to look at the long-term cap implications of signing everyone. Another concern for Florida will be Ekblad’s health as the 28-year-old hasn’t played a full slate of games since 2018-19 and has played 82 games just twice in his career. He is also coming off a season in which he played just 51 games and tallied just four goals and 14 assists and will be looking for top dollar.

Trading Ekblad would be a huge challenge for the Panthers as they would be moving out a heart and soul player and would need very specific roster players in return. Many of the trade rumors circulating this summer failed to consider how Panthers’ general manager Bill Zito built his championship club and the way he evaluates players. Any players Florida acquires in a hypothetical trade would need to fit in head coach Paul Maurice’s system as well as a locker room that has grown very close over two runs to the Stanley Cup Final.

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