Vancouver Canucks Sign Pius Suter
The Vancouver Canucks have signed free agent center Pius Suter to a two-year contract worth $3.2MM, according to the team. The deal carries a $1.6MM cap hit and keeps him in Vancouver through 2025.
Suter heads to his third NHL organization in four seasons after coming over from Switzerland for the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign. 2022-23 was his second year with the Detroit Red Wings after signing a two-year, $6.5MM contract with them in the summer of 2021, but he saw his production take a step back from the previous two NHL seasons he’d played to date. The 27-year-old center had 14 goals, ten assists and 24 points in 79 games for Detroit, setting career-lows in assists and points in the process. Part of that was likely due to a decrease in ice time, as he played just over 14 minutes per game after averaging north of 16 minutes over the previous two years.
With Detroit signing J.T. Compher to fortify their center depth when free agency opened on July 1, there simply wasn’t a place for Suter in the organization anymore, and they opted not to re-sign him. That being said, Suter is a fine third-line center – a position Vancouver’s struggled to get quality out of for the past few years. $1.6MM is a solid cap hit for what he brings to the table, even if he is coming off a down season. Suter’s agent, Georges Mueller, told CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal that they’ve been in discussion with the Canucks since the beginning of free agency, and it’s likely he sees significant time on their penalty kill. He excelled there in Detroit, posting strong relative Corsi numbers in each of his two seasons there. Dhaliwal also reports Vancouver was the only NHL team to offer Suter more than one year on a new deal.
This was Suter’s second stint on the UFA market after the Chicago Blackhawks surprisingly opted not to qualify him after a strong rookie season. He’ll be a UFA again in two seasons at age 29.
Suter is widely believed to start the season at center behind Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller in a third-line role. Out of CapFriendly’s lineup projection for Vancouver’s bottom six, Suter’s 0.3 points per game last season trailed only Conor Garland.
The signing does exacerbate Vancouver’s salary cap bind, however. While CapFriendly projects the Canucks with just over $750K in cap space after the signing, that’s not entirely accurate. Forward Tanner Pearson is listed as a candidate for long-term injured reserve, but GM Patrik Allvin said earlier this summer that Pearson is likely to be fully healed from his hand injury by the end of the summer and is expected to join the team at camp. Losing out on his $3.25MM of LTIR relief means Vancouver is now close to $2.5MM over the Upper Limit, although Dhaliwal says he believes the Canucks can be compliant without making a trade from their roster, although he doesn’t rule out the possibility.
Minor Transactions: 08/11/23
There’s nothing much expected in terms of big news at the NHL level on a Friday in August. That being said, there’s still a fair amount of notable minor-league transactions trickling in today. As always, we’re keeping a running list of today’s deals here:
- The AHL’s San Jose Barracuda have signed goaltender Beck Warm to a one-year contract, per a team release today. Warm joins the San Jose Sharks’ minor-league affiliate after bouncing around between the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres organizations the past three seasons. Warm, 24, went undrafted but signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in 2020 after a five-season WHL career with the Tri-City Americans and Edmonton Oil Kings which saw him post a .908 save percentage and five shutouts over the course of 150 games. He didn’t look bad by any means during his time in Carolina with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals, posting a save percentage above .910 with both teams. However, he fell victim to a deep goalie depth chart in Carolina, and the Hurricanes opted not to issue him a qualifying offer in the summer of 2022. He then signed an AHL contract with the Rochester Americans, Buffalo’s affiliate, but spent the season in the starting role for the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones, where he posted a 28-9-4 record, one shutout, and a .899 save percentage in 43 regular-season contests. He’ll now look to leverage a strong ECHL performance into consideration for more playing time in the AHL with the Barracuda. He’ll compete for playing time with a trio of Sharks goalies likely headed for minor-league assignments next season: Eetu Mäkiniemi, Magnus Chrona and Georgi Romanov.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Debating Extensions For The Calgary Flames’ Pending UFAs
The Calgary Flames have been one of the most talked-about teams this offseason, but not necessarily for the moves they’ve made now. Calgary has multiple core players set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2024, and they’ll be faced with multiple decisions on whether to extend or trade certain players before next season’s trade deadline. New GM Craig Conroy already made one decision, shipping out right winger Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils after he set career highs in goals, assists and points last season. Forwards Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev headline the remainder of Flames players set to hit the open market next summer, with valuable depth defenders Oliver Kylington and Nikita Zadorov also slated for unrestricted free agency.
Conroy has made it clear Calgary won’t lose out on these players for no return after the organization let star left winger Johnny Gaudreau walk in free agency to the Columbus Blue Jackets last summer. If they do end up trading the lion’s share of their pending UFAs, they should be able to reform the roster and stay in playoff contention, as there looks to be a strong pool of other UFAs to choose from next summer. However, many of the players listed above have played quite well for the Flames and are even core pieces of their leadership group, and Conroy will surely attempt to extend most of them.
One of their desired extension candidates is Lindholm and for good reason. He’s developed into a bonafide top-six two-way center during his time in Alberta and is normally a solid bet to churn out nearly a point-per-game pace. Reporting this summer has indicated he’s been back-and-forth on whether he’s willing to extend in Calgary, but the pendulum swung back toward an extension a few days ago with The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reporting Lindholm was “well into discussions” with the Flames on an eight-year extension. Getting him under contract until age 37 likely won’t pan out well for Calgary near the end of the deal, but such is the price of retaining pending UFAs. He’s played 369 games for the Flames since they acquired and extended him on a six-year deal in 2018, scoring 139 goals, 186 assists and 325 points while averaging over 19 minutes per game. He finished second in Selke Trophy voting in 2022 and has accumulated a +99 rating in Calgary, although most of that comes from his standout defensive seasons in 2018-19 and 2021-22. His 56% Corsi For at even strength last season suggests his rather pedestrian +6 rating was tanked by the team’s subpar goaltending.
And that’s where it gets tricky – while there are a lot of solid free-agent pickups available next summer, most of them are on the wing. The only center who could hit the open market conceivably as either an upgrade or lateral move for Lindholm is Winnipeg Jets pivot Mark Scheifele, who could very well be taken off the UFA market via a sign-and-trade deal next season (much like Lindholm if talks fall through with Calgary).
Backlund is also a tough piece to part with. The standout shutdown center has appeared in 15 seasons for Calgary, accumulating 908 games as a Flame. However, he seems an unlikelier bet to sign an extension with Lindholm at this point in time, admitting to Swedish outlet SportExpressen earlier this summer that his willingness to remain in Calgary will depend on the team’s performance in 2023-24. He may not have Lindholm’s offensive upside and minute-munching capabilities, but he is one of the most consistent defensive presences in the league and is showing no signs of slowing down as he enters his mid-30s. Some would argue it’s borderline surprising he hasn’t received the captaincy yet, potentially another reason why he hasn’t committed to extending in Calgary. He’s not likely to command much of an increase on his current AAV of $5.35MM given his age, either, and he should remain a priority for Calgary to keep in the fold for the next few seasons if they truly do intend on remaining competitive.
One player who they’ll likely attempt to shop is Hanifin, who was reportedly unwilling to sign an extension with the team earlier in the summer and has already been mentioned in specific trade rumors with teams such as the Florida Panthers. That was all before free agency opened, however, and a trade still hasn’t happened. It might be Calgary will look to have Hanifin boost his stock with a strong start to the season before moving him, or they’re hoping a reversal in the team’s fortunes would persuade him to stay. He’s certainly the most replaceable of their big-ticket pending UFAs – assuming they pursue extensions hard with Tanev, Zadorov and Kylington, they’d be able to replace Hanifin by committee (along with Rasmus Andersson) if Conroy doesn’t net a direct replacement for him via trade.
Conroy will need to be careful in how he manages the salary cap with the moves he makes, however, especially if he is intent on extending Lindholm. That extension would require a rather substantial raise on his current $4.85MM cap hit, something the team doesn’t have room for right now as it would take nearly all of the cap space afforded to them by 2024’s expected $4MM jump in the Upper Limit from $83.5MM to $87.5MM. If he moves out backup netminder Daniel Vladar and his $2.2MM cap hit to pave the way for top prospect Dustin Wolf to assume an NHL role, that should give him some breathing room. It won’t be much if Wolf has a strong season, though, as he’s a restricted free agent in 2024 and will surely require a new seven-figure deal if he puts up good numbers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
2009 NHL Draft Take Two: Second Overall Pick
Hindsight is an amazing thing, and allows us to look back and wonder “what could have been.” Though perfection is attempted, scouting and draft selection is far from an exact science and sometimes, it doesn’t work out the way teams – or players – intended. For every Patrick Kane, there is a Patrik Stefan.
We’re looking back at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and asking how it would shake out knowing what we do now. Will the first round remain the same, or will some late-round picks jump up to the top of the board?
Earlier in the week, we kicked off the 2009 Take Two series by polling PHR readers on their pick for first overall with the benefit of hindsight. Defenseman Victor Hedman jumped up to claim the number-one spot by a comparatively slim margin, capturing 53% of the vote. In past years, the choice has been rather clear, with PHR voters settling on the draft class’ best player by scores of 70% or more.
Now with Hedman off the board to the New York Islanders at first overall, John Tavares remains on the board, with the Tampa Bay Lightning picking at number two. At the time of the draft, there was no question about whether Tavares would fall. He was one of the few players granted exceptional status into the OHL as a 15-year-old and, given he was only five days away from being eligible for the 2008 draft, Tavares already had four full seasons of junior hockey under his belt with two 100-plus point seasons to show for it.
While the circumstances of Tavares’ departure in free agency from the Islanders for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 have soured the fanbase’s opinion on his time with the team, he’s inarguably one of the most talented players in team history and was the cornerstone behind their first-round playoff win in 2016, ending a decades-long streak without a series victory. The team’s captain for five seasons ended up with 621 points in 669 games as an Islander and ranks fifth in team history in Hockey Reference’s point shares system.
Among his 2009 peers, he currently sits as the all-time leader in goals, assists and points and is the only one with more than 1,000 career NHL games under his belt. Despite that, Tavares hasn’t taken home any major awards like Hedman – although Tavares was a Hart Trophy finalist in 2013 and 2015 at just 22 and 24 years old. If he had fallen to Tampa for whatever reason, may they have won more Stanley Cups with this core with Tavares in the fold along with Steven Stamkos?
That’s what we’re asking you today, PHR readers. Will Tavares fall yet another spot in your hindsight-influenced 2009 draft ranking, or will the Lightning select a second franchise center to complement Stamkos, who they selected first overall just one year prior? Vote in the poll below:
2009 Redraft: Second Overall
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John Tavares 77% (1,150)
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Ryan O'Reilly 8% (127)
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Chris Kreider 2% (37)
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Matt Duchene 2% (31)
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Mattias Ekholm 2% (27)
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Evander Kane 1% (14)
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Nazem Kadri 1% (13)
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Dmitry Orlov 1% (12)
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Brayden Schenn 1% (11)
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson 1% (10)
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Ryan Ellis 1% (9)
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Anders Lee 0% (7)
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Tomas Tatar 0% (7)
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Calvin de Haan 0% (6)
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Jakob Silfverberg 0% (6)
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Reilly Smith 0% (6)
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David Savard 0% (5)
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Tyson Barrie 0% (4)
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Nick Leddy 0% (3)
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Robin Lehner 0% (3)
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Kyle Palmieri 0% (3)
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Craig Smith 0% (3)
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Mike Hoffman 0% (2)
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Marcus Johansson 0% (2)
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Darcy Kuemper 0% (2)
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Dmitry Kulikov 0% (1)
Total votes: 1,501
Click here to vote if the poll doesn’t display.
Snapshots: Kylington, QMJHL Fighting Ban, Kisio
Calgary Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington didn’t suit up at all in 2022-23, instead staying in his home country of Sweden on personal leave. Today, Kylington opened up about his year-long absence to Swedish outlet HockeyNews.se, saying (translated) that “These are things that have been going on in the family for many years but which escalated to become worse, and there were mental and psychological problems I suffered from.” A seemingly refreshed Kylington said at the end of the interview that he’s now feeling “absolutely fantastic” and is looking forward to re-join Calgary next season, as general manager Craig Conroy confirmed last month.
The 2015 second-round pick had a lengthy development track, but the 26-year-old Swede fully arrived on the scene in 2021-22. Stepping closer to a top-four role, Kylington recorded career-highs across the board with nine goals, 22 assists, 31 points, and a +34 rating in 73 games. With the addition of MacKenzie Weegar into the picture in Calgary, however, Kylington might start out next season in a bottom-pairing role under new head coach Ryan Huska. That’s assuming Noah Hanifin starts the season with the team, which is far from a given as he remains a trade candidate.
Other notes from around the hockey world this afternoon:
- The QMJHL confirmed today that fighting will be banned entirely in the league beginning with the 2023-24 campaign, following up on pressure from the Quebec parliament earlier this year to enforce such a rule. After adding a ten-minute misconduct for fighting to the standard five-minute major penalty a few seasons back, a fight in the QMJHL will now automatically result in ejection from the game for both players, more closely resembling the NCAA. A ladder system of suspensions is also being introduced to supplement the automatic ejections. Per the league, an “instigator” will be issued an automatic one-game suspension, an “aggressor” will receive an automatic two-game suspension (with the potential for more), and an additional automatic one-game suspension will be imposed for players who fight multiple times in the same season. The NHL has not commented on the rule nor given any indication they intend to follow in the footsteps of one of their largest junior-league feeders anytime soon.
- The Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate in Henderson has added Brent Kisio to their staff as an assistant coach, per a team release. Kisio, the son of Golden Knights pro scout Kelly Kisio, had spent the past eight seasons as the head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. He also served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at last year’s 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, where his squad took home the gold medal. Henderson will be under new leadership next year, with Ryan Craig replacing the outgoing Manny Viveiros as head coach.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Martin Jones
Aug 10: CapFriendly confirmed the financial details of Jones’ contract. The veteran netminder will earn the league-minimum $775K base salary with the remaining $100K paid out via a signing bonus.
Aug 9: The Toronto Maple Leafs and veteran netminder Martin Jones have agreed to a one-year, $875K contract, per a team release. He’s now expected to provide insurance and compete for the backup job in Toronto.
Jones, 33, brings a capable veteran element to Toronto’s crease depth, although it’s not out of the question that he’s assigned to the minors for the first time in a decade. He spent the 2022-23 season with the Seattle Kraken, posting a 27-13-3 record and three shutouts but a rather poor .886 save percentage in 48 games.
It was the most action Jones had seen in a season since his starting days with the San Jose Sharks in the mid-2010s, but it was mostly due to Philipp Grubauer‘s injury-related absences rather than performance. Across ten seasons and 444 NHL contests with the Kraken, Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers, Jones’ career numbers still read a .905 save percentage and 2.71 goals-against average despite his struggles in recent years.
Considering he hasn’t been an above-average netminder in six years, Jones likely slots in third on Toronto’s goalie depth chart behind starter Ilya Samsonov and intriguing prospect Joseph Woll. After the latter had a strong showing down the stretch of the regular season and in the playoffs when Samsonov went down with an injury, he’s the likely candidate to win a backup job.
While Jones did receive a one-way deal, that’s not likely an indication that Toronto envisions having him on the NHL roster all season. It’s clear the Leafs were looking to add at that position – their AHL goalie depth is unimpressive with Woll graduating to the pros. Earlier this summer, they were linked to another veteran, former Tampa Bay Lightning backup Brian Elliott, but he remains unsigned.
It’s worth noting Jones will require waivers to head to the AHL, and there’s no guarantee he’ll clear after the workload he took on last season and his affordable contract.
New Jersey Devils Sign Cal Foote To Two-Way Deal
The New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday that they’ve signed free agent defenseman Cal Foote to a one-year, two-way contract. Per the team, the deal is worth $800K at the NHL level and $350K at the AHL level, with $450K in minimum guaranteed salary.
Foote is now with his third NHL organization after being drafted 14th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017. Tampa dealt him to the Nashville Predators a few months back as part of the return for winger Tanner Jeannot. In the Garden State, he links up with younger brother Nolan Foote, who New Jersey selected 27th overall two years later. Unfortunately for Cal, while he’s gotten more than just a cup of coffee in the big leagues so far, his impact has come in a depth role only.
The 24-year-old right-shot has gotten NHL action in every season since making his debut in 2020-21, recording five goals, 14 assists and 19 points while posting a combined +21 rating, but he’s averaged just 13:47 of ice time per game in 141 career appearances. Splitting last season between Tampa and Nashville, Foote notched two goals, five assists and seven points in 50 games and saw a slight increase in ice time post-trade, logging 16:07 per game, but was still largely limited to a bottom-pairing role. Without doing much to impress Nashville’s brass, and a regime change occurring this offseason with Barry Trotz taking over as general manager, the Predators opted to non-tender Foote in June, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Foote grades out poorly in most advanced metrics, especially last season when he recorded a subpar 46% Corsi For at even strength and an expected plus/minus of -6.8 based on shot quality generated and conceded while Foote was on the ice. He’s also posted quite a poor penalty differential, with his physicality generating 63 penalty minutes last season despite the limited usage (meaning he wasn’t drawing many penalties himself). There’s definitely some concern about his long-term ceiling, especially given he couldn’t post strong results with a championship-caliber team in Tampa.
Defensemen may take longer to develop, but there are few indications of long-term NHL viability in Foote’s game at this point. There is first-round pedigree, however, and it’s hard to complain about a two-way buriable contract. At worst, Foote will play a heavy role in the minors with the AHL’s Utica Comets, adding to a strong group of up-and-coming defenders in New Jersey’s system.
Of note, Foote was a member of the 2018 Canadian World Junior roster that’s under investigation for an alleged group sexual assault. The NHL is expected to announce the results of its own independent investigation into the matter before the 2023-24 campaign starts. As James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now notes, Foote’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, has stated Foote “was not involved in any way.”
Flyers, Hurricanes Complete Prospect Swap
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired center prospect Massimo Rizzo along with a 2025 fifth-round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes, according to a team release. In return, they’ve sent the rights to forward David Kase to Carolina.
Kase is an unusual type of player to see traded, given his contract status. The 26-year-old brother of former Hurricanes forward Ondrej Kase has spent the last two seasons in the Czech Extraliga with HC Sparta Praha, not signed to an NHL contract, but remained on the Flyers’ reserve list after they issued him a qualifying offer in 2021. He got into seven NHL games with the Flyers after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, recording one goal.
The versatile forward has logged heavy minutes in Prague the past two seasons but hasn’t had spectacular production, notching just ten goals in 68 games since returning to his home country in 2021. Kase signed a three-year agreement with Extraliga club HC Litvinov this offseason, meaning his inclusion in this trade is likely a throw-in to balance out each team’s reserve list numbers.
Rizzo comes to the Flyers after reportedly being part of the rumored Anthony DeAngelo trade between the two clubs that fell through earlier this summer. Essentially, this transaction completes the move that the NHL blocked due to cap circumvention – the Flyers later bought out DeAngelo, and Carolina signed him to a one-year, $1.675MM pact days later. This series of moves allowed the Hurricanes to acquire DeAngelo at a lower cap hit, as the maximum salary retention the Flyers could have offered via trade would’ve brought DeAngelo’s cap hit down to only $2.5MM. Thus, Carolina parted with Rizzo and a fifth-round pick to save $825K in cap space.
The 22-year-old member of Carolina’s 2019 draft class shouldn’t be overlooked as a prospect. While he may not have ideal size at 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, he’s had a strong collegiate career and looks to be exceeding the value expected of him as a seventh-round pick. He just completed his second season with the University of Denver, leading the team with 29 assists and 46 points in 38 games. In 2021-22, he recorded 36 points in 39 games as a freshman to help lead Denver to the national championship.
Rizzo is not yet signed to an entry-level contract and will return to Denver next season if the Flyers don’t sign him now. If/when they did reach an entry-level agreement with Rizzo, he is eligible for assignment to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Arizona Coyotes Intend To Purchase Land In Mesa For New Arena
Today is a joyous day for some, and for others, a “here we go again” day – depending on how you feel about the Arizona Coyotes. Their second effort to secure a long-term home in the Phoenix metropolitan area took a significant step today, with the Coyotes announcing they’ve submitted a letter of intent to purchase a parcel of land in Mesa, Arizona, on which to build an arena and entertainment district similar to the team’s failed plan in Tempe, which did not pass a public referendum.
The release didn’t specify exactly where the parcel of land is located, however. It’s unclear whether the letter of intent is in reference to the abandoned Fiesta Mall, which the Coyotes have had reported interest in as far back as May. PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan reported last night that a number of other potential sites in Mesa had proved “problematic” – which could also include Fiesta Mall.
It is, however, important to note that this does not solely pave the way toward a purchase and new arena on the site in question today. The Coyotes are still free to explore other options in the Phoenix metro area, which they clearly plan to do with haste as the uncertainty around their playing home drags on. Morgan also says the team is considering sites in Phoenix proper, as well as Scottsdale, but there’s still a “long way to go” until a final deal is reached.
List Of Players Expected To Start 2023-24 On LTIR
We’re at the point in the summer where most major signings are complete, meaning only a handful of free agents left on the market could still command over the maximum buriable threshold of $1.15MM per year on their next contract. That means financial pictures are mostly set league-wide, and general managers can now focus more on the arduous task of salary cap management.
For many teams nowadays, long-term injured reserve (LTIR) is an important tool in helping teams keep below the salary cap’s Upper Limit, which is set at $83.5MM for 2023-24. It’s not as straightforward as it seems at first glance, though. Placing a player on LTIR does not eliminate their cap hit from the team’s books until they’re activated again. Instead, a team only gains cap relief if they exceed the Upper Limit, and the specific amount of relief received depends on the team’s cap situation on the day they place a player on LTIR. A more detailed explanation of how LTIR works can be found on CapFriendly.
All LTIR situations are not created equal. To be eligible for LTIR, a player must miss at least ten games or 24 days of action. However, they don’t need to be placed on LTIR if they’re projected to miss more than that amount of time. Oftentimes, a team operating far below the Upper Limit that won’t need any relief will simply keep the player on standard injured reserve, especially if they’re relying on an injured player’s cap hit to stay above the Lower Limit (set at $61.7MM next season).
With that said, here is a list of players who are projected to meet the injury requirements for LTIR to start 2023-24:
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres – Jack Quinn
This offseason was a tough break for the young Quinn, who sustained an Achilles injury during offseason training in June and is expected to be out of the lineup through Thanksgiving. While eligible, he’s unlikely to actually be placed on LTIR. He’s still on his entry-level contract and carries a marginal cap hit of $863K, making a move extremely inconsequential to the Sabres, who CapFriendly projects with over $6MM in space.
Florida Panthers – Aaron Ekblad, Brandon Montour
The Panthers are set to begin the season without the services of their top two defensemen, thanks to shoulder injuries sustained and exacerbated during their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Combined, the players carry a rather significant $11MM cap hit, which should give the Panthers some season-opening flexibility. Ekblad’s expected to miss more time than Montour, but neither is expected to miss the whole season – both should be back in the fold by the time the calendar flips to 2024. CapFriendly currently projects the Panthers dipping into LTIR relief by $1.175MM to start the season.
Montreal Canadiens – Carey Price
The team’s legendary netminder isn’t expected to play again after a knee injury, and he hasn’t suited up since the end of the 2021-22 campaign. He’ll likely spend the last three seasons of his contract (carrying a $10.5MM cap hit) on LTIR. As we covered earlier in the week, Montreal is in a bit of a no man’s land with Price’s contract. They’ll likely either look to shed salary to get under the Upper Limit entirely (which they currently sit around $5MM over) or add money to maximize’s Price’s LTIR relief, which they could then weaponize in-season to be a cap broker for trades.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Brent Seabrook
Like Price, Seabrook will be on LTIR for the remainder of his $6.875MM cap hit contract, which expires next summer. Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks after his injury made it clear he wouldn’t play again, Seabrook has provided additional options for cap flexibility for the Lightning over the last two seasons. Tampa is expected to use close to all of Seabrook’s potential relief to stay compliant throughout the season.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Jake Muzzin, Matt Murray
While not confirmed, Muzzin’s playing future remains in serious doubt after sustaining a cervical spine fracture at the beginning of last season. No recent update has been issued on his recovery, and he’s expected to miss the entire 2023-24 campaign and will spend the final year of his contract on LTIR. Murray’s situation is shrouded in much more mystery, however. The team announced last month he’d begin next season on LTIR, but no specific details of his injury were confirmed, and no timetable was issued for a potential return. Murray missed significant time last season with a concussion and an adductor injury.
Metropolitan Division
Philadelphia Flyers – Ryan Ellis
Forwards Cam Atkinson and Sean Couturier are expected to return to the lineup after missing all of last season with injuries, but the same can’t be said for Ryan Ellis. President of hockey operations Keith Jones said a few days ago that Ellis is unlikely to “be able to continue his playing career because of a torn psoas muscle in his back.” Ellis played just four games for the Flyers after they acquired him from the Nashville Predators in 2021 before sustaining the career-ending injury.
Washington Capitals – Max Pacioretty
Pacioretty’s timeline for a return after sustaining back-to-back Achilles injuries isn’t clear, but he likely won’t be available to the team to start the season and should meet the requirements for LTIR. The financial circumstances surrounding the potential relief will be tricky to navigate given the performance bonuses included in his contract, however. Pacioretty should be joining the Capitals after signing a one-year deal last month, sometime in November or December if everything goes well in his recovery.
Central Division
Arizona Coyotes – Jakub Voracek, Shea Weber, Bryan Little
All three are players acquired by the Coyotes for the express consideration of helping them stay above the cap floor – which they are now far above after being big players on the free-agent market this summer. Nonetheless, all three are done with their NHL careers due to various injuries and will remain members of the Coyotes organization by contract only.
Colorado Avalanche – Gabriel Landeskog
Colorado will be without their captain for a second straight season after the winger underwent a cartilage transplant on his right knee this summer. Landeskog hasn’t played since hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2022, a playoff run during which he played through a knee injury. He’s signed through 2029, and there’s still the potential he plays again, although it won’t be anytime soon.
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks – Isac Lundeström
Lundeström projects to be on the shelf through next January after sustaining an Achilles injury during offseason training in Sweden. Given the Ducks are far from the Upper Limit, and Lundeström carries just a $1.8MM cap hit, Anaheim could keep him on standard injured reserve for the duration of his absence.
Vegas Golden Knights – Robin Lehner
All has been quiet on Lehner’s health after he missed all of last season. The All-Star-caliber netminder had double hip surgery last summer, keeping him out for the entire 2022-23 campaign. He was not around the team at all during their run to the 2023 Stanley Cup, and the team has issued no updates on his recovery since undergoing the surgery last summer. Without any indication that he’s close to a return, Lehner closes out our list.