Boston Bruins Re-Sign Nick Wolff
The Boston Bruins have re-signed defenseman Nick Wolff to a one-year, two-way deal, CapFriendly reports. The contract pays him $750,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the AHL level.
An undrafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Wolff got his first taste of professional hockey in interesting fashion this season. After finishing out his senior year in 2019-20 as the captain of the team, Wolff started the 2020-21 campaign on loan to DVTK Jegesmedvek in the Slovakian Extraliga. Wolff did end up getting his shot in North America this season after games started back up, though. He got into 24 games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, tallying two points. A defensive defenseman first and foremost, Wolff at least proved this season that he could stay afloat in a professional lineup.
At age 25 now, however, Wolff’s upside is rather limited. It’s unlikely he gets a shot with Boston’s blueline next season, as Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen are both young Boston defenders ready for the spotlight. Wolff will likely sit with limited minutes again in Providence, as he hopes to hone his defensive game enough for a shot at some NHL action.
Ben Harpur, Jeremy Davies Re-Sign In Nashville
CapFriendly reports that defenseman Ben Harpur has re-signed with the Nashville Predators on a one-year deal. The contract is one-way in nature and carries an $800,000 cap hit. CapFriendly is also reporting a one-year deal for defender Jeremy Davies – it’s a two-way deal with a $750,000 cap hit, paying him $125,000 at the minor-league level.
Harpur remains an option probably best suited to bounce between the AHL and NHL, but the one-way contract detail would make it seem like the Predators intend to have him up with the big club all year. It’s even more puzzling when you look at the fact that the Predators already have seven NHL-caliber defenders under contract for next season, a situation that likely leaves Matt Benning spending some games in the press box. It is worth noting that Harpur spent the entire season with the Predators last year after injuries took a hit on their blueline, scoring seven points in 34 games. Nashville will still have him in their back pocket next year if injuries strike again.
Davies, a prospect acquired by the team as part of the return for P.K. Subban, saw his first NHL action this season, scoring just one point in 16 games. A seventh-round pick of the Devils in 2016, it does seem like Davies may be able to carve out a pro career for himself. While Davies likely won’t see NHL opportunity again this season unless there are multiple absences on the Nashville blueline, he does have some upside as evidenced by his nine points in nine games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season. If he can continue to hone his offensive instincts in the minors for one more season, Davies may emerge as a legitimate NHL option over the coming years.
Detroit Red Wings Sign Gustav Lindstrom To Two-Year Extension
The Detroit Red Wings tweeted today that they’ve re-signed defenseman Gustav Lindstrom to a two-year extension carrying him through the 2022-23 season. The financial terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. CapFriendly reports that it’s a one-way deal with an $850,000 cap hit, paying him $750,000 in 2021-22 and $950,000 in 2022-23.
Lindstrom, who’s yet to turn 23 years old, was a second-round selection of Detroit in 2017. The nephew of former NHL defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson, Lindstrom’s struggled to cement a full-time spot in Detroit’s lineup so far in his young career. He’s played in 29 career games across the past two seasons, tallying four assists and a combined 16:21 per night across both years. He’s been an average third-pairing defender up to this point in his NHL path and could reprise that role again next season with a little bit more lineup consistency. He’s a decent penalty-killer and could see more time on Detroit’s units, who had the 22nd-best penalty kill in the league last season at 78.7 percent.
The player has always been known more for his defensive game, so anything above a second- or third-pairing role long term for Lindstrom is likely wishful thinking. Yet a consistent NHL future isn’t out of the question for Lindstrom, whose defensive ability has steadily improved since entering the league despite a small sample size. And especially now, with Dennis Cholowski selected by Seattle in expansion, the goal for the Ostervala-born defensemen next year is simple: cement himself as one of Detroit’s top six defenders.
2021 NHL Draft Selections By Team
Today concluded the 2021 NHL Draft, the first edition with 32 teams in the running. Some teams selected just three times (sorry, Toronto), while Don Waddell and the Carolina Hurricanes selected an NHL-record 13 times for a seven-round draft. After all the chaos of last night and today, catch up here on who your team selected and when.
Anaheim Ducks
Round 1, Pick 3: F Mason McTavish
Round 2, Pick 34: D Olen Zellweger
Round 3, Pick 66: F Sasha Pastujov
Round 3, Pick 76 (from CHI via MTL): D Tyson Hinds
Round 4, Pick 98: F Josh Lopina
Round 5, Pick 130: F Sean Tschigerl
Round 5, Pick 148 (from EDM via OTT): G Gage Alexander
Round 6, Pick 162: F Kyle Kukkonen
Arizona Coyotes
Round 1, Pick 9 (from VAN): F Dylan Guenther
Round 2, Pick 37 (from CBJ via OTT): F Josh Doan
Round 2, Pick 43: F Ilya Fedotov
Round 2, Pick 60 (from COL via NYI): D Janis Jerome Moser
Round 4, Pick 107: D Emil Martinsen Lilleberg
Round 4, Pick 122 (from PIT): G Rasmus Korhonen
Round 5, Pick 139: F Manix Landry
Round 6, Pick 171: D Cal Thomas
Round 7, Pick 223 (from MTL via CHI): F Sam Lipkin
Boston Bruins
Round 1, Pick 21: F Fabian Lysell
Round 3, Pick 85: F Brett Harrison
Round 4, Pick 117: G Philip Svedeback
Round 5, Pick 149: F Oskar Jellvik
Round 6, Pick 181: D Ryan Mast
Round 7, Pick 213: F Andre Gasseau
Round 7, Pick 217 (from TOR): D Ty Gallagher
Buffalo Sabres
Round 1, Pick 1: D Owen Power
Round 1, Pick 14 (from PHI): F Isak Rosen
Round 2, Pick 33: F Prokhor Poltapov
Round 2, Pick 53 (from BOS): F Alexander Kisakov
Round 3, Pick 88 (from FLA): F Stiven Sardarian
Round 3, Pick 95 (from MTL): F Josh Bloom
Round 4, Pick 97: F Olivier Nadeau
Round 5, Pick 159 (from MTL): F Viljami Marjala
Round 6, Pick 161: F William von Barnekow Lofberg
Round 6, Pick 188 (from COL): D Nikita Novikov
Round 7, Pick 193: F Tyson Kozak
Calgary Flames
Round 1, Pick 13: F Matthew Coronato
Round 2, Pick 45: F William Stromgren
Round 3, Pick 77: F Cole Huckins
Round 4, Pick 89 (from TOR via LAK): D Cameron Whynot
Round 5, Pick 141: D Cole Jordan
Round 6, Pick 168 (from LAK): F Jack Beck
Round 6, Pick 173: F Lucas Ciona
Round 7, Pick 205: G Arsenii Sergeev
Carolina Hurricanes
Round 2, Pick 40 (from LAK via NSH): D Scott Morrow
Round 2, Pick 44 (from CHI via CBJ): D Aleksi Heimosalmi
Round 2, Pick 51 (from NSH): F Ville Koivunen
Round 3, Pick 83 (from NSH): G Patrik Hamrla
Round 3, Pick 94 (from VGK via DET): D Aidan Hreschuk
Round 4, Pick 109 (from CGY via LAK): F Jackson Blake
Round 5, Pick 136 (from LAK via OTT): F Robert Orr
Round 5, Pick 147 (from NSH): F Justin Robidas
Round 6, Pick 170 (from OTT): D Bryce Montgomery
Round 6, Pick 187: G Nikita Quapp
Round 7, Pick 200 (from LAK): G Yegor Naumov
Round 7, Pick 209 (from STL): C Nikita Guslistov
Round 7, Pick 219: D Joel Nystrom
Chicago Blackhawks
Round 1, Pick 32 (from TBL via CBJ): D Nolan Allan
Round 2, Pick 62 (from VGK): F Colton Dach
Round 3, Pick 91 (from CAR): D Taige Harding
Round 4, Pick 105 (from VAN): D Ethan Del Mastro
Round 4, Pick 108: F Victor Stjernborg
Round 6, Pick 172: F Ilya Safonov
Round 7, Pick 204: D Connor Kelley
Round 7, Pick 216 (from FLA): F Jalen Luypen
Colorado Avalanche
Round 1, Pick 28: F Oskar Olausson
Round 2, Pick 61 (from NYI via NJD): D Sean Behrens
Round 3, Pick 92: F Andrei Buyalsky
Round 7, Pick 220: F Taylor Makar
Columbus Blue Jackets
Round 1, Pick 5: F Kent Johnson
Round 1, Pick 12 (from CHI): F Cole Sillinger
Round 1, Pick 25 (from TOR): D Corson Ceulemans
Round 3, Pick 69: D Stanislav Svozil
Round 4, Pick 101: D Guillaume Richard
Round 5, Pick 132 (from NJD): D Nikolai Makarov
Round 5, Pick 133: F James Malatesta
Round 6, Pick 165: F Ben Boyd
Round 7, Pick 197: F Martin Rysavy
Dallas Stars
Round 1, Pick 23 (from WSH via DET): F Wyatt Johnston
Round 2, Pick 47: F Logan Stankoven
Round 2, Pick 48 (from NYR via DET): D Artem Grushnikov
Round 3, Pick 73 (from VAN): F Ayrton Martino
Round 3, Pick 79: F Justin Ertel
Round 4, Pick 111: F Conner Roulette
Round 5, Pick 138 (from OTT via MTL, DET): D Jack Bar
Round 5, Pick 143: D Jacob Holmes
Round 6, Pick 175: F Francesco Arcuri
Round 7, Pick 207: F Albert Sjoberg
Detroit Red Wings
Round 1, Pick 6: D Simon Edvinsson
Round 1, Pick 15 (from DAL): G Sebastian Cossa
Round 2, Pick 36 (from NJD via VGK): D Shai Buium
Round 3, Pick 70: F Carter Mazur
Round 4, Pick 114 (from WPG via VGK): F Redmond Savage
Round 5, Pick 134: F Liam Dower Nilsson
Round 5, Pick 155 (from CAR via VGK): D Oscar Plandowski
Round 6, Pick 166: F Pasquale Zito
Edmonton Oilers
Round 1, Pick 22 (from MIN): F Xavier Bourgault
Round 3, Pick 90 (from PIT via SJS, MIN): D Luca Munzenberger
Round 4, Pick 116: F Jake Chiasson
Round 6, Pick 180: F Matvei Petrov
Round 6, Pick 186 (from PIT): F Shane Lachance
Round 7, Pick 212: D Maximus Wanner
Florida Panthers
Round 1, Pick 24: F Mackie Samoskevich
Round 2, Pick 56: D Evan Nause
Round 4, Pick 120: D Vladislav Lukashevich
Round 5, Pick 152: G Kirill Gerasimyuk
Round 6, Pick 184: F Jakub Kos
Round 7, Pick 210 (from WPG): D Braden Hache
Los Angeles Kings
Round 1, Pick 8: D Brandt Clarke
Round 2, Pick 42 (from OTT): F Francesco Pinelli
Round 2, Pick 59 (from CAR): F Samuel Helenius
Round 3, Pick 84 (from EDM via CGY): D Kirill Kirsanov
Minnesota Wild
Round 1, Pick 20 (from EDM): G Jesper Wallstedt
Round 1, Pick 26 (from PIT): D Carson Lambos
Round 2, Pick 54: D Jack Peart
Round 3, Pick 86: F Caedan Bankier
Round 4, Pick 118: D Kyle Masters
Round 4, Pick 127 (from MTL): F Josh Pillar
Round 6, Pick 182: D Nate Benoit
Montreal Canadiens
Round 1, Pick 31: D Logan Mailloux
Round 2, Pick 63: F Riley Kidney
Round 2, Pick 64 (from TBL): F Oliver Kapanen
Round 3, Pick 87 (from WSH via SJS): D Dmitri Kostenko
Round 4, Pick 113 (from STL): D William Trudeau
Round 5, Pick 142 (from PHI): D Daniil Sobolev
Round 5, Pick 150 (from MIN): F Joshua Roy
Round 6, Pick 191: F Xavier Simoneau
Round 7, Pick 214 (from MIN): G Joe Vrbetic
Nashville Predators
Round 1, Pick 19: F Fedor Svechkov
Round 1, Pick 27 (from CAR): F Zachary L’Heureux
Round 3, Pick 72 (from LAK via CAR): D Anton Olsson
Round 4, Pick 115: D Ryan Ufko
Round 4, Pick 124 (from COL via OTT): D Jack Matier
Round 6, Pick 179: F Simon Knak
New Jersey Devils
Round 1, Pick 4: D Luke Hughes
Round 1, Pick 29 (from NYI): F Chase Stillman
Round 3, Pick 68: F Samu Salminen
Round 4, Pick 100: G Jakub Malek
Round 5, Pick 129 (from BUF): D Topias Vilen
Round 6, Pick 164: D Viktor Hurtig
Round 7, Pick 203 (from ARI): F Zakhar Bardakov
New York Islanders
Round 2, Pick 52 (from EDM via DET): F Aatu Raty
Round 3, Pick 93: G Tristan Lennox
Round 4, Pick 125: F Cameron Berg
Round 5, Pick 157: F Eetu Liukas
Round 6, Pick 189: D Aleksi Malinen
Round 7, Pick 221: D Tomas Machu
New York Rangers
Round 1, Pick 16: F Brennan Othmann
Round 3, Pick 65 (from BUF): F Jayden Grubbe
Round 3, Pick 75 (from ARI via NJD, WSH): F Ryder Korczak
Round 4, Pick 104 (from LAK): F Brody Lamb
Round 4, Pick 106 (from OTT): F Kalle Vaisanen
Round 4, Pick 112: G Talyn Boyko
Round 5, Pick 144: F Jaroslav Chmelar
Round 7, Pick 208: D Hank Kempf
Ottawa Senators
Round 1, Pick 10: F Tyler Boucher
Round 2, Pick 39 (from SJS): F Zach Ostapchuk
Round 2, Pick 49 (from STL via BUF, VGK, LAK): D Ben Roger
Round 3, Pick 74: F Oliver Johansson
Round 4, Pick 123 (from CAR): F Carson Latimer
Round 7, Pick 202: D Chandler Romeo
Philadelphia Flyers
Round 2, Pick 46: F Samu Tuomaala
Round 3, Pick 78: G Aleksei Kolosov
Round 4, Pick 110: D Brian Zanetti
Round 5, Pick 158 (from VGK via WSH): D Ty Murchison
Round 6, Pick 174: D Ethan Samson
Round 7, Pick 206: F Owen McLaughlin
Pittsburgh Penguins
Round 2, Pick 58: F Tristan Broz
Round 5, Pick 154: D Isaac Belliveau
Round 7, Pick 194 (from ANA): D Ryan McCleary
Round 7, Pick 215 (from WSH): D Daniel Laatsch
Round 7, Pick 218: F Kirill Tankov
San Jose Sharks
Round 1, Pick 7: F William Eklund
Round 3, Pick 81 (from STL): G Benjamin Gaudreau
Round 4, Pick 103: D Gannon Laroque
Round 4, Pick 121 (from TOR): F Ethan Cardwell
Round 5, Pick 135: D Artem Guryev
Round 5, Pick 156 (from COL): F Max McCue
Round 6, Pick 167: F Liam Gilmartin
Round 6, Pick 177 (from STL): F Theo Jacobsson
Round 7, Pick 199: F/D Evgenii Kashnikov
Seattle Kraken
Round 1, Pick 2: F Matthew Beniers
Round 2, Pick 35: D Ryker Evans
Round 3, Pick 67: F Ryan Winterton
Round 4, Pick 99: D Ville Ottavainen
Round 5, Pick 131: F Jacob Melanson
Round 6, Pick 163: G Semyon Vyazovoi
Round 7, Pick 195: F Justin Janicke
St. Louis Blues
Round 1, Pick 17: F Zachary Bolduc
Round 3, Pick 71 (from SJS): F Simon Robertsson
Round 5, Pick 145: D Tyson Galloway
Round 7, Pick 198 (from DET): F Ivan Vorobyov
Tampa Bay Lightning
Round 3, Pick 96: D Roman Schmidt
Round 4, Pick 126 (from VGK via MTL): F Dylan Duke
Round 5, Pick 160: F Cameron MacDonald
Round 6, Pick 192: D Alex Gagne
Round 7, Pick 196 (from NJD): D Daniil Pylenkov
Round 7, Pick 211 (from NSH): F Robert Flinton
Round 7, Pick 224: F Niko Huuhtanen
Toronto Maple Leafs
Round 2, Pick 57: F Matthew Knies
Round 5, Pick 153: F Ty Voit
Round 6, Pick 185: G Vyacheslav Peksa
Vancouver Canucks
Round 2, Pick 41: F Danila Klimovich
Round 5, Pick 137: G Aku Koskenvuo
Round 5, Pick 140 (from CHI): D Jonathan Myrenberg
Round 6, Pick 169: D Hugo Gabrielsson
Round 6, Pick 178 (from WPG): F Connor Lockhart
Round 7, Pick 201: F Lucas Forsell
Vegas Golden Knights
Round 1, Pick 30: F Zach Dean
Round 2, Pick 38 (from DET): D Daniil Chayka
Round 4, Pick 102 (from DET): F Jakub Brabenec
Round 4, Pick 128 (from TBL via DET): F Jakub Demek
Round 6, Pick 190: D Artur Cholach
Round 7, Pick 222: G Carl Lindbom
Washington Capitals
Round 2, Pick 55: D Vincent Iorio
Round 3, Pick 80 (from NYR): D Brent Johnson
Round 4, Pick 119: D Joaquim Lemay
Round 5, Pick 151: F Haakon Hanelt
Round 6, Pick 176 (from NYR): D Dru Krebs
Round 6, Pick 183: G Chase Clark
Winnipeg Jets
Round 1, Pick 18: F Chaz Lucius
Round 2, Pick 50: F Nikita Chibrikov
Round 3, Pick 82: D Dmitri Kuzmin
Round 5, Pick 146: F Dmitri Rashevsky
Los Angeles Kings Extend Trevor Moore
The Los Angeles Kings announced today that they re-signed forward Trevor Moore to a two-year contract extension. The deal is one-way and pays him $1.88MM per season, per CapFriendly.
Moore’s developed nicely for Los Angeles after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020. He’s posted 28 points in 71 games across two seasons with the Kings, scoring 13 goals. Now 26 years old, Moore likely doesn’t have anything more than third-line upside, but that’s where Moore likely slots in next season with Los Angeles’ young core. He’s an adequate two-way forward, and will likely focus on continuing the improvement of his defensive game.
Moore will be 28 at the expiration of the deal. He’ll be hitting unrestricted free agency, and Moore could definitely see a pay raise if he impresses with Los Angeles in the near future. Across 123 total NHL games, Moore’s scored 18 goals and 41 points. Moore’s only playoff experience came in 2019 with the Maple Leafs, playing in all seven games against the Boston Bruins in their First Round series that year. Moore scored one goal in those seven games.
Washington Capitals Goalie Craig Anderson Expected To Retire
Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said today that goalie Craig Anderson is expected to retire this offseason. 40 years old, Anderson retires after just one season in the nation’s capital.
Anderson leaves the NHL after one of the more underrated careers put together by a netminder in recent history. Playing in the league for 18 seasons, Anderson played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, and Washington, but will be most remembered for his 10-year stint with the Ottawa Senators. Anderson, drafted 73rd overall by Chicago in 2001 after re-entering the draft, bounced up and down between the NHL and minor leagues before securing a full-time job as the Panthers’ backup in 2007-08. After an impressive three total seasons in Florida (24-14-7, .928 SV%), Anderson found himself in a breakout situation with Colorado in 2009-10, starting 71 games, posting a .917 save percentage and finishing top-10 in both Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy voting.
He put up another solid season the following year but got off to a shaky start in 2010-11, leading to Anderson being traded to Ottawa. Anderson’s best years came there, including a 2012-13 campaign in which he started 24 games and posted a .941 save percentage to lead the league, leading to him receiving more Vezina Trophy votes. Anderson’s career, however, fell sharply after helping the Sens to a surprise Eastern Conference Final appearance in 2017. Anderson won his only NHL award that season, the Masterton Trophy, after taking a hiatus from the game earlier that year to support his wife Nicholle, who was dealing with and has since recovered from a rare form of throat cancer.
Anderson signed a one-year deal with Washington this past season and served mainly as the team’s taxi squad netminder, posting a 2-1-0 record with a .915 save percentage.
East Notes: Leafs, Hamilton, Ovechkin
After the conclusion of today’s 2021 NHL Draft, there’s a variety of news and notes from post-draft press conferences emerging quickly. NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger reports from general manager Kyle Dubas‘ presser today that the Toronto Maple Leafs are still interested in retaining both Alex Galchenyuk and Frederik Andersen. Now 27, it’s been a long road for Galchenyuk, who was drafted third overall in 2012. After playing for five teams over the past three seasons, Galchenyuk caught what seemed like a new wind after his mid-season acquisition from the Ottawa Senators, scoring 12 points in 26 games with the Leafs. Consistently playing among the Leafs’ top-six forward core, Galchenyuk displayed solid complementary ability when surrounded by better talent. The Leafs will likely hope that he can bring affordable depth scoring again to the team in a middle-six role this time around, hopefully adding another top-end talent in the offseason. And while the team has interest in retaining Andersen in goal, it may not be mutual. Andersen, in any scenario in which he returns, takes a significant cut in both pay and games played, serving behind Jack Campbell. But if Andersen is willing to accept a backup role, the offseason could allow him to return to full health and be a crucial contributor to next year’s Toronto roster.
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Carolina Hurricanes are still trying to re-sign defenseman Dougie Hamilton, but that they’ll need an answer on a deal by the start of free agency on July 28th. TSN’s Darren Dreger follows up, saying that Hamilton is looking at an average annual value between $8MM and $9MM on his next deal. It’s interesting to note here that Hamilton isn’t looking for more money, especially considering the eight-year, $9.5MM AAV extension handed out yesterday to Seth Jones. Hamilton is on a five-year run of receiving Norris Trophy votes, including a career-high fourth-place finish this season. That’s in stark contrast to Jones, who’s coming off a weak season on both sides of the puck. Hamilton’s consistently posted better play-driving and defensive numbers throughout his career, as well. Regardless, Hamilton, who’s part of an elite class of defenders to hit unrestricted free agency in recent years, shouldn’t have any trouble getting his desired compensation, whether it be from Carolina or somewhere else.
- The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir reports that Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan hopes to have a contract extension with captain Alex Ovechkin finalized by the opening of free agency on Wednesday. It’s once in a blue moon that we see a new contract for one of the best players in NHL history, but this offseason will surely see one for the 35-year-old Ovechkin. What’s not for certain is that Ovechkin sees a raise on his previous deal, one that was paying him $9.5MM per season. Despite still being one of the best goal-scorers in the league, Ovechkin’s now finished under a point-per-game pace in two straight seasons and missed significant time with injury this season for the first time since 2009-10. A decent comparable could be the contract handed out to teammate Nicklas Backstrom, who makes $9.2MM per season. While it likely won’t be as long of a term as Backstrom’s five years, a similar cap hit could be in line for ‘Ovi’ this offseason.
Carey Price Undergoes Knee Surgery, Will Be Ready For Next Season
The Montreal Canadiens tweeted today that goaltender Carey Price had successful knee surgery and will be ready for the start of the 2021-22 season.
The news comes after much had been made over Price’s health the past week. After being shockingly left unprotected for the Seattle Expansion Draft, it was quickly revealed that Price had issues with both his knee and hip and may miss significant time. However, clarity came today for both the team and player and Price should be on the ice for Montreal’s October 13th opener on the road in Toronto.
While Price’s admirable run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final isn’t to be forgotten anytime soon, he’ll hope to recover enough to have a bounce-back 2021-22 season. Price has struggled in recent years, putting up save percentages below .910 in consecutive seasons for the first time in his 14-year NHL career. But a tandem of him and Jake Allen seemed to do Montreal wonders last season, providing Price with his first real safety net in almost a decade. But with defenseman Shea Weber missing the entirety of next season, Price and Allen’s jobs may get a bit tougher next year if they can’t find a suitable replacement for Weber’s minutes this offseason.
Seattle Kraken Finalizing Deal With Chris Driedger
Wednesday: CapFriendly reports that the deal carries a 10-team no-trade clause and will pay Driedger $2.5MM in 2021-22, $3.5MM in 2022-23, and $4.5MM in 2023-24.
Monday: It appears as though we may now know the first member of the Seattle Kraken’s NHL roster for 2021-22. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the team is finalizing a three-year contract with Florida Panthers goaltender Chris Driedger. The contract carries a $3.5MM cap hit and is for three years, carrying him through the 2023-24 season.
The Seattle Kraken are indeed exempt from this current transaction freeze, meaning the deal could become official before Wednesday’s expansion draft. The Kraken have this period to speak with pending unrestricted free agents and agree on contracts if possible. Driedger, one of those pending UFAs, will count as the team’s selection from the Florida Panthers for expansion purposes.
Driedger will come to the Kraken and serve as one-half of what’s likely to be a formidable goalie duo. With names like Carey Price, Ben Bishop, Kaapo Kahkonen, Braden Holtby, Vitek Vanecek, and others as potential selections for Seattle, Driedger can expect 30-50 starts as part of a tandem situation.
It’s a chance for Driedger’s career to really take off on the West Coast. He’s emerged as an extremely capable netminder over the last two seasons in Florida, but his appearances have been limited due to the presence of Sergei Bobrovsky. Now, with the upstart Spencer Knight securing a spot for next season, Driedger wasn’t expected to return to the Panthers. Posting a remarkable 21-8-4 record and .931 save percentage across 34 Florida starts, his rise to prominence has been compared by some to that of the St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington. But without a Stanley Cup Final run under his belt, Driedger obviously doesn’t carry the same clout. However, he’s shown the ability to repeat near-elite performance across two different seasons, albeit in a small sample size. Seattle keeps the cap hit low here, ensuring that the deal could still be fair value even if Driedger doesn’t quite repeat his Florida success.
Regardless, it’s an important move for the Kraken and general manager Ron Francis. It’s entirely possible that they’ve inked their starting netminder for Game 1 of the regular season, an exciting prospect to think about for the expansion team.
Seattle Kraken Ink Jamie Oleksiak To Five-Year Deal
The Seattle Kraken have made waves ahead of the Expansion Draft’s start, signing pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to a five-year deal. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the contract carries an average annual value of $4.6MM while CapFriendly adds that the breakdown is as follows:
2021-22: $3.5MM, full no-trade clause
2022-23: $4.25MM, full no-trade clause
2023-24: $6MM, full no-trade clause
2024-25: $5.5MM 16-team no-trade clause
2025-26: $3.75MM 16-team no-trade clause
Oleksiak had a coming-out party in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, playing a crucial role on Dallas’ second pairing with Miro Heiskanen on the Stars’ run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Oleksiak’s strong play continued into 2020-21, earning him this big payday.
Averaging over 20 minutes a night last season, Oleksiak’s defensive results improved with his ice time. Cementing himself as a true top-four body, it’s entirely possible that Oleksiak finds himself on a pairing with another new Kraken addition in Adam Larsson. It could end up being one of the better shutdown pairings in the entire league, albeit an expensive one with a combined $8.6MM cap hit between the two. Oleksiak scored 14 points in 56 games last season, so his offensive upside is limited, but he still might provide 25-point potential.
For the Stars, they lose a big minute-munching body. Finding a new partner for Miro Heiskanen will likely come down to securing a new name on the open market. While no-one left on the market will have the size and physical appeal of Oleksiak, there are other acceptable options through free agency.
All salary cap information via CapFriendly.com.