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Winnipeg’s Forward Depth And Versatility Valuable In Trade Market

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The Winnipeg Jets finished just 7 points out of a playoff berth this season. Like the Islanders (41 wins) and Lightning (42 wins), the Jets (40 wins) were on the verge of making it to the show in the final weeks. As such, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff didn’t feel the necessity to spend large this off-season, nor make any substantial trades. Cheveldayoff shored up the goaltending position with Steve Mason on a two-year contract, and hopes that will be enough to push the team over the edge. Still, if management feels that improvements should be made, the team has the assets and the versatility up front to do so. It’s uncertain whether Dmitry Kulikov will be enough to shore up what was a poor-performing defensive group last year. A spare forward could be floated for more help in their own end, even though their 6 slots seem safely filled at the moment.

Particularly at the center position, the Jets have one of the more enviable situations league-wide. By my count, the Jets have 9 roster players who can theoretically slot in for center duties. Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Shawn Matthias, Adam Lowry, Michael Sgarbossa, Marko Dano and Brandon Tanev all can play up the middle. Scheifele is obviously the first line center, and Little is safely pegged at number two. After that, things get a bit interesting. Perreault finished the season while spending some time on the wing, and his goal scoring dried up – he only had 22 in the past two seasons. His point production is still locked in at 40+, but considering his $4.125 MM cap hit for the next four seasons, maybe now is the time to opt out. Matthias is interesting primarily because he only has one season remaining before he hits unrestricted free agency.  He can slot on the third or fourth lines and provide mediocre depth production, but his marginal worth wouldn’t be enough to land a difference maker in a trade.

Little also sees his current deal expire at the conclusion off 2017-18, and his new contract could be relatively hefty. With Blake Wheeler due another contract hike after 2018-19, and Jacob Trouba looking for a raise after this year, there is the possibility Little could be moved for the right package. Still, he’s one of the more consistent players on the Jets and has never known another franchise. If he were to be shopped, the return could be quite pricey for many competing teams. He’s perceived as a top-end #2 center and his internal value is quite steep. Following that, Lowry will continue to build on his progression last year, where he tallied 29 points. He’s yet to put it all together, but his size and still tender age of 24 wouldn’t make him the first target for movement. Dano is far more comfortable on the wing, and he’s likely going nowhere. Sgarbossa is essentially a non-factor, as is Tanev, in terms of drawing league interest.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Nicolas Petan should find himself a regular this season, and many expect him to push for that 3rd line center position. As with many of the other names, he can slot on the wing instead, but that might not be the best use of his talents long-term. If he forces Lowry down the depth chart further, does that make a player like Little more expendable for the right move? What would the interest be like for a player of Perreault’s caliber? Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that we’ll know until well into the season. Cheveldayoff has been firm in staying the course with the young and promising Jets, and he’s more likely to wait at least until the conclusion of training camp before making any major transaction.

Breaking Down John Tavares Standoff With Isles

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As reported by PHR’s Gavin Lee, New York Islanders’ star John Tavares was quiet when asked about his extension. The 26-year-old was eligible to sign an extension with the Islanders starting on July 1, but after five weeks still hasn’t done it. Speculation suggests that he is keeping a keen eye on two critical elements, including the team’s success as well as whether the team will find a home. He has said he would like to stay in New York and continue to play for the Islanders, but is keeping his thoughts internally.

However, the New York Posts’ Larry Brooks writes that history suggests that what a player says during negotiations doesn’t mean anything. He cites former New York Rangers’ captain Ryan Callahan in 2014 as having said the same thing, only to be traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning after negotiations broke down over a no-trade clause the Rangers didn’t want to include. The scribe writes, however, that these negotiations have little to do with a no-trade clause or even money. The Islanders are willing to offer it all.

Brooks believes that the Islanders’ struggles, despite picking up Jordan Eberle this offseason, might count against the New York team. Tavares has played eight seasons in the NHL and has only made three trips to the playoffs, and only ies. Maybe, he wants more success. On top of that, the team still is having trouble finding a new home for the franchise. Is Belmont Park the answer? Possibly, but it’s not perfect and nothing is cemented in stone. Maybe he wants to wait until that is resolved. Many people compare Tavares to the Steven Stamkos standoff last year, but Tampa Bay had been to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015 and to a Game 7 in the conference finals in 2016. They were a successful franchise.

While the eight-year contract they can offer to Tavares (as opposed to seven years for any other team) is critical to the Islanders, Brooks questions that advantage as well. Citing the belief that the Tampa Bay Lightning will make a play for the forward, he writes that Florida’s lack of a state tax would save Tavares quite a bit of cash. He writes that if the Islanders offer him an eight year, $80MM contract ($10MM per year), that would leave him with $41.81MM after taxes, according to Brooks. If Tampa Bay offers him a seven-year, $59.5MM deal ($8.5MM per year), Tavares would get to keep $36.28MM after taxes, which is only $5MM less overall. So that eighth year isn’t as big of a factor when dealing with teams that have no state income tax.

There are a lot of maybes, but there is a good chance the Islanders will be forced to trade Tavares if they want to keep their franchise afloat.

 

Doyle Somerby To Test Free Agency

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  • Add Islanders defensive prospect Doyle Somerby to the list of college prospects that intend to test the open market past August 15th. His agent, Brent Peterson, told Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe that there could be as many as five other teams could be interested in Somerby’s services.  The 23-year-old stay-at-home rearguard has spent the past four years at Boston University and captained the team in his senior season.  Peterson didn’t rule out the possibility of Somerby, ultimately signing with the Isles (who drafted him in the fifth round in 2012) but given how close he is to becoming an unrestricted free agent, the blueliner has decided to see what other opportunities may be out there as well.

Pressure On The Strome Brothers In 2017-18

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If Philadelphia Flyers prospect Matthew Strome somehow makes the roster out of camp this fall, it will come as a pleasant surprise to the team and the fans. Strome fell to the fourth round, 106th overall, in the NHL Draft this past June after many believed he would be a first or second-round prospect. Yet, Strome does possess great size and compete level for his age and has the vision and finishing ability to have an outside shot at a bottom-six winger slot for Philly. However, if Strome is simply returned to the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs for another year, maybe two, no one will be upset. There are no expectations for the youngest Strome at this point in time.

The same cannot be said for his older brothers. New Edmonton Oiler Ryan Strome and Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome face some serious stakes in 2017-18. Both are still young at 24 and 20 respectively, but neither has lived up to expectations thus far. With each facing the daunting task of playing a key offensive role for their teams this season, the time is now to show that they have what it takes.

In many ways, the Oilers’ recent trade of Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome was a salary cap dump. Eberle was set to make $6MM this year and next, while Strome will be paid just $2.5MM this season. Eberle is also twice the player that Strome is, both subjectively in the minds of most hockey pundits and objectively given the pairs scoring stats in each of the past two seasons. The fact of the matter is that the Oilers were facing a cap crunch with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in need of super-expensive long-term extensions and with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Milan Lucic, and their top-four defenseman all already signed to big-money deals. Someone had to go and the choice was Eberle. However, Edmonton has now lost the only player that has been a consistent scorer for them through many dark years and a crucial member of the top six. Strome may not hold up in comparison, but it is no secret that he is expected to contribute this season and vastly improve from his numbers with the Islanders. After a 50-point campaign and +23 rating in his first full pro season in 2014-15, many thought Strome was on his way to stardom. Two years later, he’s scored just 58 points over two seasons and is a -17 in that span. Strome hit a wall in New York and looked lost in the Isles’ lineup. Edmonton presents a brand new opportunity for him to show that his 5th overall pick status in 2011 and early NHL returns were no fluke. While Strome is a natural center, the Oilers are sorely lacking a right-shot offensive threat in the top six with Eberle gone. Rather than bury Strome on the third line, it seems very likely that he could instead move from center to right wing, where he spent some time in New York, and skate alongside the likes of McDavid, Draisaitl, or Nugent-Hopkins next season. With that role will come the pressure to produce alongside such high-quality players. Strome must improve on his 30 points from 2016-17 and has to become a better even strength player. If he doesn’t, the Oilers may regret this deal as they struggle to find secondary scoring and Strome’s future may be in doubt this time next year as he faces restricted free agency.

Dylan Strome has always been property of the Arizona Coyotes, but playing with the team this season may feel like new scenario. The former Erie Otters superstar has played in just seven NHL games since being drafted third overall in 2015 and has just one assist to show for it. Once considered the Coyotes #1 center of the future, Strome will enter the mix this year as somewhat of an afterthought. The team went out and acquired Derek Stepan from the New York Rangers, who should be the team’s top center and offensive leader for the time being. There is also Calder speculation surrounding young center Clayton Keller who, despite being drafted a year after and four spots later than Strome, has seemingly passed him up on the organizational depth chart. With promising young players like Max Domi, Anthony Duclair Brendan Perlini, Christian Fischer, Christian Dvorak, Lawson Crouse, and Nick Merkley also in the mix, not to mention solid veterans like Jordan Martinook, Tobias Rieder, and Jamie McGinn,  it may be hard for Strome to find a top-nine role, nevertheless be a featured forward. Yet, the rebuild in Arizona cannot last forever and “promise” will only hold up for so long on a Coyotes team that should be taking the next step soon. If the ’Yotes don’t improve in 2017-18 and Strome’s rookie season is underwhelming, many may point to his lack of development as the reason why the rebuild has shown few results. While it is asking a lot to compare Strome to the two picks ahead of him in 2015 – Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel – the early success of those after him, like Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Pavel Zacha, Travis Konecny, Anthony Beauvillier, Sebastian Aho, and more, is likely already frustrating both Arizona fans and executives. Another season without results could be disastrous for his tenure in the desert. The pressure is officially on.

If Ryan and Dylan Strome live up to their draft hype and ample ability this year, the Strome family could be the talk of the hockey town in 2017-18. However, if neither can take advantage of their opportunities this year, there could be some serious doubt cast upon the career prospects of both. Then again, at least there’s always Matthew to watch for.

Calvin de Haan Signs With New York Islanders

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Calvin de Haan was one of two remaining players scheduled for arbitration, and was set to have a hearing this morning in Toronto to decide his fate. Just before that happened, the two sides have agreed upon a new one-year deal worth $3.3MM. The two sides had been more than $3MM apart in their arbitration figures, but met somewhere in the middle for de Haan’s final season before unrestricted free agency. "<strong

Now 26-years old, de Haan is coming off the best statistical season of his career. Registering 25 points, he played in all 82 games for the Islanders and averaged almost 20 minutes a night. Though his role is likely unchanged with the trade of Travis Hamonic, he could see a slight bump in special teams time as the Islanders will likely be icing a pair of youngsters at some point throughout the year in Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech.

de Haan really impressed at the recent World Championships for Team Canada and will now immediately jump to near the top of both a trade candidate and potential free agent list. If the Islanders are out of the playoff race by February, you’ll surely hear his name in rumors to add to a Cup contender. He’ll also be an interesting option on the free agent market, with his combination of youth and two-way play. With many players already starting to sign extensions, he could be one of the top options and earn a contract similar to Karl Alzner on the open market, if not even bigger.

That’s not to say that the Islanders can’t re-sign him, as he’s never shown any indication he doesn’t want to play for them. This agreement could be just a way to avoid the sometimes painful process of arbitration, which can be detrimental to a professional relationship. The two sides can work with the $3.3MM amount, which represents a slight raise on the $2.9MM he earned last year, but fits into the Islanders’ salary structure well. Signing him any longer may have never been an option for the club, as they have a huge offseason coming up next summer.

John Tavares, Josh Bailey, Nikolai Kulemin, Brock Nelson, Shane Prince, Alan Quine, Thomas Hickey, Ryan Pulock and now de Haan are all free agents of one sort or another, giving the team the option to go in one direction or another. That decision likely depends on Tavares’ decision on whether or not to stay long-term. If he doesn’t, the team has an easy tear down to try and rebuild around their young players like Josh Ho-Sang and Mathew Barzal, and de Haan could be more valuable on a cheap one-year deal at the deadline than a long-term contract with a much higher cap-hit. This will be a very important first half of the season for the Islanders, as their franchise could go in very different directions at mid-season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

John Tavares Quiet On Contract Negotiations

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New York Islanders’ superstar forward John Tavares is the center of much speculation regarding his future in the league as he enters the final year of his current contract. The 26-year old will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st of next year and has been eligible for an extension for more than a month.

Speaking with TSN at a Power Edge Pro event in Burlington, Ontario, Tavares was asked about the ongoing negotiations with his club and where he sees himself down the road:

I think I’ll just keep all that internal. I think we’ve had great open communication. It’s obviously a great place to play, and I’ve really enjoyed my time being an Islander and want that to continue. For me I just want to focus on the upcoming season, being at my best and being able to contribute.

Tavares has never indicated that he has any desire to leave New York, though many have linked the franchise’s struggles finding a new arena and underwhelming success on the ice as reasons he could look elsewhere for his next big contract. The team would sure like to sign him for eight seasons and keep their franchise center in the mix as long as possible.

The longer the negotiations linger the more speculation there will be, but it certainly doesn’t mean the two sides are growing further apart. There is still an entire year to come to an agreement, even if it pushes right to the last minute like Steven Stamkos a year ago. Stamkos even took meetings with other teams before deciding to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning long-term, a similar situation to how the Tavares situation may play out.

Remember, the team who owns his rights can offer him an eighth contract year which would be Tavares’ age-35 season. That year is likely extremely valuable to a young player, and could cause a trade of his rights should the two sides not be able to find common ground. As it happens, Tavares is primed to have a big season after the Islanders acquired Jordan Eberle to add some scoring punch to the wing and should have an improved offensive group with the graduation of Joshua Ho-Sang to a full-time player.

Early Look At Some 2017-18 Impact Rookies: Part II

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Last week we took a look at some of the most interesting rookie names around the league, profiling Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome, Tyson Jost, Brock Boeser, Charlie McAvoy and Julius Honka. Each of those names have a chance at making a real impact for their respective clubs in 2017-18, and at least a few could be in the running for a Calder trophy as Rookie of the Year. Again, this series is avoiding the 2017 draftees as they’ll be profiled individually as we get closer to camp and have a better idea of who will be staying in the NHL right away.

For this part, we’ll take a look at some other young players who may not have the same draft pedigree of Strome, or early impact that Boeser, McAvoy and Honka have shown.

Josh Ho-Sang – New York Islanders

Josh Ho-SangOne of the most mentioned names in comments after releasing the first group of players was Ho-Sang (along with Mathew Barzal). While part one was certainly not meant to rank any of the upcoming young players, Ho-Sang’s exclusion was certainly noticeable. After making his NHL debut this season under some (silly) controversy, Ho-Sang is ready to take the next step and be a full-time contributor to the Islanders this year. Regardless of the number on his back, he showed during his 21 game stint that he can compete at the highest level and registered 10 points. No one would be shocked by a 40-point season from the young forward, and if given a full-time opportunity in New York’s top six he could push even higher than that.

Thomas Chabot – Ottawa Senators

One of the most impressive players in junior hockey last year, Chabot spent a single game with the Senators and is just about ready to take the NHL by storm. It’s hard for a defenseman to step right into a big role in the NHL, but with Erik Karlsson and Cody Ceci still around Chabot can easily be sheltered to start his career. It’s unclear where exactly he’d fit though as the team still has Chris Wideman, but if given the opportunity Chabot could provide a dynamic option on the right side. The Senators also brought in Johnny Oduya and have at least eight names that could take up six spots, so that opportunity may have to wait for an injury.

Anders Bjork – Boston Bruins

The Bruins team bus will be a rowdy place this year given how many rookies and young players could be on the roster, and Bjork isn’t one to overlook. The fifth-round pick dominated for Notre Dame as a junior before signing this spring, and looks ready to jump right into a top-six role with the NHL club. There seems to be a natural fit for him across from David Pastrnak to make a dynamic second unit for the Bruins, but how it all shakes out still isn’t clear. It’s not even set that he’ll start the year in the NHL, but after 52 points on a Fighting Irish club that relied almost solely on his production and Cal Petersen’s outstanding goaltending he sure seemed ready to take the next step.

Zach Aston-ReeseZach Aston-Reese – Pittsburgh Penguins

Another college name, this time of the free agent variety continues to impress in Aston-Reese. A finalist for the Hobey Baker trophy, Aston-Reese has done nothing but score since being passed over in the draft several times. The 22-year old put up 63 points in 38 games for Northeastern, before jumping right into the AHL and showing off with eight points in 10 games. He’s big enough to play in Pittsburgh’s bottom-six right away, and there is a glaring hole at center that the team still needs to address. Pittsburgh is notorious for turning college players into immediate producers, and it could be no different for the bang-and-crash two-way player in Aston-Reese. The forward depth of the Penguins could lead to big minutes with players like Phil Kessel or Patric Hornqvist, a situation no young player would pass up.

Alex DeBrincat – Chicago Blackhawks

78 goals, 165 points and the disappointment of being cut from the US World Junior team and losing the Memorial Cup should be more than enough motivation for DeBrincat coming into Blackhawks camp, who will try to crack the squad at 19 and show that his small stature doesn’t hold him back on the ice. In junior he was almost always the most skilled player in the game and has showed it by scoring more than 100 points in three straight years. There are doubts about his durability and even some about his top-end speed—though his first-step acceleration and quickness was among the best in the OHL—but it’s clear that he knows how to score. For a team desperate for cheap forward options that can play up with their top names, DeBrincat could come into a perfect scenario and compete for the rookie scoring title.

*Note: There are many other rookies that have impact potential that will be profiled throughout the summer as we approach the season. These are in no particular order or ranking.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders Exchange Arbitration Figures

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Arbitration hearings get back to business on Wednesday after a short break due to early settlements, and Calvin de Haan is next up on the agenda. The two sides exchanged figures today, and they’re still quite a bit apart on his value for next season. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the New York Islanders’ offered a one-year $1.95MM deal, while de Haan’s camp is looking for a one-year $5MM contract. As we’ve seen, the two sides can come to an agreement even after the hearing, in the 48-hours the arbitrator has to decide on a salary for next season. Calvin de Haan

de Haan is in his final year of restricted free agency and therefore could not receive a two-year deal in arbitration like most players. He’ll be heading to unrestricted free agency next summer if it comes down to an arbitrator’s decision, though obviously an extension is still possible after that. If he’s looking for at least $5MM through his UFA years though, the Islanders’ may not be able to afford to keep him. The team already has Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk locked up long term for $11.5MM combined, and will need all the money they can get for what is turning into a huge summer for them in 2018. Not only is John Tavares due for a massive extension, but Josh Bailey, Nikolai Kulemin and Thomas Hickey are set to become UFAs and the team will have to decide what to do in net behind (or beside) Thomas Greiss. Brock Nelson, Alan Quine, Shane Prince, Ryan Pulock and Scott Mayfield are all restricted free agents needing new contracts, with most eligible for arbitration.

So, it will be interesting to see what de Haan is awarded should it get that far. He’s coming off a year in which he recorded a career-high in points with 25 while playing over 19 minutes a night for the fourth straight season. Playing in all 82 games he easily led the team in blocked shots and is an excellent possession player in terms of both shot generation and suppression. His effect is clear at both ends of the rink, and he’s asking to be paid like a true top-4 option. The Islanders’ counter seems to make little sense, since de Haan’s qualifying offer was $2.5MM and even his cap hit was (slightly) more than $1.95MM last season.

It would be almost impossible for an arbitrator to decide that the Islanders’ number is acceptable, though unlike the MLB the decision does not have to be one or the other. They can award any salary, and anything over $4MM the Islanders can choose to walk away from. It’s unlikely they’d do that in this case, as they’re trying to compete this season but it would be interesting with only $6.9MM left in cap space and a clear desire to add another piece before the start of the season. Depending on the decision they could be forced to move some salary out in any trade, making a deal for a top name like Matt Duchene even harder to accomplish.

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Islanders’ 2017-18 Season Could Spark Roster Turnover

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The New York Islanders have a difficult season ahead of them, not least of which the arena uncertainty which has been plaguing the team for a decade. After a tumultuous season in Brooklyn at the Barclay’s Center, many fans are simply concerned with finding a proper home in the New York area. Additionally, much attention has been paid to the impending unrestricted free agency of John Tavares at the conclusion of the season. There is good reason for the fanbase’s focus to be centered around captain Tavares, as he will likely be the domino that needs to fall first. That said, the Islanders have 11 expiring NHL contracts at the end of the 2017-18 season, and if the team fails to make the playoffs again, even more expansive changes could be on the horizon.

It should be noted that the Islanders weren’t entirely quiet this off-season, as GM Garth Snow made some unorthodox but ultimately effective moves with Vegas to shield younger players and ship out injured Mikhail Grabovski’s contract. Perhaps more importantly, regards to retaining Tavares, was the acquisition of good friend and skillful finisher Jordan Eberle to play on the star center’s wing. Travis Hamonic was able to be moved for a hefty return from Calgary, and although the team was unable to draw in names from free agency, their young forwards look capable of taking a step forward this season. Although Snow has certainly struggled at times in his tenure, this off-season went about as well as could be expected. All that remains is to sign RFA Calvin de Haan.

The panic begins to set in when you compare the Islanders’ roster with that of the rest of the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh will again be a contender. Washington got worse but still won the President’s Trophy last season. Columbus almost unquestionably improved their roster on paper. Carolina added depth in all areas of the ice, including Scott Darling in net. The New York Rangers saw a massive upgrade on defense by subtracting Dan Girardi and adding Kevin Shattenkirk. And the less intimidating Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils each added a monumental talent to their forward groups at the draft in Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier, respectively. It’s rather arguably the toughest division in the entire league, and the Islanders will have no guarantees of making the playoffs. If they fail to do so, Tavares may only be the beginning of their issues.

Among the unrestricted free agents after the conclusion of the season are Nikolai Kulemin, Josh Bailey, Jason Chimera, Thomas Hickey, Dennis Seidenberg, Jaroslav Halak and the aforementioned Tavares. The restricted free agents on NHL contracts include Brock Nelson, Shane Prince, Alan Quine, Ryan Pulock, Scott Mayfield. Although no name on either list is truly vital, losing 4 or 5 free agents for nothing at the conclusion of the season could be a disastrous error in asset management. Bailey and Hickey in particular may attract solid interest at the trade deadline, but Snow and management will necessarily be determined to make the post-season. If they are still in contention for a spot, it’s hard to see them shipping any roster assets away as long as they are not mathematically eliminated. This situation will only become more dramatic if the Tavares negotiations are still ongoing.

Plainly, the worst case scenario for the Isles would be that Tavares leaves at the conclusion of the year. But it must also be realized that the longer the process drags on, the more consideration might be paid to the feasibility of moving him. The coming season cannot be the entire focus of the franchise. If minimal progress is made by the new year, the team could see a situation where an important cog on the team might leave for absolutely nothing. Worse, his situation may lead to the sacrificing of other assets in the confusion. The Islanders dealt with this last off-season when Frans Nielsen decided to depart for Detroit, stunning Islanders management. Repeating such a mistakewould be absolutely inexcusable, and if unrestricted free agents are unwilling to re-sign or no longer part of the team’s future, they must be moved in the interest of the organization.  The same goes for Tavares. Although losing Tavares would be absolutely crippling, it would be fatal to lose him without recouping any assets whatsoever.

Upcoming RFA Arbitrations

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Next week is the last week for scheduled RFA arbitrations. So far no team or player has managed to actually make it to arbitration. Rather, parties have settled in every arbitration case prior to the arbitration hearing date. The same fate may await the following six players who make up the final set of arbitration dates.

August 2nd: Calvin de Haan – New York Islanders
The New York Islanders defenseman had a $1.97MM cap hit last season, and put up 5G and 20A in 82 games.

August 3rd: Nate Schmidt – Vegas Golden Knights
The former Washington Capitals defenseman—selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL expansion draft—put up 3G and 14A in 60 games last season. His previous cap hit was $812K.

August 3rd: Nino Niederreiter – Minnesota Wild
The 24 year-old Wild forward had a previous cap hit of $2.66MM and scored 25G and 32A in 82 games last season. Expect a significant raise.

August 4th: Mikael Granlund – Minnesota Wild
The 25 year-old Wild forward put up even better numbers than Neiderreiter with 26G and 43A in 81 games. Expect a significant raise over his previous $3MM cap hit.

August 4th: Conor Sheary – Pittsburgh Penguins
Fresh off a career season and a Stanley Cup victory, Sheary looks for a significant raise over his $667K contract. Sheary put up 23G and 30A in 61 games last season.

August 4th: Nathan Beaulieu – Buffalo Sabres
The 24 year-old defenseman scored 4G and 24A in 74 games last season. His previous cap hit was an even $1MM.

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