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Barry Trotz Named Head Coach Of New York Islanders

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1:30 PM: The Islanders have officially announced Trotz’s hiring.

11:25 AM: Though nothing is official yet, multiple sources including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Darren Dreger of TSN and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic have reported that the New York Islanders are closing in on a deal with Barry Trotz to become their next head coach. Friedman reports that a deal is likely to be for five years, and worth at least $4MM. That would go along with what Arthur Staple of The Athletic (subscription required) had heard, though he suggested it would be “in the neighborhood” of $5MM per season.

Trotz is coming off a Stanley Cup championship with the Washington Capitals, but resigned on Monday after the two sides weren’t able to work out a salary for a potential two-year extension. Trotz was out of work for just a few days, and snatched up by Lou Lamoriello and the Islanders to fill their vacancy at head coach. Lamoriello had relieved Doug Weight of his coaching duties earlier this offseason after taking control of the team, and was likely waiting to see what would happen with Trotz before making a move on anyone else. Lamoriello had this to say to Andrew Gross of Newsday:

Barry brings to the New York Islanders franchise a tremendous amount of knowledge, experience and success. He is and has been one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with him.

The Islanders are currently in a key negotiation with superstar John Tavares as free agency approaches, and the stability that Lamoriello and now Trotz will bring to the organization can only be a positive for the team. Though Tavares has never said anything to suggest he wouldn’t want to re-sign in New York, he’s just days away from being allowed to speak with other teams and just over a week away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Tavares would represent arguably the biggest free agent to hit the market in the salary cap era, and should command a massive long-term contract. The Islanders have the advantage of offering an eighth year, but only up until July 1st when they would be limited to seven seasons just like anyone else.

New York struggled last season keeping the puck out of their net, and after Tavares the goaltending situation is likely the biggest issue on the agenda for Lamoriello this summer. It’s now easy to make the connection between Trotz and Philipp Grubauer, the backup goaltender in Washington who is on the market after expressing that he wants a chance to start somewhere. It was Trotz who actually started the playoffs with Grubauer, believing in him as the Capitals’ best option in net ahead of a struggling Braden Holtby. While Holtby would eventually reclaim his starting role and lead the Capitals to a Stanley Cup win, Trotz obviously feels comfortable putting Grubauer out on a regular basis.

The Islanders do have a good nucleus to build around though, especially if Tavares returns for the next part of his career. Mathew Barzal showed that he can be an elite offensive producer in his first season, scoring 85 points while anchoring the second line and powerplay. The team has several solid options on the wing, and some good young defensemen in Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech. While there is certainly work to be done, Trotz is not walking into a disaster that needs a complete tear down.

The team has also secured a permanent home for the future, as they are expected to move into a new facility in Belmont Park for the 2021-22 season. While that is still a few years away, a summer where they bring in Lamoriello, Trotz and lock up Tavares would certainly be a step in the right direction for a franchise that has floundered without a real home or any stability for several years.

Columbus Blue Jackets “Testing The Market” On Artemi Panarin

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have been told that Artemi Panarin is not considering an extension at the moment, and have decided to start “testing the market” for the star winger, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Panarin was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last summer in exchange for Brandon Saad and others, but is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Obviously things could change at any moment and the 26-year old could decide that he is willing to stay in Columbus long-term, but just a sliver of availability is sure to generate plenty of interest from around the league.

In a response, George Richards of the Columbus Dispatch reached out to Panarin’s agent Dan Milstein, who told him it is not a “proper time to comment” on either part of the report. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic also got Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen on record commenting on the report:

Artemi is an elite National Hockey League player. Our position has been that we want him to be a Blue Jacket for many years and that has not changed. He has a year left on his contract, so there is plenty of time to work towards that end. Should anything change moving forward, we will address it at that time and any decision we make will be in the best interest of our club.

Panarin is one of the best offensive players in the entire league, and represents a huge asset for the Blue Jackets if they’re truly testing the market. In 243 games since coming over from the KHL, Panarin has 233 points including 82 in the 2017-18 season. While some believed that his top production was helped by playing with Patrick Kane during his time in Chicago, Panarin proved he could drive a line by himself and helped Pierre-Luc Dubois get acclimated to the NHL as a teenager this season. Dubois finished second among all Blue Jackets forwards with 48 points this season, showing just how effective Panarin was at even-strength and on the powerplay. Just 21 of his 82 points were with the man advantage, while his 41 even-strength assists tied him for second in the league behind only Connor McDavid.

Even with that outstanding production though, there may be a case for the Blue Jackets moving on from him if there is no chance of an extension. The Blue Jackets are set up to be competitive for a long time thanks to the development of players like Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, and even though Panarin is clearly the heartbeat of their offense he could be used to supplement the current core and extend the window even further. Dubois, while not as offensively gifted, represents a legitimate top-line center option for the team, while other young talent like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexander Wennberg and Sonny Milano could still take substantial steps forward.

The return for Panarin would have to be enormous for the Blue Jackets to trade him this summer, and it is unclear who around the league would want to part with those kind of assets while he’s unwilling to discuss a contract extension. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that the earliest Panarin would want to discuss an extension is likely the start of the season, making this an extremely tough decision for both Columbus and any acquiring team. Sending what would likely have to be a package centered around a top young roster player is a tough pill to swallow for just a year, even if it is one of the most consistent offensive producers in the league.

Columbus though has other things to worry about as they move forward with this group. Sergei Bobrovsky is an unrestricted free agent next summer as well, while Werenski will be coming out of his entry-level contract looking for a huge raise. The team is in fine salary cap shape at the moment, but could easily find themselves in a position where they’re unable to keep Panarin or Bobrovsky anyway. The idea of entertaining offers, even in a very preliminary manner, makes some sense in this situation.

San Jose Sharks Flip Mike Hoffman To Florida Panthers

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The San Jose experience didn’t last long for Mike Hoffman, as the Sharks have flipped their newest forward to the Florida Panthers in exchange for 2019 second, 2018 fourth and 2018 fifth round picks. The Sharks will include a 2018 seventh along with Hoffman, who moves from Ottawa to San Jose to Florida in a matter of hours. There is no retained salary in the trade.

Senators’ GM Pierre Dorion is notoriously stingy with trades in-division, which may have led to this opportunity for the Sharks. San Jose finishes the transaction with $4MM more in cap space, and a few extra draft picks to fill out the cupboards. Giving up Boedker would weaken their on-ice performance if his cap space wasn’t used for something else, but the team is expected to take a long run at some top names in free agency this summer. They do have contracts to work out with Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney and Dylan DeMelo, along with unrestricted free agent Joe Thornton, but should have plenty of space to go after someone like John Tavares or Ilya Kovalchuk to give them some added offensive punch.

That offense was what Hoffman was supposed to bring, something that he’ll now take to Florida instead. The 28-year old winger will move south in the Atlantic Division, and join a relatively young team that already has some outstanding forward talents in players like Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Panthers will add a four-time 20-goal scorer to their group, despite his recent off-ice situations. Because of those troubles between Hoffman and Senators captain Erik Karlsson, Florida has acquired him for an extremely low price. GM Dale Tallon released a statement regarding his newest player:

Mike is a skilled, consistent and hard-working player who has proven himself to be a talented goal scorer in the NHL. His speed, experience and offensive abilities will bolster our top-six group.

Taking a top scoring threat away from a division rival for a handful of picks after the first round is a steal for the Panthers, who are looking to take a run at the playoffs right away. As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet relays, Tallon had spoken with the Senators about Hoffman but thought the asking price was too high. Last night he received a call from the Sharks, and could find a price that worked. The Senators apparently wanted roster players from the Panthers, instead of the draft pick package that the Sharks were after.

The fireworks seem to just be starting in Ottawa, but both San Jose and Florida seem to be in a better position than they started this morning. This deal is a great one for both teams, as long as Hoffman’s off-ice situations are resolved. Draft week has been kicked off with a bang, and there will be plenty of intrigue as we approach Friday’s event.

Mike Hoffman Traded To San Jose Sharks

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9:20am: The Sharks have flipped Hoffman to the Florida Panthers. For more information check the latest story.

7:55am: The Ottawa Senators have traded Mike Hoffman, Cody Donaghy and a 2020 fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mikkel Boedker, Julius Bergman and a 2020 sixth-round selection. This comes after weeks of trade speculation surrounding Hoffman, following an incident between his fiancee, and team captain Erik Karlsson and his wife. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a statement regarding the trade, that seems to point towards a rift in the locker room:

Today’s trade showcases our determination to strengthen the future of the team by improving chemistry, leadership and character in the locker room and on the ice. We are confident it is a step in the right direction for the long-term success of this organization. 

Hoffman, 28, is about as consistent a goal scorer as you can find in the league right now. After four straight seasons with at least 22 goals, Hoffman will look to establish even better numbers in San Jose playing with what has quickly become an impressive forward group. After trading for and re-signing Evander Kane, and now adding Hoffman to the mix, the Sharks have used poor off-ice reputations to acquire top end talent on the cheap. With Joe Thornton expected to re-sign for a relatively low price to remain in San Jose, the team has three legitimate scoring lines that can do damage at even strength.

While Hoffman brings an upgrade in goal scoring, Boedker may fit into Ottawa’s system with ease. The two-way speedster can help the team utilize Guy Boucher’s defensive style, bringing an added level of responsibility to the forward group. Still, it’s not clear where the goals will come from in Ottawa, especially given the team is still considering a trade of Karlsson. Just this morning, Darren Dreger of TSN tweeted that the team is listening on both Karlsson and Zack Smith as they attempt a full rebuild. If they do pull a full overhaul on the roster, there may be another trade coming for Boedker, who is owed $3MM in each of the next two years (with a $4MM cap hit).

Even with Boedker’s $4MM cap hit, the Senators will save some money the next two years. Hoffman is signed for two seasons with a cap hit just under $5.2MM, a number that the Sharks can easily afford. San Jose headed into this offseason with a huge amount of cap space, and even with the Kane extension should be able to bring back all of their restricted free agents and Thornton.

For Ottawa, the simple fact is that they needed to move Hoffman before the season began. The off-ice problems had become too much, and they did well to at least acquire an asset in Boedker and a prospect in Bergman. The latter may be the key to the deal, as a puck-moving defenseman who will add another lottery ticket to the pile for the Senators. Make no mistake, Bergman isn’t an elite prospect ready to make a huge impact at the NHL level, but should play for the Senators at some point at least in a limited role. The second-round pick recorded 20 points in 65 games for the San Jose Barracuda this season, his third in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2014. Bergman has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, meaning he’ll be a restricted free agent in 2019.

It’s tough to think that the Senators will be better after this deal, and should they blow up the entire program and try to rebuild it could get even worse. The tough part about any scorched earth rebuild though is the fact that the Colorado Avalanche own their first-round pick from either this year (fourth overall) or next. The idea of giving up a real shot at first overall and Jack Hughes next season is a frightening one for a team trying to turn itself around, though it may be the only rational decision. Giving up the fourth pick this season is still an extremely difficult decision, especially if they believe Filip Zadina will still be available.

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Barry Trotz Will Not Return As Head Coach Of Washington Capitals

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Huge news today for the Washington Capitals, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that head coach Barry Trotz will be stepping down. Trotz was no longer in the final year of his contract as many believed. Friedman reports that winning the Stanley Cup had triggered a potential two-year extension for Trotz, but the two sides could not come to an agreement on salary. The Capitals will allow Trotz to immediately begin talking to other teams, essentially making him a free agent right away. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that the two-year extension would have come with just a $300K salary boost, which would have kept him vastly underpaid at just $1.8MM per season. The team released a statement moments after Friedman’s report:

Barry Trotz informed the organization today of his decision to resign as head coach of the Washington Capitals. We are obviously disappointed by Barry’s decision, but would like to thank Barry for all his efforts the past four years and for helping bring the Stanley Cup to Washington. Barry is a man of high character and integrity and we are grateful for his leadership and for all that he has done for our franchise.

The only current other opening in the NHL for a head coach is with the New York Islanders, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Trotz is headed to work with Lou Lamoriello. As we’ve seen in the past, teams are willing to fire their current coach when an elite option comes available, and Trotz certainly qualifies. In four seasons as head coach of the Capitals, Trotz compiled a 205-89-34 record and won more games than he lost in the playoffs even before this season’s championship run. In fifteen years with the Nashville Predators, Trotz went 557-479-100 with 60 ties. He now ranks fifth all-time in coaching wins, behind just Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Ken Hitchcock and Al Arbour.

A dozen or more teams could potentially move to hire Trotz, though it’s not clear yet who would actually fire their current coach for the chance. The Islanders obviously present the most obvious opportunity, and it could be another move to try and impress John Tavares before his upcoming free agency. Lamoriello fired head coach Doug Weight quickly after taking over, and has worked with high-price coaches before, most notably with Mike Babcock recently in Toronto. Babcock and Quenneville are the highest paid coaches in the league, a list Trotz will likely hope to add his name to in the coming days.

For Washington, this is obviously huge news but may not come as much of a surprise. As recently as last summer the team was reported to be seriously considering moving on from him, after being thrown out of the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins once again. Heading into the season on his final year—championship clause not withstanding—there was always a real possibility that the two teams would part ways. The fact that it comes after the team lifted their first Stanley Cup in franchise history is shocking, but is understandable if the team was unwilling to offer a large increase in salary.

The Capitals now will have to search elsewhere for their head coaching job, but may not have to look very far. Todd Reirden, named associate coach of the team two years ago, has been blocked from interviewing with other teams in the past and is an obvious candidate to replace Trotz for the 2018-19 season. Some teams prefer to not promote assistants because of their different relationships with the players, but in this case there might not be a better option. Reirden was a head coach in the AHL briefly before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coaching staff in 2010.

Coyotes Acquire Alex Galchenyuk From Canadiens For Max Domi

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The first big trade of the 2018 off-season has dropped and to no surprise, the Arizona Coyotes are right in the middle of it. After making two minor deals on Thursday, Arizona GM John Chayka has made a much bigger trade, acquiring forward Alex Galchenyuk from the Montreal Canadiens. In return, Max Domi is headed to Montreal in a one-for-one swap. Both teams have confirmed the deal.

This trade is very much about both players getting a fresh start. Both Galchenyuk and Domi have been discussed as trade candidates this off-season and now they have been traded for one another. They are also similar in their struggles with both consistency and injury. Galchenyuk, the third overall pick in 2012, has shown flashes of brilliance but has yet to put it all together to reach his ceiling. Galchenyuk has 255 points in 418 NHL games, by no means a disappointing total, and even notched a 30-goal season in 2015-16. However, his scoring has been streaky and when he is not producing offense, his lack of a two-way defense game and difficulties at the face-off dot have become glaring. Under head coach Claude Julien, Galchenyuk struggled to find a defined role and lost play time as a result. On the other side of the deal is Domi, the 12th overall pick in 2013. After a breakout rookie campaign, Domi has been unable to produce at the same level the past two seasons. Altogether, he has 135 points in 222 games, but has failed to hit double-digit goals in each of the past two years and has also lost some of his two-way edge he displayed in year one. Like Galchenyuk, Domi’s issues at the dot and in playing a consistent well-rounded game had caused the Coyotes to question where he fit in their lineup.

The trade is even in many ways. The two players are almost identical in per-game scoring albeit Galchenyuk has done it over more seasons and clearly has a superior goal-scoring touch. Galchenyuk has a higher ceiling as an offensive producer but, while neither plays much of a physical game, Domi has shown a superior two-way ability and has been leaned on to play a bigger role in Arizona that Galchenyuk was ever asked of in Montreal. The deal is actually almost too similar, as both players get a much-need change, but both teams end up with the same type of player with positional questions and consistency issues. There is upside on both ends, but also bust potential for either acquisition. It is very much a gamble for both the Coyotes and Canadiens that their new player will somehow find their game in a way that the old player couldn’t. Both players are obviously talented, but need some work to reach their vast potential.

The only real significant difference in the deal could be a slight reprieve on the salary cap for Montreal. Galchenyuk is signed through 2019-20 at $4.9MM, while Domi is an impending restricted free agent who is unlikely to command that much given his recent struggles. While Galchenyuk will be an unrestricted free agent when his deal expires and could command market value, Domi is under team control for four more years. We will soon find out exactly how much the Canadiens value their new forward, as TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the team is already close on a new contract with Domi, indicating that this trade has been in the works for some time. LeBrun speculates that it will be a bridge deal; a reasonable assumption for a brand new player with some concerns to work through.

John Tavares Focusing On Extension With New York Islanders

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We’re just a few weeks away from a potential superstar hitting the free agent market, but teams shouldn’t count the New York Islanders out just yet. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that John Tavares has been in constant communication with GM Lou Lamoriello, and is focused on extension negotiations with his current team. Dreger speculates that a deal could come together quickly, though obviously nothing is done yet. Tavares could still wait until the interview period that starts just a few days after the upcoming draft, in which he could talk to potential suitors to see what kind of deals are out on the open market.

The fact that Tavares is working towards an extension should come as no real surprise. Even though Lamoriello cleaned house soon after he arrived in New York, Tavares has always maintained the fact that he wants to stay with the Islanders his whole career if possible. While circumstances around the success and stability of the organization may have thrown that into uncertainty, there was still always a chance that he would re-sign with the team that drafted him. That chance seems to be alive and well, even though it feels every day like Tavares is closer to free agency.

One of Lamoriello’s most often used phrases is “if you have time, use it” but you can bet he would love to have some certainty on Tavares before heading into the draft next Friday. Teams are allowed to start talking to potential free agents on June 25th, at which point all bets are off on who will eventually land the superstar center. There would also be the option of trading Tavares’ rights if a deal couldn’t be agreed to, in order to take advantage of the eighth year that the Islanders can offer. It is important to remember though that a situation like that would have to be a sign-and-trade, since only the team who owned a player’s rights at the most recent trade deadline is allowed to extend an eight-year offer. Should they trade Tavares without a contract in place already, the acquiring team could only offer him seven years. The Islanders themselves could only offer seven should Tavares wait until July 1st, making it hard to imagine a situation where they re-sign him after that date.

If the team retains their captain, the Islanders would be locked in long-term with two offensive stars down the middle. Mathew Barzal proved as a rookie that he can handle a huge load offensively, making defense and goaltending the biggest issues for Lamoriello to address later this offseason. With rumors of Philipp Grubauer’s availability, and other defensemen on the block, this could be a summer filled with fireworks for the Islanders. They’re armed with two first-round picks in next week’s draft, an asset Lamoriello has never been shy to move for the right player.

Arizona Coyotes Agree To Terms With Oliver Ekman-Larsson

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After letting him sit with the offer for a while, the Arizona Coyotes have finally agreed to terms with superstar defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the contract is for eight years with an annual average value of more than $8MM. Previously it had been reported that the deal would be for $66MM, an average of $8.25MM, and Dreger later confirmed that these numbers are correct. He also believes that the defenseman will be given the Coyotes captaincy, something that many believed would happen last season.  The contract can’t be officially announced until July 1st, when Ekman-Larsson has just a single year remaining on his current deal.

The face of the Arizona franchise is one of several star defensemen scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2019, but has always maintained that he would like to stay in the desert. Since being selected sixth overall in 2009, Ekman-Larsson has grown into an elite offensive force with five straight double-digit goal seasons including two in which he broke 20. He’s also better defensively than some give him credit for—thanks largely to his terrible plus/minus ratings the last few years—and is able to log big minutes in all situations.

Still just 26-years old, Ekman-Larsson isn’t necessarily even signing the final contract of his career. That’s part of the reason why he’d been held up in the same conversation with Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson, who will both hit free agency at an older age next summer. An eight-year extension takes Ekman-Larsson through his age-35 season though, which still presents plenty of risk. The Coyotes aren’t as flush with cash as some other organizations, meaning they can’t afford paying a player this much if he’s not producing for them. Even getting him under contract will put them in a tight spot financially, especially as players like Clayton Keller and Jakob Chychrun get new contracts in the coming years.

The Coyotes made it clear to Ekman-Larsson that they wanted him to stay when they went out last offseason and tried to make the team better right away. Acquiring Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta from New York, and bringing in his Swedish defense partner in Niklas Hjalmarsson from Chicago. Though Arizona struggled through a historically-bad start, the second half of the season did show some promise as Keller showed his future stardom and a healthy Raanta became the goaltender they expected him to be. Now with Raanta locked up and more young players ready to make an impact, the Coyotes aren’t as far away from playoff contention as some may believe.

What was once termed a “Superclass” for 2019 is slowly dwindling, and on July 1st we’ll really find out what is going to be available. Doughty has been rumored to be in talks on a potential extension of his own, and the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars will be desperately trying to lock up Ryan Ellis and Tyler Seguin. Ekman-Larsson’s new contract will also cause a ripple in the summer trade market, as some believed he would be available if the team hadn’t been able to get a deal done. John Carlson should also be pointing to this contract as a comparable after his outstanding season, and trying to secure at least $8MM for himself this summer.

Garth Snow, Doug Weight Relieved Of Duties By New York Islanders

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The hammer has dropped in New York, where Lou Lamoriello has announced that former GM Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight have both been relieved of their duties. The press release indicates that both will “remain with the organization” though no word on any titles or responsibilities. Lamoriello will take over as GM, and begin the hiring process on a new coach.

Snow has been with the Islanders for more than a decade, hired in 2006 as GM immediately after his retirement from playing. That tenure hasn’t been filled with success, as the team has made the playoffs just four times and advanced through the first round once. That’s despite having an elite NHL center in John Tavares, someone who poses perhaps the most interesting question to come of the restructuring.

Tavares is notably close with Weight and Snow, and has previously given his vote of confidence to both. Some believe that he wanted the organization to stand behind Weight despite the team’s struggles this season, before re-signing this summer. Tavares of course is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and is the prize of the market for any number of teams. Lamoriello has reportedly met with Tavares and his representation several times since taking the job, but there is still no clear decision from the 27-year old on whether he’ll test the free agent waters or not.

Weight was given just one year as the head coach, but saw the team take a substantial step backwards thanks to poor defensive play and inconsistent goaltending. The team could score—their top two pivots in Tavares and rookie Mathew Barzal both eclipsed 80 points—but not keep the puck out of their net on a regular basis. That’s not a style Lamoriello is familiar with (except perhaps from his recent days with Toronto) as his championship-winning New Jersey Devils teams of the past were some of the most defensively capable of any group in NHL history. Obviously it’s impossible to turn this Islanders team into that Scott Stevens-led trapping monster, but it would be a good bet to expect the team to make improvements in their own end.

Stevens in fact is an interesting candidate for the now vacant coaching position, as Lamoriello hired him in New Jersey as an assistant and then “co-coach” alongside Adam Oates. Stevens resigned his most recent post with the Minnesota Wild to be closer to his family that reside in New York, something he could obviously still do if employed by the Islanders.

There are other names that obviously come to mind, including Toronto’s Sheldon Keefe (head coach of the AHL Marlies) and D.J. Smith (assistant with the Maple Leafs) who should have a working relationship with Lamoriello, and Barry Trotz, who still doesn’t have a contract past this season and is one game away from winning a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals.

Arthur Staple of The Athletic tweets that Weight’s entire coaching staff has likely been let go with him, meaning any of the above names (perhaps except for Trotz) could be in the running for assistant roles with whoever is given the head coaching position. It will be interesting to see who the legendary executive brings in to turn things around, and whether they’ll have the face of the franchise back in town—clean shaven, that is.

Evander Kane Re-Signs With San Jose Sharks

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It’s official, Evander Kane has re-signed with the San Jose Sharks. The new deal is for seven years, and though the team would not officially release the financial details several reports have it totaling $49MM ($7MM AAV). CapFriendly has the specific year-by-year breakdown:

  • 2018-19: $6.0MM salary, $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2019-20: $6.0MM salary, $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2020-21: $3.0MM salary, $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2021-22: $7.0MM salary
  • 2022-23: $5.0MM salary, $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2023-24: $6.0MM salary
  • 2024-25: $4.0MM salary, $2.0MM signing bonus

The deal also includes a modified no-trade clause, allowing Kane to submit a three-team list to where he can be traded. The deal isn’t as front-loaded as we’ve seen, but still gives Kane a lot of the money up front in signing bonuses, making it more difficult to buyout in the future should it come to that. Sharks’ GM Doug Wilson obviously doesn’t think it will, and released a glowing review of Kane in his accompanying statement:

At only 26 years old, Evander has established himself as one of hockey’s true power forwards and an impact player. We think his abilities mesh perfectly with our group of skilled, young players and veteran leaders. It’s extremely heartening to have Evander join a trend of elite players who have chosen to remain in San Jose. It speaks volumes as to how players view this organization and further illustrates the continued commitment to our fans by our owner Hasso Plattner.

Kane came over from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline for a package that included Daniel O’Regan, a conditional fourth-round pick and a conditional first-round pick. The condition on that first rounder has now been met, and the Sharks will have to send their selection in 2019 to the Sabres. If however the Sharks miss the playoffs next year, they can send their 2020 first-round selection instead.

The former Atlanta Thrashers draft pick has had an up-and-down career to say the least, but seemed to find his footing in San Jose after the deadline. With 14 points—including nine goals—in 17 games down the stretch, and another five points in nine playoff contests, Kane was a huge part of the Sharks’ offense and seemed to mesh instantly with their top-six. Kane entered the league only two months after turning 18, which has allowed him to hit free agency as one of the youngest players on the market. He won’t turn 27 until August, giving the Sharks plenty of prime years left on this contract.

Still, even with his relative youth and early success for the team this contract comes with its fair share of risk. Kane has only scored 30 goals once in the NHL, and still doesn’t have a 60-point season to his name. Some of that is due to the inconsistent play he showed for teams like Winnipeg and Buffalo, but also the injury concerns that have plagued him every year. There’s never been a season that Kane has played in more than 78 games, with that total coming just this year. Though there are no glaring chronic concerns in his injury history, there is a question of whether his physical style can be maintained long-term. The Sharks are obviously paying for more than just his offensive output, as $7MM per season is only given to the league’s elite. This season, only 25 forwards carried a cap hit of $7MM or greater.

Obviously the team felt that he was worth the contract, but this does add some more intrigue to the free agent class in 2018. This summer’s group is full of scoring wingers, with names like James van Riemsdyk, James Neal and David Perron all available for the right price. Though none of them compare exactly to the type of player Kane is, they all are successful scoring options that can bring a big-bodied presence to the front of the net. Each of their prices likely went up with this contract, and could change whether their respective teams are able to retain them.

For Kane, this is a perfect outcome after struggling to find much consistency throughout his career. The fourth-overall pick from 2009 will now have some long-term stability with the Sharks, and should be given every chance to become one of the league’s best goal scorers. He also becomes the only Sharks forward signed past the 2019-20 season, meaning he may be looked to as their key veteran weapon down the road. Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture are all nearing free agency, while younger players like Tomas Hertl, Chris Tierney and Timo Meier look ready to take over as the next wave of core Sharks forwards.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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