Oilers Not Planning To Ask Jeff Skinner To Waive No-Move Clause
When the Oilers signed Jeff Skinner to a one-year, $3MM contract after being bought out by Buffalo, the move received plenty of praise with Edmonton addressing the need for more scoring depth. However, things haven’t gone as planned since then. Not only did his addition squeeze the team’s cap situation which played a role in the successful offer sheets for Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway but Skinner has struggled relative to expectations in 2024-25.
Skinner has been made a healthy scratch six times so far this season, all coming in the six weeks before the 4 Nations break. When he has played, he hasn’t been the most productive, notching 10 goals and 10 assists in 49 games. For context, the 32-year-old had managed at least 24 tallies in each of the last three seasons. Playing time has been harder to come by as well as he’s logging just 12:29 per night, by far the lowest ATOI of his career.
Given that Skinner’s fit hasn’t been the best so far, the fact that Edmonton doesn’t have a lot of cap flexibility, and the fact that their current GM isn’t the player who signed Skinner to this contract, some have wondered if Edmonton might try to cut bait with Skinner. However, GM Stan Bowman recently told Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (subscription link) that he doesn’t envision that he will go to the veteran and ask him to waive his no-move clause which would seemingly scuttle any thought of a trade at this time.
Edmonton’s deadline plans will largely revolve around injured winger Evander Kane who has yet to play this season while recovering from multiple surgeries. At the moment, they project to only have $947K in cap space at the deadline, per PuckPedia, which obviously doesn’t give them much flexibility and puts them in a spot where they’d need to clear out money to make any sort of impactful addition, hence the speculation around Skinner.
But if Kane is unable to return this season, Edmonton would be able to go into LTIR which could free up around $5MM in extra spending room (the exact amount would vary depending on how close to the cap ceiling they could get at the time of placement), thus negating the need to clear out money. Bowman told Nugent-Bowman that there remains no update on Kane’s status but anticipates that they’ll have at least a bit of a better understanding of his recovery timeline by the time the trade deadline comes around.
For now, at least, the Oilers have to operate with very limited financial flexibility which will make adding anything of consequence at the trade deadline a challenge. But if they do need to move money out to facilitate a move, it doesn’t appear that Skinner will be the one losing his spot.
Ducks Terminate SHL Loan Agreement For Damian Clara
Saturday: Clara’s next team is now known as Karpat in Finland’s Liiga announced that the netminder is joining them for the remainder of the season. He’s expected to report to the team on Sunday.
Friday: Generally, when an NHL-contracted prospect is loaned overseas, that loan is for the duration of the season. However, in rare occasions, the NHL club can try to end it prematurely. That appears to be the case for Ducks prospect Damian Clara. Originally on loan to SHL Farjestad, the team announced that at Anaheim’s request, Clara has been released to play elsewhere.
The Ducks drafted the 20-year-old 60th overall in the 2023 draft, making him the fifth goalie off the board. He spent that season with Farjestad’s junior team and while his numbers weren’t particularly strong (a 2.79 GAA with a .903 SV% in 35 games), the fact he stands six-foot-six and some of his raw tools made him a popular speculative sleeper pick heading into the draft. Clearly, Anaheim felt he had enough upside to be one of the first goalies taken.
Clara had a strong showing in 2023-24, putting up a 2.23 GAA with a .913 SV% in 34 games with Brynas of the second-tier Allsvenskan and was even better in the playoffs as they were able to gain promotion to the SHL this season. He did well enough to sign his entry-level deal back in June but was loaned out again for this season.
However, Clara returned to Farjestad instead of remaining with Brynas. This season, he had a 3.19 GAA with a .879 SV% in 21 outings, splitting time with former NHL goalie Maxime Lagace. However, Farjestad recently signed another former NHL netminder, Anders Lindback, making Clara the third-string option.
To that end, Farjestad’s release announced that the Ducks were terminating the loan agreement due to a lack of playing time. Where he plays next remains to be seen but they will need to decide quickly as the international transfer window closes at 4:59 PM CT on Saturday. If an international opportunity doesn’t present itself in the coming hours, it stands to reason that Clara would come to North America and report either to AHL San Diego or ECHL Tulsa.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Detroit Red Wings
Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t often see struggles and front office changes.
PHR is looking at every NHL team and giving a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2024-25 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia. We’re currently covering the Atlantic Division, next up is the Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings
Current Cap Hit: $85,238,023 (under the $88MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
D Simon Edvinsson (two years, $894.1K)
F Marco Kasper (three years, $886.7K)
Potential Bonuses
Edvinsson: $850K
Kasper: $1MM
Total: $1.85MM
Kasper’s first full NHL season has been solid thus far with the Red Wings not throwing a lot at him, allowing him to ease his way in. That doesn’t necessarily bode well for him from a bonus perspective but development-wise, it’s not a bad strategy. At this point, it would seem like a bridge contract would make sense for his next contract but a breakout effort next year could change those plans.
Edvinsson has certainly been an impactful blueliner in his first full NHL campaign. The offensive numbers don’t jump off the chart but defensively, he’s quickly becoming a core piece. Speculatively, he’s someone Detroit might want to bypass a bridge deal with in 2026 and if his production stays around the level it is now, he won’t be able to command top dollar. He could seemingly use Kaiden Guhle’s contract as a barometer ($5.5MM AAV for six years) although in a higher cap environment, the comparable could push past the $6MM mark on a deal of that length. Bonus-wise, he’s well on his way to reaching two of his four ‘A’ bonuses (ATOI and plus/minus) while he’s within striking distance hitting the other two with blocks and assists.
Signed Through 2024-25, Non-Entry-Level
F Jonatan Berggren ($825K, RFA)
D Albert Johansson ($775K, RFA)
F Christian Fischer ($1.125MM, UFA)
G Ville Husso ($4.75MM, UFA)
F Patrick Kane ($4MM, UFA)
G Alex Lyon ($900K, UFA)
F Tyler Motte ($800K, UFA)
D Jeff Petry ($2.344MM, UFA)*
*-Montreal is retaining $2.344MM on Petry’s deal while Pittsburgh is retaining an additional $1.563MM.
Potential Bonuses
Kane: $2.5MM
Kane’s second season with the Red Wings hasn’t gone quite as well as his first. After hovering near the point-per-game mark in 2023-24, he isn’t producing close to that level this year while dealing with some injuries. Nonetheless, the bonus-laden structure shields Detroit a bit. Speaking of those bonuses, he has already reached $1.5MM of those and if he stays healthy the rest of the way, he’ll get at least another $250K. The other $750K ($500K for making the playoffs and $250K for making the playoffs and getting 60 points) are less likely although if Detroit was to move Kane to a contender at the trade deadline, he could still reach that. With how this year has gone, a similar one-year deal could still be doable, perhaps with a bit less guaranteed money in there.
Fischer is having a rough year and while he has a track record of being a good fourth liner, a small dip into the six figures still seems likely for him. Berggren has arbitration eligibility and with a 28-point rookie season under his belt and being on pace for a similar number this year, doubling his current price tag could be doable. If Detroit doesn’t want to take the risk of an award from a hearing, he could be a non-tender candidate as well. Motte has been just above the minimum salary the last couple of years and although he’s a serviceable penalty killer, it’s possible he might wind up dropping to the minimum salary of $775K for next season.
For many years, Petry was a solid top-four defender who could handle top-pairing minutes when needed. That’s not the case anymore. He’s more of a fourth or fifth option at this point and at 37, there’s a risk of the decline being fairly steep. Accordingly, he’s likely looking at going year-to-year now. Something around the price that Detroit is responsible for on his current contract might be reasonable with some incentives pushing the potential total past the $3MM mark as well. Johansson is in his first NHL season and has had a limited role thus far. He’s arbitration-eligible as well which should allow him to get more than his $813K qualifying offer. Something a little closer to the $1MM mark could be doable.
Lyon has become quite a bargain for Detroit. Originally viewed as a third-string option, he took over as the starter last year and has improved on those numbers this season albeit in more of a backup role. With the way the market has gone for higher-end backups lately, a short-term deal around the $3MM mark is where his market could fall. Husso, on the other hand, was supposed to be the starter when acquired but has played his way down to third-string status. It’s hard to see him getting an offer to be a backup goalie this summer but because he has done well in the minors and has a bit of a track record in the AHL, he could land a deal similar to what Lyon’s getting now, a one-way pact worth more than the minimum to be an experienced third option.
Signed Through 2025-26
D Ben Chiarot ($4.75MM, UFA)
D Erik Gustafsson ($2MM, UFA)
D Justin Holl (3.4MM, UFA)
G Cam Talbot ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Vladimir Tarasenko ($4.75MM, UFA)
F Joe Veleno ($2.275MM, RFA)
Tarasenko had to settle for a one-year deal in 2023 and, despite having a solid season, he didn’t seem to have a strong market last summer, yielding this two-year pact at a small pay cut instead. This season hasn’t gone well for the 33-year-old and it’s possible that Detroit looks to try to move him to get out of the second year of the contract. If this production carries over into next season, he could be dropping closer to the $3MM range on his next deal. Veleno has never been able to carry over his offensive success in junior to the pros although he has become a capable checker. His deal is a little front-loaded, meaning the qualifying offer only checks in at $1.75MM which is notable as if his usage continues as more of a fourth liner, that’s more of the price range he should be in. He’ll be arbitration-eligible and a likely non-tender candidate if a deal can’t be reached by the start of the 2026 free agent period.
Chiarot’s contract drew some ire when it was signed a couple of years ago as a high price for someone who’s probably best served in a fourth role. He plays enough to make the price tag somewhat reasonable although for someone who doesn’t contribute a lot offensively, it’s still on the high side and it’s one Detroit could try to get out of if they want to open up some flexibility this summer. He’ll be 35 for his next trip on the open market and it’s hard to imagine he’d get this type of money again. A deal with an AAV starting with a three might be more plausible.
Holl’s contract seemed like quite an overpayment given his limited usage late in his time with Toronto. Unfortunately for them, that has largely been the case. He cleared waivers in October but has spent most of the year with Detroit in a limited role. He’s a possible buyout candidate or could be moved with retention. Either way, his next deal might not be worth half of this one. Gustafsson had a strong year with the Rangers which allowed him to get a multi-year contract for the first time since 2018. He hasn’t produced at the same level with the Red Wings but the cost is low enough that it shouldn’t be much of a burden. He’ll need to pick up the pace in terms of his points though as otherwise, he’s probably back in the year-to-year territory with a cost closer to half of what he’s making now.
Talbot opted for the security of a two-year deal last summer over going year-to-year which, at 37, probably wasn’t a bad strategy for someone viewed as more of a platoon option at this point. He has been more than that for Detroit as he has been their primary netminder while putting up numbers above league average. That said, if there’s another contract coming, it’d be for his age-39 year so the cost will likely be low even if he keeps up this level of performance.
Signed Through 2026-27
F Andrew Copp ($5.625MM, UFA)
F Alex DeBrincat ($7.875MM, UFA)
DeBrincat and the Red Wings couldn’t work out a long-term deal after he was acquired so the sides settled on a medium-term pact instead. It’s working out reasonably well so far although the price tag is a little high for someone whose production is in the lower-end range for a top-line winger. That said, by the time DeBrincat reaches free agency (when the salary cap is much higher), he could still be in line for a raise if he stays in the 25-30-goal, 60-plus-point range. Copp received this contract coming off a career year, one he hasn’t been able to repeat since then. He’s more of a bottom-six pivot getting paid as a second-liner which isn’t great value but he is a valuable secondary piece nonetheless.
Atlantic Notes: Tarasenko, Tomkins, Kozak
While the Red Wings have played their way back into the playoff battle, one veteran who hasn’t had a big hand in their recent success is winger Vladimir Tarasenko. Accordingly, even if Detroit acts as a buyer over the next few weeks, MLive’s Ansar Khan argues that the team should be looking to move the 33-year-old anyway and if it doesn’t happen, then they should consider making him a buyout candidate this summer. Tarasenko has just seven goals and 15 assists through 53 games this season in a little under 15 minutes a night of playing time. As someone who has reached the 20-goal mark in eight of the last 11 years, it’s fair to say Detroit was expecting more than that for their $4.75MM commitment through next season. It would be tough to offload that contract in its entirety but a swap of underachievers might be the way to for the Red Wings, as long as Tarasenko, who has a full no-trade clause, approves the deal.
More from the Atlantic:
- Earlier this week, Mattias Persson of HockeyNews.se reported that HV71 of the SHL was trying to add Lightning goaltender Matt Tomkins for the remainder of the season. With Tampa Bay recently converting Brandon Halverson to an NHL deal, Tomkins is effectively down to fourth-string status and he did spend two years in Sweden recently so the move wouldn’t have been entirely shocking. However, it appears the efforts to get Tomkins out of his NHL deal before today’s international transfer deadline were unsuccessful as Varmlands Folkblad’s Johan Ekberg reports (Twitter link) that the netminder has declined HV71’s offer and will remain in North America for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old has a 2.66 GAA and a .905 SV% in 21 games with AHL Syracuse.
- Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News suggests that it’s unlikely that center Tyson Kozak will remain in the minors once NHL play resumes next Saturday. The 22-year-old has played in 11 games so far with Buffalo where he has a goal and a 48.1% success rate at the faceoff dot in 10:25 per night of playing time. Lysowski notes that Kozak’s defensive play has drawn praise from Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff but on the other hand, playing a young prospect that little might not be the most ideal option from a longer-term development perspective.
PHR Mailbag: 4 Nations, In-Season Tournament, Midseason Break, Suspensions, Schenn, Sabres, Capitals, Montembeault
With the 4 Nations Face-Off now underway, our latest mailbag focuses on that with a couple of other topics sprinkled in. If your question doesn’t appear here, check for it in one of our next two mailbags.
Black Ace57: It feels like the only people excited for the 4 Nations are media members promoting it. It doesn’t compare to the World Juniors or the Olympics. Instead of trying to copy other international tournaments has the NHL considered doing anything like the NBA in-season tournament?
This was something that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about before and while he didn’t come out with an outright no, it doesn’t seem to be something they’d seriously consider. It’s also a bit of a scheduling nightmare as the NBA has to do part of its schedule midseason as all of the teams eliminated from contention have to have a couple of games scheduled on short notice. If they can do it, the NHL can but that would undoubtedly be cited as a reason against trying it.
The NBA’s in-season tournament has only been around a couple of years but I feel like this season lost a lot of its intrigue from the first. From the pieces of games I saw, it’s not as if teams were playing any harder with the potential of moving on in the tournament. It all felt a little too random so I’m not sure copying that format is the right way to go, not unless its popularity really rises in the future.
What the NHL could do if they wanted to do something to dress up some regular season games could be some regional challenges. The seven Canadian teams have six games designated as Canadian Challenge Cup games and the team with the most points out of those wins a trophy and the players get a small bonus. The three California-based teams have two head-to-heads against each rival designated as a mini tournament, stuff like that where it’s not just a random grouping. It certainly doesn’t work to put all 32 teams into a logical region though so it’s far from a perfect idea.
They could also group by division (instead of random groups like the NBA does) and just designate a certain number of games as ‘tournament’ matchups. There are options if they want to do something, I’m just not sure it’s actually worth them doing anything with this.
Pyramid Headcrab: What’s the real reason for the winter break every season? Obviously, players need a break from travel, and fair dinkum… But is that something they negotiated in the collective agreement? Or does the break exist for a different, but equally practical, reason?
Cuz I think we all know nobody cares about the All-Star Game or the Four Nations Whatever.
This isn’t a direct CBA element but is actually related to the All-Star Game. When the change was made to go to a three-on-three format, the NHL had to agree to this as a concession to get the NHLPA to agree to the format switch as, in theory, there’s a lot more skating involved at three-on-three. (In reality, the All-Star Games aren’t played at remotely close to full speed but I digress.)
In general, the idea is that without the bye week, the NHL’s top stars don’t exactly get a lot of rest. They play to the break, fly in for the All-Star event, then are back in action a couple of days later and some feel that’s not fair to them. By doing the bye weeks, they ensure that the stars at least get some time off while it’s around the time of year when all teams could benefit from some extra days off to heal up some of the nagging aches and pains.
As for no one caring about the All-Star Game, I disagree. It has an audience it caters to, it’s just not so much the established fans. They try to promote things for the younger demographic that they’re trying to hook as fans while there’s a major corporate element to it as well with a lot of the league’s top sponsors being involved. As long as those two things are in play, the All-Star Game will continue…even next season when the in-season break will be even longer for the Olympics.
FearTheWilson: If a player happens to receive a suspension during the Snore Nation’s tournament, does the suspension carry over to the NHL season or does it count towards international play?
The 4 Nations Face-Off is not an IIHF-sanctioned event. That’s why there’s no break in those leagues for players (or coaches) to possibly take part which is what made this an NHL-only tournament. Accordingly, any suspension would be applied against NHL games, not international.
While we’re on the subject of not being IIHF-sanctioned, it doesn’t seem as if the 2028 World Cup event will be either. That will likely complicate things for some of the countries that don’t quite have enough NHL players to form a full roster. In a press conference earlier this week, Bettman alluded to needing to “work with each country’s federation to find a balance” when it comes to player participation so there are going to be some hurdles to clear for three years from now.
Gmm8811: Is there a roster freeze during the 4 Nations? Can trades still be made? Where would be the best fit for Brayden Schenn if he waives his NMC? Realistic return for him?
Since this question was posted, we have seen a very minor trade which kind of answered this one for me already. But there is no roster freeze and teams are free to make any moves as long as they remain compliant with the salary cap and roster rules (teams have to have two goalies, six defensemen, and 12 forwards on their active roster). I’ll be honest, I thought we’d see another trade or two by now so that when teams come back to practice next week, the potential acquisition would get lots of practice time. Of course, I also suspect that teams were quietly discouraged against doing anything that would take attention and focus away from the tournament so maybe that’s playing a role as well.
Now, onto a couple of non-tournament questions for now before getting back to them later on. Staying in the Central Division is probably the best fit for him. Colorado has been looking for center help since they lost Nazem Kadri and Schenn doesn’t quite have the offense Kadri did now but he’d still be quite impactful. Winnipeg has been looking for a longer-term second middleman for years now with minimal success. And Minnesota has a genuine need for more center depth at a minimum and with continued whispers about Marco Rossi that don’t seem to be going away (despite GM Bill Guerin trying to tone that down a while back), adding Schenn would at least give them some more flexibility if they wanted to do something with Rossi. I could even make a case for Utah here. I know trading a core player within the division doesn’t happen a lot but there are enough strong fits that could net St. Louis a strong return.
As for that return, I think it’s fair to say that it would start with a first-round pick. Yes, a $6.5MM price tag through 2027-28 for a 33-year-old is a little high but with the big jump coming in the salary cap, it becomes a lot easier to absorb. Not to the point where it’s an asset by any stretch but it shouldn’t be a deterrent now. It wouldn’t shock me if they were to land another first-round-caliber asset either though not necessarily a draft pick but rather a prospect or young player who’s either in the NHL or close to being ready. I doubt the Blues are going to flip the switch to do a long-term rebuild so an all-futures return doesn’t seem likely. It also wouldn’t shock me to see them take a veteran player back to help offset some of the money as I doubt they’re going to retain salary to make a move happen. It’s a big price but with the dearth of quality centers available, I think they could get it if they move him.
sabres3277: Do you believe the Sabres will make the inevitable GM change during the break to allow an interim GM to handle the trade deadline? I think this could happen because Adams is clearly out of his league when trying to make deals etc. The fanbase has had it with the incompetence that he has shown in trying to end this disgraceful playoff drought.
It hasn’t happened yet so it’s safe to say that it’s not going to happen. Frankly, if a team had concerns about their general manager, they wouldn’t let that person stay in place this close to the trade deadline. By all accounts, Kevyn Adams has been working the phones in recent weeks on the trade and contract front so this is his team to lead through the deadline.
While the Flyers are a recent notable exception, general managers generally don’t get let go right around the deadline. Instead, changes like that often come after the regular season ends. If Buffalo does decide to make a change at the GM position, I think it will be made in April as the playoffs are about to start. Doing something now would surprise me.
Trade Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break here, the trade deadline looms large and is less than three weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Nashville Predators.
Things were not supposed to be like this in Nashville. After a stellar second half to last season, the Predators were one of the most active teams in free agency, signing a trio of core players to long-term contracts, making them a trendy preseason pick to be a safe playoff team, if not a viable contender in the Western Conference. Instead, they currently sit 18 points out of a Wild Card spot, meaning they’re likely to be on the outside looking in, barring a fantastic run like they had a year ago.
Record
19-28-7, 7th in the Central
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$32.381MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2025: NSH 1st, TB 1st, VGK 1st, NSH 2nd, TB 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, COL 6th, NSH 6th
2026: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 7th
Trade Chips
This season hasn’t been a great one for Gustav Nyquist. The 35-year-old has just nine goals and 11 assists in 52 games despite logging over 17 minutes a night. However, he’s only one season removed from a career year, one that saw him put up 23 goals and 52 assists in his first season with the Preds. With that in mind, it’s quite reasonable to think that the veteran is more than capable of rebounding and bouncing back in the right situation although he’d likely be playing a little lower in the lineup. Nyquist has a $3.185MM AAV and Nashville could pay that down by up to 50% which would make him easier for a lot of teams to afford. He’d probably land them a mid-round pick in return.
The other veteran of some note up front isn’t a rental. That would be center Ryan O’Reilly. This is only the second year of a four-year contract and considering he’s Nashville’s top middleman, he’s not necessarily a logical trade candidate. But the belief is that GM Barry Trotz is allowing teams to make pitches for the 34-year-old who is being treated as if he has full trade protection even though he doesn’t have any in his contract. However, his $4.5MM cap charge is team-friendly for someone who would be a second or third-line option on most playoff teams and with it being difficult for teams to add impact centers, it stands to reason that the Preds could command a significant return for O’Reilly’s services which might be enough for Trotz to approach him about a move.
Veteran forward Michael McCarron hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft billing back in 2013 but has become a quality fourth liner. As someone who can play both center and the wing, kill penalties, and play with an edge, he’s likely to generate some interest. Considering he’s signed through next season at $900K, his market could be stronger than it might seem. With Colton Sissons only having one year left after this on what was once a seven-year contract worth $2.857MM per season, he’s likely to attract some attention from teams looking to add some grit and versatility to their bottom six. Center Thomas Novak has struggled this season after two straight years of more than 40 points. With two years left at $3.5MM, he isn’t someone Nashville might be ready to give up on but if they are looking to shake things up, there should be teams interested in him as well.
The options aren’t as plentiful on the back end but veteran Luke Schenn is someone to keep an eye on. He’s no stranger to being moved at the trade deadline and would be of interest to teams looking to add some grit to their third pairing while the fact he’s a right-hand shot will make him a bit more appealing. A $2.75MM price tag through next season for someone who’s best served as a sixth defender tempers that appeal a bit, however. Even so, Nashville might be able to unload the full contract for a light return while if they retain some money, he could bring back a mid-round selection.
Team Needs
1) Young, NHL-Ready Pieces: While Nashville has traded some of its younger players away this season, they’ve also added one in Justin Barron in exchange for veteran Alexandre Carrier. With an older roster in general and a couple of months of likely just playing out the stretch, this feels like a good time for Trotz to take a flyer on two or three younger players that could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Not all will pan out, obviously but if they could even pick up one player who could be part of the plans beyond this season, that would be a good step in the right direction while hedging against some concerns they seem to have about rushing their top prospects with AHL Milwaukee to the big club.
2) Impact Center: With three first-rounders, they could possibly take a bigger swing on the trade front as well and look to bring in someone more established. Someone like Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens, for example, is young enough to be a key player for a while so even though buying might not make a lot of sense right now, if the right opportunity presents itself, they could strike. If Trotz goes that route, getting a center should be the priority. With O’Reilly in possible trade discussions and Novak struggling, targeting a longer-term player down the middle would be a reasonable target. That feels like more of an offseason move but if the opportunity presents itself now, the Predators could plausibly try to land that player even while selling some of their veterans.
Photo courtesy of Imagn Images.
Sabres And Jason Zucker Have Started Extension Talks
Veteran winger Jason Zucker has been a nice addition for the Sabres this season and he is on pace for one of his best offensive years. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Buffalo will soon have a decision to make in terms of flipping him by the March 7th trade deadline or trying to sign him to a contract extension. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reported earlier this week that their preference is the latter as the two sides recently held preliminary discussions about a new deal.
The 33-year-old played on a one-year contract last season, splitting time between Arizona and Nashville. However, he was only able to collect 14 goals and 18 assists in 69 regular season games between the two sides which didn’t help his market value heading into free agency last summer. As a result, Zucker ultimately settled for another one-year pact in July, signing for $5MM.
That deal has worked out well for both sides. Zucker has already surpassed his numbers from last season, putting up 18 goals and 23 assists in 52 games. His 41 points put him fourth on the team in scoring but only two points behind Rasmus Dahlin for a share of second place. Barring injury, Zucker appears to be well on his way toward recording his seventh career season of at least 20 goals.
Last month, Zucker acknowledged that he’d be interested in extending his stay with Buffalo. Speculatively, he’d want a multi-year agreement this time around and according to Lysowski, that appears to be something that’s on the table. With a $7.5MM jump in the Upper Limit of the salary cap coming next season, Zucker now should be able to land a small raise on his current price tag as well.
Lysowski adds that GM Kevyn Adams’ preference is to not sell over the next three weeks despite their placement at the bottom of the Eastern Conference so clearly, his preference is to get a new agreement in place. However, it appears that if Zucker prefers to move on and land with a contender, they will grant that request and then attempt to bring him back in the summer. In the meantime, they have three more weeks to see if contract discussions can yield a new deal.
Minor Transactions: 2/14/2025
The first set of games in the coveted 4-Nations Face-Off have come and gone, speaking plenty of positives for North America while the European side both need to find another kick. But the pause in the NHL season hasn’t slowed down the news cycle in professional leagues around the world, with plenty of former NHL talent on the move or cementing their stay overseas. As always, we’ll track the minor moves from Valentine’s Day here…
- Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo has signed a standard player contract with the ECHL’s Bloomington Bison. Kaskisuo played in two games for the Norfolk Admirals earlier this season. He lost both matchups and allowed seven goals on 55 shots. He was a bit more successful with the AHL’s Laval Rocket last season, posting a modest .909 save percentage and a 7-4-0 record in 13 games. Kaskisuo has journeyed around the hockey world over the last few seasons. He climbed through the minor leagues from 2015 to 2020, and made one start each with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators in 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively. He followed those spot starts up with a trip to Sweden, spending two years and 60 games with the SHL’s Leksands IF. Kaskisuo performed well with a move to pro starts, totaling a 26-31-0 record and .904 save percentage. He slowed down in his latter Finnish starts, prompting a return to North America that he’ll look to now spark in Bloomington.
- Top Switzerland club the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers have extended three former NHL talents to two-year contract extensions. The group is led by former Minnesota Wild lineup piece Victor Rask, who ranks third on the Lakers in scoring with 30 points in 47 games this season. It’s his best Swiss year yet, after he totaled 34 points in 59 Swiss games over the last two seasons. Rask previously recorded 223 points in 506 career NHL games. Rask is joined in re-upping by defenseman Nicklas Jensen and winger Tanner Fritz, who have followed similar paths to Switzerland. Jensen was a first-round selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, but managed just 31 NHL games and six points before he decided to the KHL. He added 220 games in Russia, and joined the Lakers in 2022. Fritz had a bit more success in North America. He mounted a nine-year career in the AHL that rewarded him with 221 points across 347 games. Those appearances were interspliced with 42 career NHL games – but Fritz couldn’t find the scoring push to hold up a top-flight role. He started the 2024-25 season in Canada’s North Peace Hockey League, but joined the Lakers partway through the year. That’s proven a good bet, with Fritz netting 12 points in 14 games so far. This extension will now give him a chance to carry those numbers over the course of a full season.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens
With the 4 Nations Face-Off break approaching, the trade deadline looms large and is about a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Montreal Canadiens haven’t yet spurred their years near the bottom of the standings, but their successes this year suggest that time could be coming soon. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson has provided a stellar spark behind Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The trio has been backed by promising young goalie Jakub Dobes, finally giving Montreal a sign of the future at every stop in the lineup. Even the Laval Rocket are surging, currently ranked on top of the AHL’s North Division with a roster led by young prospects Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, and Adam Engstrom. The future looks bright in Montreal, and the upcoming Trade Deadline will give the club another chance to trim extra weight and build out what’s to come.
Record
25-26-5, 7th in the Atlantic Division
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$7.45MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2025: MTL 1st, CGY 1st, MTL 2nd, PIT 2nd, MTL 3rd, VAN 3rd, NJD 3rd, MTL 4th, BOS 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
2026: MTL 1st, MTL 2nd, CBJ 2nd, MTL 3rd, MTL 4th, NJD 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
Trade Chips
Montreal is entering the Deadline with plenty of extra weight to shed. They have a long list of impactful veterans who could be on the block, led by surging centerman Jake Evans. Evans has posted 11 goals and 26 points through 56 games this season, good enough for fifth on the team in both categories. He’s only three points away from breaking his career-high 29 points set in 72 games of the 2021-22 season. That was one of only two years where Evans played a full NHL season, next to his 28 points in 82 games last season. That precedent makes his 40-point scoring pace this season all the more encouraging. Evans is posting those numbers with a cushy, third-line role and minimal power-play ice time. That’s sure to be an encouraging sign for playoff hopefuls looking to flesh out their bottom-six – teams like the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Ottawa Senators. Recent reports suggest that Evans and Montreal could be at an impasse with extension negotiations, potentially making the center a cheaper buy as the deadline approaches.
If not Evans, Montreal could turn back to routine trade rumors. 30-year-old winger Josh Anderson has posted a modest eight goals and 18 points in 56 games this season. His 121 hits is also tied with Juraj Slafkovsky for the most hits on the offense. Anderson has been on the trade block for years now, but his lofty $5.5MM cap hit and minimal lineup role have been dissuading up to this point. To make matters worse, Anderson has two more seasons on his deal after this year – which could make retaining part of his salary a tough bet for the Canadiens. Though it’s worth noting that both Jeff Petry and Jake Allen will come off of Montreal’s retention slots when their contracts end this summer. But for a cheap price, he’ll stand as a physical option for teams in need of more heft. For teams looking the other way, Montreal could also make forward Alex Newhook available. He’s struggled through two years in Montreal, netting just 52 points in 111 games with the team. Newhook hasn’t posted the well-rounded presence Montreal has needed, but he’s added size with the Canadiens and stands as an interesting project on the open market.
The Canadiens can offer plenty of defense as well. Veteran David Savard joined his hometown Montreal in 2021, looking to stand as a consistent pillar behind a young lineup. But his solid presence has continued through the last four seasons, and Savard doesn’t seem close to slowing down in his age-34 season. He has a modest $3.5MM cap hit that’s set to end this summer, which could make him an attractive rental for teams in need of assurance on the blue-line. Savard may be aged and low-scoring, but his high-defense and high-physical presence could land a return that rivals Evans. Montreal also has a wealth of young defenders, including Jayden Struble – who could be seen as dead weight behind the team’s wealth of left-defenders. Struble has five points and a minus-10 through 30 games this season. But he’s in just his second NHL season, and is working to add more physicality to his style. Those could be attractive traits to build up, at a cheap price.
Team Needs
1) Future Capital – Montreal is entering the 2025 NHL Draft with a whopping 12 picks. That’s plenty for comfort, but with the 2024-25 season seeming a bit lost, there’s little more for the Canadiens to ask for. They’ll enter the Deadline with a true seller’s mindset, looking to drive the price up on each of Evans, Savard, and Anderson. Landing a first-round pick for either of the former, or any return for the latter, will be mark successful Trade Deadline for the Canadiens letting them open space for top prospects and really begin kicking off their future.
2) Right-Shot Defense – If any position group appears shallow in Montreal, it’s their right-
shot defense. The team has already made moves to address that hole this season, using a December swap of Alexandre Carrier for Justin Barron to boost up their top-four. They also have top prospect Logan Mailloux working his way up the minor-league lineup, and former top-10 draft pick David Reinbacher working his way back from injury. Both players could stand as strong options on the right-side in due time, but Montreal is hinging on Carrier and Savard to hold them up in the meantime. Finding another cheap veteran, or a promising young defender, could go far in rounding out the team’s lineup in the few years remaining in their rebuild.
Kings Prioritizing Right-Handed Scorer At Deadline
In today’s edition of ‘32 Thoughts‘ on Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman spoke briefly about the Los Angeles Kings’ priority leading up to the trade deadline. Friedman unsurprisingly shared that the Kings’ are engaged in the markets for right-handed scoring forwards.
The news is unsurprising for a few reasons. The Kings have a lethargic offense, especially for a playoff-bound team. Out of every team positioned in a divisional playoff spot, Los Angeles has the lowest goals-for-per-game, powerplay percentage, and shots-on-goal amount.
They also lack handedness diversity among forwards. Of the nine Kings’ forwards with 10 or more points on the year, winger Alex Laferriere is the only right-handed shot.
It’s unlikely Los Angeles would be willing to move Anže Kopitar or Quinton Byfield out of their roles as top-six centers, indicating the Kings will move toward the market for right-handed wings. Furthermore, with cap space being a limiting factor, Los Angeles should find themselves in the rental market.
Those assumed components narrow down the field of available wingers. Kyle Palmieri of the New York Islanders, Joel Armia of the Montreal Canadiens, and Justin Brazeau of the Boston Bruins are the only pending unrestricted free agents right-handed wingers with double-digit or more goals not on teams currently holding onto a playoff spot.
Palmieri should be the ideal candidate given he’s only one year removed from scoring 30 goals and has moderate playoff experience. If the Kings acquired Palmieri today, he would become their third-highest goal scorer and rank sixth in shots on goal.
The other two have scored 10 goals each this year and would cost less than Palmieri. Still, after being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of three straight playoffs, Los Angeles may want to target more of a game-changing talent.